Scheveningen

Scheveningen is a fishing village, commercial harbour 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 harbour has been enlarged to offer commercial services and north of the harbor a seaside resort has developed. In 2015, it had a population of about 56,000 people.

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 harbours, 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.

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 km (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

Some convenient bus/tram stops are:

  • 🌍 Tramstop for lines  1  and  9  (Kurhaus). Both lines connect to the center of The Hague. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Busstop for lines 21, 22 and 23 (Kurhausweg). Line 22 connects to the center of The Hague, as well as to the harbor area of Scheveningen. The lines 21 and 23 connect to some districts in The Hague without passing the center of The Hague. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Tramstop for line  11  (Strandweg). This is the terminal stop of tram line  11 , which connects to the railway station Hollands Spoor, one of the main stations of The Hague. Also interesting on this line is the stop that is 4 stops before this terminal, called Statenlaan, which is convenient for the harbor area. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Busstop for lines 22 and 28 (Statenlaan). This is a convenient busstop for visiting the harbor area of Scheveningen. Line 28 is a quite fast connection with the center of The Hague. Line 22 takes much more time and kilometers to reach this stop. Nearby is also a stop of tramline  11 . (updated Apr 2023)

See
  • 🌍 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. 
  • 🌍 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. 
  • 🌍 Madurodam. Miniature park. 

Museums
  • 🌍 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 is 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. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Atlantic Wall Museum, Scheveningen Coast. The museum which will be of interest to everyone with an interest in World War II history. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 SeaLife Museum, Strandweg 13. (updated Jun 2019)

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

Do
  • 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 — self-guided walking tours through Scheveningen.

Attractions

Events

Eat

Drink

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.

Cafes
  • 🌍 coffeecompany, Circusstraat 4, ☏ +31 70 205 4660. Specialized in coffee. They have a large working table, as well as comfortable leather armchairs. Free WiFi. (updated Jun 2021)

Coffeeshops

Coffeeshops that are listed here, are places to buy marijuana. Places to really drink coffee are listed at cafes.

Sleep

Budget
  • 🌍 Jorplace Beach Hostel Scheveningnen, Keizerstraat 296, ☏ +31 70 338 3270. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. A favourite 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 (Tram 1 to Delft, stops nearly in front of the hotel.), ☏ +31 70 355 79 87. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Three-star family operated hotel, flee to the beach, 15 rooms. From €50 p.p. inc. breakfast. 
  • 🌍 Skotel, Zwolsestraat 189 (a 600 meter walk from the Kurhaus tram stop), ☏ +31 703552800, fax: +31 703588487, . Skotel is a hotel run by the Hague hotel school to train the students. €78. 

Splurge
  • 🌍 Inntel Marina Beach, Strandweg 1, ☏ +31 70 217 0710. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 🌍 Grand Hotel Amrâth 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 serves as the iconic centerpiece of Scheveningen. 

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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