Guided Tours of The Hague

 

The Court Pond is not to be missed when sightseeing

The Court Pond (a.k.a. Hofvijver) has always been the main attraction when living in The Hague (also known as Den Haag). The water used to be drinkable, but since has been used for water sports, fishing, and more recently Artistic performances.

 

The Court Pond (a.k.a. Hofvijver) has its origin in a natural dune lake fed by the Haagse Beek (Hague’s Creek). The Haagse Beek still feeds the Hofvijver and so the pond is directly connected to the dunes in Kijkduin. In the 17th century the Hofvijver got quays and in the 19th century it was elongated. Up to about 1800 the Binnenhof was still encircled by a moat and was only accessible by bridges.

 

In 2004 an underwater gate was built to make sure that nobody could swim to the prime minister's office without being detected. His office, the Torentje ("Little Tower"), is next to the Mauritshuis.

 

On the bank opposite from the Binnenhof (a.k.a. Lange Vijverberg) we tour a statue of Jantje (Little John) pointing to the Binnenhof. 'Jantje' probably refers to John I, Count of Holland who died at the age of 15 years, and features in a well known Dutch children's song about The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag).

 

A little further along the Lange Vijverberg we can tour a statue of Johan v Oldenbarnevelt (1547–1619) who was a public servant to Holland for over 50 years becoming the Lands Advocate and credited with helping create peace with Spain. Unfotuantely, he was arrested for defending the Republic against the House of Orange during yet more religious in-fighting and a kangaroo court sentenced him to death and cut off his head infront of the Knights Hall in the Inner Court.