My wife and I were going to spend two days here, visiting my step-brother and has family, but teenager issues occured so we spent yesterday in Amsterdam, before heading to Zandvoort this morning, the final day of our European trip. The weather was frequently awful, but two sunny days to end the trip concluded it on a high note.
Our Tom-Tom (Euro GPS) directed us through the traffic in Hoofdorp, which included waiting for a boat to pass under a canal drawbridge. Then it tooks us through the tight narrow streets of Zandvoort. We should have taken the less trafficy way through Haarlem.
We parked at Parnassia, and my wife accompanied me on the first mile down Zandvoort’s beach. Wow, it was nice! I did not want to hike … just spend my time there, letting the waves wash over my bare feet. (I started the hike in shoes, but when we saw another couple barefoot my dim bulb went on.)
The dunes were pretty in a very rugged way. Rugged not due to elevation — I was often below sea level (check out the track) — but rugged due to the brush. It was prickly and thick enough to rival anything here in Arizona, no exaggeration. So, instead of off-trailing it, I stuck to paths, both paved and sand. (The latter being slow going.)
I generally aimed for the tower at the race track. I could hear engines from quite a way off, despite the sound-absorbing dunes, so I was hopeful there would be something cool happening. When I got there, the track was dead. Bummer. And I was low on phone battery. But I hung around for about 15-20 minutes, and out the motorcycles came.
I had intended to hike the dunes around the south side of town, then take the strand back to the zentrum, but per my usual practice was running short on time. I’m thankful I have a wife loving enough to play shuttle driver, but at the same time I wish I had time more time to explore.
So, instead, I cut across the track’s parking lot, then south down the strand to our pre-arranged meeting spot at the Centre Park hotel. There was a fish shack across the street — which shockingly did not sell beer 😳 — so we had lunch and fed birds for another relaxing hour.
I loved the beach so much, that the next time we are in the Netherlands, rather than basing ourselves out the Schiphol airport hotel, I’d like to get a place in Zandvoort. In case I have not made the point so far, awesome beach. 🤗
Directions: There are two main ways into Zandvoort: Through Hoofdorp and through Haarlem. The route from Hoofdorp enters the middle of Zandvoort, and has a lot of traffic on narrow city roads. Your GPS will try to take you through Hoofdorp — ignore it. The route from Haarlem has less traffic and more spacious (by Dutch standards) roads. This describes the route via Haarlem: From Amsterdam, exit the A9 at the A200. Exit left at Camera Obscuraweg, which ends up taking you right. Go 1.0 km, then continue left onto Oudeweg, which in 1.7 km turns into the N200 as it curls north of the city centre. From there, follow the N200 signs about 8.0 km through the city and into the park. When you arrive at a large complex of bike paths, hike paths, roads and parking, that is Parnassiaweg; turn right. Go 1.5 km to the Paranassia parking area; pay at the parkeerautomat machine.
GPS File: Parnassia_to_Zandvoort_Netherlands
Distance: 5.70 mi.
AEG: 500 ft.
Time: 1h 53m
