A Day in The Hague (10/08)

After a 12km cycle ride into Den Haag (The Hague) I was all too happy to sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the Binnenhof from the benches adhering the Hof-vijer. The sun caught the water of the central fountain beautifully and the flags of the Dutch provinces blew proudly in the breeze. An even better view was enjoyed from the window of the Haags Historisch Museum appropriately situated nearby. Inside which multitudinous paintings illustrated the development of the city into the centre of government that it is today. In fact the Queen resides not in Amsterdam but, as my trip to Koninklije Stallen and their associated gardens proved, a mere walking distance from the Binnenhof. This compelling mixture of old and new was further evident in the interior differences between the Grote Kerk and the Nieuw Kerk.

Luckily for me Den Haag was hosting ‘The Rainbow Nation’ which meant that contemporary South African sculpture was being exhibited on Lange Voorhout free to the wondering eye of the international crowd. The sculptures tracked the creativity of generations of such artists once freed from oppression and particularly the intrinsic importance of the South African identity, found in the subject matter and the materials used. Indeed the theme of identity was unavoidable as a seemingly endless stream of foreign embassies pervaded my map as I made my way to the Vredepalais where the International Court of Justice operates. It was interesting to think that each embassy I walked past had its own stone on the world peace pathway that stood outside the gates of the palace.

Last but not least I visited the Panorama Mesdag, the largest painting of the Netherlands. A total must see. The paintings great size, 360 degree complexion and sheer attention to detail created the illusion of reality. The Scheveningen landscape of 1881 which it depicted seemed tangible. The long dark corridor and stairs that made the way to the viewing hut and the central positioning of the hut itself, so that you couldn’t see the top or the bottom of the painting, undoubtedly played their part but all credit to the artist. Just wow. No photos were allowed so you'll just have to take it from me!