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The Hague, Netherlands

The royal, diplomatic, and governmental seat of Den Haag (The Hague), "is the Netherlands' most dignified and spacious city." During the 17th century, when Dutch maritime power was at its height, the Hague was known as "the Whispering Gallery of Europe" because it was thought to be the secret manipulator of European politics. The Hague, with 500,000 people, remains a powerful world diplomatic and judicial capital, as well as the seat of government for the Netherlands. The International Court of Justice, which rules on disputes between countries, also has its headquarters here.

When I exited Den Haag Centraal (the central train station), I purchased a booklet entitled, An Historic Walk Through Royal The Hague: A Walk Through Seven Centuries of Hague Architecture. With that booklet in hand, and bundled up in my coat, gloves, and cap, I braved the clear, below freezing weather, and walked into the past. The photos and narrative below provide an account of that venture. You are welcome to come along if you wish.

	I began my journal to The Hague at 8:29 a.m. from Maastricht, changed trains in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and arrive in The Hague at 11:07 a.m. I exited Den Haag Centraal station (shown at the left), purchased my guide, and began my journey. You should note that the station was huge. It had ten train platforms for arrival and departure, numerous shops, and several restaurants.
	As I began my walk to the beginning of the self-guided tour, I took this photo. I shows some of the very modern buildings in the downtown area of The Hague. It was a city of a mixture of new and old.
	The Netherlands is country of canals, much evident in The Hague. This canal - the Prinsessegracht - is an extension of the ring of canals within the city. It was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century. On the left is a row of "stately" mansions looking across the canal toward the "Maliveld" - a huge park.
	In the old city is the "plein" - the main square. It is bordered by linden trees today, but in historic times, the square was a vegetable garden for the Court. A parking garage is under the square.
	This view of the square shows the very old with the very new. In the center is a statue of William, Prince of Orange - an early leader of the Netherlands.
	In one corner of the square is the Ministry of Defense, built between 1739 and 1746. The original function of the building was a lodging house for representatives of Rotterdam at the States General (a body of government).
	This building is the former Ministry of Colonial Affairs, built between 1859 and 1861. The building now houses the parliamentary members of the PVDA political party.
	This is the Mauritshuis, one of the first and finest examples of Dutch classical baroque architecture. The house was built for Johan Maurits of Nassau, governor of Dutch Brazil.
	This is the backside of the Mauritshuis. Also shown here is the Lange Vijerberg, a small lake created when the sand was excavated.
	In the old central part of the city is the Binnenhof, a complex of governmental structures dating back to as early as the 13th century. This complex became the seat of the States General of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. The gate shown in this photo is the entrance to the Binnenhof and is known as the Grenadier's Gate.
	One of the major buildings in the middle of the Binnenhof is Earl's Hall. This was the former castle of the Earls of Holland.
	Just outside the Binnenhof, the modern world of the Hague returns. The next two photos show the "Passage," a shopping arcade. Although the Passage dates from 1882, it contains modern shops and restaurants. The Passage is the last remaining example of this kind of shopping arcade in the Netherlands, which was popular in the large European and American cities in the second half of the 19th century.
	The Passage.
	Just outside the Binnenhof is a large square that separated the government complex from the narrow alleys of the village of Die Haeghe. The square was originally entered through several gates. The gate here is the Gevangenpoort (Prison Gate). It was the outer gate of the Earl's castle to the Binnenhof. From about 1420 the "gate" was used as a prison.
	Back to the relatively new. This is an example of the type of department store built at the beginning of the 20th century in many European cities.
	This is the t'Goude Hooft inn. It has been on this site since the Middle Ages. This is not the original building, but a restored one. It does, however, preserve the original style.
	Since the Middle Ages, The Hague has been divided into two parts, both with its own character. One of those parts was the Earl's Court with it royalty and wealthy neighborhoods. The other was the Lange Voorhout and the village of Die Haeghe, the area surrounding the Large Church (in the background) and the Town Hall (shown here), where the ordinary citizens lived. The Town Hall is one of the first examples of the Renaissance style in the north of the Netherlands.
	This is the "Large" or St. Jacob's Church. Although it has been added to and remodeled several times, it dates to the 14th and 15th century. The church is made of three contrasting sections: the spire, unusual because of its hexagonal shape; the nave marked by a series of gables; and the upper choir with its railing and turret on the roof.
	An important monument to the business world and technology: the first car park (parking deck) in the Netherlands.
	This is the Noordeinde (Northend) Palace. It was formerly known as 'The Old Court,' but became a palace in 1591. It is currently used by Queen Beatrix as a 'work and reception' palace. At the left, you can barely see the statue (dating from 1845) of Prince William of Orange on a horse.
	In this part of the city is the Lange Voorhout, an L-shaped avenue. This area was originally part of the Earl area and in 1536 Emperor Charles V ordered linden trees to be planted along the avenue. Since the 16th century, the residences of court nobility and top government officials have been built here. Most of the avenue's current buildings were constructed in the 18th century.
	Along one side and at one end of the Lange Voorhout is the Monastery Church. Originally constructed in 1540 as a Catholic church, after the Protestant Reformation, it was used as an artillery foundry. Since 1942, the church has been used as a place of worship by the Reformed Duinoord congregation.
	At the other end of the linden lined Lange Voorhout is the Palace Museum. It has been owned by the Royal Family since 1845. Her Royal Highness Emma, the queen mother, lived here from 1901 until her death in 1934. Napoleon spent a night here in 1811 when he was visiting his brother Louis Napoleon, King of Holland, during the French occupation.
	In the Middle Ages, this street, Denneweg, was one of the exit roads from The Hague to the coastal city of Scheveningen. Its character, as few other streets, is still determined by its 18th and 19th century facades. Denneweg 56 is an example of how cast iron and glass was used in architecture in the second half of the 19th century. The iron decoration at the top of the building depicts a crown as a commemoration of the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina in 1898.
	Not far from the train station is the U. S. Embassy. Within recent years embassies around the world have had to restrict adjacent traffic and parking. You can see the concrete barriers on the other side of the street. The flag is hidden through the trees.
	The Hague is only a few feet above sea level therefore, numerous canals are needed to drain water from the city to the sea. These tree-lined canals add charm and beauty to the city. The construction crane in the background doesn't add much, however.
	Another canal.
	As noted earlier, this is Hofvijver, a lake created by excavating sand. It is immediately adjacent to the Binnenhof. On this day, parts were covered with ice and at one end, an ice skating rink had been constructed.
	In 1636, this building was constructed for the bowmen of St. Sebastian (I don't know who that was). Since 1986, the building has been in use as the Historic Museum of The Hague where one can learn about The Hague's history through the centuries.
	Part way through my walking tour of The Hague, I took a detour to find the Peace Palace. On my way, I came across this monument. It depictes several historic events in the Netherlands. It was important to me because I stopped to eat my lunch on a bench nearby. It was cold, but at least the sun was shining.
	This is the Peace Palace. It is also known as the International Court of Justice, the World Court, or the Permanent Court of International Justice. It is here that the International War Crimes Tribunal are hearing the trials two ethnic Croats charged with the murder and torture of Bosnian Muslims in 1993 and 1994, and the trials of five ethnic Serbs who are facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to killings in eastern Bosnia and a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the north of the country. It is also here where Slobodan Milocevic is being tried.
	Adjacent to the entrance gate and the wall that surrounds the Peace Palace is this World Peace Flame. It stands peacefully and alone in a world in turmoil. That is the end of our tour through the center of The Hague. I hope you have enjoyed it!