Exterieur van Hotel Belvédère in Zandvoort c. 1890 - 1900

This is A. Bakels Sr.'s photograph of the Hotel Belvédère in Zandvoort. While the exact date is unknown, we can consider the photograph as a relic of its time, a time of burgeoning tourism and leisure for a select few. Photographs like this one were instrumental in shaping perceptions and aspirations surrounding travel. The hotel, a grand structure with its elegant arches and towering facade, embodies the allure of luxury and escape for those who could afford it. This image speaks to the intersection of class and leisure during the rise of tourism. Hotels like the Belvédère catered to the wealthy, reinforcing societal hierarchies. What does it mean to have access to such spaces, and what does it mean to be excluded? This photograph invites us to reflect on the historical dimensions of privilege, and the personal experiences shaped by these socio-economic divides.