Public character for Hellingweg Scheveningen (NL)

Scheveningen’s Hellingweg has been reconstructed to become an attractive public space at the heart of the nautical centre. Differences in height have been eliminated with slopes and steps, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the spectacular view. Boulders, bollards, and clay pavers in kei size give the public space a rugged appearance.

The nautical centre in Scheveningen is a major visitor attraction. Boat owners use the area to moor their pleasure yachts or have them maintained in one of the boat yards. Daytrippers stroll along the quay to admire the boats and eat fish.

Engineering office Den Haag took care of the design of Hellingweg. Landscape architect Ria Aarnink explains, ‘It was important for us to emphasise the public character of the area. Residents and visitors needed to be able to enjoy using the area. The quay is also used for major events, which meant having the ability to organise the area flexibly.’

For safety reasons, the minimum ground level for buildings is four metres above NAP, which means a difference in height of around three metres to Hellingweg and the quay. This difference in height had a major impact on the design. Steps were installed at the waterfront. Along the edges of Hellingweg itself, designers used a slope to compensate for the difference in height.

Hellingweg is an extension of Dr Lelykade. Aarnink continues, ‘To create a uniform streetscape, we kept the basis the same, so a profile in which the road and quay remained separated by a raised pavement. The pavement has lighting columns, benches, and bins , and we put boulders along the slopes. The rugged appearance of the boulders is a great fit with the general feeling of the port. Darker bollards as well help to enhance that sense of ruggedness.’

‘In the Hague area, pavers in dik size are the most commonly used pavers for roadways, usually with a red colour . We opted to use kei size pavers from Vandersanden for this area, to help give that rugged look. We used a different paving pattern for each road surface depending on how that area is used. On Hellingweg itself, we used clay pavers in a fishbone pattern to mark out and delineate the roadway. The parking areas are paved in an elbow-shaped pattern and the steps have a half-brick pattern. I think it’s fair to say that we’re very happy with the reconstruction of Hellingweg. All of the individual pieces fit together nicely like a jigsaw.’

Client: City of The Hague
Design: Engineering office Den Haag
Contractor: HABO GWW bv, Meeuwisse Nederland B.V.
Colours: Rossa
Size: kei