Zandvoort aan Zee Station

Zandvoort aan Zee Station is the terminus of the railway line from Haarlem, and it stands only about two hundred metres from the North Sea beach. That makes it one of the most convenient seaside stations in the Netherlands: you step off the train and are within a few minutes' walk of the sand, the boulevard and the pavilions. It opened in 1881 and has been the gateway for generations of day-trippers from Amsterdam and Haarlem who come to the coast for the day.

The line was built to serve the growing resort of Zandvoort. In the second half of the nineteenth century, sea bathing became popular among the middle classes, and railway companies saw an opportunity to carry visitors to the coast. The line brought crowds on summer weekends, and the village expanded as hotels, boarding houses and villas were built. The terminus layout, with the track ending at the station, is typical of seaside lines and reflects its purpose as a route to the beach. The station is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the national railway company.

Today the service is straightforward. Local trains, called Sprinters, run from Zandvoort to Haarlem and onward to Amsterdam Centraal, with a journey time of around half an hour, and there are frequent departures through the day. In summer, extra trains may run to cope with the demand, and on days when events take place at the nearby race circuit, such as international motor races, the station is very busy and special arrangements may apply. The station has two platforms, a small hall and basic facilities, and it is a short walk from there to the shopping street Voorstraat and then to the beach.

The convenience of the connection is part of Zandvoort's appeal. Visitors who arrive by train avoid the traffic jams and parking problems that plague the town on sunny days, and the whole of the centre is within walking distance. From the station, the main sights are close: the beach pavilions, the Kerk van Zandvoort, the Museum Zandvoort and the dune landscape behind the town, which offers walking trails.

The station suits anyone planning a trip to the coast without a car. Check train times, particularly for the return journey in the evening, and bring a ticket or travel card. Allow time for the walk to the beach, and bring layers, since the sea breeze can be cool even in summer.