Spring Break Day 3: Den Haag (The Hague)

Our main destination on our third day was to visit Den Haag. We wanted to see the Parliament buildings and to visit a special fish shop, "De Otter", owned and run by our son-in-law Nick's Uncle Johan and his wife Marja. It was a surprise visit, but when Johan realized who we were he put out the red carpet. We sat and talked over a cup of coffee while Johan gave us tips on what to see in Den Haag. The best tip was to send us to an art museum called Mesdag where on the top floor there is a 120 meter circular panorama painting that is amazing. You really feel like you're at the sea shore. There is real sand at your feet going out to the painting. But you can't tell where the real sand ends and the painting begins. It was painted by Mesdag and his wife and three others in the 1880's. It was one of several hundreds of panorama paintings in Europe that were popular in the late nineteenth century until movies came along. Most were torn down after that, but the Mesdag panorama had supporters that preserved it.

After we walked around Den Haag to see the parliament and other important buildings in the area, we headed back to De Otter for a sampling of food that Johan had promised. We were able to try a delicious sampling of almost everything including eel, herring, mussels, smoked salmon, kibbeling, and fresh shrimp in garlic oil. It was all so tasty. We sat and talked with Johan for at least another hour and a half and then he sent us on our way with enough food to last us for more than the three days that we were staying in the Netherlands. Wonderful hospitality!

We left Den Haag and headed to Haarlem where we had an apartment of a friend of a friend to stay in for the next three days. On our way there we passed some beautiful fields of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils.

Marja filleting the herring.

Johan and Marja

Below is the Mesdag circular building that houses the panorama painting.