The next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, a gruelling round the world race for yachts, will end at the Dutch seaside resort of Scheveningen, the organisers said on Wednesday.

Scheveningen hosted a pit stop in the race last year and organised a three-day festival around the event.

‘It’s wonderful that the finale of the 2017-18 race will be staged in a city so close to my heart, with such a rich heritage of ocean racing,’ the race’s outgoing Dutch chief operating officier Tom Touber told a press conference.

‘The finish of the Volvo Ocean Race really is a major accolade for our city. It is the biggest sports event that we have ever organised in The Hague,’ city alderman Karsten Klein said.

The 13th edition of the world’s toughest offshore race will begin in autumn 2017. Alicante, Spain, the race’s headquarters since 2010, will be the departure port.

Newport, Rhode Island and Cardiff have already been confirmed as stop-overs.