The Hague Warnings and Dangers

You could bump onto this sign!

It tells in this area the police is justified to search passerbies for safety reasons.

Besides just a search they are allowed, too, requiring your identification (like in most countries).

It can happen in a sudden way or when something has happened.

Because people made a lot of silly arguments this sign is to be seen around in The Hague's center ...

This is a nasty The Hague habit. The SPUI used to be a crowded passage street and, the municipality decided to create a nice shopping area here.

So no cars allowed anymore, and the lane should be a wonderful place to do your shopping like on a real promenade. Unfortunately bikes, auto-cycles, mopeds and motor-bikes still cross the promenade legally, what causes irritation, annoyance, anger and even fights on the Spui. Because they donot cross their way in the middle of the promenade and run into shopping walkers.

It is said in futur times the promenade will be free of these disturbers, still better take care on the promenade of the Spui !!!

A L A R M S e r v i c e s :

Call the Dutch phone number of 1 1 2 !!!

Whenever in case of need call for 1 1 2 !!!

Whenever in state of ermergy, please dial the phone number of 1 1 2 !!!

You can dial this number wherever you are, by phone, by sell phone, by other mobile phones.

When you want to phone the local police the number is 0900-8844

wherever you are !!!

Yep! Right in the centre of The Hague the AMSTERDAMSE VEERKADE just is the dirtiest street of the Netherlands! Can you imagine, the most filthy and polluted area of The Hague you can find here, just around the corner of my home.

Well, it is true indeed, because of all the vehicles, buses, goods traffic etc. come and go via this road. So government placed the sign where you can see the air condition by smarties. When red it is wrong! The "nitrogen dioxide", is the NO2 (here 99), and the "fijnstof" (here 74) are not that good for your health and remember ... it is just a sign! The Hague still is not that bad on the list of the most polluted cities in the world!
:o)))

Although it is well-known to change your traveller cheques at the banks, and are widely accepted, it does can give you a problem. When so and not able to collect yours, only the GWK Office (at the major railway stations) provides currency exchange.

These offices are open 7 days a week. In The Hague you can find the GWK Office (in Dutch "Grens Wissel Kantoor") at

GWK DEN HAAG CS KONINGIN JULIANAPLEIN 10
&
GWK DEN HAAG HS STATIONSPLEIN 50

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The transformation of museums from the aristocratic possessive galleries of holdings to "Education" is in full swing all over the world. Special Exhibits are "in". A mixture of motives are in play ranging from increased (fee charged) viewership, rental of audioguides (fee), commercial sponsorship (to defray costs of picture transport, insurance and more), publicity for the museum, publications for sale (with enhancement of reputation for curators and others of influence), intermuseum connections to amplify future exhibitions, etc. When we visited the Maritshuis in May 2006, a special exhibit entitled "Dreaming in Italy" was in progress. Like most very old museums, they do not have the space for such efforts, so regular museum space must be compromised by the temporary removal of "lesser works" and rearrangement of some of the permanent collection. The increase in attendance in the special rooms filled with audioguide holders, half of whom have their backs to the paintings to enhance their cell-phone primed attention, requires the physical strength of a down-lineman to overcome. ADVICE: Unless the special exhibit contains many objects you MUST see, stick to yoour original visit plan and enjoy the original holdings that remain on view. (You can glance at the special exhibit but do not pay the supplement if possible.) The attached were in the Exhibit (surprisingly, photography was permitted). The influence of these painting upon 17C Dutch art is tenuous and Robert, Vernet and Turner lived after the Dutch period of flowering was over. In fact Turner benefitted from his Italian sojourn in recognizing that (through his watercolors in Venice which were not shown) realism was not the way for him to express his insights.

When the wind is blowing over the ocean, the surface is moving too. The tidal currents cause dangerous situations for swimmers. Though the breakwaters, placed by humans, are even more perfidious, while it causes watercourses under the ocean surface. You cannot see these channels of suction (named "muistroom" in Dutch), so you should take care when bathing in the sea as there are dangerous undercurrents and strong with ebb-tide. Watch for the signs, places all along the North Sea coast of Holland ...

When sucked into such a "muistroom", don't panic. The more you struggle, the more you sink away, the more you're gonna tire yourself. Let go all of it, and when the water has lost her strong power, and it's quiet again, you can swim back quietly, even the shore looks far away. This is the best you can do, and please, do avoid the piers ...

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The Haagsche Bos (The Hague Wood) is a green area close to the center of The Hague, next to Maliveld where a lot of events take place. Around 1570 the Haagsche Bos got shortened because of the need of wood for the locals to defend themselves against Spanish troops. Though the Spaniards got away with the wood and, the Haagsche Bos never recovered from it.

In day-time it is worth for a lovely walk and making some wonderful pics (included fashion pics), but take care with night-time. The area will be seeked for the gay scene to find a date ... they have been removed to other places, though come back all the time. Just a note when facing the Haagsche Bos in the dark ...

As any seasoned traveller, including myself, should be aware, don't leave your luggage unattended. Riding the trains is common in Europe, but often there is not enough room by the seats to store your luggage. I stupidly left the luggage in a corner behind my seat. I was a bit off guard since I was traveling with a local. I did turnaround to check on it a few minutes later, but by then my backpack (the big kind) was gone! I took my eyes off of it for like 2 minutes, and the train hadn't even departed yet! I had a flight to catch at the airport (thank goodness it happenned at the end of the trip) so I could not spend too much time going to file a report at the main train stations (the staff there is hardly of any help either). Anyways, take it from me. Don't let your guard down - always keep an eye on your belongings!!!

When wanna have fun at beach resort of Scheveningen keep in mind there are "No Dogs Allowed". Concerning the area around the Kurhaus & the Pier, the police connives at bringing your dog at Noorder- and Zuiderstrand. Even a lost of a dog you may report at the police and, the same concerns your kids.

Tell the kids to watch the symbols on the poles which are right in the front of each the beach-houses/pavilions (includes t-shirt, camel, ice-cream etc., see pic). So they are able to find their way back when loosing their way. Horse-riding police is around all day long, including police-cars. See link for phone ...