Discover
History of Scheveningen
From a 13th-century fishing settlement to one of the Netherlands' most famous seaside resorts.
From fishing village to seaside resort
The history of Scheveningen dates back to the 13th century and was first mentioned in documents as “Sceveninghe”. Over the centuries it changed from a small fishing settlement into a bustling port. In the 19th century, Scheveningen became popular as a seaside resort, attracting visitors with its sea air and picturesque coastline. The arrival of the railway in 1907 further accelerated the town's development as a tourist center.
Vlaggetjesdag: the herring fleet tradition
Each year Scheveningen celebrates Vlaggetjesdag ("Flag Day"), when the herring fleet departs for the new season decorated with flags and bunting, and the first barrel of Hollandse Nieuwe herring is auctioned for charity on the quayside. The tradition itself is older and originally comes from Vlaardingen, first recorded there in the 18th century under the name "buisjesdag". The modern annual celebration was revived in 1947 to boost herring sales, and after Vlaardingen's own herring fleet ended in the 1960s, Scheveningen became its main host, keeping the link to its fishing-village origins alive today.
See the guided tours page for other cultural stops nearby, including the Beelden aan Zee sculpture museum.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Scheveningen?
Scheveningen's history dates back to the 13th century, when it was first mentioned in documents as “Sceveninghe”, a small fishing settlement that grew into a busy port over the following centuries. The settlement's economy centred on herring fishing long before it became a seaside resort.
When did Scheveningen become a seaside resort?
Scheveningen became popular as a seaside resort in the 19th century, drawing visitors with its sea air and coastline. The arrival of the railway in 1907 further accelerated its development as a tourist destination. The Kurhaus, built in the same period, still stands as the resort's best-known landmark from that era.
What does the name Scheveningen come from?
The name Scheveningen comes from “Sceveninghe”, first recorded around 1280 in a register of the Counts of Holland describing “terram de Sceveninghe”, the land of Scheveningen. The exact meaning of the older name is disputed among historians, and no single translation is considered definitive. The spelling settled into its modern form as the fishing settlement grew into a town over the following centuries.
How do you pronounce Scheveningen, and why was it used as a WWII shibboleth?
Scheveningen is pronounced roughly “SKHAY-vuh-ning-uhn”, with a guttural Dutch “sch” sound that non-native speakers, especially German speakers, find hard to reproduce. During the German occupation in the Second World War, Dutch resistance groups reportedly used the word as a shibboleth: asking someone to say “Scheveningen” out loud could expose a German native speaker by their accent. It is one of the best-documented shibboleths in modern history.
What is Vlaggetjesdag and when does it take place?
Vlaggetjesdag (“Flag Day”) is Scheveningen's annual herring festival, when the fishing fleet is dressed with flags and the first barrel of Hollandse Nieuwe herring is auctioned for charity on the quayside. It traces back to an 18th-century Vlaardingen custom called Buisjesdag, first recorded in 1787, and was revived in 1947 by former Vlaardinger Jaap Kolkman. Vlaardingen's own celebration died out after its herring fleet closed in 1965, and Scheveningen became the main host; the date is set annually, usually a Saturday in late spring or early summer.
Why does herring matter to Scheveningen?
Herring built Scheveningen's economy for centuries: the village grew around the herring fleet that sailed from its beach and, later, its harbour, and the annual catch was central to daily life. Hollandse Nieuwe, the first lightly salted catch of the new season, is still auctioned and eaten as a seasonal delicacy today. Vlaggetjesdag keeps this fishing heritage visible, and it still shapes what Scheveningen is known for today.
What is the history of Scheveningen Pier?
Scheveningen's first pier, the Wandelhoofd Koningin Wilhelmina, opened on 6 May 1901 and burned down on 26 March 1943 during the German occupation. A new pier, designed by architect Huig Maaskant, was completed in 1959 and officially opened in 1961. It later closed after a fire and bankruptcy in 2013, was bought by new owners in 2014, and reopened in stages from 2015 after renovation; it is free to walk on today.
Why was the Kurhaus built, and what era does it represent?
The Kurhaus was built in 1884 to 1885 to compete with the fashionable spa resorts of Belgium, designed by German architects Johann Friedrich Henkenhaf and Friedrich Ebert in an Italian Renaissance style modelled on the bathhouse in Aachen. It represents the era when Scheveningen was reinventing itself from fishing village into a genteel 19th-century seaside resort for wealthy visitors. The original building burned down in 1886 and was rebuilt within a year to the same general design.