View source for Scheveningen

{{Distinguish|Schengen, Luxembourg|Schneverdingen}}
{{for multi|the chess opening|Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation|the chess tournament system|Scheveningen system}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Scheveningen
| native_name_lang         = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type          = [[Districts of The Hague|District]]
| image_skyline            = Den Haag Scheveningen Pier 32.jpg
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = A view of the [[Scheveningen Pier]] with the [[Kurhaus of Scheveningen|Kurhaus]] in the background
| image_flag               = Flag of Scheveningen.svg
| flag_alt                 = 
| image_seal               = 
| seal_alt                 = 
| image_shield             = Scheveningen wapen.svg
| shield_alt               = 
| image_map                = Haagse stadsdeel-scheveningen.PNG
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Map of [[The Hague]], Scheveningen marked green
| pushpin_map              = Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Scheveningen in the Netherlands
| coordinates              = {{coords|52|06|29|N|4|16|23|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Netherlands}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|South Holland}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[Municipalities|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2        = {{flag|The Hague}}
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
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| unit_pref                = Metric
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| area_land_ha             = 230
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| population_as_of         = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|P1082|P585}}
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| website                  = {{URL|https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/in-de-stad/stadsdelen/scheveningen.htm}}
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}}
[[Image:Scheveningenview.JPG|thumb|Scheveningen pier in the background, view from the harbour's breakwater]]
[[Image:Look_to_Scheveningen.jpg|thumb|Scheveningen pier viewed from the beach near [[Wassenaar]]]]

'''Scheveningen''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈsxeːvənɪŋə(n)|-|Nl-Scheveningen.ogg}}) is one of the eight districts of [[The Hague]], [[Netherlands]], as well as a subdistrict ({{lang|nl|wijk}}) of that city. Scheveningen is a modern [[seaside resort]] with a long, sandy [[beach]], an [[esplanade]], a [[pier]], and a [[lighthouse]]. The beach is popular for water sports such as [[windsurfing]] and [[Kitesurfing|kiteboarding]].<ref>[http://www2.holland.com/denhaag/gb/discover/coast/scheveningen/watersports/index.jsp The Hague Tourist Board page on Scheveningen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116040013/http://www2.holland.com/denhaag/gb/discover/coast/scheveningen/watersports/index.jsp |date=16 January 2008}}</ref> The [[harbour]] is used for both fishing and tourism.

== History ==
{{Moresources|section|date=November 2022}}
[[Image:Im Februar 1598 an der holländischen Küste gestrandeter Walfisch.jpg|thumb|The engraving by [[Gilliam van der Gouwen]] shows a 20-m-long (70 ft) whale, stranded on the Dutch coast between Scheveningen and [[Katwijk]] on February 3, 1598.]]
[[Image:Het Strand van Scheveningen, Adriaen van de Velde (1658).jpg|thumb|''The beach at Scheveningen'' by [[Adriaen van de Velde]], painted 1658]]
[[File:Netherlands-Scheveningen-beach-1900.jpg|thumb|A [[photochrom]] of the beach {{Circa|1900}}]]

The earliest reference to the name ''Sceveninghe'' goes back to around 1280. The first inhabitants may have been [[Anglo-Saxons]]. Other [[historian]]s favour a [[Norsemen|Scandinavian]] origin. [[Fishing]] was the main source of [[food]] and [[income]].

The [[Battle of Scheveningen]] was fought between English and Dutch fleets off the coast of the village on 10 August 1653. Thousands of people gathered on the shore to watch. In 1660 [[Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich|Montagu's]] flagship picked up the English king at Scheveningen in order to accomplish the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]].<ref>''Dictionary of national biography''. [Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, etc.]. London: Oxford University Press. XIII., pp. 680–681.</ref>

A road to neighbouring The Hague was constructed in 1663 (current name: {{lang|nl|Scheveningseweg}}).

In 1470, a heavy storm destroyed the church and half the houses. The village was again hit by storms in 1570, 1775, 1825, 1860, 1881, and 1894. After this last storm, the villagers decided to build a harbour. Until then, the fishing boats had had a flat bottom ({{lang|nl|bomschuiten}}), and were pulled up the beach. By around 1870, over 150 of these boats were in use. Once the harbour had been constructed in 1904, more modern ships replaced the {{lang|nl|bomschuiten}}.

In 1818, Jacob Pronk constructed a wooden building on a dune near the sea, from where people could bathe from four separate rooms. It marked the start of Scheveningen as a bathing resort. Since then, Scheveningen has attracted numerous tourists from all over Europe, notably from [[Germany]].
[[Image:Koerhuis.jpg|thumb|The [[Kurhaus (Scheveningen)|Kurhaus]]]]
The hotel [[Kurhaus (Scheveningen)|Kurhaus]] was opened in 1886. The village attracted a number of Dutch artists over the centuries, who painted the {{lang|nl|bomschuiten}} drawn up on the beach, or fishermen at work in the [[North Sea]]. Notable painters who recorded the village include [[Adriaen van de Velde]], [[Simon de Vlieger]], and [[Hendrik Willem Mesdag]], whose large [[Panorama Mesdag|panorama]], 14&nbsp;m high and 120&nbsp;m wide, preserved the view of Scheveningen in 1881.

The [[International Skating Union]] was founded in Scheveningen in 1892.

Anecdotal evidence exists of the name ''Scheveningen'' being used as a [[shibboleth]] during [[World War II]] to identify German spies: they would pronounce the initial ''Sch'' as one consonant (the [[voiceless palato-alveolar fricative]], pronounced approximately like {{IPA|ʃ}}, {{angle bracket|sh}}), rather than the native Dutch sequence of the [[voiceless alveolar sibilant]] followed by the [[voiceless uvular fricative]]: {{IPA|sχ}}, {{angle bracket|Skh}}, as in ''Genghis Khan''.<ref name="mcnamara">{{cite journal |last=McNamara |first=Tim |title=21st century shibboleth: language tests, identity and intergroup conflict |journal=Language Policy |volume=2005 |issue=4 |pages=351–370 |publisher=Springer Netherlands |year=2005 |doi=10.1007/s10993-005-2886-0 |s2cid=145528271 }}</ref>

Scheveningen was never an independent municipality, but it has its own coat of arms, officially recognised by The Hague local council (proposal 136 of 23 March 1984); even in the Middle Ages, it was part of the same administrative region as The Hague.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=igY5AAAAMAAJ&dq=scheveningen+baljuw&pg=PA603 Vaderlandsch woordenboek, 1787]</ref>

Nevertheless, Scheveningen always had a strong identity of its own. For instance, it had its own football club, playing in the highest Dutch division (its name was "Scheveningen Holland Sport"). In the course of the second half of the 20th century, this club was forced to merge with [[ADO Den Haag]].
[[File:Veronicagestrand.jpg|thumb|[[Radio Veronica|Veronica]] ship [[MV Norderney|MV ''Norderney'']], Scheveningen (7 April 1973)]]

From 21 April 1960,<ref>[http://www.focuscollection.com/listings/l0607.html Jan Akkerman interviewed in Dutch magazine Veronica, 1973]</ref> the pirate radio station [[Radio Veronica]]<ref>[http://www.mediapages.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=833:geschiedenis-veronica-1973&catid=49:veronica-archief&Itemid=18 Juul Geleick - Geschiedenis Veronica 1973]</ref> broadcast its programmes from an anchorage in the [[North Sea]] about four miles off the Scheveningen coast, originally calling itself Vrije Radio Omroep Nederland (VRON), Free Radio Station [of the] Netherlands. It was joined by [[Radio North Sea International|Radio Noordzee Internationaal]] <!-- (RNI) --> in 1970<ref>[http://www.mediapages.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=144:de-vermeende-spionage-van-rni&catid=50:noordzee-archief&Itemid=29 Hans Knot - De vermeende spionage van RNI]</ref> and the relaunched [[Radio Caroline]] in late 1972. When the Netherlands ratified the Treaty of Strasbourg on 1 September 1974,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA54 ''Billboard'' (5 May 1973)]</ref> Veronica applied for legal status and became the VOO, Caroline moved anchorage to the English coast, and RNI closed down. Memorable episodes during this period included the stranding of Radio Veronica's ship, the ''Norderney'', which lost its anchor in a storm and ran aground on Scheveningen beach on 2 April 1973, and a firebomb attack on RNI's ship, the ''[[Mebo II]]'', on 15 May 1971.

Since the 1970s the population of the original Scheveningen changed as the fishing industry declined and some artists and professionals moved in. Most of the fishermen, captains and trawler owners houses were demolished. Some still remain and have been protected by the authorities, including some of the original 'hofjes', in an enclosed area with small row houses on each side.

[[Slobodan Milošević]], the 3rd [[president of Serbia and Montenegro]] was found dead [[Trial of Slobodan Milošević|in his prison cell]] on 11 March 2006 while he was being held in the [[United Nations Detention Unit|UN war crimes tribunal's detention center]] in Scheveningen.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4796470.stm |title=Milosevic found dead in his cell |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=11 March 2006 |access-date=21 February 2017 }}</ref>

==Culture==
Until recently, some elderly women still wore local Scheveningen costume,<ref name="kledingdracht">{{cite web|url=http://www.vlaggetjesdag.com/historie/klederdracht/|title=Klederdracht|work=www.vlaggetjesdag.com | access-date=12 May 2018}}</ref> while the local [[Scheveningen dialect]] is hardly spoken by young people anymore.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2004/09/10/oe-t-oit-vrooger-eweest-et-7701353-a1295914|title=Oe 't ôit vrooger 'eweest 'êt |work=www.nrc.nl |author=P. van der Eijk|date=10 September 2004 | access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> 

Because of the closedness of the original village community, many shared the same surnames. This led to the introduction of nicknames in order to distinguish families better. For example, certain members from the Pronk family were known as 'the horse man', 'Piet the mouse', 'Born without a tooth' or 'Gerrit de sermon'. Some common 'typical Scheveningen' family names are, for example, Bal, Dijkhuizen, Groen, Korving, Den Heijer, Knoester, De Niet, Plugge, Pronk, Rog, Spaans, Taal, Toet, Vrolijk, Zuurmond and Van der Zwan. Through the opening up of the fishing village from the beginning of the 20th century, this phenomenon has gradually become obsolete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allemaalscheveningers.nl/joomla/familienamen |title=Scheveningse familie namen |work=www.allemaalscheveningers.nl |access-date=12 May 2018 |archive-date=10 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510074507/http://www.allemaalscheveningers.nl/joomla/familienamen |url-status=dead }} (Access date 26 September 2023)</ref>

== Events and attractions ==
{{moresources|section|date=November 2022}}
[[File:Duindorp Vreugdevuur 2018 - Dag 3 - WE GAAN -HARD!.webm|thumb|Duindorp bonfire in 2018]]
[[File:Scheveningen sand sculpture competition.JPG|thumb|Annual [[sand sculpture competition]] at Scheveningen]]
Annual events include:
*[[Winter swim]] on New Year's Day, locally known as {{lang|nl|Nieuwjaarsduik}}<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Nieuwjaarsduik |date=2024-01-03 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://nl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nieuwjaarsduik&oldid=66758424 |access-date=2024-04-09 |language=nl}}</ref> (New Year's dive). The event is sponsored by [[Unox]] who provide soup and {{lang|nl|[[oliebol]]len}} to participants. They also give out signature orange [[Unox]] beanies, which apart from their aesthetic value also help rescuers identify swimmers.<ref name=":0" />
*Flags Day in spring when the first new [[herring]] of the year is auctioned
*[[Fireworks]] in summer: once a week and several days during a festival week
*[[Vreugdevuur]] from second Christmas Day to New Year's Eve: a large competition between two subdivisions of Scheveningen (Duindorp and Scheveningen dorp) to build the largest tower made out of pallets and then light it on fire to signal the beginning of the year, Duindorp currently holds the world record.
A visit to Scheveningen can include:
*The Muzee Museum (official museum of Scheveningen)
*The [[Scheveningen Pier|pier]]
*[[Bungee jumping]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bungy Jump Scheveningen |url=https://www.bungy.nl/en/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Bungy Jump Scheveningen |language=en-US}}</ref> 
*Ziplining<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zip Holland {{!}} over een afstand van 350 meter |url=https://www.zipholland.nl/ |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Zip Holland, De Zipline ervaring van Nederland |language=nl-NL}}</ref> 
*The [[miniature park|miniature city]] [[Madurodam]]
*The sculptures at sea museum [[Beelden aan Zee]]
*The [[Panorama Mesdag]]
*The four different beaches of Scheveningen<ref>[https://scheveningenbeach.com/things-to-do-and-see/beach Beaches of Scheveningen], Scheveningenbeach.com. Accessed 15 November 2022.</ref>
*Our Lady of Lourdes (RC) Silent Center, housing a replica of the [[Lourdes Grotto]] in Massabielle (France).
Night life includes the [[Movie theaters in the Netherlands#Pathé|Pathé Scheveningen movie theatre]], and the sea-front boulevard with its bars, restaurants, casino and other entertainment.

==Museums==
* Atlantikwall Museum Scheveningen
* Bunker Museum Den Haag
* [[Beelden aan Zee]]
* {{ill|Muzee Scheveningen|nl|Muzee Scheveningen}}
* Museumschip Hr. Ms. ''Mercuur'', former [[Aggressive-class minesweeper]]

== Lighthouse ==
[[File:2014 12 Scheveningen lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Scheveningen lighthouse]]
The [[light beam]] flashes at alternate intervals of 2.5 and 7.5 seconds. The location is {{coord|52|6.247|N|4|16.095|E|}}.

{{See also|List of lighthouses and lightvessels in the Netherlands}}

==Chess==
In the game of [[chess]], the [[Sicilian Defence%2C Scheveningen Variation|Scheveningen Variation]] of the [[Sicilian Defense]] takes its name from a 1923 chess tournament played in the district. During the tournament, the variation was played by several players, for instance by the future Dutch world chess champion [[Max Euwe]].

==Subdistricts==
The subdistricts of district Scheveningen are:
*Scheveningen
*[[Duinoord]]
*[[Statenkwartier]]
*[[Belgisch Park]]
*[[Oostduinen]]
*[[Maduroplein]]
*[[Duindorp]]
*[[Van Stolkpark]]
*[[Westbroekpark]]

==Noted natives==
* [[Machiel de Graaf]] (b. 1969), politician
* [[Romy Haag]] (b. 1948), dancer, singer and actress
* [[Theo Jansen]] (b. 1948), artist
* [[Cornelis Jol]] (1597–1641), admiral and privateer
* [[Dick Jol]] (b. 1956), football referee
* [[Martin Jol]] (b. 1956), football manager and player
* [[Wim Kan]] (1911–1983), cabaret artist
* [[Bert Pronk]] (1950–2005), cyclist
* [[Jan Pronk]] (b. 1940), politician and diplomat
* [[Tim Smit]] (b.1954), businessman, composer, environmentalist and archaeologist
* [[Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza]] (1921–2001), industrialist

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{commons-inline|Scheveningen}}
{{wikivoyage-inline|Scheveningen}}
*[http://www.scheveningenbeach.com/en.html Tourist Information Scheveningen]
*[https://kuestlich.de/en/locations-regions/netherlands/scheveningen-beach-the-hague/ Tourist Information Scheveningen (English)]
*[https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/netherlands/south-holland/the-hague/scheveningen-strand.html Beach Streaming Livecams]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Seaside resorts in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Boroughs of The Hague]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]