🇳🇱Scheveningen

Scheveningen is The Hague's buzzing seaside resort, packed with family highlights including De Pier, SEA LIFE, a golden beach, and some of the freshest seafood in the Netherlands.

Your family guide

Scheveningen with kids: beaches, piers and North Sea fun

“Watch the fishing boats unload their catch at the harbour while the Ferris wheel spins behind you—that's Scheveningen's whole story in one view.”

— San & Jo

Scheveningen is the kind of place that grabs your kids the moment you arrive. The wide golden beach stretches as far as you can see, the smell of fresh fish drifts in from the harbour, and De Pier juts out into the North Sea with a Ferris wheel spinning at its tip. It is loud, lively, and genuinely fun for the whole family.

What makes Scheveningen special is its dual personality. On one side you have a proper working fishing harbour with boats coming in daily and stalls selling raw herring on the boulevard. On the other, a buzzing beach resort packed with beach clubs, water sports, and summer festivals. Your family gets both worlds in a single visit.

Scheveningen sits right on the edge of The Hague, so it is easy to combine with a city visit. But honestly, the beach and pier alone can fill a full day without any trouble. Pack your sunscreen, bring your appetite, and let the North Sea do the rest.

South HollandThe Netherlands

June to SeptemberBest time to visit

North Sea coastSandy beach resort

Best things to do

Best things to do in Scheveningen

Hit the beach

Scheveningen's long golden sandy beach is the heart of the whole experience. Build sandcastles, splash in the shallows, rent a beach chair, or just let the kids run wild. In summer the boulevard buzzes with beach clubs and live music, while the quieter dune paths offer a lovely escape when everyone needs a breather.

Head north of De Pier for fewer crowds and more space

Half day to full day

Explore De Pier

De Pier is the iconic landmark of Scheveningen and a genuine highlight for families. Walk out over the sea, grab a snack from one of the shops, and ride the SkyView Ferris wheel for 20 minutes of sweeping views over the beach and The Hague skyline. Brave older kids can also try the zipline or bungee jump.

Book SkyView tickets online to skip the queue in peak summer

1 to 2 hours

Discover SEA LIFE Scheveningen

SEA LIFE is one of the best indoor options when the weather turns grey. Your kids can come face to face with sharks, rays, sea turtles, and tropical fish in a series of beautifully designed tanks and walk-through tunnels. It is compact enough to hold little ones' attention without turning into an exhausting marathon.

Book tickets in advance online: it is cheaper and avoids the entrance queue

1.5 to 2 hours

Wander the fishing harbour

Scheveningen's working harbour is a fascinating contrast to the beach strip. Watch fishing boats unload their catch, browse the fish stalls, and pick up a classic broodje haring from one of the boulevard fishmongers. It gives your visit a real sense of place beyond the tourist seafront.

Visit on a weekday morning to see the harbour at its most active

45 minutes to 1 hour

Catch the International Fireworks Festival

If your visit falls in summer, the International Fireworks Festival is a spectacular evening out for families. Competing teams from around the world launch enormous displays over the sea, with the beach packed with excited crowds. It is free to watch from the sand and creates brilliant memories.

Arrive early to secure a good spot on the beach before the crowds build

2 to 3 hours

Walk or cycle the dunes

Just behind the beach, Scheveningen's dunes offer a peaceful escape from the busy boulevard. Marked walking and cycling routes wind through the landscape, giving your family a proper taste of the Dutch coastal countryside. It is a great option for an early morning or late afternoon when the beach is at its busiest.

Rent bikes from The Hague centre and cycle all the way to the beach through the dune paths

1 to 2 hours

Join Vlaggetjesdag

Held in late May or early June, Vlaggetjesdag is the annual herring festival that marks the start of the new herring season. The boulevard fills with stalls, decorated boats, and festivities. It is a wonderfully local event that gives your kids a genuine taste of Scheveningen's fishing heritage.

Try the Hollandse Nieuwe herring fresh from a stall: this is the best time of year for it

2 to 3 hours

Our verdict

How Scheveningen scores for families

Kids

Between the beach, SEA LIFE, De Pier, and the Ferris wheel, different ages find different draws. Younger children head for the sand and the aquarium, while older kids make straight for the zipline and water sports.

Culture

The fishing harbour, Muzee Scheveningen, and Museum Beelden aan Zee add real cultural depth. It is not a museum city, but the local heritage is woven into the fabric of the place in a way that feels authentic rather than staged.

Food

Fresh North Sea seafood is the star here, and the boulevard fish stalls are a genuine treat. Families with picky eaters will also find plenty of familiar options at the beach clubs and restaurants along the promenade.

Nature

The dunes and the beach itself offer lovely natural spaces, especially outside peak summer. It is not a wilderness destination, but the coastal landscape is beautiful and very accessible for families.

Budget

The beach is free, but attractions like SEA LIFE and SkyView add up quickly. Budget-conscious families can have a great day sticking to the beach, harbour, and food stalls without spending much at all.

Planning your visit

How long should you stay in Scheveningen?

3 hours

Quick dip

Walk the boulevard, grab a herring, and stroll out on De Pier. A solid taster if you are combining with a day in The Hague.

sweet spot

1 day

The sweet spot

A full day gives you time for the beach, De Pier, SEA LIFE, the harbour, and a proper seafood lunch. This is how most families do Scheveningen right.

2 days

Slow it down

Stay overnight and you can catch an evening at the boulevard, explore the dunes in the morning, and visit Museum Beelden aan Zee without rushing.

Fun facts

Things to know about Scheveningen

Thousands jump into the freezing sea on New Year's Day

Every 1 January, thousands of brave (or slightly mad) people sprint into the icy North Sea at Scheveningen Beach for the Nieuwjaarsduik: the New Year's Dive. It is one of the largest cold-water plunges in the world and has been a Dutch tradition for decades.

The pier has been rebuilt from scratch

De Pier was originally built in 1901 but was badly damaged during World War Two. The current structure dates from 1961 and has been updated several times since, most recently adding Europe's first sea-based Ferris wheel, the SkyView, which now spins right over the North Sea.

Scheveningen gave the world a secret wartime password

During World War Two, Dutch resistance fighters used the word 'Scheveningen' as a test to identify German spies. The tricky Dutch pronunciation of the 'Sch' sound was almost impossible for native German speakers to replicate correctly, making it a surprisingly effective security check.

Taste Scheveningen

What to eat in Scheveningen with your family

Broodje haring

Must try

Het Haringhuisje

Raw herring in a soft white bun with chopped onions and pickles is the signature snack of Scheveningen. It sounds adventurous but it is mild, fresh, and genuinely delicious. The fish stalls along the boulevard serve it ice-cold straight from the cooler.

Fresh North Sea fish platter

Local favourite

Restaurant de Dagvisser

Scheveningen's harbour restaurants serve beautifully fresh mixed fish platters featuring the day's catch. Smoked eel, grilled sole, and North Sea shrimp are typical highlights. It is the kind of meal that tastes better because you can see the boats that caught it from your table.

French-Dutch fish dishes

Safe choice

Het Gouden Kalf

For a more refined family dinner, Het Gouden Kalf offers French-Dutch fusion cooking with a focus on high-quality fish and an open kitchen that older kids will find fascinating to watch. It is a step up from the boulevard stalls but well worth it for a special evening.

Poffertjes

Kids love it

Boulevard stalls

Tiny fluffy Dutch pancakes dusted with icing sugar and served with butter: poffertjes are an absolute winner with children of every age. You will find stalls selling them along the boulevard throughout the day, and they make the perfect mid-afternoon treat to keep everyone going.

Bitterballen and stamppot

Daily treat

Boulevard beach clubs

If your kids are not ready for raw herring just yet, the beach clubs and boulevard restaurants all serve classic Dutch comfort food. Crispy bitterballen (deep-fried meat ragout balls) are a crowd-pleasing snack, while stamppot (mashed potato with vegetables and smoked sausage) is a warming dinner option on cooler days.

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