Scheveningen

Scheveningen is a fishing village, commercial harbor and seaside resort district in The Hague, the "international city on the sea". It has never been independent from The Hague, but the neighbourhoods of the fishing community still keep their special way of life. Nevertheless, the harbor has been enlarged to offer commercial services and north of the harbor a seaside resort has developed.

Scheveningen beach

Understand

The area is divided into three parts: Haven (port), the seaport where fishers' boats still come in, nowadays accompanied by freighters; not particularly picturesque like some French or Spanish fishing harbors, but some good fish shops and restaurants are available. Dorp (village) is the former fishermen's village. The last part, Bad (bath) is the beach resort that most visitors head for. The resort has a history of long royal and well-to-do visitors with the Kurhaus as its main attraction. But its 19th-century grandeur largely disappeared after the Palace Hotel was burned down and demolished in 1979, and because of unfortunate property development in the 1970s and early 80s. Unimpressive buildings now dominate the promenade. The area gets very crowded in summer. For large-scale nightlife, most city dwellers prefer Scheveningen to the center of town.

Scheveningen is divided into two districts: Noorderstrand (Northern Beach) and Zuiderstrand (Southern Beach). The northern beach area is the most famous and is most touristic. The southern beach is more urban and there is usually less to do, but it may be less crowded on sunny days.

  • 🌍 VVV AKO Scheveningen (tourist information office), Gevers Deynootweg 990-58 (at the AKO News & Media shop in the Palace Promenade shopping centre). Su-F 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-20:00. (updated Jun 2016)

Get in

By car

From Amsterdam and Schiphol, follow the A4 heading for Leiden, and change onto the A44 at Knooppunt Burgerveen, which follows shortly after exit 4 (Nieuw-Vennep). The A44 will become the N44 not long after, and once you reach the edge of The Hague, take a right turn onto the N14. This road will then become the S200. After about 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi), turn right onto the Scheveningseweg, which turns directly to Scheveningen Badplaats and Oud Scheveningen.

From Rotterdam, take the A4 or A13 heading for The Hague, and shortly after these meet, turn onto the A12 heading for Den Haag and Voorburg. Follow the A12 until it ends and meets the S101 and N44. Here, turn right onto the N44, followed shortly after by a left turn onto the Van Alkemadelaan. Following this road brings you directly to De Pier. Turning left when the road you're on goes no further gets you to Schevingen Badplaats and Oud Scheveningen in that order.

By public transit

Tram  1  and Tram  9  run between the city centre of The Hague and Scheveningen Noorderstrand (last stop:Zwarte Pad). Bus 22 runs from The Hague's central train station to the northern beach. Tram  11  runs between The Hague's second largest train station (Hollands Spoor) and the Zuiderstrand.

See
The Scheveningen Kurhaus
  • 🌍 Kurhaus, Gevers Deynootplein 30. This former bathhouse and concert venue dates from 1886 and is the only remaining luxury resort hotel dating from the 19th century. It is now a luxury hotel and still serves as the icon and centerpiece of Scheveningen. (updated Aug 2018)
  • 🌍 Pier. Opposite the Kurhaus lies the Pier, which was rebuilt in the 1960s after the 19th-century original was destroyed in World War II. It affords nice views of the coast line with the Kurhaus. At the end is a restaurant which offers outstanding views of Scheveningen's coastline. (updated Aug 2018)
  • 🌍 Lighthouse. Put in operation in 1875. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Lourdes kerk (Lourdes Chapel), Berkenbosch Blokstraat 9a. Daily 09:00-18:00. Contains so-called the Lourdes Grotto, a replica (1:13 scale) of the original Lourdes Grotto in Massabielle (France). (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Parochie H. Antonius Abt. A Catholic church with some mosaics. 

Museums
The Herring Eater in front of Beelden aan Zee
  • 🌍 Museum Beelden aan Zee, Harteveltstraat 1 (a few hundred meters due south along the coast from the Kurhaus). Tu-Su 11:00-17:00. This museum has a large collection of contemporary sculpture and rotating exhibitions. It has been recently built in the dunes underneath a 19th century classicist beach pavilion. It has glass walls and roofs that allows views of the surrounding dunes, pavilion and sea. €15. (updated Jun 2016)
  • Muzee Scheveningen, Neptunusstraat 92, ☎ +31 70 350 0830. 
  • Atlantic Wall Museum, Scheveningen Coast. The museum which will be of interest to everyone with an interest in World War II history. 
  • Museumschip Mercuur A856, Dr. Lelykade - 2e binnenhaven, ☎ +31 70 354 03 15. 
  • SeaLife Museum. (updated Apr 2018)

Parks
  • 🌍 Scheveningse Bosjes. A park near Scheveningen centred around a small lake, the Waterpartij. Home to the IndiΓ«monument, which commemorates Dutch victims of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. (updated Jun 2016)

Do
New Year Dive in Scheveningen
  • Join the crowd on the sunny days
  • Take a dive in the north sea
  • Windsurfing
  • Come to nearby beaches
  • Have a drink in one of the many beach clubs
  • Take an one of 11 the Haring-Route β€” self-guided walking tours through Scheveningen.

Attractions
Holland Casino by night

Buy

Eat
A restaurant at the promenade

Lunchrooms, Coffeehouses and Snackbars

Casual dining

Exclusive

Drink
Kurhaus in the night

Nightclubs
  • Crazy Piano's, Strandweg 21-29 (see website), ☎ +31 70 3227525. M-Th 11:00-03:00, F-Su 11:00-04:00. A great place for live music with various artists from all over the world. A small entrance fee is required to get in, but it is well worth it. The name really says it all: pianos, but a blues, jazz or sometimes lounge atmosphere is what describes the style of the piano players best. 

Beach clubs

Scheveningen is crowded with beach clubs. Most are open until 02:00 or 04:00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Coffeeshops

Sleep

Budget
  • Jorplace Beach Hostel Scheveningnen, Keizerstraat 296, ☎ +31 70 338 3270. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A favorite amongst the young international sun, surf, sail and soccer crowd. Extreme sport enthusiasts and backpackers alike will appreciate this new hostel's location in the historic heart of Scheveningen and its proximity to the beach. From €16.50 per person per night. 

Mid-range
  • Hotel Albion, Gevers Deynootweg 118-120, ☎ +31 70 355 79 87. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. This friendly three-star family operated hotel, located just steps from the beach, offers 15 moderately priced rooms. Tram 1 to Delft, stops nearly in front of the hotel's sunny terrace. From €50 p.p. inc. breakfast. 
  • 🌍 Ambassade Arena Art'otel - The Hague, Berkenbosch Blokstraat 3 & 9 (From The Hague Centraal Station (CS) or Holland Spoor (HS): Tram 9 or 1. Stop: Circus Theater), ☎ +31 70 306 0123, e-mail: . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. For nearly 20 years, this hotel's Dutch and American owners have established a solid reputation with international travelers. Lodging is offered in two restored landmark buildings less than 150 m from the beach. Beautiful rooms and apartments with free internet access make it an ideal choice for extended stays. Tram 9 stops nearly in front of the door! (Circus Theater) Single €79, double €110. (updated Sep 2015)
  • Skotel, Zwolsestraat 189 (The long building north-east of the Kurhotel, it has a very discrete sign. Parkin from Horstenhoekweg), ☎ +31 703552800, fax: +31 703588487, e-mail: . Skotel is a hotel run by the Hague hotel school to train the students. €78. 
  • Scheveningen Seafront Apartment. Luxury 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom apartment rental with stunning sea views next to the 5-star Kurhaus hotel. 

Splurge
  • Kurhaus, Gevers Deynootplein 30. This former bath house and concert venue dates back to 1886. It was almost demolished in the 1970s, but was saved and is now listed as a historical building. The Kurhaus is in use as a luxury hotel and casino and serves as the iconic centerpiece of Scheveningen. 

Connect

Go next

The Hague is so close, it can be reached by tram or even on foot. Kijkduin is a quieter, more family-oriented beach resort in that city. Another beach resort in the region is Hook of Holland.

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