Aloha

Aloha is a beach club, restaurant and surf school on the sand of Scheveningen, a short walk from the pier on the northern side of the beach. The tropical name and decor set it apart from the more formal seafront terraces and the grand Kurhaus further along the promenade, and it has long been a gathering point for The Hague's surfers, who ride the North Sea waves much of the year in thick wetsuits.

The surf school is the main reason many people come. Lessons are offered for beginners and for people who want to improve, and equipment such as boards and wetsuits can be arranged with the school. The North Sea is a cold and often choppy teacher, but Scheveningen’s beach has long been one of the main surfing spots on the Dutch coast, and the wide beach with its gentle slope makes it a reasonable place to learn. Conditions vary a great deal from day to day, so expect instructors to decide on the spot where and whether to paddle out.

Beyond the waves, on land, the beach club works as a relaxed place to eat and drink at any time of day. The menu covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the terrace faces the water, which is the point: sit with a coffee in the morning, watch the surfers in the lineup, and stay on for a drink as the sun drops behind the sea. In summer there is the usual beach-club mix of volleyball, music and group events, and the crowd ranges from families to colleagues on a staff outing.

There is also a surf shop attached, selling boards, wetsuits and beachwear, which is useful if you arrive without gear and decide on a whim to try the sea. Because Scheveningen is a city beach with tram connections to The Hague, you can combine a lesson or a lunch with other things nearby, such as the pier, the harbour and the Kurhaus, without needing a car.

Aloha is a good match for visitors who want something livelier than a plain walk along the shore. Those who are not going into the water can still enjoy it simply as a sheltered, informal spot on the beach, particularly outside the height of summer when the wind is up and a heated terrace is welcome. Check the current opening times and lesson availability before you go, since both depend on the season and the weather.