The Hague / Den Haag

The Hague is the seat of government and the 'old capital' of The Netherlands. Also it is the home of our Queen Beatrix who lives and works in The Hague. All foreign embassies and government ministries are located in the city. It the third largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with a population of about 490,000 inhabitants and an area of approximately 100 km².

It is located in the west of the country of which it is also the provincial capital. The Hague is, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Almere, Haarlem and Utrecht part of the Randstad metropolitan area. I am always surprised of the beauty of this city which has everything; culture, architecture, a large shopping area, the best bars and terasses and a wonderfull going out earea. This city (or, officially, the village, the city never officially received city right) has everything.

The Hague is founden around 1230 by Floris I, Count of Holland who purchased land alongside a pond in order to build a hunting residence. In 1248 William II, Count of Holland who also became the mighty empire of the Holy Roman Empire decided to extend the residence to a palace.

He died in 1256 before this palace was completed, but parts of it were finished by his son Floris V, of which the Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall), still extant, is the most prominent. It is still in use for political events, such as the annual speech from the throne by the monarch. This sight attracktion is a must see visiting The Hague. Here every decission is made. From here The Netherlands is ruled. And also, the Ridderzaal and The Binnenhof are old, unique and gorgious, see under ' sight attracktions / things to do' in The Hague.

Later, the counts of Holland used The Hague as their administrative centre and residence when in Holland. 'Des Graven Hage' literally means "the count's wood", with connotations like "the count's hedge or private enclosure". But about 1430 the Dukes of Burgundy gained control over the counties of Holland and Zeeland.

They appointed a stadtholder to rule in their stead with the States of Holland as an advisory council. Their seat was located in The Hague. But the dukes of Burgundy became the King of Spain, and the King of Spain also became the Holy Roman Emperor, which Holland was part of. The protestant provinces were not in favour of the catholic kings of Spain and Holland declared it's independancy on 21 July 1581. Spain did not accept this and it was led to the Eighty Years' War, the absence of city walls proved disastrous, as it allowed Spanish troops easily to occupy the town. The States of Holland even considered demolishing the city, but this proposal was abandoned, after mediation by William of Orange. The first Dutch capital (not officially) The Hague also became the location of the government of the Dutch Republic. In order for the administration to maintain control over city matters, The Hague never received official city status (although it did have many privileges, normally only attributed to cities). However, since the days of King Louis Napoleon (1806) The Hague has been allowed to call itself a city.

In 1808 the French king Louis Napoleon decided to move the capital because of his health problems. He decided that Amsterdam became the new capital and ordered to start to build the Palace on the Dam of Amsterdam. He briefly stayed in Utrecht, the second (brief) Dutch capital between 19 January 1808 and 20 april 1808. On 20 april 1808 the Palace was ready and Louis Napoleon installed, Amsterdam was the new capital. Even when the French king left The Netherlands in 1810 and the government went back to The Hague, his decision stayed till this day.

Amsterdam is still our capital, but our country is ruled from The Hague, a quite unique situation comparing with other countries.

Because of its history, the historical inner city of The Hague differs in various respects from the nearby smaller cities of Leiden and Delft. It doesn't have a cramped inner city, bordered by canals and walls. Instead it has some small streets in the town centre that may be dated from late Medieval times, and several spacious streets boasting rich 18th century. When the government started to play a more prominent role in Dutch society after 1850, The Hague quickly expanded. Many streets were specifically built for the large number of civil servants employed in the country's government and for the Dutchmen who were retiring from the Netherlands East Indies. The growing city annexed the municipality of Loosduinen in 1923.

Parts of the city sustained heavy damage during World War II. After the war The Hague was at one point the largest building site in Europe. The city expanded massively to the southwest. The destroyed areas were also quickly rebuilt. The population peaked at 600,000 inhabitants around 1965. In the 1970s and 1980s many, mostly white, middle class families moved to neighbouring towns like Voorburg, Leidschendam, Rijswijk and Zoetermeer. This led to the traditional pattern of an improved inner city and more prosperous suburbs.

The Hague has it all. interesting sursubs just outside The Hague Station. Midievel architecture walking in the city hart. The Government seat. Bars, restaurants. Everything for a visit. But: you need a map. This city has not the most easy centre like American or Canadien cities. Even my city of 's-Hertogenbosch is more easy, with just everything centered in the middle. The Hague is different. Many things to see, but not at one point. It took me 2 days to learn a bit the streets and were the most important views are.