Date of trip: May 2008

Although Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands, The Hague is official seat of the government. It is home to the Dutch Parliament, their Supreme Court, monarchy and most foreign embassies. Since it is easy to reach by train and takes just under an hour from Amsterdam’s central station, Will and I found it the perfect place for a day trip.

Highlights:

-The courtyard where Parliament meets and the office of the Prime Minister is located is known as Binnenhof. Although most of the buildings are closed to the public, there is a small visitor center where you can sign up for a guided tour. The tour begins with a short video about Binnenhof and the political history of The Netherlands. It includes visits to the Hall of Knights and the Second Chamber of Parliament, providing the rooms are not in use during your visit. The Hall of Knights is where the queen officially opens Parliament in a ceremony every September. She arrives by golden coach and proceeds to her throne to deliver a speech describing government business for the year ahead. It’s quite an honor to be among the guests invited to the event. Tours of Binnenhof can be unpredictable not only because the buildings are still in use but also because they are only given at specific times to a certain number of people. If too little people show up, there may be no tour but if too many show up you may not get a spot. If you visit The Hague, head to Binnenhof first to find out the status of tours for that day.

-Next to Binnenhof is the royal picture gallery called Mauritshuis. It has a fantastic collection of Dutch art by world famous painters. Among the most notable pieces is Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp” and Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring”. I had never been impressed by pictures of “Girl With a Pearl Earring” but in person it is absolutely stunning.

-I first saw a picture of Madurodam several years ago and I couldn’t wait to visit. It’s a miniature city on a 1:25 scale with models of famous architecture and historical sites from all over The Netherlands. The attention to detail is remarkable. There is a little airport with moving planes, an amusement park with a turning ferris wheel, and canals with bridges that lift for boats to float through. There are even little trees and gardens! The city has a mayor and council of young people elected in The Hague’s schools who attend ceremonies and officially accept new models. There is also a full time professional staff to keep everything in working order which can be a challenge as it’s completely outdoors and exposed to the elements. Madurodam was opened in 1952 by the Maduro family as a special memorial to their son who died in a Nazi concentration camp. Profits after taxes have always been donated to charity.

The Hague may not be as pretty as Amsterdam, but it is no less significant. The city is home to Holland’s most powerful citizens and if you love history, your trip to The Netherlands would be incomplete without a stop here .

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

The Hague Links:
The Hague Official Site
Binnenhof
Mauritshuis
Madurodam