visiting.den haag
about.den haag
A great mixture between modern and old architecture, Hague, the political capital of The Netherlands filled our hearts with a sense of awe, given its wide streets, large spaces, blossomed squares and the royal atmosphere. Unlike Amsterdam, Hague is less populated, so the city is less crowded and you can easily find green spots. Between two railway stations we had time to visit The Parliament, The Escher Museum, the beach, Omniversum; we passed by the Royal Palace of Queen Beatrix and spent time in Dutch shops.
the.parliament
It is the symbol of Hague, reason for which it was our first stop in the city. The building, an enormous construction dating from the XIIIth century was an astounding contrast between the old, redbrick walls and the new and modern interiors. After you pass the small gate, through which only the most optimistic tourist would expect to see one of the most powerful parliaments in the world, the first thing that catches your attention is the beautiful, gold-like fountain, whose shimmering fills the empty courtyard. Only the black, shinny limousines of the senators can compete with the powerful sunlight reflected in the water. After 10 minutes of walking around, trying to find the guided tours, with the help of a policeman and a politician the spoke just a little beach of English, we finally got to right place. After a short movie about the history of the building, we were invited in a large, wood-decorated room, dominated by an impressive throne, embroidered with a B. Beatrix de Oranje, the Queen of the Netherlands, the symbol of unity for all the citizens of the lower countries. She uses this room of the Parliament, which is called the Hall of the Knights, to give banquets, to receive foreign diplomats and heads of state. After this we visited the heart of dutch politics: The Assembly. Smaller than the one in Bucharest, it gave a cozy, intimate feeling, like the one you have when you enter a concert hall. The walls were decorated with modern works of art that represent the colours of Holland (grey, green, blue, orange, white). When we exited the buildings, the sun was replaced by clouds, and a humid, cold sensation was in the air. We left the Parliament grounds, in hope that in the future we will have the occasion to visit such a fascinating place again.
the.escher museum
The Escher Museum was an unique experience that opened our eyes to the complexity of reality, making us grasp the limits of human perception. The intricate detailes were impressive due to their perfection and filled us with a surreal sense of pure, geometrical beauty and grandour. Each exhibit was a puzzle in itself, challenging us to think and testing our senses. Located at the second floor, the `Room of Escher` was an opportunity to discover the way in which illusions are made, analysing and becoming part of them. Also, the especially designed light/tables and the virtual reality headsets made it possible for us to explore and examine the prints and the drawing methods in detail. Moreover, we had fun playing Escher games and learned more about Escherīs life and ideas from the documentary presented. At the end of our tour the only regret we had was the we couldnīt spend an entire day there, leting ourselves be swept away in an unsetlingly delicate and bewitching universe.
omni.versum
Omniversum is the place where the boundary between fantasy and reality is broken. Your small seat seems a teleportation device to breathtaking new worlds.
the.seaside
The best moment of the day was going to the sea side. As we approached the shore we could feel more lively the warm sun, the refreshing breeze, and it all seemed very different from what The Netherlands had shown us to that point. We could not help walking bare feet in the sand and splashing the water. There was time enough to taste a delicious fish kebab and to walk along the huge platform by the sea. We may have lingered in the sun, but Rotterdam awaited us.