International fame in the art world was acquired by Baron Eduard von der Heydt through the collection of art from, among others, Asia and Africa. He was regarded as the private individual with the largest art collection, a collection which he largely housed in various international museums, including those in the Netherlands. Due to his background as an art collector and banker, the Baron possessed connections across the entire world. The Baron donated pieces including paintings, antique furniture, tapestries, and everyday objects to institutions such as the Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
In his Zandvoort beach house, he received numerous international guests. For instance, the former German Emperor Wilhelm II was a regular guest, as were noble families from Germany. People from the art world also visited the Baron during his stays in Zandvoort. In 1935, even Dr. O. Meissner—then German State Secretary and in 1938 Minister of State and Chief of the Presidential Chancellery— was a guest of the Baron, and there were also figures from German industry who visited the Baron in Zandvoort.