Scheveningen Pier

1961 concrete pier with a Ferris wheel at its seaward end

The Pier juts 380 metres out into the North Sea: a long concrete walkway leading to four interconnected glass pavilions and, at the very end, a 40-metre Ferris wheel. From the top capsule on a clear day you can see the coast running south to Hook of Holland and north to Wassenaar.

The pavilions hold a bungee jump, a small zip line over the surf, a few bars and casual restaurants, and a viewing deck. It is more touristy than cool, but the structure itself is striking and the views are genuine. Entry to the pier is free; the Ferris wheel and bungee charge per ride. Lit and open into the evening.

things to do sight
A story
The current pier is the third on this site. The first was an iron Victorian pier built in 1900, destroyed in 1943 when German occupiers blew up the seafront to clear lines of fire. The replacement opened in 1961 and is now a Rijksmonument, protected for its post-war Modernist concrete and its place in Dutch leisure culture.