The Hague, June 16, 2024
First business of the day was to look for a jacket for my partner. He had brought a sweatshirt with him for the trip but he really needed another piece of clothing to put on to keep him warm while we went sightseeing. It was really that cold.
Truth of the matter is, he had already packed his winter vest in his suitcase before we left home but decided to leave it behind thinking it might have been too much. What a mistake!
While heading for the main shopping street, we saw a Primark. It was the perfect store since we didn't really want to spend so much for something like a windbreaker. We lucked out. We saw one jacket for just 20 euros.
By the time we left the store, the rain had stopped although on this day, it was on and off. We immediately set out to look for the Inner Court which I had visited back in the early 90s. In fact, I had a picture taken there then. Unfortunately, the area was off limits to the public since it was undergoing major work and upkeep.
Since it had been ages since I was in the Hague last and all I could remember was the Inner Court, we decided to go to as many places our feet could take us downtown.
Inside the Hague Train Station
Standing next to a poster of the famous painting, the Girl with the Pearl Earring, in front of the Royal Picture Gallery the Mauritshuis. We had already seen it as well as many others from the museum when they were on tour of the US. They were actually exhibited at San Francisco's De Young Museum for six months last 2013.
Me at the Mauritshuis. Don't let the picture fool you into believing there were no people around. In fact, there were hundreds. This was a quick snapshot taken when it seemed I had the entire place to myself.
My camera shy partner having his picture taken in front of the famous museum in the Hague.
A rear view of the famous Mauritshuis by the canal
A view of the De Bijenkorf, a Dutch department store. We were happy to see it in the Hague. We've always visited their store in Amsterdam.
Chinatown on a rainy day
A closer view of the gate to Chinatown
Another statue we found along the main shopping street
The area by the canal behind the Mauritshuis was very elegant. It was lined with expensive looking homes and office buildings.
More beautiful homes by the canal
The Hague Historical Museum
The main gate that leads to the Inner Court. Unfortunately for us, the entire Inner Court area was under renovation.
The very elegant De Passage Shopping Arcade
The Hague was definitely buzzing with activity on the day of our visit. There were thousands of people everywhere.
At De Passage
Lovely buildings everywhere!
On this visit to the Hague, we never went inside any museum. This painting is actually a copy, a huge copy, which covered an entire fence surrounding the Inner Court.
This was the side entrance to De Grote of St. Jacobskerk or the Church of St. James
A mural at an outdoor cafe