Scheveningen, Netherlands

The Scheveningen Pier is an iconic landmark of the city, extending 1,300 feet into the sea and standing several feet above the water on the western side of the city. Built in the early 1900s as a wooden promenade above the sea, the pier burned down in 1943, was reconstructed in 1962 out of cement, and now features a variety of attractions and entertainment. The Pier is home to a 130-foot high Ferris wheel, a 1,200-foot zip line, Bungy Jump Holland, luxurious hotel suites, sun decks, picnic areas, restaurants, and picnic areas. The famous pier hosts a variety of festivals, cultural events, musical performances and markets and markets throughout the year, and is open daily, year-round with free admission.

150-154 Strandweg, Den Haag, The Netherlands, Phone: +316-10-38-68-59

Previously known as Gemeentemuseum, the Kunstmuseum Den Haag is an art museum in The Hague that features a massive collection of modern art, including the largest of works by Piet Mondrian in the world. Designed by Dutch architect H.P. Berlage and built between 1931–1935 in an Art Deco style, the museum is best known for contemporary art and houses over 150,000 artworks form the Modernist era. Many of Mondrian’s most iconic works are permanently on display, such as Victory Boogie-Woogie, along with pieces by Picasso, Monet, Degas, Pyke Koch, and the Toorop brothers. The Kunstmuseum Den Haag offers guided tours through the contemporary and modern art collections and hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including lectures, symposiums, and workshops.

41 Stadhouderslaan, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands, Phone: +317-03-38-11-11

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

Scheveningen has several beaches, some of which have ‘Blue Flag’ status - an international symbol for safe and clean beaches – that offer an array of activities from sunbathing and swimming to windsurfing, kiteboarding, and beach volleyball. Scheveningen Beach stretches for almost three miles along the Dutch coastline and features an esplanade that is lined with cafés, beach bars, and restaurants with beach-side terraces boasting beautiful sea views. Popular activities at the beach include surfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, and beach soccer and volleyball, which are practiced on the beach at Olympic level during the summer. There are also many beach pavilions that can be used for picnics and special events.

Scheveningen Beach, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

The Peace Palace is a building in The Hague that stands as a symbol for law and justice. Built in 1913 to house the Permanent Court of Arbitration, today the building is home to several prominent organizations, including the International Court of Justice, The Hague Academy of International Law, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the Peace Palace Library. The Palace boasts a beautiful Neo-Renaissance design and has an impressive collection of priceless artworks gifted to the Netherlands over the past 100 years. A visitor center at the Palace offers guided tours through the buildings.

2 Carnegieplein, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands, Phone: +317-03-02-42-42

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Madurodam is a miniature park in The Hague that features a charming model city made up of small replicas of the Netherlands’ most iconic landmarks. Originally established as a monument to the resistance hero George Maduro, the mini-city boasts 1:25 scale model replicas of public buildings, industrial projects, and famous Dutch castles, all of which have been reconstructed with an exceptional level of detail to make them look almost identical to their real-life counterparts. The park also features several other interactive exhibitions, play areas, and family-friendly attractions, such as helping a plane take-off at Schiphol Airport or loading containers onto a cargo ship in the miniature port of Rotterdam. Madurodam is open daily, year-round.

1 George Maduroplein, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands, +317-04-16-24-00

Nestled among the Scheveningen dunes, the Beelden aan Zee museum ('Sculptures by the Sea') is a private institution that focuses exclusively on contemporary sculpture. Founded by Theo and Lida Scholten in 1994, the museum celebrates contemporary three-dimensional artwork with a collection of around 2,000 sculptures, reliefs, and models collected over the past century that explore the theme ' humankind.’ Most of the collection is displayed in an open-air gallery space above Scheveningen Beach with signature pieces like five bronze portraits of the current Royal Family, and a free sculpture garden on the boulevard of Scheveningen has fairytale-like sculptures by American sculptor Tom Otterness.

Museum Beelden Zee, 1 Harteveltstraat, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, 2586 EL, The Netherlands, Phone: +317-03-58-58-57

SEA LIFE Scheveningen is a family-friendly marine sanctuary on Scheveningen's Boulevard that gives visitors a glimpse into the incredible underwater life in the world’s oceans. The aquarium is divided into several zones dedicated to specific habitats with 45 aquariums housing all sorts of marine creatures ranging from sharks, rays, sea turtles, eels, jellyfish, crabs, and more. Interactive exhibitions include a transparent ‘ocean tunnel,’ a hands-on touch pool where children can feel crabs and starfish and feeding sessions with different animals that visitors can attend every day. SEA LIFE Scheveningen offers behind-the-scenes tours during the school holidays and takes part in a variety of conservation programs. SEA LIFE is open throughout the year.

13 Strandweg, Scheveningen Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, 2586 JK, The Netherlands, Phone: +317-03-54-21-00

Where to Eat:

El Gusto is a stylish and sophisticated restaurant that focuses on contemporary dishes of Mediterranean fare and Spanish tapas. Boasting modern décor, a large bar, and dimmed lights, the trendy dining spot specializes in authentic Spanish tapas and offers a menu offers delicious plates of imported meats such as Serrano ham, Spanish salami, and paprika-sparked smoked pork sausage, cheeses such as Manchego and queso Azul, and fresh seafood like baby octopus and seared shrimp. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including casual wines from Italy and around the world, craft and draft beers, and classic cocktails made with high-end spirits. El Gusto is open for dinner only, Monday through Sunday.

Danckertsstraat 37, 2517 TE Den Haag, Netherlands, Phone: +317-02-14-10-23

Restaurant Keraton Damai (translated to ‘Palace of Peace’) serves Indonesian and Javan cuisine in an elegant, palatial-like setting. Established in 1992, the restaurant is based in a beautifully appointed former living room of a 19th-century mansion at the Groot Hertoginnelaan, Keraton Damai serves an array of traditional Indonesian cuisine prepared in a traditional Javanese way. Surrounded by traditional Southeast Asian décor and fragrant blooming orchids, patrons can savor authentic cuisine from the island of Java, ranging from delicious rijsttafels to an array of á la carte specialties. The full-service bar offers a wide range of libations, including casual wines from Italy and around the world, craft and draft beers, and classic cocktails made with high-end spirits. Restaurant Keraton Damai is open for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

Groot Hertoginnelaan 57, 2517 EC Den Haag, Netherlands, Phone: +317-03-63-93-71