We four blokes met and forged a real camaraderie as members of FM&F’s Nordic Walking club. Recently we fearlessly struck out from Hull overnight across the North Sea. Undaunted by the deprivations on board ship, (only 3 bars and just a carvery + 7 other main courses + unlimited ice cream for eats ) our objective was to explore the possibilities for Nordic Walking on the North Sea coast of Holland

After our 4 course breakfast and disembarkation we proceeded by shuttle bus to Rotterdam station and speedy train and tram to the elegant seaside resort of Scheveningen with its 2.5km long running-friendly promenade and huge (7 sq miles) wild and beautiful sand dunes, criss-crossed with well maintained and well marked walking, running and cycle trails.

Arriving at our 4 star hotel we resisted the temptations of the free heated swimming pool, fully-equipped gymnasium, spa and sauna and immediately dedicated ourselves to spending the rest of that day and the next day executing and honing our nordic walking techniques tirelessly along the prom and across the dunes.

 Naturally of course our unceasing physical exertions required regular rehydration stops. Strangely, the Dutch bar staff always seemed to misunderstand our requests for mineral water and kept serving beer instead which not wishing to seem impolite, we reluctantly consumed.

 The return journey went well and the shuttle coach driver kindly joined in with the group’s many senior moments by getting lost on the way back to the ferry and going round the Rotterdam ring road twice. 

 Other senior moments on the trip included: bloke (a) - breaking the coffee machine in his room twice, and breaking his bus seat; bloke (b) - putting his outer jacket on inside out and not seeing a 200ft high hotel; bloke (c) - trying and failing to get 3 different pinball machines to work but somehow ending up with 1 euro and 50 cents more than he started with, and bloke (d) - spending 6 euros failing to get into a card operated public convenience costing 1 euro, eventually let in by a kind passerby who tapped her card. 

A great time was had by all on this unofficial trip and our team odometerist calculated in the day and a half we covered just over 18 miles in total.

Scheveningen is a really easy place to get to flight-free and a great place to run, walk and nordic walk and soak in the pure North Sea air and enjoy the brilliant Dutch friendliness, hospitality, ambience and scenery. 

https://takethehague.nl/en/location/duinen