Scheveningen surf is the most popular in the Netherlands. The beach here has countless peaks that are suited to beginners, but can also throw out some pretty nice A-frames and points when the winter NW channels start pumping.
An introduction to Scheveningen surf
Scheveningen is the hub of the surf scene in the Netherlands. More than that, it’s one of the top beach resorts in the country, with a wide stretch of sand that slopes very gently into the open North Sea. True to what you’d expect from the Low Countries, conditions here are very changeable. Most of the time, it’s N windswells that bring the sets; mushy, frothing sets that never stay clean. Once in a while, though, SW wrap-arounds will bend into the beaches by the pier and the breakwaters to give glassy peelers and the even the locals will have to pinch themselves to believe what they’re seeing.
Crowds are probably the major downfall of the surf in Scheveningen. The proximirty to the center of The Hague and the abundance of surf schools up and down the shoreline prom have made this one the most popular place in the home of pancakes and spliffs. But that’s not bred the same nasty localism as in other parts of Europe. The vibe remains happy and the people remain welcoming, at least for the most part.
There are waves to be had all the way along Scheveningen’s main beach and beyond, but the quality locations tend to hover around the groynes and breakwaters that punctuate the coast. The whole thing is also highly seasonal – think flat summers and winters that oscillate between messy head-high sets and mid-sized cruisers.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Netherlands
Scheveningen surf at a glance
The good…
- Lots for beginners
- Easy to access
- Friendly vibe
The bad…
- Unreliable swells
- Cold water
- Busiest spot in the country
What’s in this guide to Scheveningen surf?
Where is Scheveningen?
Scheveningen is actually one of the urban districts that make up the city of The Hague. It sits about 2.5 miles to the northwest of the town center, stringing along the side of the North Sea. The beach at Scheveningen, which is where you need to go to surf, is 2.6 miles long in all. It runs from the Noordelijk Havenhoofd, or the North Pier, on one end, all the way to the start of long Strand Wassenaarseslag, a neighboring beach, on the other.
Scheveningen surf spots
The surf map of Scheveningen is delineated by the breakwater at the western end of the bay and the continuing run of sand and dunes that goes to the east. Both have waves worth knowing about, with the long beginner-friendly playground wedged right in the middle. Let’s take it piece by piece…
Scheveningen Zuid (Scheveningen South)
When there’s loads of action in the N channel during big winter storms and the whole of the main strand is a mushy mess, there’s a good chance that there’s something workable on the south side of the breakwater. It’s rarely clean but does kick out short, sharp rights that can even hollow on occasion, all with nice wind shelter.
Scheveningen Nord (North Pier)
Don’t confuse the Scheveningen North Pier with the De Pier. The latter is the tourist jetty that pokes out from the eastern end of the beach. The North Pier (or Nord) is the cluster of concrete blocks that form the rivermouth breakwater to the west of that. It’s the quintessential locals spot in the area, offering the best S-SW wind protection and a reliable paddle channel that lets you skip all those short-period bursts when the windswell is working. The waves don’t actually break right on the jetty wall here, so it’s not quite the left point you might dream up when you see the spot flat. Instead, it’s more A-frames with rides both directions closer to the inside of the bay.
Scheveningen Beach (Scheveningen Strand)
The main run of Scheveningen Beach is about 1.2 miles that perfect beginner territory on smaller windswells. A flat shelf of sand and zero rocks provide one of the most forgiving places to practice your pop ups without the worry of gnarly wipeouts. It’s hardly a surprise that some of the country’s best-rated surf schools pepper the promenade right in front of the main beach. Come the summer, it can be totally flat for days on end. Winter usually has some whitewash, but the best conditions are on 5-6 foot sets, periods over 7 seconds, and a pushing tide with little wind.
De Pier
When De Pier goes off, it can recall images of a SoCall jetty break a la Huntington. The waves on the eastern side of the woodwork are among the best in the bay when there’s wrap-around groundswells off the Atlantic that are big enough to push up through the English Channel. The spot is rarely as busy as the Nord breakwater, and there’s moderate shelter from dominant S winds. Honestly, we’d try this one first if you’re surfing Scheveningen. If it’s working, it’s likely to be the most fun location in the whole bay.
Strand Wassenaarseslag
The waves don’t stop the moment you leave behind the city limits of The Hague. The windy stretch of Strand Wassenaarseslag picks up where Scheveningen Beach ends, running for about four full miles in front of the dunes of the Meijendel nature reserve. When there’s any N windswell over three foot, there will be waves the whole way along the strand. They vary a lot in quality because they rely on moving sandbanks that form and reform all over the place. If the stars line up you can get some decent left-right A-frames, but mainly it’s mushburgers suited to total beginners. Beware of some rips at rivermouths along Strand Wassenaarseslag.
Katwijk
Katwijk is the next town up the Dutch coast from The Hague and Scheveningen. It’s got its own long beach, but the angle of the sand and the formation of the banks here tends to chop down all the oncoming swell, turning the whole thing into a bit of a haven for minimals and up. Beginners will also find that waves are about a foot or two smaller here, so it could be worth the 30 minute drive if Scheveningen Beach is looking heavy.
Where to stay when surfing in Scheveningen?
The Scheveningen surf isn’t the only draw to this salt-washed edge of the Dutch coastline. During the summer months, the sands draw thousands of vacationers, and the town reigns as one of the most popular resorts in the country. That means there are OODLES of fantastic places to stay within walking distance of the waves. We can recommend…
De Pier Suites
Literally steps off the De Pier at the western end of the bay, these modern suites offer walking access to the endless beach breaks that string west and what we’d say is one of the better waves in all of Scheveningen. They are also super, duper nice, with plush beds, great views, and access to a wellness center (though that comes at an extra charge).
Inntel Hotels Den Haag Marina Beach
This super-cool hotel has suites with sweeping views over the whole of Scheveningen Strand and the breakwater where the best waves will be in the winter time. Plus, there’s an indoor pool, spa with saunas, and gym facility.
Ocean House Scheveningen
An uber-stylish clutch of apartments and studios that can sleep between two and five people, Ocean House Scheveningen promises to be your home away from home. The units have super-comfy beds, fitted kitchens, and contemporary lounge spaces.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Scheveningen surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Scheveningen surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Scheveningen?
Come to surf in Scheveningen during the fall and winter months between November and March to ensure you get the best conditions.
Scheveningen and the Netherlands as a whole really rely on the low-pressure storms that move across the North Sea in the winter to get their swell. That means that the best times to surf here are between December to March, when there tends to be lots more action in the N channel. Sometimes, it’s possible to get big SW pulses that push up the channel from the Atlantic. They will also usually come during the winter. Summer tends to be mostly flat, but there are occasional days when a decent N or even SW windswell can come through and combine with direct S offshores.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Joseph Richard Francis
Joe “Rich” Francis has been surfing for the best part of 15 years. He’s nowhere near as good as he should be at the end of all that, but hey ho. Born and bred in Swansea, South Wales (the current base of The Surf Atlas), Joe is a seasoned adventure travel writer with completed publications in the surf-travel and adventure-travel sphere for major publications like Lonely Planet and The Culture Trip.
