The Westduinpark, located between Scheveningen and Kijkduin, is one of the largest nature reserves in The Hague. The protected dunes, situated near the Zuiderstrand boast a highly diverse landscape with dense forests and open spaces, wet dune valleys, high dune tops, bunker ruins from the Second World War and freely roming Scottish Highland cows. Due to the many hiking, biking and riding trails Westduinpark is the ideal nature reserve for to enjoy a refreshing sea breeze. You can reach the Westduinpark from Hotel Bries by bike in just 10 minutes.

The Sand Motor, located between Kijkduin and Monster, is an innovative way of coastal maintenance that also provides the room for recreation and nature. It can be reached by car from Hotel Bries in 17 minutes.

What is the Sand Motor? Every year, the sea erodes sand from the Dutch coast. To counteract this, the Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch government agency responsible for water management) replenishes the sand every five years through beach and offshore sand nourishment. Without this, the sea would pose a threat to the low-lying western part of the Netherlands, which lies below sea level. While the five-year sand nourishment program is effective, is there a more sustainable and natural way to protect the coast? By constructing the Zandmotor, a peninsula off the coast of Ter Heijde, the Netherlands is investigating whether nature can distribute sand along the coast for us. Of course, the safety of its residents is not something that the Netherlands is experimenting with, as the coastal defense is at full strength during the construction of the Zandmotor.

Building with nature

The Zandmotor is a great example of building with nature. By depositing a large amount of sand at once, we prevent repeated disturbance of the vulnerable seabed. Nature will place the sand in the right place for us.

Unique in the world

An experiment like the Zandmotor has not been carried out before. With this project, the Netherlands continues to set the standard in water management, by working with the water instead of against it.

The best way to get from the city center to the beach – and discover The Hague in a fun way along the way – is by bike! With a bike, you can avoid the traffic, stop wherever you want, and you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot. Several routes have been carefully selected and curated, focusing on a combination of nature, culture, history and cuisine. Check them out here: https://denhaag.com/nl/fietsen