The Hague

The Hague (Dutch: ‘s-Gravenhage) is the capital city of the province of South Holland in Netherlands. It is also known as Den Haag, and colloquially called by its inhabitants “Hague”. The city has a population of 527,077 and an area of approximately 100 km2 (39 sq mi), making it one of the larger cities in Europe.

The Hague was established around 1230 when Count Floris IV granted citizens from various surrounding towns rights to build close together near present day Hofvijver lake. In 1588 William I moved his court to The Hague and since then it has been considered the political center for Dutch government operations. Currently, this includes both national government buildings as well as international organizations like Europol and International Criminal Court which are based in The Hague. Its nickname “the City on Seven Hills” refers to seven hills found within its boundaries that were built upon during medieval times; these include Binnenhof hill where Parliament meets today, Lange Voorhout Hill with many embassies located there, Schilderswijk Hill that contains several art galleries including Mauritshuis Gallery featuring works by Rembrandt van Rijn among others; Prins Hendrikplein Hill home to numerous pubs & restaurants plus shopping centers; Beatrixpark Hill being popular amongst locals due outdoor activities such as ice skating etc.; Gravensteen Gebouw (Count’s Castle Building); Kortenbosje Park for leisurely strolls; Duindigt Racecourse providing horse racing events throughout year etc..
The cultural offerings are plenty here too – ranging from world famous museums like Louvre Museum at Museumplein square exhibiting some spectacular artwork collections from past centuries onwards till modern time contemporary pieces along with unique sculptures & installations spread over multiple floors or Escher museum displaying mind-boggling illusions created through optical effects or Gemeentemuseum showcasing variety arts such Van Gogh paintings right up until cutting edge exhibitions curated every now & again! There’s something everyone can enjoy regardless their tastes – live concerts/events taking place at prestigious venues like Royal Concert Hall followed closely behind by multitude smaller theatre halls hosting plays/musicals all year round not forgetting cinema complexes scattered across town too! Additionally there’re countless parks sprinkled about adding greenery into mix so if you ever feel need break away busy urban lifestyle then look no further than nearby gardens offering tranquility amidst nature beauty! Lastly but most definitely important part any trip should include sampling delicious local cuisine available almost everywhere – traditional dishes cooked using time tested recipes passed down generations alongside new age interpretations given twist make them even more appetizing…it certainly doesn’t get much better than this huh?

Overall if looking visit destination offers great mixture culture combined vibrant atmosphere full life then must come experience what magical place we call ”De Haag” 🙂