Netherlands - Page 2

Den Haag

Arrived in Den Haag, it is not so easy to park the car, hotels usually do not have their own parking. Either you park it further outside the city for free or use the very expensive parking garages. I guess that is part of the, I think, good environmental policy here: expensive fuel, expensive parking, they want the cities to be relatively car-free. Alternatives are also available here: well-designed public transport and public transport and bicycles with plenty of bike paths.

But once freed from the tin mobile, a young and modern city with a wonderful, wide beach opens up to you. But it had to wait until the next day, I wanted to go to the Escher Museum, which was only open until 5 p.m. Maurits Cornelis Escher, his impossible figures, metamorphoses, etc. were not accepted as art for a long time because of rather mathematical themes, which he processed, however, by means of woodcut and lithography almost perfectly. It also happened to be very interesting there, the way there and back additionally led through the city center of Den Haag.

Historic downtown and a modern skyline are connected by colorful shopping streets. The inhabitants have beautiful nicknames for their skyscrapers, such as for the 104 m high Castalia with its two pointed roofs: the tits of Den Haag 🙂. Den Haag is the seat of the government, the headquarters of international organizations such as the Criminal Court, and the home and workplace of the Dutch royal family. Right next to the Mauritshuis with the royal picture gallery (including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer) is the Binnenhof, formerly a hunting lodge, now the seat of the Dutch government.

Crisscross we explored the city center, it was meanwhile dark and time for evening fast food at one of the infinitely many snack bars. A beautiful sunset over the skyline rounded off the day. The next morning was beach day, we walked to Scheveningen, a district of The Hague. The weather was better than predicted and so it was relaxed to discover everything: De Pier, the beautiful pier, the monumental Kurhaus, the lighthouse in the "Haven" and the chain of beach clubs and bars on the beach path.

At the pier a soccer team was training in the sand, that was something for Paul, but I would have liked to try the zipline at the pier. But neither bungee jumping nor zipline were in operation. So it remained with the wandering at the wide beach. Later I tried fresh fish from one of the many stalls, but then had to defend him hard against approaching seagulls.

After the way back, past the peace palace, it went again into the city, thereupon preparations for the next day in Rotterdam still had to be made. It was only a short trip, so you should not have to look for more on the spot.