I already mentioned this event in my previous posts, but NEXT WEEKEND IS OPEN MONUMENT WEEKEND :D As an avid architecture fan, I couldn't be more excited. A lot of monumental buildings that aren't usually open to public, are open this weekend only! The sad thing is, open monument weekend comes just once a year, and there are SO MANY buildings I'd like to visit. So much to see, so little time! So to make things easier, I made a couple of lists of places that are worthwhile to visit. Every day this week I will feature another city!
Here's the list (in no particular order) for The Hague:
Here's the list (in no particular order) for The Hague:
1. WILLIBRORDUSHUIS
If - like me - you like churches, I reccommend visiting this priory. It used to be a clandestine church (I wrote about those here), but served as a priory later on. The current building was erected during the interbellum. The building is still in use as a priory today, as nuns and monks live here peacefully.
I visited last year, and although there were a lot of people, it was such a calming and spiritual place. The place itself is a bit dark and moody, but nonetheless feels like a true sanctuary. The murals by the Hague artist Lou Asperslagh are beautiful.
I visited last year, and although there were a lot of people, it was such a calming and spiritual place. The place itself is a bit dark and moody, but nonetheless feels like a true sanctuary. The murals by the Hague artist Lou Asperslagh are beautiful.
OH, and last year, they served their own brewed beer. The priory wants to sell beer in the future, and last year they let visitors sample some of it. It was delicious. I'm still waiting for them to sell it on a large scale (hehe). So if you're in the neighbourhood, try to visit, even if it's just to see if they're serving that beer again this year :P
Address: Oude Molstraat 35
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 2013 13:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk.
From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk.
From Kneuterdijk it's a 5 min walk.
Address: Oude Molstraat 35
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 2013 13:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk.
From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk.
From Kneuterdijk it's a 5 min walk.
2. MOLEN DE KORENAER (aka PRINS MAURITSMOLEN)
If you've never been to a real Dutch windmill, here's your chance. There's been a windmill on the same spot since 1310 (!!) but the current mill (that's still in use!) was built in 1721. Which in my opinion is also very, very old.
I wanted to explain here what 'Korenaer' (old Dutch for korenaar) means in English, so I Google Translated it and it gave me 'ear of corn or wheat'. Which made no sense to me. And then I also came to the conclusion I don't even know what the Dutch word means. My dictionary wasn't very helpful either, but I assume it's a part of corn or wheat. Which makes sense, because windmills grind those into flour.
Address: Marg. van Hennebergweg 4
Openings hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Kraayenstein, get off at Kapelaan Meereboereweg.
From Kapelaan Meereboereweg it's a 4 min walk.
I wanted to explain here what 'Korenaer' (old Dutch for korenaar) means in English, so I Google Translated it and it gave me 'ear of corn or wheat'. Which made no sense to me. And then I also came to the conclusion I don't even know what the Dutch word means. My dictionary wasn't very helpful either, but I assume it's a part of corn or wheat. Which makes sense, because windmills grind those into flour.
Address: Marg. van Hennebergweg 4
Openings hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00 uur
How to get there: From Central Station: Tram 2 to Kraayenstein, get off at Kapelaan Meereboereweg.
From Kapelaan Meereboereweg it's a 4 min walk.
3. ORDE VAN VRIJMETSELAREN
Personally, I find the freemasonry a little mysterious. I have to admit I know little about it, but what I do know is that the freemasonry was becoming quite popular in the Hague around the 18th century. I also know that there a lot of buildings left here in the Hague that have some connection to the freemasonry. Aaaand I know that they have a strong relationship with building and architecture. Which is of course a pretty good thing.
And that's about it. The rest of my knowledge of the freemasonry has been corrupted by The Da Vinci Code, and has made me skeptical of it, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE DA VINCI CODE IS NOT BASED ON FACTS. Sigh. So, if like me, you know little about freemasonry, maybe it's a good idea to visit this building. It's home to the freemasons' headquarters, and has beautifully detailed Louis XIV and rococo interiors from the 18th century. They also tell you more about freemasonry, which for me at least would be very educative ;).
Address: Prinsessegracht 27
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 10 minute walk from Central Station
And that's about it. The rest of my knowledge of the freemasonry has been corrupted by The Da Vinci Code, and has made me skeptical of it, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE DA VINCI CODE IS NOT BASED ON FACTS. Sigh. So, if like me, you know little about freemasonry, maybe it's a good idea to visit this building. It's home to the freemasons' headquarters, and has beautifully detailed Louis XIV and rococo interiors from the 18th century. They also tell you more about freemasonry, which for me at least would be very educative ;).
Address: Prinsessegracht 27
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: It's a 10 minute walk from Central Station
4. HOFJE VAN NIEUWKOOP
Hofjes are a part of Dutch history - they are courtyards that used to provide housing for poor families, the elderly, and mostly single or widowed (poor) women. This hofje for poor elderly women, was built in the 17th century and is one of the biggest hofjes in the Netherlands.
Address: Warmoezierstraat 44-206
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Central Station: tram 2 to Kraayenstein, tram 6 to De Uithof, RR 3 to Loosduinen, RR 4 to De Uithof, get off at Brouwersgracht. From here it's a 3 minute walk.
Address: Warmoezierstraat 44-206
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Central Station: tram 2 to Kraayenstein, tram 6 to De Uithof, RR 3 to Loosduinen, RR 4 to De Uithof, get off at Brouwersgracht. From here it's a 3 minute walk.
5. ANTIQUARIAAT VAN LEEUWEN & DE COUPERUSTUIN
This little antique shop on Noordeinde has been around since 1914, and still bears many of the original details. There's the Art Nouveau front, an empire ceiling and the original kitchen with furniture. Oh and architect Daniël Marot lived here in the 18th century.
You're also able to visit the garden (actually, it's more of a courtyard), which was made famous by the Hague writer Louis Couperus, who was famously photographed here with his dog and wrote about this garden in many of his novels. The garden is 1500m² and the beech tree is the biggest tree in all of the Hague.
Address: Noordeinde 164
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 11:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Mauritskade.
From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Mauritskade. From Mauritskade it's a 4 min walk.
You're also able to visit the garden (actually, it's more of a courtyard), which was made famous by the Hague writer Louis Couperus, who was famously photographed here with his dog and wrote about this garden in many of his novels. The garden is 1500m² and the beech tree is the biggest tree in all of the Hague.
Address: Noordeinde 164
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 11:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Mauritskade.
From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Mauritskade. From Mauritskade it's a 4 min walk.
6. SOCIËTEIT DE VEREENIGING
A society is apparently a club for wealthy men and women, and for those fine ladies and gentlemen to gather, meet and mingle (and partyyy), they obviously need a fancy building. And that's what this 19th century building still is today. A mix of eclectic interior with baroque murals, and expensive materials like marble and terrazzo and mosaic floors.
Address: Kazernestraat 38B
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 11:00 - 16:00 and Sunday 15 September 11:00 - 15:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk. From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk. From Kneuterdijk it's a 3 min walk.
Address: Kazernestraat 38B
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 11:00 - 16:00 and Sunday 15 September 11:00 - 15:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen or 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk. From Central Station, take tram 17 to Statenkwartier, get off at Kneuterdijk. From Kneuterdijk it's a 3 min walk.
7. TERESA VAN AVILAKERK
Everytime I look at this photo, I can hardly believe I took it here in the Netherlands. This Spanish parish church by T.F. Suys, hidden away on a courtyard, is one of the few neoclassical buildings in the Netherlands. I wrote about this church here.
Address: Westeinde 12a, The Hague
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Central Station: tram 2 to Kraayenstein, tram 6 to De Uithof, RR 3 to Loosduinen, RR 4 to De Uithof, get off at Grote Markt. From here it's a 3 minute walk.
Address: Westeinde 12a, The Hague
Opening hours: Saturday 14 September 12:00 - 17:00
How to get there: From Central Station: tram 2 to Kraayenstein, tram 6 to De Uithof, RR 3 to Loosduinen, RR 4 to De Uithof, get off at Grote Markt. From here it's a 3 minute walk.
8. DE RODE OLIFANT aka PETROLEA
This building is a good example of 'Amsterdam School', a famous Dutch architectural style that's closely related to expressionism. I'm a fan of the use of brick in large buildings, and I like the striking red bricks of this one. The interior is done in art deco style, with large stained glass windows and cherry wood furniture. I'm just not quite sure why it's nicknamed The Red Elephant ;).
Address: Zuid Hollandlaan 7
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: It's a 15 minute walk from Central Station
Address: Zuid Hollandlaan 7
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 17.00
How to get there: It's a 15 minute walk from Central Station
9. HEILIGE ANTONIUS ABT
The most impressive part of this expressionist style church with art deco interior, is absolutely the apse mosaic. It's the largest mosaic in the Netherlands and was made by Anton Molkenboer in 1927. It is a remembrance of the 'cholera miracle' that happened in Scheveningen. In 1848 there was an outburst of cholera in this little fishing village, and many people died. Special services were held in this church to pray. After these services, the outburst suddenly stopped, there were no more deaths and people who had it were miraculously cured.
The mosaic consists of 2 million pieces, each made in Paris. I mean... 2 million pieces? That's a lot of patience, man!
Address: Scheveningseweg 235
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 16:30 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 16:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen, get off at Duinstraat. The church is right behind the tram stop.
The mosaic consists of 2 million pieces, each made in Paris. I mean... 2 million pieces? That's a lot of patience, man!
Address: Scheveningseweg 235
Opening Hours: Saturday 14 September 10:00 - 16:30 and Sunday 15 September 12:00 - 16:00
How to get there: From 'Den Haag Hollands Spoor' station: tram 1 to Scheveningen, get off at Duinstraat. The church is right behind the tram stop.
So there you have it, my list of must-see buildings in the Hague for this year. For all other open monuments, check: http://www.openmonumentendag.nl/open-monumentendag-english-summary/
Check back tomorrow for... Amsterdam!!!
*disclaimer
3rd photo borrowed from here, 4th photo borrowed from here, 5th photo borrowed from here, 6th photo borrowed from here, 7th photo borrowed from here, 9th photo borrowed from here and the 10th photo borrowed from here.
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