As promised the slowest route from Den Haag to Scheveningen from Centraal Station and the end of the Utrechtsebaan urban motorway spur that brings traffic into the city from Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht.
.Bikes can be hired from the station of course - see folder Fiets en Trein for details. Ex-pats are advised that the station names are listed at the back with phone numbers so you can make a reservation - alternatively you can cycle all the way here or tie the yacht up somewhere locally. The idea was to take a leisurely cycle through the city's gentile areas and parks to Scheveningen avoiding the jams and enjoying the getting there rather than the arrival which we found far too stressful. We recommend taking the journey with just your partner or say a friend of your preferred gender type as there are plenty of chances to stop off for a coffee to impress them with your witty repartee / knowledge of modern art, jazz and English non-league football grounds.
The famous clock and hardly anyone about as they are already at the beach but the trams were still full.
A rather boring photo of a piece of cycle path but to the right there are three lanes of traffic tram lines and the end of the motorway.
First left and the building on the left is the Ministry of Finance which of course has it own tram stop so that the bright young civil servants can make the short hop from the station when it is raining to avoid the blonde hair dye running over their sharp American suits.
The Lange Voorhout area which gives way to an antique market on Sundays where the atmosphere is very relaxed.
And after half an hour browsing the stalls looking for a lost Van Gough what beter than a nice cup of coffee in the shade so that you can review your purchases. Wee only just got going so we press on as we have a demanding public but you can stop of course.
Looking back down the Lange Voorhout from near the Hotel Des Indes.
Past the hotel and we are at the foot of the Denerweg - arguably Den Haag top shopping street though the parallel Noordeinde is rapidly catching up.
Antique and bookshops juxtasuppose with cafes and restaurants to create an atmosphere of relaxed reflection but we have no time for this of course.
The Denerweg is one way so we divert to the Hooikade with more possible refreshment stops.
The view from the bridge of this tree lined canal - compared with Amsterdam there is definitely a feeling of more space.
Looking back towards the station.
Safely across the Mauritskade and the view from the top of the Denerweg.
We zig-zag round the Javastraat and more Irish influence though the brewery is owned by Heineken - quite a smooth pint though as the stout tends not to travel well.
The next North South route the Laan Copes van Catterburgh and more zigzagging using the new cycle path.
Right into Bankastraat but most of the bars and cafes are closed though there is a nice atmosphere here during the week.
The fountain at Bankaplein
The fountain again at Bankaplein this time looking down the Riouwstraat.
We follow the bus up the hill to the border with Scheveningen though we do go down a bit afterwards to the difference is not as bad as it looks.
Into the park area known as the Scheveningse Bosjes, literally small woods of Scheveningen - a bit like Theydon Bois in Essex, UK at the end of London Central tube line really as the word comes from the French bois for wood. When in polite company do not ask the pronounciation of this tiny little place that is famous because it is on the tube map.
Four shots of almost traffic free routes twenty minutes from Scheveningen beach.
Some modern sculpture on the road that connects up the modern hotels, museums and concert halls in the area.
