Top things to do in Scheveningen
Not only does The Hague hold many cultural gems, like Vermeer’s The Girl with the Pearl Earring. The Hague is also located by the sea. Scheveningen, or The Hague Beach if you like, is one of The Netherland’s most popular destination for a day of sea, sand and relaxation. Schevening is a short tramride away from The Hague and you can easily spend the whole day in this beach resort. Read about all the top things to do in Scheveningen.
About Scheveningen, The Netherlands
The Dutch city of The Hague is located by the sea. Just open Google Maps or an old-fashioned atlas and the proximity to the coast is more than obvious. Through history, this wasn’t the case, however. The Hague was once the capital of The Netherlands, until (under French occupation) the capital and government were moved to Amsterdam. The government moved back when The Netherlands became an independent republic, and later a kingdom. Back then The Hague was a centre of the Dutch royals, government and diplomacy. And the villages along the coast were nothing more than simple fisherman’s villages and so was Scheveningen.
By royal decrete the first bathhouse opened its doors in Scheveningen around 200 years ago. The 4 cabins with baths launched the era of high-class entertainment at sea. Within a couple of decades, more bathhouses were built including the impressive pier and luxurious Kurhaus. For centuries the royal, rich and not-so-famous came to Scheveningen when doctors prescribed stays at the seaside for health reasons. Lungs, skins and weary minds from the busy and often overcrowded industrial cities benefited from the clean sea air and the entertainment Scheveningen provided. Some wonderful historical photos from Scheveningen have been published lately and I was permitted to publish them here.
Photos were kindly provided by MuZee and The Hague city archives.
Aren’t these photos just amazing! I love those wicker seats where people would just lounge and read in. Except for the ones brave enough venturing into the sea into a carriage, whilst wearing massively heavy bathing suits.
How to get to Scheveningen
- Getting to The Hague is actually quite easy, as you can simply catch a train from Amsterdam. There are regular trains and it’ll take less than an hour to get there.
- Once you arrive in The Hague you can take tram no. 1, 9 or 11 to get to Scheveningen. You’ll need an OV Chip Card, which you can charge as you go.
Vitamin Sea apartment
Vitamin Sea apartment is located less than a 5-minute walk from Scheveningen beach. The apartment is luxuriously styled, has a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, a quiet bedroom and lovely bathroom. It offers just that bit more space than your basic hotel room.
Hotel Ocean House
Hotel Ocean House in Scheveningen offers the perfect accommodation for your stay in Scheveningen. Doubles, family roomd and fully equipped studios and apartments. All but a stone’s throw away from all the top things to do in Scheveningen.
Nautisch Centrum Scheveningen
Located in the heart of Scheveningen, Nautisch Centrum Scheveningen offers fully equipped self-service apartments overlooking the harbour. All the top things to see and do in Scheveningen are only a few minutes from your doorstep.
Vakantiepark Kijkduin
Just a stone’s throw from Scheveningen Vakantiepark Kijkduin offers cottages and camping spaces. Perfect for children, who will enjoy the indoor swimming pool, playgrounds and a daily kids club.
Scheveningen Pier
The Scheveningen Pier is the only old fashion pier in The Netherlands. And it’s the pride and joy of The Hague beach. A couple of years ago the Pier was on the verge of bankruptcy, but luckily all was saved and the Scheveningen Pier has made quite the comeback. With street food all along the boardwalk, a large Ferris wheel overlooking the promenade and sea and even a zipline. If you’re really into something special, you can spend the night at the Scheveningen Pier at De Pier Suites.
Madurodam
Madurodam is located between The Hague and Scheveningen and makes for a great visit when you’re visiting with the whole family. Madurodam has all the sights to be seen in The Netherlands, but in miniature versions. You’ll see small scale-versions of famous sights like the Amsterdam Canals, the windmills of Kinderdijk, the Dom tower of Utrecht and Rotterdam Harbour.
Panorama Mesdag
Museum Panorama Mesdag is quite the sight. It’s a 360-degrees painting made by Hendrik Willen Mesdag in the 19th century. It’s an image of Scheveningen back in the late 1800s and you get the feeling like you’re watching over the beach and The Hague in the distance and dream back to days long gone. The rest of the museum is also very interesting with work by Mesdag and his wife, plus the paintings of contemporaries they collected.
Beelden aan Zee
Along the Scheveningen promenade, you’ll discover some endearing and fun sculptures. The fun creatures are works by Tom Otterness and they’re all part of Beelden aan Zee, the only museum in The Netherlands completely dedicated to sculptural art.
Sea Life
Kids will absolutely love a day out in Scheveningen. The Hague beach has lots to offer for them, There is a lot to see and do on the pier, there is (of course) the beach and you can take them to Sea Life. Kids will love to walk along the large tanks with different kinds of rays, watch the feeding of the piranhas and watch the scary sharks. And of course, Nemo also lives at Sea Life.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
LEGO fans big and small will absolutey enjoy LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in Scheveningen. You will see the city of The Hague completely built from LEGO, drive through a spectacular LEGO town, train as a LEGO Ninja and of course, build as much as you’d like.
Surfing and beach clubs
If you’re into surfing, kite surfing and other water sports: Scheveningen is the perfect place to visit in The Netherlands. There are surfing lessons for adults and surfing lessons for kids, which is great when the weather is nice. After that, have a drink at beach club Hart Beach or any of the other beach clubs along the shoreline.
Westduinpark
A fine walk through the beautiful dunes should without a doubt be part of your visit to The Hague beach. Westduinpark is located between Scheveningen and Kijkduin. The varied landscape of high dunes, deep valleys and abandoned Second World War bunkers is very interesting to see. And, as a bonus, you’ll be seeing some Highland cows.
Westbroekpark
If you feel like escaping the bustling city or the busy beach, a visit to Westbroekpark is absolutely what you need. It’s a popular destination from friends and families on a warm day who come to walk along the roses or rent a boat in the lake in the middle of the park. You can easily get to the park from The Hague beach. And I highly recommend you getting some lunch at Westbroekpark restaurant, enjoying a view over the water.
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19 Comments
Sandra
March 5, 2018 at 9:42 amI missed Scheveningen the last time I had been to the Netherlands, but then again, it was pretty wet last time around. This article makes me wanna go there, especially when the sun’s up.
Annabel
March 5, 2018 at 5:44 pmI hadn’t realised The Hague was on the coast. Hope I’m not the only one! I love the art.
Lydia C. Lee
March 5, 2018 at 9:03 pmWe didn’t have time, but what a gorgeous place!!
Caity Pfohl
March 5, 2018 at 9:17 pmI know next to nothing about The Hague so it’s great to learn more! There’s something so special and festive about a great beach pier. Love those old photos, too – wow!
Esther
March 7, 2018 at 10:10 amThe Hague is an excellent city to discover. You could do it in a day I guess, but 2 days would be far more enjoyable.
Lolo
March 6, 2018 at 10:17 amThis beach reminds me a lot of Blankenberge Beach in Belgium! I would love to explore more of the coastline up there! I practically cried last time I was there bc I had forgotten the joy of soft sand!
Esther
March 7, 2018 at 10:08 amI simply adore the Belgian coast, we used to go there all the time when I was little. I totally get your comparison, though I’d say Scheveningen is a bit more like Oostende or Nieuwpoort.
Susanna
March 6, 2018 at 3:47 pmI hadn’t really given The Hague much thought before this, thanks for enlightening me!
Tanja
March 6, 2018 at 7:54 pmMy husband was here at the beach, he said that it was very windy:)
Esther
March 7, 2018 at 10:09 amLOL, wind? In Holland? Nah!
Sarah
March 7, 2018 at 7:10 pmI guess I just don’t really associate beaches with the Netherlands but maybe I should! The Hague’s beach is a beach if I’ve ever seen one – and those colorful columns holding up the pier… just beautiful!
Esther
March 8, 2018 at 8:07 amThe Netherlands have really lovely (and broad) beaches. When the sun’s out, it’s lovely. But they’re pretty good on a crips winter day as well.
Neha
March 7, 2018 at 8:11 pmI always enjoy reading your posts about Holland. This one is no exception. Loved the quirky pictures too 🙂
Emma Raphael
March 7, 2018 at 10:12 pmI am sure this is close to where my aunt had a holiday place many moons ago (my Grandmother is Dutch). I remember a lighthouse would keep me awake at night 😀 The art there now is incredible!
Ruth
March 8, 2018 at 5:07 amI am not from Europe so, I am not that familiar with European beaches. However, I have lived close to the ocean my entire life. This place looks incredible! I adore, adore piers! You have given me a fantastic idea for The Netherlands.
Cathy
March 8, 2018 at 11:29 pmScheveningen always sounds such a lovely place – what fantastic old photos. It always seems to differ from the standard image of The Hague with its palaces and art, but the sculptures and that wonderful beach art seems so fitting.
Sharon
March 9, 2018 at 7:05 pmOK, you’ve convinced me that The Hague is worth visiting! Piers are one of my favorites, and this colorful one is unlike any I’ve seen. Thanks for an inspiration post with lovely photos!
Wendy Maes
March 10, 2018 at 1:30 pmDen Haag is echt een van de leukste steden van Nederland! Er hangt altijd zo’n speciaal sfeertje.
Jon Silver
May 16, 2022 at 3:51 pmThose wicker chairs on the beach at Den Haag were still there, exactly the same, in the 1950s… my parents took photos of each other in them on their honeymoon in 1952, which I still have.