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In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth--Rachel Carson Scheveningen. If ever there was the epitome of the crazy Dutch language, this word would be it. The other students and I joke that once we learn how to say this, and the name of our school (de Haagse Hogeschool) we can say
any Dutch word.
Little do most people realize (or perhaps it was just me) that Den Haag has a beach. A pretty important beach too. It isn't just some inlet tucked away somewhere. This is like the Myrtle Beach of Northern Europe. Every bit as tacky, every bit as fun.
Except on this beach I find it hard to believe that anyone,
ever goes in the water. The sea on this beach is, in fact, the North Sea. As in the North Sea that ends up being the Arctic Ocean. This isn't the West Indies. And considering it isn't supposed to go much higher than 80 degrees here, you must really like water to really submerge yourself in the North Sea.
Since my time in Den Haag
Bundled Up
I'm not sure anyone has ever worn this many layers to the beach I've made a few trips up there. The beach is only a 20 minute tram ride or so away, so it is very easy to reach. My mom constantly bugs me, saying that if she had access to a beach she would be up there all the time. I don't know why I don't feel that same. I've never really
loved beaches. They are pretty and all, but eventually sand gets in your eyes and hair and the wind takes your beach towel away and it's over.
Maybe it is the fact the beach is outside.
Each time I go, the beach seems to change. The first time I visited it in late February. It was a beautiful day in the center of Den Haag, so naturally we thought it would be pretty at the beach. It was; the part we could see anyway. There was a massive layer of fog over it and we couldn't see the North Sea until we were almost on top of it. Most shops were closed and there were very few people. It had promise though.
The next time was late March. What a difference a month can make!
Spooky
The walkway has been eaten by fog! It was more in the sixties, and I didn't feel as if I was going to freeze simply standing on the sand. Kaitlin and I made the trek up there and were well rewarded. It was as clear as a bell. There were far more people, but it was by no means crowded. The wind remained, but people were able to take advantage of it and fly kites. We could see boats on the water and were able to explore a tidal area. There was a man-made bridge jutting into the water that appeared to have been taken over by mussels or something like that. Just walking along that was fun and, for an instant, I saw a bit of what my mom did in beaches.
Of course no trip to the beach (or any site for that matter in the Netherlands or Belgium) would be complete with fries. Fries are
the food and are sold everywhere. It was so nice to sit on a bench, people-watching and eating fries. But then the temperature dropped and the wind picked up; it was time to go. The weather changes like that; in fact in the time I've type
The North Sea
No, really. It's there. I promise this entry it’s been sunny and windy and now it is pouring. Holland.
The last time (for now, I will definitely be up there again!) I was at the beach was in April. Again, the wind was strong. I'm beginning to think the wind is just an aspect of this beach. Katie, Kaitlin and I tried to sit on the beach this time, to enjoy the sun and the moment. We were thwarted though. The wind blew Kaitlin's postcards and made a puddle of sand on my towel. Children shouted at us (no, really). The birds began to circle and tried to dive-bomb us.
It was time to go.
We did see a gigantic sandcastle though. It appears to have been an advertisement for a sandcastle competition that was later. It was amazing; I have never seen anything quite like it. Shops have begun to multiply and restaurants were even setting up areas directly on the sand. It was also the most people I had seen there.
I'm excited for Scheveningen in the summertime. Pictures I have seen show blanket-to-blanket coverage and people actually in the water. Katie said there is even a club located directly
Shops and Stuff
It began to clear, as we were leaving of course on the beach.
For only a tram ride, I can be an explorer: Scheveningen is a different discovery each time I go.
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