Welcome

SMILING HOMES

ZANDVOORT

Hello & Welcome

We’re Ute & Martin, and we're happy to share a few of our favorites with you – from scenic cycling routes and coastal hikes to watersports and local spots we love.

We hope you feel right at home – and enjoy every moment of your time here!

Practical tips for your stay

Some information for parking, laundry, accommodation & others

  • Everywhere in Zandvoort you need to pay to park your car. Walking distance to our apartment are some cheap parking options. The best is “De Zuid Zandvoort”, Ingenieur G. Friedhoffplein 14. You can buy a day card for 15 euro or a week for 50 Euros. With both options you can get in and out throughout that time , when you need the car. You don’t need to buy then a new parking ticket. Here more information how this works:

    https://park-spot.com/parking/gemeente-zandvoort/de/parkspot-14/product/dagkaart-9

    https://park-spot.com/parking/gemeente-zandvoort/de/parkspot-14/product/meerdagenkaart-1

    https://park-spot.com/parking/gemeente-zandvoort/en/parkspot-14/product/dagkaart-9

    https://park-spot.com/parking/gemeente-zandvoort/en/parkspot-14/product/meerdagenkaart-1

    The location is super close by:

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/XDs5a6U9PwUmmcYp6

    https://zandvoort.parkeerservice.nl/parkeerterrein-de-zuid-2/

  • There are 2 laundry services in Zandvoort: One is in the back of the gas station - not that easy to find without knowing: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ddnh8AMAwuCaZSYf9 and one in the city: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oVVv1bbeqEyw2Trx6

  • Our goal is to provide you with a pleasant and eco-friendly stay. Therefore, we heat our rooms without using fossil fuels. Instead, we use a heat pump that preheats the rooms to about 19 degrees Celsius. If you prefer it warmer or colder, you can adjust the temperature using the air conditioning via the remote control. In favor of our environment, please use it smartly and on warm days when you leave the studio, best keep windows and blinds shut. Due to the sea breeze very often just opening the window will cool everything nicely.

    The TV is a Smart TV that allows you to use all your streaming services. On the KPN app – the green icon – you can select various international TV channels. Unfortunately, the menu is only available in Dutch.

    For your and our comfort, we have designed the entire house to be key-free. The front door and your studio door can always be opened from the inside. From the outside it can only be opened for the short time that you have activated the handle with the code. In case of an power outage your studio door will still work - it runs on a battery. For the front door there is a solution via a key. Please contact the smiling host agency, which have access to the code. Or us of course.

  • Well, as the city name gives us already a hint …. sometimes it is impossible to keep the sand out. If you feel it takes over in your studio, feel free to grab the hoover placed in the hall in the back when you come in:-)

Activities & city trips

  • Always wanted to fly over the beach? |t is very easy and literally everyone can do it. A very unique experience. There are various operators in Ijmuiden. It is also a nice cycling route through the nature reserve. Or go by car. Just good on google maps “blow cart” and find the operator and time slot you like the most. https://maps.app.goo.gl/BiWDYqD95ZWNpw9K8 and https://maps.app.goo.gl/7vnCUoRgzy3QyEp9A and others

  • Of course …. don’t miss it. Best you go with the direct train connection from Station Zandvoort to Amsterdam Central. It is about 35 min to down town.

  • For us the almost nicer and closer by alternative to Amsterdam. Explore it with all the little shops and restaurants. It is very easy to by direct train connections - about 20 min - even better by bicycle or even make it a walk. Check out the visserspad. Some favorite places of us:

  • What to say …. how to describe it?

    A World of Flavour and Chaos (in the Best Way)

    Step into The Bazaar in Beverwijk, Europe’s largest indoor market and one of the most colorful, chaotic, and delicious places in the Netherlands. It's crowded, it's loud, it's full of surprises—and that's exactly the charm.

    With influences from all over the world, you'll find Turkish rugs, Moroccan lamps, Asian spices, and Dutch bargains packed into one massive maze. But the real reason to come? The food. Dive into the Food Court or explore the Food Market Hall, where you can feast on everything from sizzling kebabs and fresh falafel to Dutch stroopwafels and tropical smoothies.

    This isn't your average shopping trip—it's a multicultural adventure. Bring your curiosity, an empty stomach, and a bit of patience. You’re in for an unforgettable ride.

    It’s a cultural experience and can get very busy. It's open every Saturday and Sunday, attracting thousands of visitors each weekend.

    https://debazaar.nl/en/

Hiking & cycling around Zandvoort

Here some of our favorite hikes - variation of different lengths and combinations possibilities. If you don’t have bikes there are plenty of rental places in town.

  • Yes, indeed, surprised? We have a small nature reserve with wild European bison’s. They are impressive. If you can spot them - sometimes you are lucky. The past is only accessible from September 1st to March 1st.

    Here links to find more information:

    https://www.wisenten.nl/en

    Also nice to cycle there and/or combine it with a walk along the beach.

    The closest from our place is to get to the “Duinpieperpad”. The entrances to the path are marked “yellow”.

  • A very unique place! This is where all the fresh water for the whole Randstad area is coming from. Also the water which comes out of your taps in the studio. Long ago someone thought of this smart and easy way using the nature reserve and the sand coming with it for cleaning and preparing our drinking water. There is a little museum and plenty of paths. You can enter from serveral entrances. You do need to purchase a ticket - 1,50 Euro per person/day. Dogs and cyclists are not allowed.

    Here links to how to purchase the ticket and more information - unfortunately only in Dutch:

    https://awd.waternet.nl/bezoek/

    And here the closest entrance to our house - behind the big parking lot:

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/npaBwjwDtSE8HYTB6

    What we like a lot is to order a Taxi and have us dropped of at one of the further away entrances and then walk through the nature reserve and back along the beach. Theoretically - depending on the wind direction - it is also possible to walk along the beach and then get out at one of the entrances. It is though sometimes not that easy to get a taxi there. You might need to wait at the restaurant while you ordered it. At both entrances lined below is a restaurant. https://maps.app.goo.gl/bygLp1pvhbYkaive6 or https://maps.app.goo.gl/6hfpzb5bcLJeSetn7.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/tUCKqjC6LZBLRF546

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/AyLCjrJ53qYyZwMb9

  • The path (cycling and hiking) starts at the train track direction Harlem and will bring you to Overveen (from there you could go back by train) or even all the way to Harlem (from here you could also go back by train or both). Or you do use it the other way around. It is the path the fisher’s women used in the past to bring the fish - walking - from the sea to Harlem. At the end of it in Overveen you find a restaurant “Kraantje Lek”. A bit furthe in Overveen there is “Stach” also a nice place to get something to eat or drink or shop some snacks.

    Here where it starts:

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/RkQ5ZPR1DouH2cjJ7

    And here where the path continues direction center of Harlem - the last short section is officially only a walk way. So please be considerate in regards of pedestrians. The last part of the path can be muddy with rainy weather. There is always the option to use from this junction on the main road. Just follow it and turn to the right at the next round about after the nice coffee/bistro called “the Stach”:

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/cLeLuwz2QhL73V8e7

  • Landgoed Elswout has a nice park and forest to walk through.

    https://www.staatsbosbeheer.nl/uit-in-de-natuur/locaties/elswout

    Sundays the Orangerie is open for lunch.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/nzhdX7oVPLEFuPtK9