Scheveningen Walking Tour (Self Guided), Hague

Originally an independent fishing village, today Scheveningen is one of The Hague's eight districts. With its long beaches loved by both the young and old in all seasons, Scheveningen gets particularly crowded in summer.

Modern as it is, this seaside resort, the most popular in Holland, boasts a great deal of history – stretching all the way back to 1280 – with the locals still maintaining a strong sense of cultural and even linguistic identity.

The start of Scheveningen as a bathing resort dates from 1818, marked by the construction of a wooden building on a shore dune. Since then, the place has attracted numerous tourists from Europe, in addition to the many Dutch artists who had come here for centuries to paint boats and fishermen at work in the North Sea.

Another boost to Scheveningen's popularity came in 1886 with the opening of The Kurhaus hotel – thenceforth frequented by many dignitaries, including royals, and remaining one of the most exclusive hotels in the Netherlands for almost 100 years.

Walking along the esplanade, right next to the Kurhaus, you will find an iconic pleasure sight – the Scheveningen Pier. Jutting far into the North Sea from the boulevard, this gigantic pier is one of the world's top nine piers, and is particularly favored by bungee jumpers and zipline daredevils. Fully renovated in 2015, it hosts a range of shops, bars and restaurants, not to mention the 50-meter high Ferris wheel.

Another – silent – sensation in touristic Scheveningen is the Museum beelden aan Zee, a unique sculpture park built around an old pavilion, erected in 1826 by King William.

For a closer acquaintance with these and other delights of Scheveningen, consider taking our self-guided walking tour and enjoy yourself!