Scheveningen Beach | The Hague

Information

Landmark: Scheveningen Beach
City: The Hague
Country: Netherlands
Continent: Europe

Scheveningen Beach, The Hague, Netherlands, Europe

Scheveningen Beach is the most popular seaside resort in the Netherlands, located on the North Sea coast of The Hague. It is characterized by a wide sandy beach, a long promenade, and the iconic Kurhaus hotel.

Visual Characteristics

The shoreline is divided into several zones: the lively "Noorderstrand" (North Beach) featuring the Pier and the Kurhaus, and the quieter "Zuiderstrand" (South Beach) near the harbor. The landscape is dominated by the De Pier, a multi-level structure extending into the sea, and a massive Ferris wheel. The promenade is lined with dozens of seasonal "strandpaviljoens" (beach clubs) that are reconstructed every spring.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: Strandweg, 2586 ZZ Den Haag.

Public Transport: Reachable from Den Haag Centraal via Tram 9 or Bus 22, and from Den Haag Hollands Spoor via Trams 1 and 11 (Kurhaus or Strandweg stops).

Parking: Several large parking garages are located near the coast, including Parking Strand and Parking Kurhaus. Parking is expensive and fills quickly on sunny days.

Accessibility: The promenade is flat and wheelchair accessible. Many beach clubs provide specialized "beach wheelchairs" for rent.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Originally a small fishing village, Scheveningen developed into a health resort in the early 19th century. The Kurhaus, opened in 1885, was the centerpiece of this transformation. The beach is backed by extensive dune systems (Meijendel and Westduinpark) which are protected nature reserves and crucial for coastal defense.

Key Highlights & Activities

De Pier: Offers dining, shops, bungee jumping, and a Ferris wheel 40 meters above the North Sea.

SEA LIFE Scheveningen: An indoor aquarium featuring North Sea marine life and tropical sharks.

Surfing: The area near the harbor is a primary hub for surfing and kite-boarding in the Netherlands.

Museum Beelden aan Zee: A unique museum for modern sculpture hidden within the dunes.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The promenade features hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops. Public restrooms and showers are available at various points along the beach and within the beach clubs. 5G coverage is consistent along the coast. During the summer, the beach is patrolled by the Reddingsbrigade (Coast Guard).

Best Time to Visit

Photography: Sunset over the North Sea provides optimal conditions.

Events: January 1st for the "Nieuwjaarsduik" (New Year's Dive) or June for "Vlaggetjesdag" (Flag Day), celebrating the arrival of the new herring.

Climate: Summer (July–August) for swimming; autumn for dramatic wind-swept walks.

Facts & Legends

A verified technical oddity is that the beach is artificially "replenished" every few years by pumping millions of cubic meters of sand from the seafloor to combat erosion. Legend says that during WWII, Dutch resistance fighters used the pronunciation of "Scheveningen" (specifically the "Sch" sound) as a shibboleth to identify German spies, who struggled to pronounce it correctly.