Bakery Review: Norfolk Scheveningen
In search of the best baked goods The Hague has to offer, I headed to Norfolk Bakery in Scheveningen. What I found there was a delightful cozy bakery with a great view.
Go when you’re at the marina already, if you need a warm few hours to work, to catch up with a good friend, or after a windy boat trip — you’ll be delighted to cozy up inside with warm drinks and pastries.
Norfolk nails the atmosphere
If you can, sit by the windowsill. Norfolk overlooks the Scheveningen marina, providing an interesting scenery — newer stout brick buildings and docks crammed with boats. It’s perfect after you dock and can’t be bothered with the overly polished restaurants on the other side. It has fantastic light that’s bright even when the grey skies loom overhead.
On the walls, kitschy plates and portraits of the Swedish royal family provide decoration. Gazing up along the popcorn walls to the inner roof, you will see illustrations in bright pastels of birds which seems a bit elementary, but that’s the whole point. Despite it being a Tuesday morning, it was quite full with people working on their journals by the windowsill, parents with small kids on playdates, dogs whining sweetly underneath tables. It’s gezellig.
Let’s talk croissant
Starting with the good, the croissant has a lovely golden brown hue. The taste of butter is present (apparently it’s organic) and they use a good bit of salt. The effort and thought to make their own croissants is also commendable. Too often in this country, croissants are bought externally, frozen and pre-formed, to be baked off at location. These were certainly homemade.
However, the croissant is unbalanced in texture and taste. The lamination is lost with flour and butter layers merging into a bread-y dough. It’s denser than I’d expected, which overwhelms the few outer crispy layers. Further, I taste butter and salt separately but somehow they don’t meld together. Despite the good colour, I didn’t taste beurre noisette.
They’re certainly tastier than a croissant you’d get at a typical breakfast at Grote Markt or Anne&Max, but I wouldn’t order the croissant at Norfolk again. Not when there are a plethora of good French bakeries just on De Fred, not when there are better items on the Norfolk menu.
6/10
Get the cardamom buns
This is a Swedish bakery and ergo, they must have good cardamom buns. Norfolk doesn’t disappoint here. There’s a good robust flavour of the cardamom buns — they’re wonderfully addictive with a very present cardamom flavour, just enough without becoming overwhelming. Norfolk nails the taste of what a cardamom bun should be.
These buns are beautifully coloured. The large grains of sugar crystals on top and the hardened exterior make a satisfying crunch.
Nitpicking here: the dough could be more fluffy and juicy. Otherwise, a solid option to come back to after arriving at the haven.
7.5/10
The gorgeous cinnamon buns
These are okay. They’re gorgeous once again with a burnished colour topped with large pieces of pearl sugar. They’re fluffier than the cardamom buns, but still could use a bit more moisture in the filling and dough. The cardamom in the dough overwhelms the rest of the cinnamon in the pastry. And I’m almost left craving for more sugar as the cinnamon taste is a touch too delicate for my liking.
6.8/10
The Hague Review: 7/10 with distinction for ambiance and prime location
Through the years, I’ve frequented Norfolk a few times and I’d certainly come back again. With the enough great options on De Fred, I’d hesitate to come here specifically for the baked goods. Where Norfolk shines is creating a warm and cozy atmosphere to shelter you from the wind. Come when you’re in the area.
