Imaging The Netherlands 036: Seagull-Stained Benches, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

036: Seagull-stained benches

The seat of the Dutch Government is located at the Binnenhof in the city of The Hague. Undoubtedly, many parliament members must have visited the nearby ‘Haringkraam Buitenhof”, where they can eat fresh, raw herring, served with onions. The herring snackbar is visible behind the bench and the tree. Some sites that recommend the snackbar warn you for the seagulls that may like your herring. The white stains the cover the bench and the surrounding tiles, must come from them, and from pigeons. I would not recommend you to have a seat on this bench.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

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Imaging The Netherlands 035: Motorcycle ambulance, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

035:  Motorcycle ambulance

In 1997, motorcycle ambulances were introduced in The Hague and the surrounding suburbs. Motorcycle ambulances were first used in WWI by American, British and French troops. Since the 1980s, more countries started to introduce motorcycle ambulances as a rapid alternative for the regular ambulances at locations less accessible for regular ambulances. In The Hague, it was the construction of a tram tunnel that motivated the implimentation of motorcycle ambulances. Generally, the paramedic drives alone, but is fully equipped for rapid responses in emergency situations. However, they cannot transport patients: they have to be transported by four-wheeled ambulances.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 034: Gable Stone, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

034: Gable stone

Gevelstenen (gable stones or stone tables) are quite common in various Dutch cities, principally in cities with a historic center, such as Amsterdam, Maastricht, and The Hague. Gable stones appeared in the 16th century, as a kind of identification of a certain house, or just adorning a house. Many of these gable stones represent a profession, status, or a talisman. Others can express a joke, or a religious support, and the latter are often accompanied with quotes from the Holy Bible. The gable stone in the photograph was found in the center of The Hague. A quite anonymous gable stone; however, it seems that this stone dates back from some centuries ago.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 033: Tourists at Binnenhof Square, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

033: Binnenhof Square

For centuries, the Dutch political power is concentrated around the Binnenhof, in the historic center of The Hague. Little is know of its origin, but the Gothic-style castle, built in the 13th century, was a residence for the counts of Holland, until 1584, when it became the political center of the Dutch Republic. It is the oldest House of Parliament still in use. The Prime Minister’s office (Torentje), the Cabinet, the Senate as well as the House of Representatives are housed within the Binnenhof complex. From 2020, the Binnenhof will be renovated completely, an operation that will last at least five years. Meanwhile, the politicians and their staff have to be housed elsewhere. Also the tourists will be barred from the complex. The tourist group in the photograph listened to the broad history of the Binnenhof, provided by a local tour guide.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 032: Mauritshuis, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

032: Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis, located near the political center of the Dutch government in The Hague, hosts an important collection of works by Dutch and Flemish painters of the Dutch Golden Age. They include Rembrandt, Hals, Holbein, Steen, Potter, and Vermeer. The latter became world famous with his work “The Girl with the Pearl Earring”. The Mauritshuis was constructed between 1636 and 1641, after designs by Jacob van Campen and Pieter Post. It was owned by Johann Moritz (Maurits in Dutch) until his death in 1679. In 1704, a great fire destroyed much of the building, but it had been restored completely except the original cupola. The Mauritshuis became a museum in 1822, and now attracts over 300 thousand visitors annually.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 031: Police Patrolling, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

031: Police patrolling

It was on a cold but sunny day in March, when I visited The Hague. I walked around in the small center with a large number of historic building, like the Binnenhof, and the Canal District. Later that day, I continued my travel by tram to the famous beaches of Scheveningen. That day, it was rather quiet in the streets, it was a normal working day. I was able to take many pictures with my compact digital camera, there not many people that could suddenly appear in front of the camera lens. However, I was cautious enough not to draw too much attention. You’ll never know if there is a thief or a pickpocket that has chosen you as their next victim. Every time, when I had finished a short session of taking pictures, I put my camera back in my backpack. Like my routine in my city Belo Horizonte, and other Brazilian cities when I was visiting them. At the moment of this picture, I was quite assured that no one would rob me, because of the two police officers walking in front of me.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 030: Winter Fires at Café Terrace, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

030: Winter fires

On a very cold day in March, I walked in the cozy center of The Hague. As I was accustomed to the tropical temperatures of Belo Horizonte durign summer, I suffered much from the wintry temperatures in The Netherlands. Even as a native Dutch, I had big difficulties to adapt myself again to temperatures that were common for me when I was living there. Therefore, I had to wear several layers of shirts and blouses, covered by a thick winter coat. Most bystanders must have considered me as a foreigner, despite by light skin, brown hair, and blue eyes. For me, it was weird to notice people sitting down on madeshift windproof terraces, heated by many candles and little gas-fueled fires.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 029: Maurits Monument on Herenbrug, Den Haag (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

029: Maurits Monument

Like Amsterdam, The Hague also has a Canal District: de Grachtengordel. During the Twelve Years’ Truce (1609-1621) of the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) or the Dutch Independence War, Prince Maurice de Nassau ordered the construction of the Canal District as a defense system. However, they’ve never been used actively in the defense of the city. The Koninginnegracht (Queen’s Canal) as seen in the photograph, is one of these canals. At the Heerenbrug (Patrician’s Bridge), this monument commemorates the completion of the Canal District in 1619. The monument, inaugurated in 1932, was sculpted by Joop van Lunteren. The personages in the relief are a soldier, prince Maurice, prince Frederic Henry, probably Christian Huygens or Simon Stevin, and some builders.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017

Imaging The Netherlands 028: Train at Central Station, DEN HAAG (ZH)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

028: Train at Central Station

When I was in the Netherlands in 2010, I regularly made use of public transport: trains, buses, and trams. I made long train trips from Breda to Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, The Hague, and even Groningen. When I was a student, I had the privilege to travel for free. No wonder that I had spent many hours on the train, on the bus, or on the tram. To visit the Dutch cities that I hadn’t visited before, to meet friends living in other cities, to go to the beach. Now I had planned some day trips to Amsterdam and The Hague. In The Hague, I was on the platform, wairing ofrm e train to Breda. I was about to enter this so-called intercity train.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2010, 2017