Catch by Simonis

The Verdict

If you're weighing Catch by Simonis against the handful of Michelin-recognised seafood options in the Netherlands, this is the one to book when you want serious fish cooking without a formal, white-tablecloth occasion. Two consecutive Michelin Plates (2024 and 2025) confirm the kitchen is consistently delivering quality, at a €€€ price point on the Scheveningen harbour front, it positions itself as a confident step up from casual waterside dining without asking you to dress the part. For a special evening in The Hague that doesn't require a tasting-menu commitment, this is a smart call.

The Space

Catch by Simonis sits at Dr. Lelykade 43 in the Scheveningen harbour district, the setting does a lot of work before the first course arrives. The address places you directly on the working quay, the physical space reflects that proximity rather than trying to abstract it away with interior design theatrics. This is a waterside room built for the pleasure of eating fish close to where it was landed, with a spatial energy that reads as relaxed confidence rather than casual indifference. For a date or a celebration dinner, the harbour location gives the evening a natural sense of occasion without the stuffiness of a formal dining room. It's the kind of space where a two-hour meal feels effortless rather than scheduled.

The scale appears to suit groups of two to four well — the setting is oriented toward an experience that rewards conversation rather than spectacle. If you're planning a larger group dinner, it's worth contacting the venue directly to confirm arrangements, as logistics at smaller harbour restaurants can vary.

The Food and What It Signals

Catch by Simonis operates in the €€€ seafood tier, which in the Dutch context means you're paying meaningfully above brasserie prices for cooking that is expected to show technique and sourcing discipline. The Michelin Plate designation — awarded in both 2024 and 2025, is not a star, but it is not nothing either. Michelin uses the Plate to flag restaurants where the cooking is good enough to warrant attention, even if it hasn't crossed into star territory. Back-to-back Plates suggest the kitchen is operating consistently and that Michelin's inspectors see genuine quality here.

For seafood specifically, that consistency matters more than in other categories. Fish cookery is unforgiving: a kitchen that can hold a Michelin Plate across two consecutive years on a focused seafood menu is demonstrating real discipline. Compare that to Zeezout, €€€ · Seafood in Rotterdam or 't Pakhuus, €€€ · Seafood in Oudeschild, both operate in the same price tier and coastal context, Catch by Simonis's dual Plate recognition gives it a credential edge worth factoring into your decision.

This is not a venue for a tasting-menu deep dive in the style of Dutch fine dining flagships like De Librije in Zwolle, Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam, or Aan de Poel in Amstelveen. Those are different ambitions entirely. What Simonis offers is focused, recognisably excellent seafood in a setting that removes the formality friction, which is its own kind of value proposition.

Booking and Practical Details

Booking difficulty is rated easy, which means you're unlikely to find yourself locked out weeks in advance the way you would at starred venues in the Netherlands. That said, the harbour location makes it a natural choice for Scheveningen visitors and Den Haag residents alike, so popular weekend evenings can fill. Booking a few days ahead for a Friday or Saturday dinner is sensible. The venue is at Dr. Lelykade 43, 2583 CL Den Haag, the Scheveningen harbour is well-served by tram from central The Hague, making it accessible without a car.

The €€€ pricing tier places a typical dinner in the range of similar Michelin-recognised seafood restaurants in the Netherlands. For context within The Hague's dining scene, you're spending more than at Basaal or De Basiliek, but less than at Calla's, which operates at €€€€. That middle position is exactly right for a celebration dinner where quality is the priority but you're not looking to anchor your evening to a multi-hour tasting format.

For more options across The Hague, see our full The Hague restaurants guide, The Hague hotels guide, The Hague bars guide, The Hague wineries guide, and The Hague experiences guide.

Who Should Book

Catch by Simonis is the right call for a date night or a celebratory dinner with two to four people who want quality seafood in a setting that earns its occasion feel through location rather than ceremony. It is also a strong answer for visiting diners who want a single memorable meal in The Hague without committing to the formality of a tasting menu. If you're a local looking for a reliable special-occasion option that you can book without a month's lead time, this belongs on your short list alongside Bøg and 6&24. If you want to push further into Dutch fine dining ambition, Brut172 in Reijmerstok, 't Nonnetje in Harderwijk, or De Bokkedoorns in Overveen are worth the trip out of the city.