Zandvoort

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Zandvoort

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imagesize = 230px
image_caption =

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flag_size = 120x100px
image_shield = Zandvoort wapen.pngshield_size = 120x100px


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Holland
leader_name = M.R. van der Heijden
leader_party = VVD
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 44.34
area_land_km2 = 32.04
area_water_km2 = 12.30
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 16605
population_density_km2 = 518
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52.37
latNS = N
longd = 4.53
longEW = E
website = [http://www.zandvoort.nl www.zandvoort.nl]

Zandvoort (pronunciation|Nl-Zandvoort.ogg) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

Zandvoort is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes. It is also the site of the country's most important automobile racing circuit, Circuit Park Zandvoort.

There is a nudist beach located about 2 km to the south, with 6 cafés or restaurants; it extends several kilometers further south.

The municipality of Zandvoort consists of the communities of Bentveld and Zandvoort.

History

Zandvoort is known to exist in 1100, called "Sandevoerde" (a combination of "sand" and "voorde", meaning ford). Until 1722 the area was under the control of the Lords of Brederode.

The village was dependent on fishing for many centuries until the 19th century when it started to transform itself into a seaside resort, following the pattern set by similar towns in the United Kingdom. In 1828 the first resort was inaugurated. Thereafter many notable persons would visit Zandvoort, including Elisabeth of Bavaria in 1884 and 1885. In the middle of the same century, potato cultivation started in the dunes.

In 1881 the railway station near the coast opened, followed by tram connection to Haarlem in 1899, which greatly increased the beach tourism.

During World War II, Zandvoort was heavily damaged. On May 23, 1942, beach access was no longer permitted and several months later the town was almost completely vacated. Resorts and avenues were demolished to make way for the coastal fortifications of the Atlantic Wall.

After the war, the town's growth accelerated, matching the growth in tourism. In 1948, Circuit Zandvoort was built, hosting the Dutch Grand Prix for several decades. Zandvoort continues to be a major Dutch resort location, where nearly half of all employment is related to tourism.

Transportation

Zandvoort's railway station is the closest Dutch train station to the beach.

Local government

The municipal council of Zandvoort consists of 17 seats, which are divided as follows:
*VVD 5 seats
* [http://www.opzandvoort.nl Ouderenpartij] 4 seats
*PvdA 3 seats
*CDA 2 seats
*SP 1 seat
* [http://www.gbz.nu Gemeentebelangen] 1 seat
*GroenLinks 1 seat

Born in Zandvoort

* Piet Keur (1960), Dutch football (soccer) player
* Jan Lammers (1956), former Dutch formula one driver
* Roy Schuiten (1950-2006), cyclist and team manager

Famous Visitors / Residents of Zandvoort

* William Merritt Chase 1884-1885. American Impressionist Painter (1849-1916) Painted one of his masterpieces here entitled "" which hangs in the Joselyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.
* On 7th August 2007, a 2.5m (8ft) tall Lego Minifigure was found in the sea at Zandvoort. It was fished out and placed on the beach. It is wearing a blue shirt with the slogan "No Real Than You Are" and red trousers. Its origins are unknown.cite web | title=Giant Lego Man Found in Dutch Sea | publisher=Reuters UK | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKL0787011420070807 | accessdate=2007-08-07]

References

* Statistics are taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem552nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]

External links

* [http://www.freewebs.com/wdrommel History of Zandvoort]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/oud-zandvoort Zandvoort 1940-2005]
* [http://www.zandvoort.nl Municipality ]
* [http://www.zvoort.nl Zvoort.nl : Online Community of Zandvoort]
* [http://www.zandvoort-holland.com/ Zandvoort, old post cards and history]