A short exploration of the Netherlands’ de facto capital city.
The Hague, the Netherlands, is located near the coast of the North Sea. It’s not the official capital city of the Netherlands, which is Amsterdam, but it does host a lot of the country’s government for not being a capital. The States General of the Netherlands (parliament), the king’s palace, the king’s office (also a palace, but a different one, and other functions of government. The Hague is also home to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
During my time in the area, I stayed in the Hague. I had originally going to stay in Leiden, which has a more central location to where I wanted to visit, but the Hague had a cheaper place to stay. So, the Hague it was. I never ended up seeing much of the city, due to jet lag and being distracted by other places. Here’s a bit of what I saw:
Wandering Jana The Hague has a nice shopping area, parts of which survived WWII. However, much was damaged in the city due to Nazi occupation. Well, more like the British bombing the Nazi positions, which happened to be in the city.
Wandering Jana I love a good shopping gallery, De Passage. I found this one by accident.
Wandering Jana These were popular in the late 19th century.
Wandering Jana Grote Kerk (great church).
Wandering Jana The Renaissance Het Oude Stadhuis (Old City Hall) built in 1565.
Wandering Jana The 16th century Noordeinde Palace, the Dutch king’s offices.
Wandering Jana The Gothic Kloosterkerk (monastery church). It’s a very boxy church.
Wandering Jana Old Dutch building. Love it.
Wandering Jana Even the Hague has canals.
Wandering Jana China Town.
Wandering Jana While some of the older buildings remain, many were lost in the war. New construction boomed after the war to fill in what was lost, and to expand the city footprint in general.
Wandering Jana Mauritshuis (right) is a museum holding paintings by Dutch masters. The Binnenhof, the seat of the Dutch government, which is completely under construction so I couldn’t go inside the courtyards.
Wandering Jana The Binnenhof sits on the Hofvijver (Court Pond). It was built primarily in the 13th century and was used a residence by the Counts of Holland.
Wandering Jana The post war building boom included skyscrapers.
Wandering Jana Gevangenpoort (Prison gate), now a museum fittingly dedicated to crime and punishment.
Wandering Jana Paleis Kneuterdijk was right next to the tram stop I used. It is currently used for government offices.
Wandering Jana The very Neo-Gothic Sint-Jacobus de Meerderekerk (Saint James the Greater).
That is basically all I saw in the Hague. I really needed another day in the area to explore the city fully. There are more palaces, museums, and fancy buildings, etc. to see.
Check out my next update where I explore Utrecht!
or
Start at the beginning of this European adventure!
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