Scheveningen
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Scheveningen is part of Den Haag. It is a modern bathing resort with a long sandy beach and a pier. A nudist section is 1 km to the north. The harbour is used both for fishing and tourism.
History
The earliest reference to the name 'Sceveninghe' goes back to around 1280. The first inhabitants may have been Anglo Saxon. Other historians favor a 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 1654. Thousands of people gathered on the shore to watch.
A road with neighouring Den Haag was constructed 1663 (current name: Scheveningseweg).
Adrian_van_de_Velde_Scheveningen.jpg
In 1470 a heavy storm destroyed the church and half of all houses. The village was again hit by storm on November 1 1570, in 1775, 1825, 1860, 1881 and in 1894. After this last storm the villagers decided to build a harbor. Until then, the fishing ships had a flat bottom (bomschuiten), and were pulled upon the beach. Around 1870 over 150 of these ships were in use. When the harbor had been constructed in 1904, more modern ships replaced the bomschuiten.
In 1818 Jacob Pronk built a wooden building on a dune near the sea, from where people could bathe from 4 separate rooms. It marked the start of Scheveningen as a bathing place. Since then, Scheveningen has attracted numerous tourist from all over Europe, notably from Germany.
The hotel and restaurant Kurhaus was opened in 1886.
The picturesque village attracted many Dutch artists over the centuries, to paint the bomschuiten drawn up on the beach, or fishermen at work in the North Sea. Notable painters who recorded the village include Adrian van de Velde, Simon de Vlieger and Hendrik Willem Mesdag, whose enormous panorama, 14 m high and 120 m around, preserves the view of Scheveningen in 1881.
Events/Attractions
Annual events include:
- winter swim on New Year's Day
- 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
A visit to Scheveningen can include:
- The Sea Museum
- The Pier
- The Beeldenmuseum (Sculptures)
- The Panorama Mesdag.
Trivia
The name Scheveningen had been used as a shibboleth during WWII to identify German spies: they would pronounce the initial "Sch" differently from Dutch native speakers.
In chess, the Scheveningen is a variation of the chess opening known as the Sicilian Defense, first played in a tournament in Scheveningen. Template:Pic
The International Skating Union was founded in Scheveningen in 1892.