Discover Zandvoort
Sculpture Route
Discover art throughout the village, dunes and coastline.
This route takes you past sculptures and special places throughout Zandvoort. Along the way, you will discover local art, architecture and history.
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Route map
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Along the route
Arendje van der Meije
Artist: Bep Sturm van den Bergh, 1972. Well-known fish vendor Arendje van der Meije wears traditional costume and carries a basket on her back, made up of the bot and zeiger. In her arm basket are a kop (for measuring shrimp) and a knife (for cleaning fish).
Town crier Floris Molenaar
Artist: Bep Sturm van den Bergh, 1972. Floris Molenaar worked as a town crier until nearly 80. Using a stick, he pointed out portions of fish until a vendor shouted “mine” — the fish was then marked with a red cloth. Together with his wife Arendje, he ran a fruit cart near the beach road.
Zandvoorts Museum
At the Zandvoorts Museum, you will find several changing exhibitions throughout the year. You can also dive into the past in the period room with various objects from Zandvoort's past.
Town crier Klaas Koper
Artist: Mara Dominioni. Bronze statue of Klaas Koper, also known as “De Klinker”, town crier from 1994 to 2010. He represented Zandvoort in competitions and won several prizes. In 1999, he was knighted. The statue was created during a Kees Verkade masterclass for 700 years of Zandvoort (2004).
Jaapje van Zandvoort (inside)
Artist: Noor Brandt. Simon Paap (known as Jaapje van Zandvoort) was, at 76 cm, the smallest man of his time. Born a fisherman's son, he performed at fairs as “the smallest human in the world.” He was welcomed at royal courts and died tragically at a fair in Dendermonde.
Family
Artist: Hans Bayens, 1967. The bronze sculpture Family shows a father, mother and child. The child is about to run off and is being scolded. Bayens created the work on commission to give the renovated square a distinctive accent. It was placed on Raadhuisplein in 2006.
Madame Migraine
Artist: René Rikkelman, 1998. The bronze, voluptuous Madame Migraine wears a hat, holds a glass and a wine bottle, and seems to enjoy life despite her headache. The sculpture was donated by Bob Nees during the reopening of Kerkplein. The granite pedestal was placed by the municipality.
The Sunbather
Artist: Jan van Luijn, 1966. The bronze Sunbather lies nude and relaxed on her pedestal at Badhuisplein. Since 1966, she has withstood all weather and continues to capture the imagination of generations in Zandvoort. The sculpture was never given a real name, but gained many loyal admirers.
Another shade of she
Artist: Marlène Sjerps, 2006. The sculpture Another Shade of She forms a duo with nearby The Seas of She. Like sisters, they are forever connected. “Facing the sun, she sees her sister approach…” reflects their bond and shared presence along the sea.
The seas of she
Artist: Marlène Sjerps, 2006. The Seas of She symbolizes connection to the sea. Her shapes refer to fertility, kinship, and the boundary between land and water. Commissioned by a Zandvoort businessman, the sculpture was placed on long-term loan to the municipality in 2006.
Loeres
Artist: Edo van Tetterode, 1963. Loeres was first presented as a mysterious Easter Island statue washed ashore in Zandvoort. The prank, set up by artist Edo van Tetterode and broadcaster NCRV, went viral—even internationally. A few days later, he revealed it was an April Fools’ hoax.
Detour: Arie Kerkman (indoors)
Artist: Kees Verkade, 1976 Arie Kerkman, nicknamed “Lange Arie”, was a carpenter, founder of housing association EMM, and served as alderman for many years. This sculpture stands in the hallway of the Arie Kerkman flat. If you're lucky, you might be able to take a peek inside—worth the small detour.
Mother and Child #1
Artist: Aal de Jong-Koning, 1965. Bronze sculpture of a mother and child on a concrete base. They hold hands firmly and look ahead together. The work radiates strength, protection, and tenderness. Signed ‘A. Koning’. Placed in 1965 in the green area on Fazantenstraat.
Two Provincials
Artist: Aal de Jong-Koning, 1965. Two girls, arm in arm, take a graceful step in flowing garments, identical in expression, both stepping forward with the right leg. A similar sculpture from 1966 stands in Rotterdam, where it's known as Provenciaaltjes, Shopping Girls or The Orphan Girls.
The Washerwoman
Artist: Wilfried Put, 1964. The Washerwoman gracefully hangs up her laundry – you can almost picture the line. In 1964, the sculpture was unveiled as one of five works the municipality commissioned to beautify residential areas. They had to be figurative and add an elegant touch.
Fisherman
Artist: Christina Nijland, 1964. A boy proudly shows off his catch – fittingly, near the Zwanenmeer pond where large carp swim. The sculpture was unveiled in 1964 as one of five works. The artist received 6,000 guilders from the municipality’s beautification fund.
Mermaid with Child
Artist: Nel Klaassen, 1973. A mermaid lifts her young child high above her head. The sculpture symbolizes connection to the sea and the ever-renewing cycle of life. This open commission was gifted in 1973 by the board of Stichting ZorgContact to the residents of the neighbourhood.
Starting Skater
Artist: Kees Verkade, 1967. A bronze young man with skates, ready to launch. His stretched arms and legs show the push-off. The sculpture was made in Zandvoort and donated by the architect of the Wim Gertenbachschool, then the local ULO school, as a lasting tribute to his work.
Suzanna
Artist: Gooitzen de Jong, 1964. Suzanna depicts a woman washing herself. On the advice of city architect Van Linssen, the municipality commissioned several bronze sculptures in 1962. This cast of the original in Enschede found a new home here and has enriched the surroundings ever since.
Girl on a Bouncing Ball
Artist: Kees Verkade, 1975. A cheerful girl with a hat, bouncing on her bouncing ball. This sculpture on the Van Lennepweg roundabout reflects the theme of ‘sports and play’, which Kees Verkade focused on in the early 1970s while gaining international acclaim through gallery exhibitions.
This ain’t Johnny Doe
Artist: Marlène Sjerps, 2009. ‘This ain’t Johnny Doe’ portrays John, who was struck by illness after a life full of ups and downs. His ambitions faded, but not his spirit. He found a new path with different dreams. The sculpture calls for a small detour – but it’s more than worth it.
Le Ciel Enfantin
Artist: Kees Verkade, 1993. A young woman lifts her child high, as if reaching for the sky. Le Ciel Enfantin – French for “the childlike sky” – symbolizes a child longing to grow, dream and reach out. Donated by Slokker Vastgoedontwikkeling, developer of the De Meeuwen neighbourhood.
Mother and Child #2
Artist: Charlotte van Pallandt, 1964. Stone sculpture of a mother with her child on her lap. Van Pallandt, one of the Netherlands’ most renowned sculptors, created multiple versions of ‘Mother and Child’ in various materials. Her works can be seen at prominent locations worldwide.
Girls Skipping Rope
Two girls joyfully jump rope. The sculpture first stood near the town hall, but children kept hanging on it. Nel Klaassen, who often worked with Queen Juliana, requested a move in vain—until she involved the queen. A royal letter led to its relocation to Kromboomsveld.
Resistance Monument
Artist: Kees Verkade, 2002. A naked man: right arm bent before his chest as sign of resistance, left stretched with clenched fist as symbol of defiance. Behind him a wall reads Resistance Freedom Future. The sculpture honours resistance against tyranny—past, present, and future.
Kites
Artist: Linda Verkaaik, 2001. This steel and acrylic work is 6 meters high and 11 meters long. The colorful shadows shift with the daylight. It also features a seating area. Verkaaik works in two and three dimensions. “Function gives the sculpture a story,” says the artist.
Tetraëder
Artist: Erik van Spronsen, 1978 / moved 2015. ‘Tetrahedron’ is a geometric form often used by Van Spronsen in his work. The mathematical structure of the cube is a continuous source of inspiration and study. The sculpture was moved to its current location near Tjerk Hiddesstraat in 2015.
National Motorsport Memorial
Artist: Karl Adrian Wolff, 1998. After Marcel Albers' fatal accident in England (1993), this monument was created as a lasting tribute to drivers who have been important to Dutch motorsport. Max Verstappen is the most recent name added.
Winner EC Sand Sculptures 2017
Artist: Fergus Mulvaney (Ireland), 2017. Replica of the original sand sculpture that won the 2017 European Sand Sculpture Championship. Inspired by sculptor Eppe de Haan. To withstand the elements, it was immortalised in a durable material. A gift from Stichting Strandkorrels.
Winner EC Sand Sculptures 2018
Artist: Sergio Ramirez (Spain), 2018. Replica of the winning EK sand sculpture (theme: Leonardo da Vinci). Inspired by Gaudí’s architecture and Picasso’s cubism. Immortalized in durable material. Donated by Stichting Strandkorrels as a lasting tribute to Spanish masters.
Jewish Memorial Wall
In 1940, the Nazis blew up the Jewish synagogue – the start of the persecution of Jews in the Netherlands. Only 17 Jewish residents of Zandvoort survived the war. The wall bears 308 names of those who were killed in the Holocaust. “As long as we say their names, they will not be forgotten.”
Old shrimp fisherman
Artist: Kees Verkade, 1970. A bronze sculpture of an old man sitting on a bench, gazing out to sea. Commissioned by the municipality to beautify the square, the work is also known as Old Shrimp Fisherman or De Wurf. For over 40 years, people have sat beside him to enjoy the view or take a photo.
Empress Elisabeth ‘Sisi’
Artist: Kitty Warnawa, 2009. Empress Elisabeth ‘Sisi’ stayed in Zandvoort for three weeks in 1884 and returned a year later. This statue honours her fondness for the seaside town, which she expressed in her poem Abschied von Zandvoort: “Noch ein letzten, langen Blick, auf dich, geliebtes Meer…”