Voorstraat

The Voorstraat is the main shopping street of Zandvoort, the North Sea resort west of Haarlem, and it is the place where the village life of the town and the seaside crowds meet. It runs from the old centre of Zandvoort towards the beach, and a good part of it is pedestrianised, so strollers can walk without worrying about traffic. Shops, cafes, restaurants and small boutiques line the street, and on a sunny day it is full of people moving between the station, the shops and the sea.

The street reflects the history of Zandvoort itself. The village was a small fishing community for centuries, with the boats pulled up on the beach and the families living in low houses protected by the dunes. In the nineteenth century, as the fashion for sea bathing spread across Europe, visitors began to arrive, and Zandvoort developed into a seaside resort, with hotels, bathing facilities and the railway connection to Haarlem and Amsterdam. The Voorstraat grew with it, and the mixture of older houses and later shops tells the story of that transformation.

Today, the street offers a range of things to do and buy. You can find fashion and gift shops, bakeries, ice cream parlours, fish shops selling fresh and smoked fish and a variety of restaurants, from casual snack bars to more formal places. Opening hours differ from shop to shop, and many establishments stay open late in the summer, while some close for part of the winter. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, and the street is a good place to people-watch with a coffee or a beer.

Other sights in Zandvoort are within easy reach. The Kerk van Zandvoort, the village church, is one of the older buildings, the Museum Zandvoort tells the story of the fishing village and the resort, and Park Zandvoort offers green space. The beach and its pavilions are at the end of the street, and the dune landscape of the Zandvoortse Duinen lies behind the town, with trails for walking and cycling. The race circuit, Circuit Zandvoort, is a few minutes away and is known for motor sport events.

The street suits visitors of all ages and is free to walk. Visit in the morning for a quiet stroll or in the evening for a livelier atmosphere. It is a short walk from the station, which makes it easy to combine with a day trip from Amsterdam.