The Hague Things to Do Tips by RoyJava Top 5 Page for this destination

WILLEM Van ORANJE Royal The Hague Review

Next to the Plaats/Place there is the Plein/Square with the famous statue of Prince Willem Van Oranje (1533 - 1584). Actually this nobleman Van Nassau-Stolberg got the name Oranje (Orange) because he got the area of Orange in France in 1544, still too young to reign the Dutch kingdom.

He started the war against Spain, and got murdered in 1584. So his descendants were the family of Orange, the royal family of the Netherlands today. The statue (see the loyal dog at his right foot) got placed around 1848 in the middle of the square, where for now there is a huge parking place below his feet. The Plein/Square was a famous place to gather for the nobles in these days ...

Address: Het PLEIN - The Hague

Directions: Right in the center of The Hague close to Spui

Former Department of Justice Governmental The Hague Review

See the beautiful former Department of Justice, built in Neo-Renaissance style around 1880. The name of C. Peters and Mialaret are responsable for this piece of beauty of Empire at the Plein/Square (see above). It got world famous for its many art details, which unfortunatedly were transported to the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Still enjoy the unique grandeur of this building, where the Government and the ministers spend their time. The reddish colour got trendy today again, so this building is visited, and photographed, by many Dutch tourists ...

Address: Plein - The Hague

Directions: Center of The Hague, 5 minutes walk from Central Station

Turtles At Prins Hendrikplein Around The Hague Review

Going for a walk you can visit the Prins Hendrikplein. This wonderful square is surrounded by buildings built in the beginning of 1900. The railings and classic lanterns around the square correspond in same style. It has been renewed in the beginning of 2000 and the square, located in the Zeehelden Kwartier (Sea-heroes Area), is created in a perfect circle ...

It got well-known because of its flowers; Magnolia's, crocusses in all colors and Rosa Amstelveen roses. The chestnut trees will flower in summertime. Take a rest and enjoy the 5 turtles which make this place a bit of a spiritual character. You can go for a shop in the shopping streets around the Prins Hendrikplein, named Piet Heinstraat, Prins Hendrikstraat and Zoutmanstraat ... happy shopping time!

Address: Prins Hendrikplein - The Hague

Directions: Zeehelden Kwartier (Sea-heroes area), close to Laan van Meerdervoort and shopping streets Piet Heinstraat, Prins Hendrikstraat and Zoutmanstraat

Pasar Malam Besar=Tong Tong Fair Festivals and events Review

Den Haag has been named after the "Widow Of The Indies" by Indo-people (Eurasian people living in Holland, or elsewhere, who has an Indonesian background), because the Dutch has reigned the Indonesian islands for more than 350 years. And the descendants (migrants named Indo's) longed for a place where they could walk about like in the "old Indies days". That event developed into the biggest Indo-event of the world, the Pasar Malam Besar (Big Evening Market) started by Tjalie Robinson at The Hague, and running for now by 7 women. The Indonesian atmosphere has been perfected and is still growing ...

Whenever you will be around at The Hague during the month of Juin/May, just visit the Pasar Malam Besar at Malieveld near the Central Station. You may smell the odeur of fruits, food, scent, while listening to the gamelan-sounds (traditional Javanese music) and some Indonesian guest artists. It last for 12 days and nights (until 23.00 hrs) and even Indonesian merchants are invited to join. For sure you'll enjoy this Indo-event, when fond of the Indonesian islands and, maybe for a chat with RoyJava.

I was there at the art-painters stand every day ... the event started at May 21st until Juin 1st 2008. For the 50st B-day, so this was a very very special event ...
... opened by the Queen Beatrix !!!
And I had good business !

And this year 2009 I will be there again from Thursday May 21st until Monday Juin 1st.
Although the name has been changed!!!
From "Pasar Malam Besar" to "Tong Tong Fair" ...
Don't ask me why ... see link.

Thanks for visit.

Vincent At Pasar Malam Besar 2009

Meeting Friends At Pasar Malam Besar 2005

Meeting Friends At Pasar Malam Besar 2006

Address: Malieveld, Koningskade, The Hague

Directions: Central Station, head for Malieveld, see also Office at its Webpage

Other Contact: http://www.tongtongfestival.nl/

LOOSDUINEN - CORN-MILL Around The Hague Review

Not that far from The Hague's center, Westwards, is the corn-mill Korenear at Loosduinen. Also known as "Prins Maurits" Mill, because this Prince of Orange built a new one in 1595 after pull-down of the former corn-mill in 1569. This cute little village, arosen in the old dunes, needed its corn-mill. The Loosduinen people complained of the corn-grind which had to be done in Westland. Prins Maurits granted the new corn-mill.

Unfortunately the village got obsolete when new dunes got formed at the coast. So the dunes near Loosduinen became "false dunes" (= "loze duinen = Loosduinen"). The corn-mill belongs for now to the Hague's municipality (since 1925) and, the miller is named Huub Lelieveld. Please, give him a call for visiting the corn-mill, where is a museum ...

The museum is open every Saturday and first Sunday of the month from 13.00 to 17.00h. Groups who want to visit the museum on other days can make an appointment

The Hague's Mill

Address: Margareth van Hennebergweg 2A, Loosduinen

Directions: Loosduinse weg which changes into Oude Haagweg. Left-sided is the street of Lippe Biesterveldweg, turn to the right at Kap. Meereboerweg, you'll see the corn-mill immediately (by tram take tram 3).

Phone: +31 (0)70-3973342

GEVANGENPOORT Prison Gate Review

The Gevangenpoort, or Prison Gate, actually was the the entrance gate of the Buitenhof and, through the Gevangenpoort you enter the Plaats. This part of The Hague is regarded as the oldest of town, where horrible events happened. It was used as prison from 1420 to 1828.

So if you do like horror, visit the Gevangenpoort, builded somewhere in the 14th century. It's for now a museum and can be of special interest to all those who want to know how the Dutch used to treat their prisoners and criminals in medieval times. You'll find an extensive collection of torture instruments.

Open: daily from 10.00 - 17.00
Saterday & Sunday 13.00 - 17.00
You need a guided tour, every whole hour.
It is 3.60 Euro, for 65+ 3.20 and children 2.70

Address: Buitenhof 33, The Hague

Directions: Center The Hague, next to Plaats

Phone: +31 (0)70 3460861

The "PLAATS" Shopping arcade Review

When visiting the Gevangenpoort you can go for a shop at the "Plaats", literally "Place". In former days it was a horrible "place", named Voorplaete van den Hove, where executions took place till 18th century (really, I'm not joking!).

There are for now some top shops, a great pavement and, knockin' about the place, walk to the Noordeinde promenade. See the statue of Dutch famie Johan De Witt who was assassinated here in medieval times ...

Extra note: ... the Avantgarde is at the "Plaats", too, where you are teached how to walk like a mannequin, a dressman, and how to learn to make-up your face (yep, you know the teacher...)

Johan De Witt

Address: Plaats, The Hague

Directions: Center of The Hague, next to Gevangenpoort

Hofje Van Wouw/Famous Almshouses Scenic The Hague Review

Almshouses (Hofjes) can be found all over the Netherlands, though The Hague has some very famous "hofjes" (a "hofje" means "garden"). These lovely little houses were built for charity in the 17th century where the poorest people were allowed to live for free.

One of the finest almshouses is the Hofje van Wouw which you can find in the center of The Hague, named after its founder "Cornelia van Wouw". The garden inside is really beautiful and Hofje van Wouw is famous because of its Christmas and summer events. The occupants will allow touristy guests to join and sing their Christmas songs. Try their apple-pie, during summertime, too!

About 14 little houses were built in 1647 and, threw open to public. See the beautiful entrance with the bird-symbol, kept in good repair. Right next to it you find the "Hofje van Dam", founded in 1606 (Lange Beestenmarkt 21-47, The Hague). Just across the mainstreet Prinsengracht you'll find the Hooftshofje (from 1756, see pic2) ...

Special city-tours are organized in this region,... and remember when going this direction: my penthouse is very close to these "Hofjes"...
At September 30 there was a special "Biological Fruit" event, very well done, see soon my pictures ...

Address: Lange Beestenmarkt 49-85, The Hague

Directions: Center The Hague, off-street from Prinsengracht and, close to Boekhorststraat

The Hague's Old City-Hall Artful The Hague Review

See the beauty of the old City-Hall of the Hague (from 1546 AD) which was much more inpressive than the new one and, still exists. The tower was added at the end of the 17th century.

The old building in Renaissance-style was a replica of the cityhall of Antwerp, exept it is much smaller (The Hague was also much smaller than capital Antwerp in the 1560's). People still marry here for its great architecture and romantic view. And notice the upper-most statue, ... it is the Goddess Of Justice ...

South-side Old City-Hall

Address: Groenmarkt, The Hague

Directions: Center The Hague, close to St. Jacobs Church

PANORAMA MESDAG Panorama Mesdag Review

This is for sure a must to visit. Your imaged position is the Seinpostduin (a sand-dune), in the fishing-village of Scheveningen, and you're surrounded by the biggest painting in Holland. So Panorama Mesdag is a cylindrical painting, where you can experience the illusion of an unlimited view and, at the same time the reality created by sand, wreckage, an anchor and others you could see along the shore like it was in 1881.

The whole vista of the oldest 19th century panorama was painted by H.W. Mesdag.
Contrasts like inside - outside, open - closed have been united to enlarge the suggestion of unlimited in a phantastic way of this unique cultural heritage ...

Open:
Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 17.00
Sundays and Bank Holidays
closed on 25 December

*special arrangements for groups
*guided tours upon request

Entrance: adults 4 Euro - children 2 Euro

Address: Panorama Mesdag, Zeestraat 65, Den Haag

Directions: Close to center The Hague, near Mauritskade and Noordeinde (tram-line 7-8, bus-line 4-5-22)

Other Contact: %cb%binfo@panorama-mesdag.com

Phone: 31 (0)70 - 364 45 44