Harbour portrait: Scheveningen - more than just a party mile in the Netherlands

For many of our neighbours, Amsterdam is the most important metropolis in their country. No wonder, the charisma and appeal of the metropolis on the IJ even extends far beyond the borders of the Netherlands. Especially as a holiday destination.

But in one respect, the inland capital has to pass: Although there is plenty of water there too, there is no beach. If you want to lie in the sand or plunge into real waves, you have to go to the North Sea. And if you're looking for entertainment coupled with a little culture, there's only one place to go: Scheveningen.

Scheveningen: from fishing village to first bathhouse

The largest seaside resort in the Netherlands is often referred to as the biggest party mile in the country. The locals are proud of this title. What began as a fishing village, with cottages nestled in the dunes and regularly hit by storm surges, has undergone an astonishing transformation over the past two centuries. In 1818, a resourceful resident, the shipowner Jacob Pronk, opened the first bathhouse. The salty waters were said to have great healing powers, especially for rheumatic complaints.

Pronk was soon able to bask in his success: His first wooden pavilion was replaced by stone, other buildings were added, imitators followed and hotels were built, connected by a promenade. The magnificent Kurhaus, which opened in 1885, can justifiably be described as an early temple of wellness. Today, the three-winged building, which not coincidentally resembles a castle, is home to a grand hotel.

The Kurhaus is still the visual eye-catcher along the Strandweg - the name of the promenade, which is now around two and a half kilometres long. It stretches from Oostduinpark in the north to the fortified harbour entrance in the south. The Kurhaus impresses not only with its sheer size. Above all, it stands out favourably from the many sins of construction that were built one after the other in the following decades in the first, second and third rows.

Endless choice on the beach and promenade

However, those lying under a parasol or sipping a Mai Tai under the taut tarpaulin of a beach club won't mind. And when it comes to restaurants, cafés and bars, the choice on the beach and promenade is endless. Culinary delights span the globe, from bitterballen met mosterd to croquetas de bacalao and saté ayam.

There is also something for every taste when it comes to ambience: Caribbean flair under palm trees, hard rock on the tap and candlelight on the tablecloth - there is almost nothing in the Scheveningen restaurant scene that doesn't exist.

De Pier on the pier

However, the main attraction is undoubtedly De Pier, the 381 metre long pier. Even if the ravages of time are already gnawing at one or two places, exploring the two continuous levels is an experience. The upper deck in particular offers spectacular views. For example, from the jumpers who plunge death-defyingly from the observation tower at the seaward end of the pier down to the North Sea on a rubber rope. Or the zipline, which sends its "passengers" hurtling down into the valley in a harness at over 70 kilometres per hour.

And then there is Skyview, probably the only Ferris wheel in Europe that could also serve as a sea symbol. The closed gondolas rise up to a height of 50 metres above the sea.

Behind the promenade, the casino, several museums and the Sea Life Aquarium provide entertainment if the weather doesn't play ball.

The Tweede Haven for pleasure boaters

Three crowned herrings adorn Scheveningen's coat of arms - the best indication that fish was the number one topic here for a long time. The trawlers that still pursue it today are moored in the Eerste Haven. The Tweede Haven belongs to the pleasure craft industry. Guests are accommodated in its southern half, more precisely at the modern floating jetty of Jachtclub Scheveningen (yachtclubscheveningen.com). Here you will find full service in a modern environment, with restaurants and a supermarket on Doctor Lelykade.

When approaching the harbour, cross currents must be expected in front of the pier heads of the harbour entrance. After registering with the traffic centre on VHF channel 21, you can enter via the Buitenhaven, the Voorhaven, the Eerste Haven and via a 200-metre-long connecting channel to the Tweede Haven.

Scheveningen - a neighbourhood of The Hague

The beach is around one and a half kilometres away from here and the pier is around three kilometres away. Scheveningen is actually a neighbourhood of The Hague. In fact, the seat of government of the Netherlands with its time-honoured parliament, ministries and modern high-rise buildings, the centre with numerous bars and embassies is also only around three and a half kilometres inland and can be easily reached by public transport.

Finally, the Binckhorsthaven with the jetties of the Watersportvereniging de Vlietstreek (wsvdevlietstreek.nl) welcomes guests travelling on the inland waterways of North Holland.