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Well, here I am! I am Ineke Cornelissen, I was born in Amsterdam, but I live in Den Haag (The Hague) since I was 18 years old. Amsterdam is the capitol of Holland, but the Government is located in Den Haag and Queen Beatrix lives in Den Haag as well. Isn't that strange? Den Haag has always been the royal city, since the dukes of Holland started to build their hunting lodge (the Binnenhof) in the year 1250. So the Binnenhof is the oldest building in Den Haag.

Every 3rd Tuesday in September is "Prinsjesdag". That means the opening of the parliamentary year. The queen is reading out the "state of the union". She comes to the Binnenhof in a golden carriage, drawn by 8 horses. Of course there is a traditional parade with colorful historic costumes and military music. On the picture of the royal family you can see the queen off duty. She is together with her oldest son Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, his wife Maxima and their daughter Amalia. In June 2005 they got a second daughter: Alexia.

We had a sailing flower parade in the neighborhood of The Hague. Theme was the 25 years jubilee of the queen. I made a nice picture of their idea of the sailing "golden carriage". The fake queen was very busy cleaning the carriage with polish and cloth. It was very funny.

I share with you  Holland's most famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn. He lived in the 17th century and he painted the "Nightwatch". The very big painting can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. But at the moment Den Haag has a large bronze sculpture group of the Nightwatch. It has been made by a Russian artist and it is exposed opposite the Palace Noordeinde. My friend and I were happy to meet them and we shook hands with the 17th century citizen soldiers!

Palace Noordeinde is the Queen's working palace. It is situated in a shopping street (named: "Noordeinde") in the center of the city. I guess you know that Dutch people love flowers. What do you think of the artists of the municipal division who are keeping the public gardens well? They created pyramid geraniums!

100 years ago Scheveningen was a small fisherman's village, near Den Haag. It is very difficult for foreigners to pronounce the word Scheveningen. Nowadays Scheveningen is a district of Den Haag; it is a modern beach resort.

I have included photos of the Pier. It has a restaurant above the sea. From the tower you can do the bungy jumping, if you dare! Scheveningen-2 shows the Kurhaus on the esplanade. It was built to be a healing resort with salty seawater cures and fresh air. Nowadays it is a luxury hotel.

Maybe Den Haag is not the most dynamic city of our country, but I love to live in Den Haag because of the many public parks, the dunes, the beaches, and the relaxing wide view over the sea and the sometimes wonderful red/orange sunsets. For you know, in our country the sun is sinking into the sea every night!

I hope you liked my story about the city where I live.

Ineke Cornelissen

I also include photos of Maastricht, another city Where I Listen.

Maastricht is the oldest town of Holland, is was founded by the Romans 2050 years ago. Our beloved maestro lives in the southern part of Maastricht, on the St. Pietersberg (St. Peters mountain). The caves underneath the St. Peters mountain can be visited. I did that! So once I pretended that I was roaming around in a dark labyrinth under Andre's castle. Don't worry, I had a professional guide with me! Maastricht has a circle of fortresses (ramparts, bastions) around the historic city center.

This is Andre's castle, which is his office.

This is a pretty white house.

This pretty photograph has been taken from the St. Peters "mountain". At the right side you can see a church with cemetery, at the left side you see Andre's castle. In between the white house and the castle is a big garden, hidden behind walls, so you don't see much. Most of Holland is below sea level and as flat as a pancake, only Limburg has a few hills, which we call "mountains" (about 200 meters "high").

The first photo above, Faliezustersklooster (was a nunnery), built in 1647. Nowadays a few artists live here. Doesn't it look very romantic?? Next is the Town Hall at the Market Square and finally, the old watermill named the Bishops Mill.

Above you will find, Bonnefantenmuseum, from 2004. It is the most modern museum of Maastricht. It looks like a space shuttle, ready for take off! The next photo is of the oldest town gate, named Helpoort (Gate to hell), from the year 1229! And finally the photo with the beautiful greenery is a romantic historic town wall.

Ineke Cornelissen, Den Haag

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