Two minors confess to starting fire that destroyed Prince Bernhard's Beach Club
A massive fire on Sunday engulfed Bernie’s Beach Club, a beachfront property co-owned by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and his business partner Menno de Jong. Two of the four minors arrested for arson at Bernie’s Beach Club admitted to starting the fire, police reported Monday.
According to the suspects, they had been "playing with fire," which quickly spread to the structure. The structure has been declared a total loss.
The fire broke out around 4:50 p.m., starting on the exterior of the building before spreading rapidly inside. The flames were fueled by wooden elements in the structure, despite its primarily stone construction, complicating efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Emergency crews, including numerous fire units and additional water tanks, were deployed to the scene due to the scale of the fire. “A lot of smoke was released, spreading over the dunes,” said Remke Hoedemaker, a spokesperson for the local safety region. Nearby residents were advised via NL-Alert to keep doors and windows closed and turn off air conditioning systems to prevent smoke from entering their homes.
The fire caused significant damage, leaving a large hole in the roof of the once-iconic beach club. By 8:50 p.m., the flames were extinguished, though firefighters had earlier decided to let the building burn in a controlled manner as it was beyond saving.
Police arrested three minors on suspicion of arson. “They are currently being held for questioning,” said a police spokesperson. Witness accounts suggest the involvement of a group of five youths, and authorities are working to identify and locate the remaining two suspects. Due to their age, no further details about the arrested individuals, including their exact ages or hometowns, have been released.
The fire is under investigation, with reports of people seen near the beach club before the fire started. "The exact cause is not yet clear," Hoedemaker noted.
Bernie’s Beach Club is the third beach establishment to burn down in the Zandvoort and Bloemendaal area within a short period. Last year, Bloomingdale Beach Club was destroyed by fire, and Hippie Fish, another beach venue, burned down just months ago.
The property, formerly known as Riche, was a famous party venue in the 20th century before being rebranded as Bernie’s Beach Club.
The fire also temporarily disrupted transportation in the area. The Zeeweg was closed, and bus route 81 was diverted, though normal service resumed later in the evening.
Concerns were raised about possible asbestos at the site, but measurements showed no trace of the material. A crane was brought in to remove a section of the building’s wall to assist firefighters in accessing and extinguishing remaining hot spots.
The investigation remains ongoing. No injuries were reported, as the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
