Press "Enter" to skip to content

The Hague and around

Went to the Hague a couple of times. So far the weather have always been with me and every time I had an amazing visit there. And the sunrise by the pier is quite memorizable! 😊

Den Haag, the Netherlands
Den Haag, the Netherlands

Morning walk by the beach in The Hague is something one wouldn’t really expect in March, but who cares, right! Yet haven’t seen much of the city, mainly travelled in the area.

Den Haag, the Netherlands
Den Haag, the Netherlands

Keep seeing windmills all over the Netherlands has stopped surprising me a long time ago. And I always thought they are electro-generators. As funny as it sounds, I have just assumed that the old, typical looking ones are real mills. Have even been amazed to see some of them working.

Somewhere around Central Holland
Somewhere around Central Holland

It was an astonishment to realise (with my guide’s help) that most of them are actually pumping stations. Suddenly everything came in place! And it’s so logical if you think about it. Jusf IF… 😁

Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk
Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk

There are amazing places where is clearly visible that the water is much higher than the land. Not really good example on the photo below, but when you are part of the trafic, it’s a bit complicated to stop and search for the camera.

Somewhere around Central Holland - by a close look it's visible that the water is way higher than the land!
Somewhere around Central Holland – by a close look it’s visible that the water is way higher than the land!

At some point there was a hill on our left. As I was watching around fully enjoying the spectacular view, suddenly an yacht mast popped up behind the dike. I just couldn’t believe my eyes – usually I look down to the water, not up…

Somewhere around Central Holland
Somewhere around Central Holland

Finlay realised that quite large parts of the Netherlands needs dykes and delta works to stay dry – approximately 40% of the nation’s land lies below sea level.

The lowest point in the Netherlands is the Zuiderplaspolder at Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. This point is 6,74 meters below sea level.
The lowest point in the Netherlands is the Zuiderplaspolder at Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. This point is 6,74 meters below sea level.

After all that, it was still a surprise to see the scale when we went to the lowest point in the Netherlands (Zuiderplaspolder at Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel). This point is 6,76 meters below. So damn impressive!

Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk
Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk

It has also answered my question about the insanely high housing prices and rents, and the fact that it’s a miracle to find something available… Transport services are also quite seriously priced, but when you think about what it costs to maintain a really good quality road network in these conditions. Oh, my… what roads are we talking about, that’s just amazing!

Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk
Passing by the windmills of Kinderdijk

All the windmills at Kinderdijk (near The Hague) are surely not less impressive. We have just passed by, but it was more than enough.

Somewhere around Central Holland
Somewhere around Central Holland

At some point we got hungry. We have been to a few McDonalds, which I really hate, but turned out to be quite conveniente for a coffee stop. Yet, not for a food. NO! So, my guide wanted me to try some local food.

Raw herring - so delicious!!
Raw herring – so delicious!!

Maybe the first really Dutch food I have tasted (except the cheese, which I eat everywhere and all the time, LOL). Unexpectedly we had a hard time finding it around and ended up in a small Fish-stand (Vistent) by the seaside.

Do you think any of us regretted not having it in a restaurant?! It was even better – really simple and so delicious!! We had to stop ourselves overeating, as we still needed to get back on the bike… 😆

Raw herring - so delicious!!
Raw herring – so delicious!!

All the trips around The Hague were really amazing and full of emotions and impressions. Sure, don’t have lots of photos, but once again, it’s because every time we should find time and place to park and get off…

For the next tour, there is GoPro already waiting in standby… 😉😁

Hook of Holland port, unfortunately with no ships at the moment
Hook of Holland port, unfortunately with no ships at the moment

I remember the feeling, the atmosphere and the wind (you can never forget the wind here LOL). All I felt was happiness and freedom

Rest of the photos could be seen in the gallery page.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *