Culture and arts, The Hague

A very interesting know-how >>>

Once, in the beginning of the 13th century a Dutch Count built a living on a dune top nearby a pond. Because of the hedges surrounding this living its name became "HAGA" (=hedges-land) which turned into 's-Gravenhage (hedge-of-count). Ofcourse a royal palace was built and the place around grew into a village. And 's-Gravenhage (The Hague) stayed a village until the first King of Holland (Lodewijk, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte) granted some city rights. In present days the pond is the Hofvijver/Court Pond, next to Binnenhof, and the Palace is the Ridderzaal/Knights Hall. You can find the Know-how story about The Hague here, get some info about ...

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Bredius was the Director of the Royal Picture Gallery in the Mauritshuis from 1889 till 1909. But his greatest contribution has been the vast collection of painting and drawings that he collected for himself. It has paintings from Rembrandt and Jan Steen but also a broad collections of lesser masters. All neatly come together in this small museum that besides had some great porcelain and silver.

The painting of the woman in the middle picture (enlarge the pciture to see it well) has a male equivalent which is hanging in the Metropolitan in New York

The Musuem is open from tuesday to sunday from 12 to 17h. Closed on 25th of december and january the 1st.

Entrance fee is 4,5 euro (price 2004).

From the 4th of June the new Sculptures will be on the Lange Voorhout and remain there till the 12th of september evry year though i'm not sure about the exact dates. but early june till early september in any way

The theme of this year (2004) is 'Art the great communicator' because of the expansion of the EU with 10 countries. As a special part all the foreign ministers of the new European countries ahve been asked to make available a sculpture of an artist of their country.

So stroll along under the trees and admire all the work of renowned and new artists on display.

And there are more artworks to be seen at the lane next to the 'Hofvijver' and an 'l'Art de Triomphe' in front of the Central Station

Not to miss when you are in The Hague around Sundays and Thursdays! On these days there is held an art and antique market at the historic Lange Voorhout, just in front of the famous Hotel des Indes (see link). This very interesting market during May until September every Sunday from 10.00 - 17.00 hrs and every Thursday from 11.00 - 17. 00 hrs.

Going for a walk, looking for a nice shop or wanna have a delicious meal, the Prinsestraat area offers plenty of needs. When hiking from center of The Hague you may enter the Prinsestraat from Kerkplein. There you will pass the Berlage building, where 2 beautiful female statues adorn the front. I just love to look at these great "public women" ... this virginal female statue represents HOUSE, safe for the FIRE and destruction to Berlage building.

See Intro PUBLIC WOMEN

Guess the name of Johan De Witt (1615-1672) is wide known as the Dutch advocate who became the most powerful man in republic Holland (still in medieval times). Yes, he did the study of law and showed remarkable talents. He became an advocate and lived at The Hague. Althoug Johan De Witt brought about peace with England in 1654 and, being extremely succesful in bringing prosperity to Holland, he and his brother were attacked and killed by a large crowd.

This horrible, incredible story happened in the Gevangenpoort, The Hague, when Johan visited his brother there. The Hagues (yep, a very socially thinking crowd *joking*) heard about the visit, collected outside the building, burst in and, battered at the 2 brothers. Finally the crowd, mad with rage, tore them in pieces. The inside of their bodies was eaten by dogs ...

It was not before 1918 when there was a statue erected for Johan De Witt at the "Plaats", unveiled by Queen Wilhelmina. Read on the statue about his goodies (translation will be added): "Leider en dienaar der Republiek, vormer harer machtigste vloten, verdediger der vrije zee, verzorger van ’s lands gelden, wiskundige, een volmaakt Hollander."

If you pay a visit to the Museum of Communication (see link) see the beautiful carved statues of the building outside. These were created around 1929 and belong to the "public women" of Holland. Meaning the carved statues of females (some famous, mythical goddesses, some famous women, some nameless females) you can find all over Holland in public ... (this one could be a Goddess)

The Plein 1813 square is the largest 19th century monument in the Netherlands. While of an extraordinary monumental urban structure, the really phantastic statues mostly miss its chance to get admired. Crown Prince Willem Frederik, the later King Willem II, is flanked here by 2 women who are not named and figures the personification of "religion" and "history" (created by J.P. Koelman).

This used to be the old PTT-museum and most of the ground floor is still dedicated to that. But it also has a lot on telephony and more..

And it is a great kids museum. There are loads of things you're allowed to touch and try out. Little games on determining which mode of transport was the quickest in a certain time period.. or trying to decipher morse-code...

Entrance fee is 6 euro for adults and 3 euro for kids up to 12. (prices 2004)

Monday to friday it is open from 10-17.
Saturday and sundays from 12-17
Closed on december the 25th and januari the 1st

Locaton Zeestraat 80-82.

The society Bredius also has a vast information on dutch painters.

Apart from the map of info that you receive as a tour guide with a lot of information on the paintings, there is a small tabel in the middle ground floor room with books and such on painters that you can browse through or even read completely if you would feel so inclined.