Scheveningen Beach Vibes

It’s been a sunny weekend here in the Netherlands and I have made the most of the warm weather since it happens so rarely in this country. With this post I’m sharing one of my favorite places in the Hague, also the most famous place on the Dutch North Sea coast. This is Scheveningen Beach.

First thing when you arrive, you immediately find yourself on the beach boulevard which is more than 2.5 km long but bear in mind it can get very busy, especially on the weekends and when the weather is good. The beach line itself is enormous, especially on a low tide, so there’s plenty of space for sunbathing and maybe even swimming (if you don’t mind the lower temperatures of the water). The boulevard is made to suit all kinds of preferences and it’s packed with beach cafes, terraces and restaurants.

When it’s not so busy, like on weekdays or in colder months, you can have a beautiful scenic run, a long relaxing walk or go for a bike ride along the boulevard. It stretches all the way from De Pier (the Ferris’ Wheel) to the Northern Pier (the Hague Harbor). I’ve been to this beach countless of times since I moved to the Netherlands back in 2017. The sea has always been a source of calm and inspiration as well as an escape from reality.

Kurhaus – A Luxury Stay

In the beginning of the boulevard you cannot miss to see Kurhaus – a luxurious historical 5-star hotel. Kurhaus exists since 1885 and has about 265 rooms. It was used also as a concert hall in addition to being a hotel until it was destroyed by fire but later it was rebuilt and the major concert hall remained after that as well. Nowadays, you can even have your wedding there (if you can afford it). At the heart of Scheveningen, surrounded by all kinds of attractions and with a perfect view to the sea, the prices for a night at the hotel start from EUR 145 per night per person.

Dunes – Quiet Nature Reserve

Going a bit further from the boulevard, on the other side of De Pier, you can visit the dunes park (Oostduinpark). If you would rather miss the boulevard and you are coming from the centre of the Hague, you can also reach there directly by tram (No. 1 and 9) getting off on the last stop (Zwarte Pad). A panoramic view of the dune park can be caught from a small hill which for the Netherlands can feel like a whole mountain (given that vast part of the country is below sea level). Over the ages, the dunes played a crucial role in the survival of the land and protected it from being flooded by the waters of the sea. You can take a stroll in the dunes as long as you follow the designated paths (as you might get lost or meet some buffaloes strolling around). This was also my first time visiting the dunes natural park and I was surprised such vast nature surrounding the otherwise busy and touristic beach.

Weather

The Sunday offered the perfect weather to go outside and on the beach. It was, in fact, the first warm day this spring with temperatures reaching 23°C and a warm breeze. However, that is not too common around here. Scheveningen is generally a windy place. During winter storms the wind there can reach 120 km/h. I recommend carrying a scarf and a hat with you, especially in the colder seasons, and definitely a windproof/rainproof jacket if you are there in autumn. This applies for the Netherlands as a whole but especially on the coast.

Don’t let weather discourage you though. Just because it is not one of those Greek beaches, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a very pleasant time here. It’s worth it if you’re visiting the Hague area, you really cannot miss it. In late spring and in the summer there are plenty of warm days to enjoy the beach. Even if you start off with a thunderstorm and pouring rain, weather here changes very quickly during the warmer months and in no time you have clear skies again.

Food Recommendations

Here’s a glimpse at the variety of foods you can enjoy at Scheveningen – burgers, burritos, salads, cocktails, always accompanied by Dutch fries with mayo. The Netherlands is famous for being very international in terms of food and exposed to all kinds of cuisines (also historically). We reserved a nice little spot on a beach terrace called “The Fat Mermaid” (now thankfully open again after the lockdown). The food was delicious so no wonder the place was named like that and I’d surely go again. In terms of prices, Scheveningen can get expensive if you sit in a fancier place but there are plenty of places with fair prices so you can also enjoy it there without the need to spend too much. It really has a lot of options.

To conclude, Scheveningen was a great way to spend the weekend, especially after all the stress around my LLB thesis. I hope this information is helpful to you in case you want to visit some time and I hope you had a Sunday Funday. As usual, always feel free to share, comment and ask anything.

All the best,

D. D.