During our round trip through the Netherlands, we discovered many beautiful places, such as Haarlem and Harlingen. We made a stop in Scheveningen near The Hague. No matter where we are, if there’s sea and a beach, we’re there in no time. And so we drove quite relaxed from the Biesbosch National Park to the beautiful North Sea. We’ll now share our best tips and highlights for a day trip to Scheveningen by the sea.

• Beach bars in Scheveningen
• Scheveningen Pier
• The magnificent Grand Hotel
• Other local highlights
• Detour to The Hague
• Accommodation in Scheveningen

Beach bars in Scheveningen

It only takes 15 minutes from The Hague city center to reach the Scheveningen district. Here, you can truly unwind on the kilometer-long beach. Scheveningen is the largest seaside resort in the Netherlands and attracts visitors with more than just beach, sun, and sea. We parked our car a little further back near the East Dunes (Parking Zwarte Pad). From there, we strolled directly down to the sea. What immediately caught our eye were the many cool beach bars. Admittedly, there are quite a few; a few fewer would have been fine.

Whether it’s Patagonia Beach Bar, Carlton Beach, Oase Beach Club, or the Oceans Beach House – all offer a cozy atmosphere, an incredible number of comfortable seating options, and a view of the sea. We stopped in front of the Bora Bora Beach Bar and were immediately drawn to it. The decor, the crew, the music – everything was exactly our style. We hid in one of the many cozy corners, sheltered from the wind, ordered a coffee, and enjoyed the view.

You can spend wonderful time both inside and outside. There are great seating areas with an open fireplace, delicious burgers, Dutch beach dishes, and great drinks. You’ll find colorful cushions, lovely details, and cool decor everywhere.

Everything here simply seems so Caribbean-colored, a bit like Pippi Longstocking—only Caribbean. Tip: If you have more time, walk further along the beach to the really cool Hart Beach Quicksiver Surfschool, The Shore Scheveningen, or the Aloha Surfschool and Aloha Surfshop.

The Scheveningen Pier

After about an hour, we strolled further along the beach path. From a distance, we could already see the long pier with the large Ferris wheel. What could that be? At a height of 60 meters, you’re practically walking directly over the water. The pier is the landmark of Scheveningen with many small highlights. In addition to a few shops and souvenir stores, you’ll find many delicious and cool food trucks here.

Whether you’re looking for burgers, fries, waffles, pancakes, coconut balls, fish, or typical Dutch dishes – you definitely won’t go hungry here. You absolutely have to go to Madame Cocos if you’re a coconut fan. These delicious little “coconut balls” are simply amazing!

But here you can not only eat, but also have a lot of fun. At the end of the pier is Holland’s first Ferris wheel above the sea. The 50-meter-high Ferris wheel has 36 enclosed gondolas with comfortable seats. You can book your ticket for a ride on the Ferris wheel* at Tiqets.

The tour continues on the pier. Here you’ll find a zip line and a bungee tower at a height of 55 meters. The zip line will take you past the Ferris wheel at almost 70 km/h and finally land you back at the terraces where the pier started. A ride costs just under €34 online, children pay €29. Or would you prefer a free fall from a height of 60 meters? As you can see, there’s plenty for speed and adrenaline junkies here in Scheveningen. Book your ticket here.

The magnificent Grand Hotel

The enormous Kurhaus, located directly on the promenade in Scheveningen, is impossible to miss. This listed building served as the central spa from 1885 to 1969 and was then operated as a hotel by the Steigenberg Group from 1979 to 2014. Today, it is part of the Amrâth Hotel Group. Celebrities such as van Gogh, Roosevelt, and Empress Elisabeth, aka “Sissi,” have stayed here. A night in a double room at this 5* hotel starts at just under €140 (Grand Hotel Scheveningen*).

More local highlights

It’s best to get a bike and explore the promenade, the dunes, and The Hague. This way, you’ll be flexible and can easily cycle from A to B. You can rent a cool bike for just €10 per day (Bike Rental Scheveningen & The Hague). Fancy a longboard? You can rent a board at the many beach pavilions and surf shops and cruise leisurely along the beach. At Millers Beach in the south, you can also try kitesurfing. You can book an introductory surfing course for just €38 through GetYourGuide*.

Detour to The Hague

The Hague is right next door. This way, you can combine both: city and beach. And if you’re short on time, you should take tram number 10. This will allow you to see The Hague’s most important sights. This tram starts at Holland Spoor station and whizzes to Central Station. To get to Scheveningen, take tram 10 towards Statenwartier. Back to The Hague, take tram 10 towards Voorburg.

The Hague has a lot to offer: Langer Voorhout, Binnenhof, mansions, the green Plein 1813, The Hague Peace Palace, The Hague’s International Zone, the dunes of Wassenaar, Scheveningen Beach, the Kijkduin Boulevard, and much, much more. Not to mention the many great cafés, super cool shops, an easy-going atmosphere despite its 500,000 inhabitants, and plenty of Dutch charm.

Accommodation in Scheveningen

You’ll find some really cool accommodations in Scheveningen. How about the Jorplace Beach Hostel*? This hostel is just a 6-minute walk from the beach and offers a variety of accommodations. Here you’ll find private rooms, a minivan, or dormitories. A surf-style lounge bar, pool table, kitchen, Wi-Fi, and much more await you here at Jorplace. A bed in a shared room starts at €25.

The beautiful Hotel Mimosa Scheveningen* offers bright and modern rooms, as well as a romantic garden in a French courtyard. The beach is just a 5-minute walk away, but you can also rent a bike directly from the hotel and take off. The rooms at the Beach Inn Hotel in the dunes are also beautiful. Here, you can truly unwind and relax.

If you really want to let it all hang out, you should book a night at De Pier Suites*. Imagine yourself in the bathtub, gazing at the sea, then sitting in a comfortable armchair on your private terrace and watching the sun set. Brilliant, right? The Pier Suites offer you just this luxury. You’ll be in one of the five suites directly on the pier, below the bungee tower. One night starts at around €240.