After a renovation period of two and a half years, Her Majesty Queen Máxima officially reopened the renewed Scheveningen boulevard on April 2. The boulevard has been made more accessible, greener, and future-proof. The festive completion, just before the Easter weekend, was framed by a dance performance by the Dutch Don’t Dance Division (DDDD) and music by students of the Royal Conservatory.
Renovation and renewal
Beachgoers can now enjoy a boulevard ten meters wider between De Pier and the Beelden aan Zee museum. The boulevard is also greener and features a new layout. Near the Kurhaus, a wide staircase now connects the boulevard directly to the beach, providing a panoramic view. The historic Leger en Vloot monument has also been carefully relocated to a new, prominent location. Even behind the scenes, the boulevard is ready for the future: innovative solutions have been installed beneath the paving, such as systems for sustainable rainwater harvesting.
Klaas Verschuure, Alderman for Urban Development: “For over two hundred years, bathers have been finding their way to our beautiful Scheveningen. And as far as I am concerned, we will keep it that way for the next two hundred years. And beyond that. I am incredibly grateful to all those people who have literally worked up a sweat over the past few years. Through wind and rain: from 39 degrees to -7. This is a boulevard to be proud of.”
Gavin van Boekel, CFO of Koninklijke Heijmans: “Every day we saw thousands of people walking past here: families, entrepreneurs, beach lovers. That is precisely why we wanted to create a boulevard that provides space and contributes to a healthy, attractive living environment. The fact that we achieved this together while Scheveningen remained open and with minimal disruption makes me proud.”
Official opening with those involved
Her Majesty the Queen opened the boulevard amid great interest. Prior to the opening ceremony, Queen Máxima met with representatives of the seaside resort, Royal Heijmans, and the Municipality of The Hague. Following a speech by Mayor Jan van Zanen, a video about the construction of the project and a poem by Scheveningen poet Esther van Haren were shown. During a tour, the Queen spoke with those involved in the renovation and with beach entrepreneurs who remained active during the construction.
The official opening ceremony took place on the beach section in front of the Kurhaus. The Dutch Don’t Dance Division performed a special dance show on the steps of the new staircase. Following this, visitors could participate in a symposium on the Army and Navy Monument .
Martin Wörfsdörfer, chairman of the association of beach operators: “A sunny start. The beach pavilions are positioned slightly differently, further apart, giving you a fantastic view of the sea everywhere. There are beautiful benches and lighting, and of course, there is that staircase in front of the Kurhaus. That is where you really see the old grandeur reflected. As always, we are ready with open arms in the beach pavilions to welcome visitors with a tasty snack and a drink.”
For the public: new space for events
The widened boulevard has created more space for more public events. The kick-off takes place on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 with the free KidsFest aan Zee. Subsequently, the program includes a Hague Freedom Meal, the European Robotic League, and Aircooled Scheveningen, among others. Music performances are also regularly organized on the boulevard.
The full program can be found at https://denhaag.com/en/aanzee
Featured photo and photo below: Jurriaan Brobbel
Photo below: Arnaud Roelofsz
