A day at the beach

Last Sunday was a glorious day, the sun was shining, birds were singing and the blossoms on the trees were blooming. It was a day not to be wasted, so our family set off for a day at a beach.

Off we went in our big red car (oh ah) to Scheveningen. Funnily enough, we weren’t the only ones with this bright idea. 

As we drove (at walking pace), I marvelled at all the families heading off to the beach on their bikes and declared to the Dutchman that next time we will do the same (he laughed).  I was mesmerised by all of the people sunbaking on their balconies (isn’t sunbaking so 1985? – apparently not). And yet again I was in awe of all the sparkling clean windows, with their perfect symmetrical placed candles and floral displays for the world to see (so typically Dutch).

At last we made it to the beach, the sand was yellow, the water green/blue, and there were crystal clear skies. It was my first beach experience in the Netherlands, and coming from a country of fabulous beaches I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Going to the beach in Australia is all about sunburnt feet, sunscreen and sand everywhere. They are covered in colourful dome tents with people cowering inside. Kids have their UV50+ protection long sleeved rash vests and their board shorts, many parents have the same. The goal is to show minimal skin to a) avoid sunburn and b) have less body parts to put sunscreen on. Everyone is wearing sun hats, the bigger the better. If you are lucky you might even have an esky with an ice cold six pack inside.  And if you are luckier again your dad (or anyone within eyesight) won't be wearing dick dacks (speedos/sluggers/budgie smugglers).

Well I must say my first trip to the beach at Scheveningen was a wonderful experience. You don’t have to go on the sand if you don’t want to, you can just walk up the boulevard and choose whichever lovely outdoor restaurant/eatery/bar your heart desires. You can sit back and enjoy your ice cold beer and bitterballen (delicious fried balls) and keep calling the waiter back for more. If you are Dutch you can get your kit off, and sunbake behind glass wind shelters until you are redder than a baboons bottom. Your kids can play on the sand, and you can watch them from the comfort of your outdoor couch. The water is far enough away you’ve got time to catch them (the kids that is) if they do a runner to the water's edge.

Oh going to the beach in the Netherlands is a pure delight! It’s time the Aussies established more eating/drinking establishments, right on the side of the beach.  The OBH and the Cott are good, but it's not quite the same as enjoying a day quite literally on the beach, without really having to go to the beach as such.  The weather is not so hot that you get ridiculously burnt in five minutes.  And when you get back in the car you don't tattoo your stomach with the buckle of your seat belt or burn the finger prints off your hands on the steering wheel.

What are we doing next Sunday?  My vote is for going to the beach again.