A Day at Zandvoort

We decided to take the train to Zandvoort, a quaint seaside town about a thirty minute train ride from Haarlem. It has a beautiful long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes.

In 1881 the railway station near the coast opened, followed by tram connection to Haarlem in 1899. The railway stations in both Haarlem and Zandvoort were beautiful!

It was such an interesting juxtaposition; the stained glass windows glowing like jewels, intricately sculptured ceilings and exquisite art work alongside the ultra-modern yellow and blue trains. We found ourselves lingering in awe.

This beautiful stone mosaic on the wall of Haarlem train station was just one of several.

This sign states "First Class Waiting Room' and dates back to the 1890's. Nana indulged a few minutes imagining the scene all those years ago ... ladies in silken dresses and beplumed hats, gentlemen in breeches and velvet coats.

Our train arrives and Ariana eagerly jumps aboard.

The train was very modern, fast and comfortable. The journey is a blur of green pastures, windmills and brick buildings.

                                                    The train station at Zandvoort.

We walk from Zanvoort train station to the nearby beach. It is a little grey and cloudy, and there are not many people at the beach.

Ariana is not one wit disturbed by the chilly water. This is her first time seeing the ocean and she is both delighted and amazed!

Within minutes she is in her bathing suit and running along the beach.

Arms lifted in triumph, Ariana declares "I love the ocean!"

Papa teaches her to jump over the waves. She becomes braver ....

... and even braver!

Later Ariana sits at the water's edge drawing and building sandcastles..

A little girl on a summer afternoon smelling the salt air and tasting of its loveliness. I will never forget her joy, her beauty, her complete enthrallment in seeing the ocean for the first time.

Nana and Papa watch from our cabana on the beach.

After relaxing for a few hours we head to a nearby beach cafe for a snack.

Ariana savours every sip of her hot chocolate.

Next we wander the cobblestoned streets of Zandvoort, browsing in a number of quaint little shops and buildings.

Zandvoort town hall.

We loved this little antique curio and gift shop. Papa is thrilled to find a pair of Dutch antique wooden skates just like the ones he used as a little boy.

He buys these and also a small painting of a Dutch winter scene, which we now have framed and hanging on our diningroom wall.

As we walk hand-in-hand back to the train station in Zandvoort, it has become increasingly windy and spatters of rain start to fall. "It's a blustery day, Tiddley Pom", says Nana. Ariana looks at me, a questioning look on her face. "I'm quoting Winnie-thePooh", I tell her.

A tired, happy little girl rests against Nana before we head back on the train to Haarlem.