Euro-Buzz: Revisiting The Hague

Few place names around the globe begin with an article.

How do these sound? the Berlin? the Chicago? the Lima? These names might suggest an upscale restaurant or worse - perhaps a seedy bar behind the train station.

Occasionally, when I tell people that I lived in The Hague they give me a funny look. The what? As though it were some sort of rare psychological condition ... rather than a geographical location. Try this: from 1982 to 1993, I lived in The Fog. Ok, John, whatever you say.

Although Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands, The Hague is the seat of government. This country is one of just a few you’ll see on the map with two stars in different places and only those who reside locally might understand that little cartographic fact.

The Dutch parliament meets here and the embassies are scattered around town. Naturally, there’s a plethora of international schools to serve this busy community of foreigners and English speaking Dutch students. The Hague is perhaps most famous for the International Court of Justice or World Court, to use another name, which is housed in a formidable building known as the Peace Palace.

Actually, finding The Hague is tricky if you are wandering through this corner of Europe. There is a small downtown which is easy to miss. What gives the place its ambience is the numerous quiet and sedate neighborhoods, many astride canals. There is old Dutch money here, as they say, and it shows.

Between The Hague and the sea is a green zone of parks, woods and lakes. The beach extends for miles up and down the North Sea and there are walking and bike paths along the dunes. It is all very healthy - even in the rain.

If you ever move this way, just remember what the Dutch say:

Work in Rotterdam
Play in Amsterdam
Live in The Hague