Review · THE HAGUE
Scheveningen Full-day Surfing lessons with Lunch
Scheveningen puts the North Sea right at the center of your day. At Aloha Surf, you begin with a two-hour lesson covering safety, technique, and time in the waves, then break for lunch at the beachfront Aloha Kitchen before returning to the water on your own.
I like the small group of no more than eight, and I like the useful mix of instruction and free practice. The €15 lunch credit also makes the price easier to judge. The catch is that surf conditions control the day, and the equipment information is not perfectly clear after the lesson, so check that point before booking.
Key points to know before you book
- Two hours of coached surfing: Start with theory and safety guidance, then take your board into the North Sea with a certified instructor.
- Lunch with an ocean view: Your booking includes a €15 credit at Aloha Kitchen, a simple way to refuel without leaving the beach.
- A second session on your own: After lunch, you return to the water to practise what you learned.
- Small groups of up to eight: This gives the instructor a manageable group while keeping the lesson social.
- Weather matters: The lesson can be canceled if Scheveningen has no waves or a storm.
- Bring only the basics: You need swimwear and a towel. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign in at the surf school.
Starting at Aloha Surf in Scheveningen
Your day begins at Aloha Surfschool, at the seaside resort of Scheveningen in South Holland. Arrive 15 minutes before the lesson starts and sign in at the desk. That small time cushion matters because you will need to get settled before the group heads toward the beach.
Scheveningen is one of the Netherlands’ best-known beach resorts, and this activity makes the shore your base for the whole day. You are not rushing between several attractions. Instead, the schedule gives you time to learn a physical skill, eat beside the water, and practise while the morning’s instruction is still fresh.
The group limit is eight participants. That is a good size for a first surfing lesson. You will not have a private instructor, but a group this small should make it easier to hear safety advice and receive some attention while you work on your balance.
Instruction is offered in English, Dutch, and German. German is listed as an available language, but it is not guaranteed at every lesson time. French and Spanish are not listed among the standard languages, and the school says it cannot guarantee German, French, or Spanish-speaking instructors for every available session. Contact Aloha Surf directly if language is important to your booking.
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Learning the basics before entering the water

The first part of the lesson is theory and safety. This is more than a formal introduction. For a beginner, knowing how to handle the board, enter the water, and respond to the conditions is the part that makes the session less confusing and more enjoyable.
The instructor is certified, and the opening lesson is designed to prepare you for the practical work. You can expect guidance before you take the board into the sea, followed by time in the waves to try the new movements yourself.
Surfing is a sport where small corrections matter. Your position on the board, your timing, and your response to a wave all affect what happens next. A safety lesson gives you a framework before you start making those decisions in the water.
This is also where the small group helps. With no more than eight people, the instructor can keep the group together and explain the basics without the feel of a large beach class. You should still expect to practise rather than receive constant one-to-one coaching.
Taking your board into the North Sea

After the safety talk, you collect your surfboard and head into the water. The goal is not simply to stand on the board once. You will work through the early stages of surfing, feel the push of the waves, and try to catch rides with guidance from the instructor.
The experience description puts plenty of emphasis on splashing through the waves and testing your new skills. That gives you a realistic idea of the session. You may spend as much time getting into position, falling, and trying again as you do standing up. That is normal for a first lesson and part of the value of having an instructor nearby.
The North Sea is the reason weather conditions matter so much. If there are no suitable waves, or if a storm is affecting Scheveningen, the school can cancel the lesson. A surf day is not as predictable as a museum visit. Keep your schedule flexible, and watch for messages from the school if the weather changes.
The school says it will contact you if the lesson is canceled or changed because of weather. That is helpful, but it also means you should provide contact information that you check during your stay in the Netherlands.
Lunch at Aloha Kitchen
After the first surf session, you return to shore, pack up the board, and head to the beachside restaurant. Your booking includes a €15 credit at Aloha Kitchen.
The lunch stop serves two purposes. It gives you a break after physical activity, and it puts a proper pause between the coached lesson and the later practice session. Sitting near the sea is part of the appeal. You can look back toward the beach and water while you regain energy.
A €15 credit is useful, though it may not cover every possible meal or extra. Treat it as a set allowance rather than an unlimited lunch. If you want a drink, dessert, or a more expensive dish, you may need to pay the difference. The supplied information does not specify the exact menu or what the credit covers, so ask at the restaurant if you have dietary needs or a tight budget.
Food is one of the most praised parts of the experience. The lunch is described as tasty, and the restaurant’s sea view gives the middle of the day a pleasant sense of place. You are eating at the same beach where you have just been surfing, rather than leaving for a separate restaurant inland.
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Returning to the water for free practice
After lunch, you take your board back to the ocean for another round of surfing by yourself. This is an important part of the schedule because it lets you repeat the skills from the morning without the instructor directing every movement.
The second session will probably feel different from the first. You will have a better idea of how to hold the board, where to position yourself, and what it feels like when a wave begins to move you. The point is not to perform at an advanced level. It is to turn a short lesson into genuine practice.
This arrangement suits people who want both guidance and independence. Some beginners prefer continuous instruction, so you should know that the later session is not described as a second coached lesson. If you need close supervision throughout the day, ask Aloha Surf how the post-lunch period is handled before booking.
The equipment details deserve a quick check. The included information says surf equipment rental is provided for two hours, while another note says equipment rental after the first hour is not included. Since the formal surf lesson lasts two hours and the schedule also mentions a later self-guided session, confirm exactly how long the board and other equipment are available and what any extra charge would be.
What the $77 price really includes
At $77 per person, the value depends on how much you want from a beach day. You receive a certified surf lesson, equipment rental for the stated lesson period, and a €15 lunch credit. That is more useful than paying for instruction alone because your day includes food and time to practise.
The price makes the most sense for a first-time surfer who wants a full activity rather than a single short class. You get a clear beginning, a meal break, and a second chance to use the board. The small group also adds value compared with a large class where personal feedback may be limited.
It is less attractive if you only want a brief introduction or if you are already comfortable surfing independently. In that case, the included lesson may be more than you need, and the separate lunch credit may not matter much.
Remember that a storm or lack of waves can cancel the session. The weather risk is part of the activity, not a minor footnote. Book it on a day when you can accept a schedule change, and avoid placing it immediately before an important train, flight, or fixed appointment.
You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are building a Netherlands itinerary before finalizing every detail. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Weather-related changes are handled by the surf school, which will contact you if the lesson is canceled or adjusted.
Who will enjoy this Scheveningen surf day
This activity is a strong fit for beginners, active couples, friends, and families with participants who are ready to spend much of a day at the beach. The instructor-led opening gives you structure, while the later free session gives you room to practise without turning the whole day into a formal class.
It is also a good choice if you want to stay in Scheveningen instead of treating the beach as a quick side trip from The Hague. The activity uses the resort’s main attraction, the sea, and gives you enough time to experience it at a slower pace.
You should think twice if you dislike uncertain weather, cold water, or physical activity. The supplied information does not give a minimum age, water temperature, fitness requirement, or accessibility details, so contact the school with those questions before reserving.
Language may also shape your decision. English and Dutch are available, and German may be available depending on the time. If you need French or Spanish instruction, do not assume it will be offered. Ask Aloha Surf first.
What to bring and how to plan the day
The school says the only things you need to bring are swimwear and a towel. That keeps packing simple. You should still arrive ready to spend much of the day outdoors, since the schedule includes two periods around the water and a meal at the beach.
Arriving 15 minutes early is part of the plan, not a suggestion to ignore. You need to sign in at the surf school, and the group must begin the lesson on time. If you arrive late, you could miss the safety briefing or delay the group.
Check the starting time when you book because the activity lasts one day but does not give one fixed daily departure time. The lesson itself lasts two hours, followed by lunch and later independent surfing.
Because the equipment notes conflict, ask this exact practical question before booking: does the included rental cover the full two-hour lesson, and is equipment available for the post-lunch session? Getting a clear answer will prevent an unexpected charge and help you understand the day’s true cost.
My take: book it for the right kind of beach day
I would book this if I wanted a friendly introduction to surfing in Scheveningen, especially because the small group, certified instructor, lunch credit, and second practice session create a well-shaped day. The strongest points are the caring team, the good lunch, and the chance to practise after the formal lesson rather than packing up immediately.
I would not book it as a fixed, no-surprises activity. Waves and storms can change the plan, and the equipment policy after the lesson needs clarification. If you accept those conditions and keep your schedule flexible, $77 is a fair price for instruction, equipment, lunch credit, and a full day by the sea.
FAQ
Where does the surfing experience begin?
It begins at Aloha Surfschool in Scheveningen, South Holland.
How early should I arrive?
Arrive 15 minutes before the surf lesson starts and sign in at the desk at the surf school.
How long is the surf lesson?
The surf lesson lasts two hours.
Is lunch included?
Yes. The booking includes a €15 credit for lunch at Aloha Kitchen, the beachfront restaurant.
Is surf equipment included?
Surf-equipment rental is included for the stated lesson period. The information also says equipment rental after the first hour is not included, so confirm the exact rental duration with Aloha Surf before booking.
Is the second surfing session guided?
The schedule describes a second session after lunch where you surf by yourself. The included guided lesson is the two-hour session earlier in the day.
What should I bring?
Bring swimwear and a towel.
Which languages are available?
Instruction is offered in English, Dutch, and German. German is not guaranteed at every available lesson time, and French and Spanish are not guaranteed.
Can the lesson be canceled because of weather?
Yes. The surf lesson can be canceled if there are no waves or if there is a storm in Scheveningen. The surf school will contact you if the lesson is canceled or changed.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.
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