Scheveningen (The Hague) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Scheveningen in The Hague with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

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Scheveningen
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Scheveningen in The Hague pairs a broad North Sea beach with a historic seaside village, Kurhaus, Pier, harbour, museums, seafood and coastal walks.

Beach, Boulevard and Village

Scheveningen is The Hague’s coastal district, where a broad North Sea beach meets a former fishing village and a long seafront of hotels, cafés, promenades and leisure attractions. Although it is part of the Dutch royal city, Scheveningen has a distinct identity: the old village streets inland feel more intimate and residential, while the boulevard opens towards dunes, surf and an ever-changing horizon. The beach is the central public space, used for swimming, walking, wind sports and relaxed observation of the weather rather than as a merely seasonal resort.
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Seaside Heritage and Culture

The Kurhaus remains the district’s grand architectural signature, recalling the nineteenth-century expansion of Scheveningen as a fashionable bathing resort. Nearby, the Pier extends over the water, while the Museum Beelden aan Zee presents modern and contemporary sculpture in a setting above the beach. Muzee Scheveningen explores the area’s maritime history and village culture, helping explain the relationship between residents and the sea. The harbour, still associated with fishing and seafood, provides a more working waterfront atmosphere than the central beach.

Dunes, Harbour and Everyday Life

Beyond the main promenade, lanes around the old village, the harbour basin and the northern dunes offer a slower perspective on the district. Seafood restaurants, beach pavilions and cafés give Scheveningen a varied dining scene, while evening activity ranges from theatre and live entertainment to quiet walks beside the water. Strong winds, shifting light and the practical presence of the sea remain as important to its character as its tourism infrastructure.

Best attractions in Scheveningen

Scheveningen’s principal attraction is its expansive North Sea beach, backed by a broad boulevard and centred on the Pier, whose elevated structure provides a distinctive view back towards the coast. The Kurhaus anchors the historic resort frontage, while Museum Beelden aan Zee presents modern and contemporary sculpture in galleries and outdoor spaces near the dunes. Muzee Scheveningen offers a more locally focused experience, exploring fishing, maritime life and the history of the former village. The harbour adds a working waterfront dimension, with boats, quays and seafood establishments contrasting with the leisure-oriented beach. Visitors can also wander through the old village streets or follow paths towards the dunes for a less commercial coastal landscape. Conditions are part of the experience: sea wind, dramatic skies and shifting light alter the character of the promenade and beach throughout the day.

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Best landmarks in Scheveningen

The Kurhaus is Scheveningen’s defining architectural landmark, a grand nineteenth-century seaside hotel that represents the district’s transformation from fishing village to international resort. The Pier, projecting from the boulevard over the North Sea, is the most recognisable symbol of modern Scheveningen and marks the public face of the beach. The harbour provides a different kind of landmark: its quays, fishing boats and maritime buildings connect the contemporary district with its working waterfront history. Inland, the old village streets and the Oude Kerk recall the community that existed before large-scale resort construction. The red-and-white Scheveningen Lighthouse near the harbour is another prominent coastal marker, while surviving wartime structures and traces in the dunes point to the strategic importance of the shoreline during the Second World War.

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Explore Scheveningen on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Scheveningen, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Scheveningen

Eating in Scheveningen reflects the district’s relationship with the sea, combining seafood restaurants around the harbour with cafés, beach pavilions and more conventional dining along the boulevard and in the old village. Fish, herring and other North Sea produce feature prominently, while harbour-side establishments offer a more maritime setting than the resort strip. The beach supports a seasonal dining culture, with venues ranging from informal counters and cafés to restaurants designed for longer meals overlooking the water. Inland streets provide quieter alternatives, including everyday Dutch and international food rather than a single defined cuisine. As the district serves both residents and visitors, the atmosphere changes with weather, season and time of day; the harbour generally feels more connected to working waterfront life, while the central seafront is oriented towards leisure and views.

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Best bars in Scheveningen

Scheveningen’s evening life is concentrated around the boulevard, beach venues, the Kurhaus area and the harbour, with a mixture of cafés, hotel bars, seasonal beach pavilions and restaurants that remain active after sunset. The district also has a long association with live entertainment and theatre, particularly through the large venues near the central resort zone, while the Pier and seafront provide informal places to enjoy the lights and sea air. Nightlife is more varied than a single club circuit: some evenings are oriented towards performances, music or dancing, while others are simply about drinks beside the water. Activity can be seasonal, and the atmosphere becomes quieter away from the main promenade, especially around residential streets and the old village. Visitors should check current programmes and transport arrangements rather than assume every venue operates year-round.

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Best nightclubs in Scheveningen

Scheveningen’s evening life is concentrated around the boulevard, beach venues, the Kurhaus area and the harbour, with a mixture of cafés, hotel bars, seasonal beach pavilions and restaurants that remain active after sunset. The district also has a long association with live entertainment and theatre, particularly through the large venues near the central resort zone, while the Pier and seafront provide informal places to enjoy the lights and sea air. Nightlife is more varied than a single club circuit: some evenings are oriented towards performances, music or dancing, while others are simply about drinks beside the water. Activity can be seasonal, and the atmosphere becomes quieter away from the main promenade, especially around residential streets and the old village. Visitors should check current programmes and transport arrangements rather than assume every venue operates year-round.

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Best shops in Scheveningen

Shopping in Scheveningen is concentrated less on specialist retail than on beach, leisure and everyday local commerce. The boulevard and streets around the resort core contain shops connected with seaside visits, clothing, souvenirs and outdoor activities, while the harbour area has a more practical maritime character. Visitors can browse food retailers and fish sellers associated with the district’s fishing identity, although the range and opening pattern vary by season. The old village has small-scale neighbourhood shops and services rather than a major pedestrian shopping quarter. For independent browsing, the most interesting route combines the village streets with the harbour and seafront rather than focusing on one retail centre. Visitors seeking a broader fashion, design or department-store selection will find more extensive shopping in central The Hague, which is connected to Scheveningen by public transport.

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Scheveningen essentials

Getting There
Scheveningen is connected with central The Hague by tram and bus routes running towards the coast, with the most useful approaches following the major corridors through the city and reaching the boulevard, beach and harbour areas. The nearest railway connections are in The Hague rather than within Scheveningen itself, so visitors arriving by train generally change to local public transport or continue by taxi or bicycle. The district is also reachable by cycling from the city centre, although the final approach can become busy on sunny days. Check the current Dutch public transport network before travelling, as routes and diversions may change.
Getting Around
The beach, boulevard, Pier, Kurhaus and Museum Beelden aan Zee form a walkable central zone, while the harbour and old village lie farther along the coast or inland. Flat terrain makes cycling practical, but busy promenades, beach entrances and tram corridors require care, particularly during summer weekends. Dunes and shore paths may be sandy, uneven or exposed to strong wind, and not every route is equally suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Walking between the central seafront and harbour is straightforward but takes longer than the compact resort core suggests.
Safety
Take ordinary precautions with phones, wallets and bags in crowded areas around the boulevard, Pier, tram stops and busy beach entrances. Follow local warning signs near the water, respect swimming and watersports guidance, and be cautious around fast bicycles and traffic on the main approach roads. The sea can create strong currents and changing conditions, while dunes may have fragile vegetation or restricted paths. At night, keep to well-used routes and arrange transport sensibly after entertainment venues close; the usual precautions for any busy coastal resort remain appropriate.
Emergency Situations
In the Netherlands, call 112 for an immediate police, fire or medical emergency. Give the precise beach entrance, boulevard address, harbour location or nearby landmark, since broad stretches of coast can be difficult to identify quickly. For non-urgent police assistance, the national number is 0900 8844. Visitors who need medical care should ask hotel staff, a pharmacy or a local health service for current advice; do not assume that a hospital is located within Scheveningen itself. Beach warning flags and lifeguard instructions should be followed without delay.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect residential streets and village lanes by keeping noise down, especially after an evening on the seafront. Use marked paths through the dunes and avoid trampling planted areas, and leave beach and harbour spaces clean. Ask before photographing people closely, fishing activity or working areas of the waterfront. Follow queueing conventions on public transport and give cyclists room. On the beach, do not ignore warning flags or enter the sea in unsafe conditions, and remember that informal beach customs can vary between designated recreation areas and quieter stretches.
Local Tips
The most rewarding orientation combines the busy central seafront with the old village, harbour and dune edge rather than treating the boulevard as the whole district. Museum Beelden aan Zee provides a cultural break from the weather, while Muzee Scheveningen offers useful context about local maritime life. Early morning and late afternoon are often calmer times for walking the beach, though wind and light change quickly. For a different atmosphere, follow the coast towards the harbour and explore the surrounding streets before returning along the water.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHoi[hoi]
GoodbyeDoei[dui]
YesJa[ya]
NoNee[nee]
Please/You're welcomeAlsjeblieft[als-yuh-bleeft]
Thank youDank je[dank yuh]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[sor-ee]
How are you?Hoe gaat het?[hu guht hut]
Fine. And you?Goed. En met jou?[khoot. en met yow]
Do you speak English?Spreek je Engels?[sprayk yuh eng-uls]
I don't understandIk begrijp het niet[ik buh-grayp hut neet]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMag ik de menukaart zien, alsjeblieft[mah ik duh men-oo-kahrt seen, als-yuh-bleeft]
I don't eat meatIk eet geen vlees[ik ayt khayn flays]
Cheers!Proost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIk wil graag betalen, alsjeblieft[ik vil khrahg buh-tah-lun, als-yuh-bleeft]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Ga weg![ga vekh]
Call the Police!Bel de politie![bel duh poh-lee-see]
Call a doctor!Bel een dokter![bel ayn dok-tur]
I'm lostIk ben verdwaald[ik ben fur-dwahld]
I'm illIk ben ziek[ik ben zik]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ik wil graag kopen...[ik vil khrahg koh-pun]
I'm just lookingIk kijk alleen even[ik kayk a-lun a-fun]
How much is it?Hoeveel kost het?[hoo-vel kost hut]
That's too expensiveDat is te duur[dat is tuh dur]
Can you lower the price?Kunt u de prijs verlagen?[kunt yoo duh prays fur-lah-gun]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Hoe laat is het?[hoo laht is hut]
It's one o'clockHet is een uur[hut is ayn oor]
Half past (10)Half elf[hahlf elf]
MorningOchtend[okh-tent]
AfternoonMiddag[mid-dahkh]
EveningAvond[ah-vunt]
YesterdayGisteren[khis-tur-un]
TodayVandaag[vahn-dahkh]
TomorrowMorgen[mor-khun]
1Een[ayn]
2Twee[tvay]
3Drie[dree]
4Vier[feer]
5Vijf[fayf]
6Zes[zehs]
7Zeven[zay-ven]
8Acht[ahkht]
9Negen[nay-khun]
10Tien[teen]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Waar is de...[var is duh]
What's the address?Wat is het adres?[vat is hut ah-drus]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kunt u het me laten zien (op de kaart)?[kunt yoo hut may laa-tun seen (op duh kahrt)]
When's the next (bus)?Wanneer is de volgende (bus)?[vuhn-er is duh fohl-hun-duh (bus)]
A ticket (to ....)Een kaartje (naar ....)[ayn kart-yuh (nar)]

History of Scheveningen

A Medieval Fishing Village

Scheveningen developed as a coastal fishing settlement outside The Hague, with its livelihood shaped by the North Sea and by access to the beach rather than a conventional harbour. The village’s name is recorded in medieval sources, although its exact linguistic origin remains debated. For centuries, residents combined fishing with small-scale agriculture and other maritime work, and the settlement retained a strong communal identity distinct from the political and courtly life of The Hague. Narrow streets and the surviving village centre still suggest this earlier scale, even though later resort development transformed the shoreline.

The Rise of the Bathing Resort

Scheveningen began to change rapidly in the nineteenth century as sea bathing became fashionable among visitors from The Hague and beyond. A bathing house was established in 1818, and improved roads and horse-drawn connections made the coast more accessible. The opening of the grand Kurhaus in 1885 confirmed Scheveningen’s position as a resort, attracting holidaymakers, performers and affluent visitors. Hotels, villas, promenades and bathing facilities increasingly occupied the seafront, creating the contrast between the old fishing village inland and the formal resort frontage facing the sea.

Harbour, War and Reconstruction

The harbour, developed in the early twentieth century, gave Scheveningen a more practical maritime centre and supported fishing activity alongside tourism. During the Second World War, German coastal defences formed part of the Atlantic Wall, and sections of the coastal population were displaced as military infrastructure reshaped the dunes and shoreline. After 1945, Scheveningen’s seafront was rebuilt and adapted for modern leisure, while the harbour continued to provide a working dimension. Post-war redevelopment also broadened the district’s appeal beyond traditional bathing holidays.

A Contemporary Coastal District

From the late twentieth century onwards, Scheveningen developed into a year-round leisure district, with cultural institutions, beach pavilions, festivals, watersports and renewed public spaces complementing its historic attractions. The Pier and boulevard became prominent symbols of the modern resort, while museums such as Muzee Scheveningen preserved memories of the fishing village and local community. Contemporary Scheveningen therefore combines inherited maritime traditions with tourism, hospitality and outdoor recreation, and its identity continues to be shaped by the tension between residential life, working waterfront activity and intensive coastal visitation.

Scheveningen in Photos

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The closest neighbourhoods to Scheveningen, if you have time for more than one stop.

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