The Good Mike

Amsterdam

Autumn clouds over Scheveningen before a mild sunset drizzle. (The Hague, The Netherlands).

Midnight in Amsterdam.

Erasmus Bridge. (Rotterdam)

In full bloom. (Kuekenhof, The Netherlands)

Random shot at a random corner in The Hague (The Netherlands)

Sunset in spring. (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)

Artworks in public space. (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)

Amsterdam at midnight.

Postcards from Delft (Part 2)

Landscape of History and Architecture
Delft was a 13^th century village that evolved to what it is now from the allure that made William I (Prince of Orange, one of the masterminds of the 80-year Dutch War of Independence against Spain in the mid-17^th century) to live in the city when he was the most prominent figure of that period. From this piece of the Netherlands’ Middle Ages history and its strategically positioned walls and monuments in the Middle Age, Delft now boasts of medieval architecture with its surrounding cafes and bars perfect for outdoor dining.

The most imposing structure is the 15^th century Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), the Dutch Royal Family’s tomb site since the murder of William I in 1584; a landmark with the second highest tower in the Netherlands. It stands right in the centre of the Markt, with the peak of its tower accessibly by a hearty climb through a narrow, spiraling staircase.

Postcards from Delft (Part 1)

Delft is just 10 kilometres south of The Hague, 20 minutes by car, six minutes by the rail system and less than two hours of easy walking. Given that proximity it is quite a convenient weekend spot for a run or bike—which was pretty much what usually happened after a week’s worth of work at the Court (where I interned).

I usually started with a quick warm-up around my street in the southern outskirts of The Hague and pace up until the Line 1 of the tram that connects Delft all the way up to Scheveningen. Whether by foot or bike, the route is safe, convenient and scenic. But getting to Delft itself, one is rewarded with a relatively small town with the perfect mix of greens, a laid-back lifestyle, a homey city living and an upbeat social scene.

Overcast + autumn sunset = peace. (Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam) While autumn signals many Europeans’ disdain over the season looming in a couple months’ time (winter), I marvel at the colours, the breeze and the tranquility of autumn that sets on every dusk.

After a decade’s work, the International Criminal Court has decided on a guilty verdict on the case of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for recruiting and using child soldiers during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s war in 1998-2003. Lubanga was detained in 2006 and is now the first suspect on whom the Court has delivered a verdict. Story in http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/03/201231493515112148.html

The Hague (Den Haag), The Netherlands

Not Under My Roof: Parents, Teens and the Culture of Sex by Amy Schalet

Birth rates among teens in the United States are eight times higher than in the Netherlands; and abortion rates are double than those among the Dutch. AIDS is three times greater in America, too. What are the [Dutch] doing right that Americans are not?

The Good Mike

Posts tagged Holland

Postcards from Delft (Part 2)

Postcards from Delft (Part 1)