This lovely beach resort area in The Hague’s well-to-do northernmost district is an ideal setting for a seaside stroll, a beach party or a day out with the kids. There’s much to do, from dining and nightlife to theater and cinema. Originally a fishing village, Scheveningen is now officially part of The Hague, but the people here maintain their own cultural identity and their own dialect. The first seaside resort at Scheveningen was built in 1818, followed the Kurhaus in 1884, cementing the area’s place as the best beach resort in the Netherlands. Here’s how to make the most of your exploring in Scheveningen in The Hague.
How Do I Get to Scheveningen?
There are a number of ways to travel The Hague’s coast. Get to the beach by bike, public transportation or car. Check out the quickest routes to Scheveningen, Duindorp and Kijkduin here.
If you are coming by bike or moped, it will take about 20 minutes from the center of The Hague. There are bike- and scooter-sharing services available in The Hague, or you can rent an OV-fiet at the train station. The coast offers free and guarded bike parking. As for public transportation, take a 15-minute tram or bus ride from The Hague’s Central Station and Hollands Spoor train station.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Scheveningen?
It almost goes without saying that the best time to visit Scheveningen is the summertime when the days are hot and long. However, if you just want that fresh ocean air, but don’t mind sipping hot cocoa instead of a frozen cocktail, don’t overlook winter at Scheveningen. The rowdy beach bars of summer give way to winter retreats serving hot toddies. And it’s a nice time to bundle up and explore the Meijendel area, a nature reserve full of dunes, lakes, forests and sandy beaches that connect Scheveningen, The Hague and Wassenaar.
What Can I Do in Scheveningen?
You can spend a day or two, at least, wandering along the 2.4-mile seaside promenade at Scheveningen and enjoying all the activities there. Beyond the sandy beach, visitors can visit the Scheveningen lighthouse, the Sea Life aquarium, the Pathe cinema, the Steigenberger Kurhaus music theater, the Scheveningen Museum, several trendy clubs and restaurants. Take lessons from the surf school or engage in many other water sports options, all available along the North Beach boulevard (Noorderstrand). There’s a tranquil green space, Westbroek Park, just beyond Scheveningen Beach. Go hiking in the sand dunes that are just five minutes away. Cycle along the esplanade, then go about 20 minutes farther along the coast to Kijkduin Beach.
Be sure to take note of the whimsical bronze sculptures along the Scheveningen Boulevard. Entitled “Fairytale Sculptures by the Sea,” this alfresco sculpture garden features 23 sculptures by American artists Tom Otterness, including the huge Crying Giant. Others include the towering Herring Eater, Hans Brinker and Hansel and Gretel. Sculpture connoisseurs may recognize Otterness’ work from “The Real World,” a garden and sculpture project in Battery Park, New York.
To get your bearings at the beach, remember that it is divided into four sections. From north to south, these are:
- Zwarte Pad: To the north, on the dunes. This is a popular spot for beach parties. That said, you’ll find a quieter place to lounge in the sun here than at the Kurhaus or the Pier.
- Noordboulevard: The wide stretch between the Zwarte Pad and the Pier. This part of the boulevard includes shops and the Foodhall Scheveningen. This modern, hip part of the boulevard has plenty of kiosks for chips, several entrances to the beach, the well-known Soulsistah Beach club and the renowned KISS ME artwork by Selwyn Senatori.
- Beach in front of the Kurhaus and De Pier: A particularly lively stretch of beach with many beach pavilions, eateries and attractions like Legoland and Sea Life Scheveningen. You’ll also find the pier here, with shops, little eateries, the Ferris wheel, Bungy Jump Holland, a zipline and more.
- Middenboulevard: To the south of the Kurhaus, extending to the harbor of Scheveningen. A surfing beach with lots of space, a few beach pavilions, and some shops and restaurants behind the boulevard. Look for the statue of The Fisherman’s Wife of Scheveningen, built as if gazing out to sea awaiting her loved ones’ return. The Scheveningen Lighthouse is found here, as well as The Hague Beach Stadium, the largest venue for outdoor beach sports in the Netherlands.
2. Dance All Night.
Take a seat in one of the colorful beachside loungers along the Scheveningen Promenade and people-watch all evening long. Some of the chic clubs along this stretch are more boisterous than others, so go with your mood. There are bars right on the sand, get married (really!) at The Blue Lagoon, sit by the fire pit at Bora Bora, party it up at Crazy Pianos or win big at the Holland casino.
3. Visit the Attractions.
From Legoland to Sea Life Scheveningen, there is enough here to interest everyone in your travel group for days.
At Sea Life, you’ll get a glimpse of the ocean’s underworld, including sharks, rays, turtles and piranhas. There are 45 different aquariums with varying marine animals, targeted at children around age 3 to 11. Meet otters and penguins in their habitats. Walk through the underwater tunnel to be surrounded by rainbow-hued fish and coral. Touch starfish and crabs in the interactive touchpool. Sea Life is open all year.
At the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center on the boulevard, kids ages 3 to 10 and their LEGO®-loving caregivers can build, create and imagine. Check out all the zones, including Miniland®, where you can see what The Hague would look like built out of LEGO®; the LEGO® 4D Cinema, where an action-packed 3D adventure takes place in front of you while 4D effects unfold around you; the LEGO® NINJAGO® Training Zone; the LEGO® Friends Zone; the construction and testing area; a pirate ship; and more.
At the Muzee Scheveningen, you can learn all about the area’s marine culture – what it was like to live onboard a bomschuit fishing boat, sink into the icy depths of the ocean, view marine life in the aquarium, check out the huge collection of seashells and view exhibitions on nature and culture in Scheveningen.