125 years on the boulevard

Anniversary Hotel Noordwijk

Since

1899

An eye-catcher for many tourists, partly due to its striking tower (1912). Also called ‘het torentje (the little tower)’ by the residents of Noordwijk.

One of the eldest (still existing) hotels in Noordwijk and fully operational. Ready for the future and with a special mission.

Dive

into history

We would like to take you through the history of the Two Brothers Noordwijk Beach Hotel. Better known in 1899 as Hotel Pension Noordzee (North Sea). The first important and very eye-catching hotel on the boulevard was built on behalf of ship owner Willem van Beelen. It had 50 rooms. On either side of the hotel there was a villa named Anna (left) and Christina (right). Later, the right-hand villa Christina was replaced by the striking tower that is still in use today and, among other things, houses three Junior Suites since 2021 that bear the names of the former villas.

Junior Suite

1899

The first design of the hotel, without a tower

1915

Bath carriages on the beach

1923

Beach view with the striking tower

Second half of the 20th century - present

A vibrant seaside resort

Celebrities

as guests

Several celebrities have been guests over the years, including Sigmund Freud. The psychologist stayed in the hotel-guesthouse for a longer period of time in 1910. This holiday is best known for his conversations with the composer Gustav Mahler, who visited him in the hotel. From there they took a walk to Leiden. Along the way they had a long conversation that was talked about a lot afterwards.
(Photo: Max Halberstadt)

In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, the hotel became the refuge for Duchess Alix Jeanne Marie von Arenberg, who had fled from Belgium. She came to Noordwijk with her entire court.

Bird station

on the roof

In 1920, the hotel tower was temporarily used as a bird station by the Noordwijk biologist Jan Verwey. The son of the famous Noordwijk poet Albert Verwey was interested in nature, in particular birds, from an early age and published about this at the age of 16 in Jac’s magazine ‘De Levende Natuur’ (lively nature). P. Thijsse. In the former Hotel Noordzee (now Two Brothers), Jan gave a lecture with light images for the youth of Noordwijk. With friends he founded the Bird Trekking Station Noordwijk, on the roof of the hotel. This is now the location of our Steltloper (wader bird) suite! Sit on the roofterrace and watch the shorebirds just like they did in 1920.