Zandvoort, on the North Sea coast to the west of Haarlem, has an international reputation as one of the leading Dutch seaside resorts, with over 1.5million "visitor nights" a year.
In spite of the multiple activities of a modern resort Zandvoort seeks to preserve its original character; thus in the redevelopment of the
northern part of the town efforts are being made to retain the atmosphere of the old fishing village, which until 1828 had a population of no more than 700. At the same time the Folk Union and the Old Zandvoort Society are concerned to preserve traditional customs and the old local costumes.