23 March 2018 09:31 | by Lisa van der Linden
SCHEVENINGEN – Beach bar owners are looking forward to the new season, even though the Scheveningen seafront has turned into a building site. A large part of the seafront is closed off and work on LegoLand is in full swing.
“Because of the frost, a water heater broke, the water pipes were frozen and the sand was one big, hard lump,” says Malou Rook, owner of beach bar The Fat Mermaid. Rook was allowed to start setting up her beach pavilion on 1 March, but the cold threw a spanner in the works. “So we didn't actually start setting up until 5 March,” she continues. Although the beach bar was set up later than planned, the doors were opened as soon as possible, because the season has officially started. “Once the place is up and the terrace is down, the guests can come,” says Rook, pointing to the customers on the terrace. Still, there are a few things that need doing before the opening party can be held. “The outdoor lighting is being connected now and the paintwork still needs touching up. Either way, I'm ready for it. I expect it'll be another great season,” says the owner, who sees the arrival of ginger as the trend for this year. “Ginger tea, ginger beer, cocktails with ginger, you name it.”
LegoLand
At the moment, the Scheveningen seafront is a kind of building site. LegoLand is being built next to Sea Life. And north of the Pier, the entire seafront is being redeveloped. That results in a lot of construction traffic. To compensate, the municipality of The Hague decided that a large number of the beach bars could be put up earlier than usual. The beach pavilions near the future LegoLand could be set up from 19 February. The rest could only start on 1 March, as every year. The work on the seafront and LegoLand has consequences for the beach bars. “Getting to Scheveningen is problematic, because of the improvements to the access roads,” says Guido Venema, owner of beach bar De Golfslag. “I hope visitors understand the situation and still come.” De Golfslag is one of the hospitality venues that was allowed to start setting up on 19 February. “Everything went smoothly and I was lucky that the terrace and the place were already finished before the frost started,” he says.
Suppliers
For Venema, it's a busy time now that the season has just begun. “All kinds of manufacturers and suppliers drop by, hoping I'll take something from them,” he says. “So I'm in plenty of conversations, but actually I decided long ago who I'll be working with this season and who I won't. The representatives who came by at the end of last season had the best chance.”
Year-round opening
Despite all the works causing Venema trouble, he's really looking forward to the new season. “The economy is running at full speed and this is the moment to renew. For example, I have new tables, chairs and cushions,” he says. The owner likes the idea of being open all year round, just like a number of other beach pavilions further along. “I'd really like that. Around 15 percent of the turnover now goes on setting up and taking down. In principle, I'm only closed three months a year, and in the meantime all the stuff and equipment is in storage. With a year-round opening, everything keeps running and there's less wear and tear,” says Venema. At De Golfslag, too, the finishing touches are still being made. “The new chairs still need unpacking, and a few lights that broke are being replaced.”
Making it easier
At Zanzibar Beachclub, almost everything is ready too, after setting up began on 19 February. Assistant manager Annick Versteeg doesn't mind the setting up; she wouldn't want to be open all year round. “Beach work is seasonal work. You go flat out for half a year, and that's the fun of it. You don't get that if you're open all year.” This is Versteeg's fourth season working at Zanzibar Beachclub. “Every season you can start with a clean slate and a new team. We're going to make it something special again.”
Source: Out.of.Home Shops
