Did you know that Den Haag (The Hague) is the only Dutch city located directly at the ocean? It makes for a great day trip from Amsterdam (or any other city in The Netherlands), but is also definitely worth a visit on its own.
Have a look at my guide to one day in The Hague, meet the Dutch Royal family at Prinsjesdag, or stay tuned for my personal tips on what to do on and around the 11 kilometer beach of Scheveningen located just 5 minutes from the center of The Hague… But first my favourite picture of the day to get you excited for more :)
One Day at Scheveningen Beach
In the 19th century, Scheveningen was known for its fishing industry. When that declined, tourism made its grand entrance -and was there to stay. In Summer it gets crazy busy here, but me and my mum visited in September, which gave us a nice an empty beach!
The animals on poles come from the Miffy books (who we call ‘Nijntje’ bij the way) and they’re there to help little kids find their parents back when the beach is crowded. I didn’t need them today, pfew!
After 200 years of development on the coast, the boulevard of Scheveningen got a new face thanks to the Spanish architect Manuel De Solà-Morales. It’s become a great open and light space.
Relax at one of the many beach huts. Because hot chocolate is always a good idea.
Which Beach to Choose in Scheveningen?
The Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus (that you can see below) is the biggest eye candy of the area and from there, you can (in Spring/Summer) comfortable stroll around the boulevards to shop or eat, or you can brave the wind (in Autumn/Winter) and get yourself blown across the endless beach and rest at a cozy beach hut or one of the attractions & museums that are open all year round.
The beach from the Kurhaus hotel to the harbour is called ‘Noorderstrand’ (‘North Beach’), but is also referred to as the ‘Black Path’, because of the crowds that gather here in Summer. If you’re looking for a bit more quiet space, keep going until you hit the ‘Zuiderstrand’ (‘South Beach’), located between Scheveningen and Kijkduin.
Scheveningen Beach Attractions
After running around at the beach, my mum and I visited the Sea Life aquarium, which is right next to the Kurhaus. While the set-up was nice and animals usually never fail to entertain, we were slightly disappointed on how small it was. We had gone through everything in under 30 minutes!
However, when you get your ticket and visit after 4 pm, you get in for just 10 Euro, instead of 16,75 Euro.
Penguins with a view!
Ready to explore more? Have a look below for our handpicked suggestions on what else to see and do in Scheveningen -no matter what your personal travel style is!
Muzee Scheveningen
There are plenty of other things to do in Scheveningen Holland, but unfortunately we didn’t have the time for it this time. If you do, you could perhaps pay a visit to “Muzee” (zee=sea in Dutch). Here, you can learn everything about living in, on and around the sea.
The museum is also partly dedicated to culture, which gives you a good overview of the history of Scheveningen. From the fishing industry to the local crafts and from traditional clothing to the working and living in Scheveningen around 1900, you can learn all about it here.
Museum Beelden aan Zee
Hidden in the Scheveningen dunes, the museum focuses exclusively on contemporary sculpture. The building itself is designed as a sea shell: from the outside you just see the grey walls, but inside you’ll find a great building designed by architect Wim Quist.
This museum features about 12 exhibitions a year, showcasing international sculptures in a variety of materials and styles. You’ll have a good view on the ocean while you admire the ever-changing exhibitions.
Scheveningen Surf Community
When walking from the Kurhaus towards the harbour (where, by the way, you can book a behind the scenes tour with a fisherman), you will eventually reach the “Free Architecture Surf Terrain” Surf Village, otherwise known as F.A.S.T.
All surfdudes and babes from Scheveningen, The Hague and other surrounding towns meet at this collection of shipping containers to hang out, take surf lessons or take their own boards from the storage directly into the ocean.
At FAST Scheveningen, you’ll also find a surf shop, restaurant/bar, camping spot and even a beach hostel on this creative spot!
Catch by Simonis
Finish your day by walking through the harbour, ending at the second inner harbour. Here you’ll find the modern fish restaurant ‘Catch’. It has 4 floors and they offer a wide variety of fresh fish from all around the world. If you’re not such a fish lover (like my mum), then they have some meat dishes as well.
The portions in the restaurant where MASSIVE. I mean, we couldn’t even finish the desert (that says a lot, haha), but everything tasted really good, so there was no complaining. It’s a great place to end a lovely day at the beach, and within 5 minutes by tram you’re back in The Hague!
Locations:
How to get there:
From Amsterdam, take the intercity that goes directly to Den Haag Centraal (The Hague Central Station), it’s about 50 minutes. Check www.ns.nl for all information about trains. Then take tram 1, 9 or 11 to Scheveningen Strand (Beach).
Attractions:
Sea Life Scheveningen: denhaag.com/…/sea-life-scheveningen
Muzee Scheveningen: denhaag.com/…/muzee-scheveningen
Museum Beelden aan Zee: denhaag.com/…/museum-beelden-aan-zee
Tourist Information Scheveningen: http://denhaag.com/en/scheveningen
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Disclaimer: I traveled to The Hague as part of the #MustLoveFestivals campaign in collaboration with Expedia and Den Haag Tourism. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.
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