By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Man in a white shirt kneeling in the sand as she lifts a hand to her face in a long brown dress, a proposal on Scheveningen beach

Mihai planned his proposal on Scheveningen beach for weeks. Ana thought she was simply getting a couple photoshoot by the sea.

They had come over from Moldova for a few days on the coast. Scheveningen is part of The Hague, so a proposal on its beach belongs with my photoshoots in The Hague.

Where
Scheveningen beach, with the Pier in view
When
Late May, late morning
Session
Proposal Photoshoot
Light
Bright late-morning sun and a sea breeze

Scheveningen Beach on a May Morning

We met on the sand a little after eleven, with the Pier of Scheveningen and its Ferris wheel on the horizon. Both came barefoot, Ana in a long dark brown dress and Mihai in a white shirt and black trousers. For ten minutes, we did exactly what she expected. They held hands, kissed and danced at the water’s edge, while the breeze kept lifting her dress.

Barefoot couple holding hands on Scheveningen beach before the proposal, the Pier and its Ferris wheel on the horizon
Scheveningen beach and the Pier, 11:15
Couple standing nose to nose in sunglasses on Scheveningen beach, the Pier and its Ferris wheel soft in the distance

Down on One Knee by the Sea

Then Mihai let go of her hand and went down on one knee in the sand. Ana’s hand flew to her face, and for a second she could only laugh. I stayed where I was and kept photographing, because a minute like this happens once. Before he could even slide the ring on, she bent down to kiss him.

Kneeling man holding his partner's hand at the waterline, the ring ready, her long dark dress moving in the sea breeze
Woman in sunglasses bending down to kiss the man still on one knee in the sand, blue sky and small waves behind them

When he finally stood up, there were happy tears and a lot of laughter. They held each other with the waves right behind them, and I gave them that moment before I moved closer.

Couple hugging and laughing by the sea right after the proposal on Scheveningen beach, her hand on the back of his neck

A Ring with Two Stones

Afterwards, the ring got a few minutes of its own. It has a square blue stone beside a clear pear-shaped one, so I first placed it among the pink peonies Mihai had brought. Next, it rested on the sand beside a white shell. Finally, they reached for each other above the water, with her new ring in the middle of the frame.

Engagement ring with a square blue stone and a clear pear-shaped stone resting among the petals of pink peonies
Engagement ring with a blue and a clear stone lying on the sand beside a white shell, soft swirling blur at the edges
Two hands reaching for each other above the sea, her new ring catching the light and a small sailboat on the horizon

Running Along Scheveningen Beach

With the peonies in her arms, Ana walked into the shallow water on her own for a while. Then the two of them ran along the tide line toward the Pier, laughing and splashing. For a few frames, I let the movement blur them softly, the way a memory blurs a little at the edges.

Newly engaged woman in sunglasses holding pink peonies on Scheveningen beach, her dark hair blowing in the wind
Woman in a long dark brown dress walking barefoot through the shallow surf, the water curling around her feet
Engaged couple running hand in hand along the tide line toward the Pier and its Ferris wheel on Scheveningen beach
Toward the Pier, 11:44
Soft swirling blur of the couple holding hands at the water's edge, the sea and the sky melting together around them

The last frames are close ones. Ana kissed him from behind her ring hand, then rested her head on his chest, with the sea as their only backdrop.

Close kiss behind her raised hand, the blue engagement ring on her finger and both of them in sunglasses
She leans her head against his chest and smiles, her ring hand on his white shirt, while he looks down at her by the sea

Then Mihai lifted her off the sand while she kicked one foot into the air. Their proposal on Scheveningen beach ended just after noon, with sand on their feet.

Man lifting his fiancée off the sand as she kicks one bare foot into the air, the last frame of their beach proposal
Just after noon on the beach

Planning a surprise of your own? Read how a surprise proposal shoot works before you choose your spot.

Thinking of proposing by the sea, or somewhere in the city? Discover how my photoshoots in The Hague work.