Seeing Scheveningen (17/08)

Next on my list, Scheveningen. An area north of Den Haag it is in the opposite direction to Noordwijk but still along the beloved Dutch coast. Once more I took a beautiful coastal path through the dunes of around 15km. To reach the cycle path I cut through perhaps one of the richest areas of Wassenaar and felt like an intruder as I gazed upon large imposing facades and pearly gates with lawns humongous in size and style.

The view along Scheveningen was a different story! On my right the sand was occupied almost completely by rickety beach bars and quirky clubs and, on my left, the road was coated with tiered hotels, restaurants and museums. A real Dutch seaside resort. Nothing like the vastness of the Wassenaar elite. The boulevard itself was sprinkled with seating areas and intriguing sculptures, a series by an American sculptor along the theme of fairytales particularly caught my eye. The hustle and bustle continued all the way up to the harbours where boats, great and small, were moored tip to tip. Bikes a plenty.

In search of tranquility I settled in the nearby Westbroekpark. An area of true natural beauty. Reminiscient of Monet’s garden in the bridges that crossed the streams. From there I headed to the area of Scheveningen beach known for being a bit quieter, the Zwarte Pad, for a spot of sunbathing before I tackled the ride back.