Archive for the ‘Den Haag’ Category

Scheveningen

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Scheveningen is a seaside resort and it is a district of Den Haag, in the province Zuid Holland, Netherlands. Scheveningen is best known for his wide sandy beach and the refreshing sea air. But it has also unique attractions, beautiful museums and numerous events. Scheveningen has a lot to offer, you can, for example sailing, surfing, fishing or diving. Along the beach there are up against seventy-five beach pavilions, each with their own atmosphere and character, like:

Strandclub Wij, described the past four years as “The best spot of Scheveningen” and “the best beach club in the Netherlands. Steakhouse Peukie a stylish beach club, with good food, fine wines, cocktails, and lively festivals. The Beach Restaurant Waterreus whit his beautiful view of the North Sea and the Pier of Scheveningen.

The Pier is around 1900 in conjunction with the Kurhaus designed, a bridge from the Kurhaus terrace across the boulevard, to the main entrance of the octagonal platform. It was 380 meter long walk. In 1991 the Pier was taken over by the Van der Valk group, for the symbolic sum of 1 guilder. The Pier became the attraction of seaside resort of Scheveningen. Now the Pier also has a covered area and diverse range of restaurants, casino, cafe, leisure shopping, children entertainment and events. Visiting the Pier is free and dogs are allowed.

The historic Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen is an impressive building. The history of the Kurhaus Hotel begins in 1818, when Jacob Pronk founds a wooden bathhouse, which by his success soon develops into a real hotel. already in 1885 it became the Kurhaus Hotel. Holland Casino allows you to combine relaxing and tension. There are Roulette, Punto Banco, Poker and Black Jack Tables. There is also a bar and a restaurant.

In the Fortis Circus Theater are concerts, cabaret and family shows. In the past 15 years attracted legendary musicals as The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Elizabeth, Aida and The Lion King millions of visitors. In one of the busiest tourist centers of the Netherlands lies the Museum Beelden Aan Zee. It is built around the old Pavilion ‘de Witte’, a quiet place with images of man, large, small, bronze, stone, sad and happy images.

Sealife-Center on the Boulevard displays in more than forty-five aquariums the amazing underwater world. From the North you can see the mackerel and herring, but also various types of rays and sharks. You can walk through the underwater tunnel and just above your head you see the sharks, turtles and schools of fish swim. In Amazonia you see a real tropical forest with a spectacular waterfall.

On the boulevard there is a fun train, that makes a tour Scheveningen from Monday to Sunday. The starting point is the Pier. The route goes along the port and the village and takes about 35 minutes. There are also music festivals, cultural activities and sporting events in Scheveningen. Like the International Fireworks Festival with breathtaking fireworks.

Den Haag

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Den Haag or in English The Hague is the provincial capital of South Holland and lies on the North Sea. It is the third largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It is home to the popular Scheveningen beach. The city is seat of the Dutch government, located in Binnenhof, and residence to the Queen. It has a population of more than 480 thousand people.

Den Haag is foremost known as residence of international courts, such as the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal and the International Criminal Court, all of the United Nations. There are also many embassies around the city. The Hague is surrounded by other cities and can’t grow any bigger. The center is pretty nice, but without little canals. Tourists usually visit Den Haag on sunny days to enjoy Scheveningen beach. The Queen had her work palace in Den Haag in Palace Noordeinde. It is closed for public, but the gardens are open. The Queen residential palace is called Huis Den Bosch.

Den Haag offers certain sights that are worth a visit. You can check out Mauritshuis with paintings in it, Panorama Mesdag or a 360 degree painting, Madurodam, or the Netherlands in miniature, Sculptures at Sea, on the beach boulevard inside a dune, Municipal Museum, museum The Prison Gate, Lange Voorhout an unusual inner city street, and Royal Theater. There are many department stores, restaurants and clubs available to have a good time at night. Big event every year is ‘Princes Day’ on the third Tuesday in September when the new parliamentary year is officially opened.

Travelers to Den Haag need a valid passport and visa. American citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days. Den Haag is relatively small and compact city and it is easy to walk around or rent a bicycle.