Ask people to name the leading tourist attractions of the Netherlands and they'll almost certainly say Amsterdam and The Hague. But Scheveningen is where the Dutch flock in summer, and even though most foreigners haven't heard of it, the tiny seaside town has almost 10 million visitors a year.
Getting to Scheveningen is easy. The inexpensive Dutch rail network is speedy and soon had me in The Hague. From the station to Scheveningen it's only a 15-minute tram ride.
Scheveningen is virtually impossible for a non-Dutch speaker to pronounce correctly. During World War II, resistance groups used it as a test for suspected Nazi infiltrators.
First impressions may disappoint. You'll be greeted by Holland Casino (one of only 10 legal casinos in the country), gruff apartment blocks, and rows of hotels.
But slip down to the beach and there's nearly always something going on. In June, it would be the International Sand Sculpture Festival.
The beach is dominated by the pier which pokes out into the North Sea. The restaurant at the end offers excellent cuisine.
