Days in The Hague

We arrived yesterday and were so happy to be back in what was our home for fifteen years, on and off! Our hostess suggested a walk into town via the Hoytemaplein, area of many a shopping expedition. Then we walked on into The Hague where we discovered the tribute to Gustav Vigeland, the celebrated sculptor who features in Oslo's Frognor Park. This has been sculpted in sand and the artists hope it will last long enough to set European records. We had coffee at a traditional Dutch Cafe, Restaurant 'T Goude Hooft, before catching the No 1 tram. This is the best tram in The Hague (No 1!) as it takes you to Scheveningen one way and to Delft, our destination, in the opposite direction.




















Delft was hopping with students undergoing their initiation at the start of the new university year - such vigour and vitality and noise!! We found a wonderful restaurant for lunch with an 'al fresco' part on a barge. Kleyweg's Stads-koffyhuis had won the best sandwich of the year award. This was delicious with a cold beer. Then we walked around Delft, enjoying the bustle and seeing some typical Delft views along the canals. We even popped in to see the amazing ceiling at the back of the Royal Delft porcelein shop. But then it was time to go back to The Hague by tram. We had shopping to do for the dinner tomorrow for some of the old Bridge crowd.

Albert Hein provided most of the required ingredients, so we were fine pleased with the purchases and stowed them all away to await our culinary efforts. Now we needed to change for our treat - dinner at Lemongrass, an excellent fish restaurant at Scheveningen Harbour. This has been a wonderful meal - all fish as you can see, and despite the strange label, the chablis lived up to expectations. Altogether, a really lovely day.

Stads-koffyhuis, Delft
Lemongrass, Scheveningen