In 1912, the original Palace Hotel was built on the North Boulevard of Noordwijk aan Zee. For many years, this iconic building was regarded as one of the most defining and prestigious hotels in the seaside resort. This remarkable era came to an abrupt end in 1978, when a major fire destroyed nearly the entire hotel. It was a disaster that irrevocably changed the appearance of Noordwijk. To this day, the original site has never been rebuilt.