The Hague Local Customs

For the The Hagues (Hagenezen) this is well-known.
Getting a "garnalen-kroket", a kind of snack; ie. a croquet which is filled with shrimps.

Like herring and Haagsche Hopjes candies just try this grandeur.
You won't disappointed ...

The best "shrimps-croquet" shop is >>>

Zoutenbier N
Groot Hertoginneln 147
2517 ER The Hague
Tel: 070-3451173
(see link for more fish shops)

You can get fresh shrimps-croquet fried in oil for about 75 Euro-cents a piece (yep, quite cheap!).
Or take some home, and fry these when you're are in the mood tasting a wonderful The Hague shrimps-croquet ...
have a great snack appetite ...

A sporting one: New Year's Dive
This painting of me looks like "DON'T DO IT!!!" though it is a must for thousands of people at 12 noon on New Years' Day. Like polar bears people they dive into the freezing waters of the North Sea. In spite of Mother Earth is warming up her temperatures and the North Sea isn't a frozen solid North Pole-sea, it is very, very cold!

Imagine; 2 degrees Celsius, could be snowing like crazy, and when Dutch notorious cold wind is blowing. Then just get your boxers or a swimsuit with a read-white-blue knitten bonnet on your head to specify you among thousands of people on New Year's Dive, Scheveningen. Fun for sure, also in 2005, 2006, and the Newyears' Dive 2007!
Happy New Year

And The Best !!!

The Dutch celebrate the Monarchy every year on the 30th of April, named Queens Day. Every year on April 30 the Dutch celebrate this day with the biggest party in the world. Hollands most musically rocking pop-town is The Hague, and our loyal and royal home is the-best-of-the-best festival of The Queens-Night, the "Koninginnenach".. On this day, ... no, evening-night (!) you may go totally loose!

Because the celebrations start in The Hague on the evening of the 29th of April. Many many people, young, old, males, females, all races celebrate in the streets, on the (ancient) squares of the Hague, just before going to major parties of 30th of April in the clubs, disco's, dancings.

The Hague boasts the most famous night in the whole of Holland: the eve of Queen Beatrix' birthday, Koninginnenach (to be pronounced with a really broad Hague accent!). Last year 2007 we jumped into this Queens-night, and had a lot of fun... and drinks too ;o)))

Don't miss anything of this event and best local Hague's custom !!!
Also in 2010 we jumped into the Koninginnenach, even this year it was a bit rainy !!!

A sunny one: Scheveningen Beach Resort

Scheveningen, with its pleasant boulevard and the well-known myriad of attractions from sorting to trendy, from beach freaks to nature lovers. Including the dune area, the renovated Pier, the Casino, the Circus Theater, a mega cinema, a shopping mall and, see at bottom of pic the famous Old Church. Scheveningen has it all!

Also the 2004 September year’s Kite Festival was a sunny happening. Scheveningen has organized the Kite Festival for the past 26 years. You will have magnificent views of the kites from the boulevard and the beach. Watch the "grabs", "kiteloops", "handlepasses" and more ... pay respect to the elder locals who come to join, too!
Old Church

TO SCHEVENINGEN

A loving one: Bird feeding
People love birds-feeding. London, Amsterdam, Madrid got well-known for it. Especially in winter feeding birds has become an enjoyable pastime, also for Hague's year-round residents. In the Hague's harbour a lot of birds alight on the quay because of the visitors, and locals, throwing away their snacks, and bread ...

Researches have determined that it is not absolutely necessary that one guarantee a continuous supply of food during the winter months because no bird relies entirely on one source. However, it is known birds do come back for food-supply, when on hand. See some birds of the Westland, surroundings of The Hague.

A rare one: day trippers

Holland still has its "dagjesmensen, or "day-trippers", an old-fashioned kind of citizens who come out and enjoy their day by an one-day trip. Doing theirselves well the "dagjesmensen" you see with events as well as with spring when drawing out of the days. The Dutch "dagjesmensen" aren't cheap-trippers, so it's considered typical Dutch. The Hague has its "own" day-trippers who are being merged into crowd ... like on Queensday when there is teh "free market" in the streets.

A funny one: Flag Day - Vlaggetjesdag
It started somewhere in the 16th century. On the Saturday before Pentecost the Scheveningen locals decorated their ships with flags. Sunday, the first day of Pentecost was a church day; at the second day of Pentecost (a Dutch tradition) all Scheveningen people came together on the quays to watch the decorated ships that would sail out for the next morning. The one who would bring the first herring after a few weeks (direction Scotland), was the proud winner of this herring race.

In spite of this, Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day) did lose its original signification, and every year the organisation succeeds to bring the Scheveningen traditions very alive again. Since 2003 the tradition of the herring race has been reinstalled in full of splendour with many many tourists. After all the harbour of The Hague, Scheveningen, is a very photogenic area and, you can have some delicious sea-food snacks around ... like we had at Juin 20th 2009 again !

Info : Folklore-vereniging
v. Beverningkstraat 156
2582VL Scheveningen

Public transport : -> tramline 8 from The Hague HS -> tramline 1 - 9 from The Hague CS. From The Hague south & Congresgebouw : -> busline 14.
There is guarded bicycle store.
Flag Day - Scheveningen

A happy one : Queen's Birthday

Although H.M. Queen Beatrix officially celebrates her birthday on 31 January, the nation celebrates the Queen's birthday on 30 April. Like most towns in the Netherlands, The Hague will host numerous festivities throughout the city. However the Queen will visit another city in Holland, according the tradition. So the festivities at The Hague just honours Her always laughing Majesty ... at the Palace Noordeinde.

In the street of The Hague's center you'll find numerous free-market-stalls in the street, with bottom prices. All day long you can hike, having fun, drink something, have a snack ... Do feel welcome on this April 30 Queens Day! Until now anyone may enjoy it every year, also at Thursday April 30st 2009 !

Unfortunately this last Queens-day ended up in a horror drama, because a crazy man tried to attack the bus of the royal family at Apeldoorn. He killed 7 people, included himself ...

painting is with permission
by Frans Erkelens
my master painting-teacher