Scheveningen from The Hague: how to get there, what to see and when to go
· by Robin Lenskens · Updated
Scheveningen is not a separate town but the seaside district of The Hague, and you reach it without a car: HTM tram 9 runs from Den Haag Centraal to the Kurhaus stop in about 15 minutes, and tram 1 runs from the city centre past the Peace Palace to the same stop. The beach is free, the Pier is free to walk onto from 10:00 every day, and the boulevard, the Kurhaus, Beelden aan Zee and Sea Life sit within ten minutes’ walk of each other. Facts, prices and hours below were checked on the official sites on 19 October 2026.
Our guides walk groups through the centre of The Hague every week, and the question at the end of most tours is the same: is there time for the sea? There usually is. This guide covers how to get there, what is worth your time, what each season is like, and how to fit a morning in the centre and an afternoon on the beach into one day.
How do you get from The Hague to Scheveningen?
By tram. Three lines matter, and which one you take depends on where you start and where you want to end up.
| Line | From | To | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tram 9 | Den Haag Centraal, also Den Haag HS | Kurhaus, then Scheveningen Noord | The quickest ride from Centraal, about 15 minutes; passes Madurodam |
| Tram 1 | Delft, Den Haag HS, the city centre (Centrum and Kneuterdijk stops) | Peace Palace, Beelden aan Zee, Kurhaus, Scheveningen Noord | Starting from the Binnenhof area; about 15 to 20 minutes from the centre |
| Tram 11 | Den Haag HS | Scheveningen Haven | The harbour and the fish restaurants, the far end of the boulevard |
The Hague’s tourist office puts the trip from either station to the beach at 20 to 30 minutes door to door, which matches what we see on tour days. In summer HTM adds extra trams on line 9, the Strandexpress, from Hollands Spoor via Centraal straight to Scheveningen on busy beach days. You pay with OVpay: tap a contactless bank card or phone on the reader when you board and again when you get off, with the same card both times. Times change with roadworks, so check your trip in the planner on the day.
Sources: HTM journey planner, HTM on OVpay, denhaag.com on public transport to the coast, HTM on extra trams to Scheveningen.
What is there to do in Scheveningen?
The beach and the boulevard
The beach runs for kilometres and costs nothing. The busiest stretch is in front of the Kurhaus and the Pier, with beach pavilions on the sand and a boulevard of cafés, kiosks and shops above it. North along the boulevard it quietens down; around the northern harbour mole is the surf spot, with surf schools on the beach. The coast faces the open North Sea to the west, so on a clear evening the sun sets over the water.
The Kurhaus
The grand hotel on the boulevard is the building that made Scheveningen a resort. It was built in 1885 by the German architects Johann Friedrich Henkenhaf and Friedrich Ebert, burned down on 1 September 1886, and was rebuilt within a year to almost the same design, under a slightly taller dome. Under that dome is the Kurzaal, the ballroom that still hosts events and concerts. It is a working hotel, so treat it as a building to look at from the boulevard rather than a sight with opening hours.
De Pier
The Pier is open and free to walk onto every day from 10:00, according to denhaag.com. On it are food spots and bars, the Ferris wheel over the sea (a ride takes about twenty minutes), and from the tower a bungee jump from 60 metres and a zipline, both daily from 11:00 from April to September. The structure is old, and its owners plan a full renewal: the works would start at the end of 2027 at the earliest, if the permits come through, and take three to four years, so a visit in 2027 may be the last chance to see it in its current form. Whether the tower and the wheel stay open during the works is still being studied.
Sources: denhaag.com on De Pier, denhaag.com on the Kurhaus dome; the renewal timeline as reported by the local broadcasters Omroep West (July 2026) and 070 (October 2026).
Museum Beelden aan Zee
A sculpture museum built into the dune just behind the boulevard, a few minutes’ walk from the Kurhaus, with its own tram 1 stop. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00, closed Monday. Adults €22.00, 13 to 18 €9.25, 12 and under free; Museumkaart holders pay a one-off surcharge of €3.50 for the current exhibition. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. Details on the Beelden aan Zee tickets page.
Sea Life
The aquarium is on the boulevard at Strandweg 13, close to the Kurhaus stop, and opens every day; on 19 October 2026 its site gave 10:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00. It is the obvious plan with children when the wind is too strong for the beach. Prices vary by date and are lower online, see Sea Life Scheveningen.
The harbour, the fish and the lighthouse
South-west along the boulevard, about two kilometres from the Kurhaus or at the end of tram 11, is the harbour. Until the 1960s its main purpose was fishing, and it is still a centre of the fish trade, with fish restaurants and stalls along the quays: this is where to eat fish in Scheveningen. Muzee Scheveningen, the local museum, tells the story of the fishing village. On the way you pass the lighthouse at Zeekant 12, completed in 1875; visits inside normally run on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons through Muzee, but the tourist office lists it as closed for renovation, so plan on seeing it from the outside. Every year Vlaggetjesdag, traditionally in June, marks the arrival of the new herring; the date is announced on vlaggetjesdag.com.
Sources: denhaag.com on the harbour, denhaag.com on the lighthouse.
The dunes: Westduinpark and the Oostduinen
The Hague’s share of the national park dunes runs from the Zandmotor in the south to the water tower in Scheveningen. Beyond the harbour, Westduinpark is one of the largest nature areas in the city, with walking, cycling and bridle paths. North of the boulevard, the dunes of the Oostduinen lead on towards Meijendel, a wide dune landscape between The Hague and Wassenaar with a visitor centre, De Tapuit. On a busy summer day this is the quiet half of the coast. See denhaag.com on the dunes.
What is Scheveningen like in each season?
| Season | What is on | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (April to June) | Bungee and zipline on the Pier from April; Vlaggetjesdag and the new herring, traditionally in June | Cool, with long days; the sea is too cold for most swimmers; quiet on weekdays |
| Summer (July and August) | Beach pavilions in full swing, weekend beach parties, extra trams on line 9 | The best beach weather and the biggest crowds; full trams in the afternoon |
| Autumn (September to November) | Pier attractions until the end of September, storms on the boulevard | Wind, grey skies, the beach almost to yourself |
| Winter (December to March) | The New Year’s Dive on 1 January; fewer pavilions open | Cold and windswept; a walk, a coffee and the sunset over the sea |
The beach pavilions are the summer heart of Scheveningen: in the warm months there is a beach party at one of them almost every weekend. Fewer stay open in winter; denhaag.com keeps a list of the beach restaurants that do. Do not go expecting a quiet seaside village in July: on a hot Saturday the trams arrive full and the sand in front of the Kurhaus fills by early afternoon. Out of season the same boulevard is windy and nearly empty, and many visitors prefer it that way.
The New Year’s Dive on 1 January
The Unox New Year’s Dive is the best-known winter event on the coast. On Friday 1 January 2027, registration opens at 10:30 on the beach at the height of Beelden aan Zee, the group warm-up is at about 11:45, and everyone runs into the sea at 12:00. You sign up on the day, not in advance, and pay €4 on the spot. Watching is free and the crowd on the boulevard is part of the event. Details on denhaag.com.
How do you combine the centre of The Hague and the sea in one day?
Do the centre in the morning, when the museums are quiet, and the sea in the afternoon, when the light is better on the beach. A sample day:
- 10:00 to 12:00 The centre on foot: the Plein, the Hofvijver, the Binnenhof from outside, the Lange Voorhout, Noordeinde. The Binnenhof itself is closed for renovation; the government expects visitors back on the courtyard in summer 2031.
- 12:00 to 13:30 The Mauritshuis on the Plein. Open Monday 13:00 to 18:00 and Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, adults €21, under 19 free, Museumkaart free; book your time slot in advance on the Mauritshuis visit page.
- 13:30 Lunch on the Plein, or take it with you.
- 14:15 Tram 1 from the Kneuterdijk or Centrum stop, both a few minutes on foot from the Plein. Get off at the Peace Palace for a look at the gate if you like, then ride on to Beelden aan Zee or the Kurhaus.
- 15:00 to sunset The boulevard, the Pier and the beach; if the weather turns, Beelden aan Zee or Sea Life.
- Evening Fish at the harbour (tram 11 back to Den Haag HS) or dinner on the boulevard, then tram 1 or 9 back to the city.
If you want the morning to count, this is where a guide helps: our private walking tour of The Hague covers the Binnenhof, the Hofvijver, the Lange Voorhout and Noordeinde in two hours and starts at the statue of William of Orange on the Plein, next to the Mauritshuis, at the time you choose. On a Monday, swap the order: the Mauritshuis opens at 13:00, Beelden aan Zee is closed, and the beach is at its emptiest.
For a fuller plan of the centre, read The Hague in one day; with children, is Madurodam worth it explains how to stop at Madurodam on tram 9 on the way to the sea; and if the forecast is bad, what to do in The Hague when it rains has the indoor plan.
What are the limits of Scheveningen?
- Summer weekends are crowded. On a hot Saturday the beach in front of the Kurhaus and the Pier is full, and the trams back to the city are packed from late afternoon. Go on a weekday, or walk north or towards the harbour for space.
- Parking is expensive and enforced. Since 1 April 2026 five streets near the Kurhaus (Gevers Deynootweg, Harteveltstraat, Jongeneelstraat, Pellenaerstraat and Seinpostduin) charge a rising rate: €7 for the first 20 minutes, €25 for an hour and €50 once you pass 80 minutes. In summer the municipality adds extra checks with an immediate fine, and a wheel clamp may follow. It advises garages, parking further away, or public transport. The tram is cheaper and quicker. See the municipality’s page on parking in Scheveningen.
- The boulevard is modern. The Kurhaus and the lighthouse are the historic buildings; most of the seafront is recent. If you want the 19th-century fishing village, see Panorama Mesdag in the city first (Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00, adults €17.50), a 360-degree painting of Scheveningen as it was in 1881.
- The sea is cold. The North Sea is for paddling and the brave for most of the year, and the wind can make even a sunny day feel cool on the sand.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scheveningen part of The Hague?
Yes. Scheveningen is a district of the municipality of The Hague, on the coast north-west of the centre. You travel there on the city’s own trams, and the beach, the harbour and the dunes are all inside the city limits.
Which tram goes from Den Haag Centraal to Scheveningen?
Tram 9, from the tram stop at Den Haag Centraal to the Kurhaus stop in about 15 minutes, then on to Scheveningen Noord. From the city centre and from Den Haag HS, tram 1 also goes to the Kurhaus. For the harbour, take tram 11 from Den Haag HS.
Is the Pier in Scheveningen open?
Yes. The Pier is free to walk onto every day from 10:00, with food spots, the Ferris wheel, and in season the bungee jump and the zipline. A full renewal is planned from the end of 2027 at the earliest, with a closure of three to four years, so check the latest news if you are travelling after that.
Is Scheveningen worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for a walk rather than a beach day. The boulevard is quiet, the light over the sea is often beautiful, Beelden aan Zee and Sea Life are indoors, and some beach pavilions stay open. On 1 January the New Year’s Dive brings thousands of people to the beach at 12:00.
Can I drive to Scheveningen?
You can, but it is not the easy option. Street parking near the Kurhaus has cost €25 for an hour and €50 beyond 80 minutes since April 2026, and summer enforcement is strict. The tram from the centre takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Can I do the centre of The Hague and Scheveningen in one day?
Yes. Spend the morning on the Binnenhof area and the Mauritshuis, then take tram 1 or 9 to the coast for the afternoon and stay for dinner. The sample day above shows the timing.
See The Hague with a Discover The Hague guide
Spend the morning with a guide and the afternoon at the sea on your own. The private walking tour of The Hague takes two hours and costs €199 for your whole group of up to 20 people. Add the guided Mauritshuis visit, one hour inside the museum for €199 per group, museum tickets not included. If you prefer your own pace, the self-guided audio tour of The Hague covers the historic centre in about 1.5 hours for €10.99; it is narrated in English. Our guides work in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
Photos: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0; Michielverbeek, CC BY-SA 4.0; unknown author, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
