The Hague Dune Trail

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The Hague Dune Trail: Easy Coastal Dunes from The Hague

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

The Hague Dune Trail scored 70/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 50
Scenery & wildness 58
Varied terrain 94
Accommodation 91
Food & support 81
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 63

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Hague Dune Trail is a descriptive name for easy dune walking on The Hague (Den Haag) seafront in South Holland, the Netherlands. The practical day route is a 10 km loop through Westduinpark between Scheveningen and Kijkduin, with about 40 m ascent and a representative high point around 25 m. It suits walkers wanting coastal dunes, dune woodland and beach access without committing to a long-distance trail. Expect good paths, some boardwalks and soft sand rather than technical hiking.

Route Overview

Start from Scheveningen, commonly near the Scheveningen water tower or a Westduinpark entrance, and walk a circular route south-west through Westduinpark and adjoining Bosjes van Poot towards Kijkduin before looping back. The direction is flexible: the key is to combine inland dune paths with an optional North Sea beach section. Meijendel and the De Tapuit visitor centre, just north of the city, offer an alternative 10 km+ dune loop. Access is based on The Hague, Scheveningen or Kijkduin; exact public-transport stops are not verified in the brief. For a signed coastal through-route, use the Dutch Coastal Path (Hollands Kustpad); for flatter lowland alternatives, compare the Amstel River Trail or Biesbosch National Park Trail.

Dunes, Drinking Water and Wartime Remains

The Hague’s coastal dunes formed over roughly the last 5,000 years and later became central to the city’s drinking-water supply. From the mid-19th century, the Duinwaterleidingbedrijf, now Dunea, extracted fresh dune groundwater; the octagonal Scheveningen water tower, built in 1874, still marks that history. Westduinpark was once a royal House of Orange hunting ground, became a protected nature monument in 1990 and joined a Natura 2000 site in 2003. WWII Atlantikwall bunkers remain in the dunes.

Notable highlights

Scottish Highland cattle of Westduinpark: These shaggy, long-horned cattle graze freely in the reserve and help keep the dune landscape open. Give them space, especially where paths pass close to grazing areas.
Scheveningen water tower (1874): This octagonal neoclassical tower marks the start of drinking-water extraction from these dunes and is still in use. It also appears in Mesdag’s famous Panorama painting.
Westduinpark and Bosjes van Poot: These adjoining dune and wooded-dune areas form part of a Natura 2000 reserve. For hikers, they give quick access to open dune tops, sheltered hollows and dune birdlife.
North Sea beach between Scheveningen and Kijkduin: The beach can be folded into the loop for a sand-and-sea variation. It is the easiest way to turn the walk from a dune circuit into a coast walk.
WWII Atlantikwall remains: Concrete bunkers and passageways from the German Atlantic Wall survive among the dunes. They add a visible wartime layer to an otherwise natural-looking landscape.

Challenges to expect

The main effort is soft sand, which slows the pace more than the low elevation suggests. Wind, sun exposure and rain can all feel sharper on open dunes and beach sections, so carry layers and water. Navigation is straightforward but not a single official branded trail: use Westduinpark or Meijendel loop signage and stay on marked paths. Dogs may need leashing in protected or grazing zones.

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