Wensveen

Westveen is all purple and white, which gives the place a whiff of the good life and decadence, which is stressed even more that on every table, there’s an empty Moët & Chandon Champagne bottle with a fake flower in it. It’s at a part along the Scheveningen boulevard where the beach clubs are slightly cramped, and Westveen isn’t very big – although it’s still bigger than the decidedly tiny and ironically named Plek Zat (meaning ‘enough space’). The main building is of modest dimensions, and around it the terrace isn’t huge either. Along the side of the terrace, there is a row of small wooden alcoves with purple pillowed couches around a table, all made of wood painted white. The sound system is playing a mix of power ballads and more uptempo rock. 

It’s one of the few beach clubs already open this Saturday morning. Rihanna Gaga and I have cycled here, enjoying the pleasant weather. Even though there are veil clouds, the sun is shining quite brightly. Rihanna Gaga is still fascinated to see how the restaurants on the beach are being built, but also quite relieved that there’s still a lot of sand left to play on. I have made a list of beach clubs we haven’t yet finished in 2014 and 2016 and today we’re looking for one of those on that list that’s open. Wensveen receives the honour of kicking off the new season. We’re in a good mood today. Later on, we will travel to Amsterdam to visit friends and go to the zoo and although I am not particularly a fan of zoos, Rihanna Gaga likes them. She’s especially looking forward to go to the aquariums of Artis.

When we arrive at Wensveen, they’re still setting up the place, but I am welcomed by its friendly staff who ensure me breakfast will be served. It’s the first day of the season, they tell me, and the beach club is ninety percent ready – which is good enough to be open for business. Indeed, inside a man is still working on putting up the place with an electronic screwdriver. I propose we go and sit outside, but Rihanna Gaga objects this is too cold. She shivers dramatically to stress her point. I tell her that the alcoves along the side of the terraces are something of an outside too. She considers this and concedes. She even takes off her coat once we sit down. Then she asks for her doll and starts playing with it while I read a little. The waiter – his deep tan matching his brightly coloured sweater nicely -  comes along and brings her a colouring plate and pencil. I love how matter of factly he does this: one of the great things about beach clubs is how child friendly most of them are, making them the ideal place to get a child used to the idea of going out for a drink or to eat. We order the breakfast, a set breakfast for €7,50 to which smoked salmon or bubbles can be added. I consider the bubbles for a moment. The decorative bottles of champagne have kind of given me a taste for it, but I fear that it’ll make me too tired, so I pass. We also have a latte macchiato for me and a chocolate milk for Rihanna Gaga.

When breakfast is brought, Rihanna Gaga is happy to discover it comes with a croissant. She doesn’t immediately recognize it as a croissant, since it’s shaped slightly differently than what’s she’s used to, but then she claims it for herself. She also has half of the fried egg and one of two bread rolls. That leaves me with the rest: a darker and larger breadroll, cheese, the rest of the egg and a bit of salad, as well as butter and jam. There’s also a small glass of orange juice. It’s nothing special, but all in all, especially considering its location right next to the Pier and in front of the Kurhaus, this breakfast comes at a very reasonable price, like all food here at Wensveen.

Rihanna Gaga greatly enjoys the colouring plate the waiter gave her, with pictures of fishes that she colours. Staying within the lines is not her aim, but these days she does try to colour specific segments with specific colours. “It’s for mummy,” she says of the result. She really wants to go and play on the beach, but I tell her that today we won’t have time for that. Our friends in Amsterdam have a newborn baby which she’s crazy about, so I only have to mention the name of that baby and she gives up her resistance to my suggestion that we leave immediately. That and the zoo is enough to get her in a hurry and before long, I’ve paid and we’re on our way.