The Hague has been making a name for itself as a seaside sports city for years, and it’s now bolstering that reputation with plans for a permanent Beach Stadium. A stadium for recreational and elite athletes has been built on Scheveningen beach every summer since 2007. The municipality of The Hague is now presenting a draft design for a permanent Beach Stadium, allowing for year-round sports and the hosting of (elite) events.
The ambition is clear: everyone in The Hague should have access to sports and exercise throughout their lives. The Beach Stadium makes beach and sea sports accessible to a wide audience and offers space for individual athletes, sports providers, and elite athletes. The stadium will be suitable for recreational use, but also for talent development and (elite) sporting events, in all seasons.
Alderman for Sports Hilbert Bredemeijer: “Beach and sea sports are inextricably linked to The Hague. For 25 years, we’ve been building our position as a sports city by the sea. With the Beach Stadium, we’re creating an accessible place for everyone to participate in sports and exercise: from recreational athletes and young talents to elite athletes. All year round.”
Scheveningen’s sports beach has been incredibly popular with athletes for years. Every summer, beach volleyball, beach soccer, and beach rugby are played on the sand. Swimming lessons are offered in the sea, and people can enjoy kitesurfing, sailing, and surfing. Major sporting events have also taken place there, such as the Dutch and European Beach Volleyball Championships and the World Sailing Championship.
Flexible stadium with space for events
The permanent stadium will have two grandstands with seating for approximately 1,000 spectators. In the summer, event organizers can temporarily expand the stadium to four sides, with room for approximately 2,000 spectators. The grandstands are generally freely accessible, except during private events. Besides sports, there is also space for events and concerts.
Building on the beach
Building on the beach requires smart solutions. The stadium must blend into the natural dune landscape and withstand the coastal weather. A future-proof building must be combined with an eye for ecology, sustainability, and circularity. A wooden structure is currently the starting point.
The draft design represents an important first step. The next phase will include a broad participatory process involving users, sports associations, local residents, and businesses. The Preliminary Design will be submitted to the council at the end of 2026.
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Images: Impressions of the draft design for the permanent Beach Stadium. Created by Bureau Kroner.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag. Translation to English: The Hague Online.
