Culture Nature Summer

Visit The Hague beach: Scheveningen

The Hague Beach, Scheveningen: The Netherlands | Your Dutch Guide (photo by Arjan de Jager)

Not only does The Hague hold many cultural gems, like Vermeer’s The Girl with the Pearl Earring, but The Hague is also right by the sea. The Hague Beach, which is Scheveningen, is one of Holland’s oldest and most famous beach resorts. And it’s really easy to visit The Hague Beach during your visit to The Netherlands. Check out all top things to do. 

How to get to The Hague Beach

  • 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.
  • In The Hague simply hop on tram no. 1, 9 or 11 to get to Scheveningen. You’ll need an OV Chip Card, which you can charge as you go, to travel on all public transport in The Netherlands.
  • Or you can grab a rental bike as a bike ride takes you to The Hague Beach in less than 20 minutes.

Hotels in and around Scheveningen

Scheveningen Designer Loft

Scheveningen hotel, Scheveningen airbnb designer lodge | Your Dutch Guide

After a day of taking in the culture of The Hague and a nice stay at the beach, this seaside designer lodge is just what you need to freshen up and relax. Have a nice shower in the luxurious bathroom, pour yourself a drink and watch a movie or enjoy the lovely view from your window. The apartment is close to the beach and close to a tram stop, so you can easily combine a day at the beach with some sightseeing in The Hague.

Vitamin Sea apartment

Vitamin Sea Apartment, Scheveningen | Your Dutch Guide

This luxurious loft apartment is just a lovely stay when you’re in Scheveningen. The beach is less than a 5-minute walk away. 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 and the possibility to make your own breakfast or cook a simple meal is very nice.

Largo Beach Houses

Largo Beach Houses The Hague, Kijkduin | Your Dutch Guide

Largo Beach Houses The Hague, Kijkduin | Your Dutch Guide

Just a stone’s throw away from both Scheveningen and The Hague are the Largo Beach Houses, set at Kijkduin beach. It’s one of the prettiest beaches on the South-Holland coast and the perfect place if you’ve ever wanted to stay in a pretty beach house. The beach houses have a nice living area, fully equipped kitchen, soft beds and of course, an uninterrupted sea view. What a place to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the sea. If the prices of the beach houses are a bit too steep for you, there’s always nearby Holidaypark Kijkduin, where you can rent cottages close to the beach. Take a look at all the beach houses in The Netherlands.

About Scheveningen

To the beach in The Netherlands: Scheveningen | Your Dutch Guide

The Hague is right by the sea. Just open Google Maps or an old-fashioned atlas (ah!) 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 simple fisherman’s villages, detached from the city, albeit not too far away.

200 years ago the first bathhouse was opened at Scheveningen beach, with royal permission. 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, which is still one of the most popular beach resorts in The Netherlands. For centuries the royal, rich and not-so-famous came to Scheveningen as 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 the entertainment Scheveningen provided. Some wonderful historical photos from The Hague beach have been published lately and I can’t wait to share these (with permission) with you all.

The Hague beach, Scheveningen: The Netherlands | Your Dutch Guide

The Hague beach, Scheveningen: The Netherlands | Your Dutch Guide

The Hague beach, Scheveningen: The Netherlands | Your Dutch Guide

The Hague beach, Scheveningen: The Netherlands | Your Dutch Guide

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. 

Top things to do in Scheveningen

Scheveningen Pier

Scheveningen Pier | Your Dutch Guide

The Scheveningen Pier is the only old fashion pier that The Netherlands has. 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 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 even spend the night at the Scheveningen Pier.

Panorama Mesdag

Panorama Mesdag, The Hague | Your Dutch Guide

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.

Madurodam

The Hague, Madurodam | Your Dutch Guide

Madurodam is situated between The Hague and Scheveningen and is especially fun to visit when you’re visiting The Hague beach with your young children. Madurodam has all the sights to be seen in The Netherlands, but then miniature versions. You’ll see small scale-versions of famous sights like the 19 windmills of Kinderdijk, Utrecht city centre and the Rotterdam Harbour.

Sealife

Scheveningen, Sealife | Your Dutch Guide

Taking your kids to The Hague beach is a fabulous idea. Of course, there’s the beach, the promenade with carousels and playground, the famous Pier and there’s Sealife. 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 Sealife in Scheveningen.

Beelden aan Zee

Beach in The Netherlands: where to go? The Hague, Scheveningen | Your Dutch Guide

Beach in The Netherlands: where to go? The Hague, Scheveningen | Your Dutch Guide

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.

Westduinpark

Westduinpark The Hague | Your Dutch Guide

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

The Hague beach, Westbroekpark | Your Dutch Guide

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.

Surfing and beach clubs

Surfing in The Netherlands: Scheveningen (photp by Jurjen Drenth) | Your Dutch Guide

You may not think The Netherlands are the best of summer destinations in Europe, but when the sun is out, it’s actually quite nice to be at the beach. You can even take surf lessons in Scheveningen if you like, or just have a drink at their beach club Hart Beach. Scheveningen has a lovely variety of great beach clubs, though I like the ones along Zwarte Pad best as they’re a little bit more remote from the main beaches.

Read more about The Hague

The Hague beach
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The Hague Beach | Top things to do in Scheveningen, The Netherlands

The Hague Beach | Top things to do in Scheveningen, The Netherlands

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19 Comments

  • Reply
    Sandra
    March 5, 2018 at 9:42 am

    I 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.

  • Reply
    Annabel
    March 5, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    I hadn’t realised The Hague was on the coast. Hope I’m not the only one! I love the art.

  • Reply
    Lydia C. Lee
    March 5, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    We didn’t have time, but what a gorgeous place!!

  • Reply
    Caity Pfohl
    March 5, 2018 at 9:17 pm

    I 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!

    • Reply
      Esther
      March 7, 2018 at 10:10 am

      The Hague is an excellent city to discover. You could do it in a day I guess, but 2 days would be far more enjoyable.

  • Reply
    Lolo
    March 6, 2018 at 10:17 am

    This 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!

    • Reply
      Esther
      March 7, 2018 at 10:08 am

      I 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.

  • Reply
    Susanna
    March 6, 2018 at 3:47 pm

    I hadn’t really given The Hague much thought before this, thanks for enlightening me!

  • Reply
    Tanja
    March 6, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    My husband was here at the beach, he said that it was very windy:)

    • Reply
      Esther
      March 7, 2018 at 10:09 am

      LOL, wind? In Holland? Nah!

  • Reply
    Sarah
    March 7, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    I 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!

    • Reply
      Esther
      March 8, 2018 at 8:07 am

      The 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.

  • Reply
    Neha
    March 7, 2018 at 8:11 pm

    I always enjoy reading your posts about Holland. This one is no exception. Loved the quirky pictures too 🙂

  • Reply
    Emma Raphael
    March 7, 2018 at 10:12 pm

    I 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!

  • Reply
    Ruth
    March 8, 2018 at 5:07 am

    I 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.

  • Reply
    Cathy
    March 8, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    Scheveningen 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.

  • Reply
    Sharon
    March 9, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    OK, 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!

  • Reply
    Wendy Maes
    March 10, 2018 at 1:30 pm

    Den Haag is echt een van de leukste steden van Nederland! Er hangt altijd zo’n speciaal sfeertje.

  • Reply
    Jon Silver
    May 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    Those 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.

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