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Guided Tours & Tourist Attractions
From the historic Pier to the Kurhaus, here is what to see and do on a visit to Scheveningen, with practical notes for planning a guided tour.
Tourist attractions in Scheveningen
- Scheveningen Beach: this vast sandy beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and water sports, with many beach pavilions, cafes and restaurants along the boulevard.
- Scheveningen Pier: a historic site with a Ferris wheel, bungee jumping, zip lines and restaurants, offering views of the North Sea and the coast.
- Sea Life Scheveningen: an aquarium offering an immersive underwater experience with marine life from around the world, including sharks, rays and turtles.
- Madurodam: although not in Scheveningen itself, this miniature park in The Hague is nearby and features detailed models of famous Dutch landmarks.
- Beelden aan Zee Museum: a museum dedicated to contemporary sculpture, located in the dunes of Scheveningen, with a diverse collection of Dutch and international work.
- Kurhaus: this hotel and spa complex, built in 1884–1885, is an architectural landmark and a symbol of Scheveningen's history as a 19th-century seaside resort. Even without staying there, it is worth a visit for its interior and history.
Read the full history of Scheveningen for the story behind the Kurhaus and the pier, or see where to stay nearby.
Planning a guided tour
Most attractions in Scheveningen can be combined into a single day on foot along the boulevard: start at the Kurhaus, walk to the Pier, then continue to Sea Life and the beach. Beelden aan Zee sits a short walk further into the dunes. For a wider day trip, Madurodam in The Hague is easily reached by public transport from Scheveningen.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main tourist attractions in Scheveningen?
Scheveningen's main attractions are the beach, the historic Pier with its Ferris wheel and zip lines, Sea Life Scheveningen aquarium, the Beelden aan Zee sculpture museum in the dunes, and the 1885 Kurhaus hotel and spa complex. Most of these sit within easy walking distance of each other along the boulevard.
How old is the Kurhaus in Scheveningen?
The Kurhaus was built in 1884 to 1885. Even if you are not staying there, it is worth a visit for its architecture and historical significance as a symbol of Scheveningen's past as a 19th-century seaside resort. Today the building operates as a hotel, with its domed Kurzaal hall still used for concerts and events.
Is Madurodam part of Scheveningen?
Madurodam is not located in Scheveningen itself but in nearby The Hague, a short trip from the seafront. It features detailed miniature models of famous Dutch landmarks and is a popular add-on to a Scheveningen visit. Most visitors combine it with a day at the beach or the Pier rather than visiting it on its own.
How do you get to Scheveningen by tram or bus from The Hague?
Tram 1 and tram 9 run directly from Den Haag Centraal and Den Haag HS to Scheveningen, both stopping at the Kurhaus stop on the boulevard, and bus 22 serves the same stop. The journey takes about 15 minutes, with a tram or bus roughly every 10 minutes during the day. Check htm.nl or 9292.nl for the current timetable before you travel.
Where can you park in Scheveningen?
Scheveningen has metered on-street parking in several numbered zones along the boulevard, coastal strip and harbour area, plus Q-Park garages near the Kurhaus and closer to the beach. Rates and paid-parking hours differ by zone and can change, so check the Municipality of The Hague's parking pages before you drive in. Garages avoid the on-street session-time limits but cost more per hour.
Is Scheveningen Pier free to walk on?
Yes, walking onto Scheveningen Pier and browsing its shops and restaurants is free every day of the year. Individual attractions on the pier, such as the Ferris wheel, the bungee jump and the zip line, charge separate admission. Check pier.nl for current opening times and attraction prices before you go.
How much time do you need for the main sights in Scheveningen?
Most visitors need around half a day to walk the main sights of Scheveningen: the Kurhaus, the Pier, Sea Life and the beach are all within walking distance along the boulevard. Add an hour or two if you also want to visit Beelden aan Zee in the dunes, or a half-day round trip if you continue on to Madurodam in The Hague. The full history of Scheveningen explains the story behind several of these landmarks.
What is the best time of year to visit Scheveningen?
Scheveningen is busiest and warmest from June to August, when the beach, pavilions and boulevard are at their liveliest but also most crowded. May, September and early October bring milder crowds with a reasonable chance of good weather. This is a different question from when to book a hotel, which depends more on demand and events than on weather.
What can you do in Scheveningen when it rains?
On a rainy day in Scheveningen, Sea Life Scheveningen and Museum Beelden aan Zee both offer indoor visits, and some hotels along the boulevard offer day-spa access. The Pier's lower deck is covered, so its shops and restaurants stay dry even in bad weather. Madurodam in nearby The Hague also has indoor exhibition space for a wet afternoon.
Is Scheveningen good for a family visit with children?
Scheveningen suits a family visit well: the beach and shallow tideline are the main draw, and Sea Life Scheveningen and the Pier's Ferris wheel appeal directly to children. Madurodam, a short trip away in The Hague, is built around miniature scale models that most children enjoy. The beach also has a supervised lifeguard season, which adds reassurance for parents with young swimmers.
What is there to see beyond the boulevard, in the harbour and Westduinpark?
Beyond the boulevard, Scheveningen's working fishing harbour has fish stalls and quayside restaurants with a different, more local atmosphere than the beachfront. Westduinpark, a dune nature reserve bordering the beach to the south, has sandy trails through the dunes and is part of Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen. Both are a short walk or cycle from the Kurhaus and the Pier, and the developments page explains how the dunes here are protected.
Is Scheveningen accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs?
The boulevard in Scheveningen is flat, paved and wheelchair and pushchair-friendly for its full length, connecting the Kurhaus, the Pier and Sea Life without steps. The Pier itself is step-free via ramps to both decks. Getting onto the sand of the beach itself needs more preparation, and is covered separately in the Scheveningen beach guide.