Introduction
The Hague is the seat of government of The Netherlands. It is the administrative capital of the nation, though the official capital is Amsterdam. The Hague is also home to the International Court of Justice, which is the highest court of the United Nations. It is the country's third-largest city.
Cityscape
The Hague lies on a coastal plain just a few miles from the North Sea. The heart of the city is the group of government buildings known as the Binnenhof, or Inner Courtyard. In the courtyard is the Knights' Hall, built in about 1280. The hall is the home of the nation's parliament.
The Binnenhof is surrounded by buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th century. Among these historic landmarks are the Protestant New Church and the old town hall. The Great Church of Saint Jacobs has the country's largest carillon, a set of bells controlled by a keyboard. The royal family lives in the palace called Huis ten Bosch, or House in the Woods. The queen's offices are in the Noordeinde Palace.
Culture
The city is home to a number of museums. The Royal Picture Gallery is housed in the famous 17th-century building known as the Mauritshuis. It has masterpieces by Dutch and Flemish artists, including Rembrandt, Jan Steen, and Jan Vermeer. The Gemeentemuseum (Municipal Museum) has a large collection of modern art, including paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. Other notable museums are dedicated to costumes, coins and medals, and communications. The Hague also has a symphony orchestra, the royal library, and several art academies.
Economy
The Hague is mainly a center of government and business administration. Most of the city's business firms are engaged in trade, banking, insurance, and other services. Several oil companies have their international headquarters in the city. The Hague is also a leading center of international conferences.
History
The Hague grew around a castle built by Count William II in 1248. Several buildings around the castle were home to the counts of Holland. This group of buildings is now the Binnenhof.
In 1559 William I, the governor of the area, made The Hague his capital. The Hague became a center of international negotiations in the 17th century. The region was under French rule from1795 until 1814. When the Kingdom of The Netherlands became independent in 1815, Amsterdam was made the capital.
From 1850 income poured into The Hague from the overseas colonies of the Dutch East Indies. The city hosted the international Hague Peace Conferences in 1899 and 1907. As a result, The Hague became a permanent center of international law. The Dutch central government returned to The Hague from Amsterdam in 1913. During World War II the Germans destroyed whole sections of The Hague. The damaged areas were rebuilt after 1945. Population (1999 estimate), urban area, 701,211.
