The Hague, Netherlands

The Hague - History

            The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government, the Parliament and the Queen. In the history of The Hague, the judicial sector always played an important role. In the 14^th century the importance of The Hague increased due to the transfer of the Supreme Court of Zealand and Holland. At the end of the 16^th century the Royal Court moved here, The Hague became the Royal Residency. In 1899 and 1907 took place Peace Conferences which led to the construction of the Peace Palace, which, since 1922, is the seat of the International Court of Justice.

            The Hague – Culture

            The glory of The Hague was between 16^th and 17^th century, because of the many churches and residences built such as Huis ten Bosch – Royal Residency, Mauritius – Royal Gallery of paintings, Escher Museum. Also in that time, the village became an important center of portraiture and landscape, as well as printing, engraving, sculpture and craft of goldsmiths. These artistic traditions were continued in the 19^th century, in the School of The Hague, an artistic environment of the Neoimpressionists and Symbolists. Madurodam is an important location in The Hague - a miniature city built in 1952 and named after a Jewish student who fought against Nazi troops in the Dutch army. For car enthusiasts in The Hague you can find Lowman Museum, with an impressive collection of 200.000 cars. For the ones who love natural sciences, the science museum Museon, founded in 1904 it’s a great place to find the secrets of domestic industry of The Hague. Other great museums and cultural institutions that The Hague can offer are: Haags Historisch Museum, Museum Bredius, Municipal Museum, Netherlands Dance Theatre, Mesdag Museum, Obervoorde Park and Queen Beatrix residential Palace situated in the forest, outside The Hague’s center.

           

  The Hague – Education         
 The Hague is not distinguished by a large number of universities, but the existing ones sure make the difference in student culture. Royal Conservatory of The Hague is offering the possibility for a career in music and dance. The Royal Conservatory was founded in 1826 by King William I and nowadays it is ruled by a professional stuff for different areas of specializations: European classical music, early music, jazz, electronic and computer music, musical composition, ballet, opera, art sound. Royal Academy of Art is another important educational institute in The Hague, one of the oldest art academies in Europe. The art academy was founded in 1682 and has preparatory courses, bachelor studies, post graduate and master studies in different areas of expertise: fine arts, photography, graphic design, textile and fashion, interior design and architecture, artistic research, media technology, film and photography studies.

            The Hague – Local attraction

            The Hague has an important place in international politics. Over 150 international organizations are located in The Hague. The main institutions are: Euro just (European Union prosecutors), Europol (European Police Office), International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia, Permanent Court of Arbitration. The main attraction in The Hague is Scheveningen resort. It has a promenade and a casino, making it one of the most elegant resorts in the country. In The Hague many festivals are organized, among them: Jazz Festival, Koninginne Nach, North Sea Jazz Festival, Tong Tong Festival, Milan Hindustani Festival and Schilderswijk Bazaar. Night life centers around the three main squares in The Hague’s center are also searched locations: the Plein (Square), the Grote Markt (Great Market) and the Buitenhof (Outer Court). The Plein is taken by several large sidewalks where important political figures can be seen. The Grote Markt is completely strewn with chairs and tables in all seasons. The Buitenhof contains a cinema and a chain of bars and restaurants where residents and tourists relax and have a great time.

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is Netherland’s second largest city and one of the largest ports in the world. Dating back since 1270 as a dam construction site, the city grew into an important international commercial center situated on the business maps of major companies.  

As one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands, Rotterdam has a rich and vast cultural history. Starting with the Erasmus University which is known worldwide for its study programs and scholarships, its amazing architecture and maritime heritage, Rotterdam is a vibrant multicultural city. It has a well-respected orchestra, concert halls, theaters and a large exhibition complex which can hold different type of events from tennis tournaments to pop concerts.  In Rotterdam you can also find a great number of museums; one of the most famous is Netherlands Architecture Institute, The Maritime museum and the Kunsthal. In 2001, alongside Porto, Rotterdam was declared European Capital of Culture.  At the moment Rotterdam is experiencing a cultural boom with many urban architectural projects, summer festivals and a vivid nightlife. The motto of the city emphases the inhabitant’s education and competition spirit: "Money is earned in Rotterdam, divided in The Hague and spent in Amsterdam". The competition between the two major cities helps bring out the best in cultural life by organizing events and joining forces to develop and maintain a level of international notoriety that the citizens have gotten used to. The numerous international festivals held in Rotterdam puts the city on the cultural map of the world.

Beside the rich cultural life the city has a lot more to offer in terms of local attractions. Rotterdam has an interesting architectural style that blends the old with the contemporary. After being bombed in the World War Two, the city had to be rebuilt. When visiting Rotterdam you must not miss The Erasmus Bridge. It spans the River Maas and joins the north and south areas of the city. The bridge is a beautiful piece of architecture, particularly when lit up at night. If you are a shopping fan then Rotterdam offers one of the best experiences. Visiting the Bijenkorf you will always find new products and international brands in fashion, cosmetics, accessories, home decoration, media and travel. Another interesting local attraction is Kunsthal Rotterdam. This is an exceptional exhibition building that holds around 25 exhibitions annually. The Kunsthal displays culture on a wide range of themes: classical and contemporary art, photography, and design from elitist to popular. Designed by architect Rem Koolhaas, this striking building is a work of art in itself. Once night falls Rotterdam reveals new possibilities and uncovers its beauty in the form countless late-night clubs.

Playing a key role as the largest port in Europe and the busiest in the world, Rotterdam has always been the center of the merchant shipping and fishing industry. The city also has a cruise line named after it owned by Holland America Line.  Taking a closer look at the fishing industry we discover that the Dutch fish market share is relatively small, even though several specifically Dutch products are sought out and have a growing demand. Netherland’s fisheries are limited by natural borders as well as by Total Allowable Catches for the fishing grounds in The North Sea and other EU fishing areas. In Rotterdam, the fish industry is more developed and well – organized. The market is composed of specialized wholesale and retail businesses networks that ensure national enterprises a strong position. The industry is not limited to fish processing and has started to develop interest in other food products that can help companies grow. The opportunity for development for the Dutch fishery sector is strictly related to the industries’ capability to develop a chain thinking mentality. In relation to this mentality the fish industry took action in the form of integration into Europe’s distribution chains for food products.  The Dutch fishing industry is an innovative one, always looking for ways to expand and grow beyond the national borders.