Den Haag, the Netherlands

Although I wanted to spend a little bit of time to explore The Hague, there simply wasn't enough time to do so. Besides, the colleagues I was travelling with favoured, like most British men, drinking in the evening rather than sightseeing. 

Here, at the main Scheveningen beach resort at The Hague, a popular destination for tourists as well as local inhabitants, the bars and restaurants in the evening are packed with drinkers and diners. At the Crazy Pianos Bar, pianists were belting out their songs, inviting children to perform, generally creating a lively atmosphere - if conversation is not your thing. An American woman with a beautiful voice was playing there on the night, and she performed a lyrical rendition of "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, which was wonderful.

Scheveningen beach resort, The Hague

Sunset, Scheveningen beach resort.
A 4-kilometre long boulevard stretches along the cost

Sun setting at Scheveningen harbour

On the way to the Delft, I changed trains at Den Haag. Den Haag Centraal Station is a relatively small station for a city that is the seat of the Dutch Government. Intercity and international trains travelling between Amsterdam and Rotterdam stop at Holland Spoor stations, and Den Haag Centraal serves only terminating trains. The station roof with glass and steel to create more transparency looks impressive.

Den Haag Centraal station, The Hague

Random Images of the Netherlands

Unmistakable Delft ceramic patterned lighting at Schiphol Airport

Eco message at Schiphol Airport
The Netherlands is awash with eco messages

Blue and white messages on the pavement at Delft

A sweet little house squashed between 2 buildings at Delft

Glass and chrome at Voorburg, outside Den Haag

Summer cool off at a pavement bar at Breda

A sculpture at Breda.
There are lots of such ugly and ungainly sculptures in the areas that I had visited

Daisy, daisy, you'll look sweet, upon the seat, of a bicycle built for two

A dressed up bike at Delft railway station

Glorious hydrangeas at Voorburg

Delft, the Netherlands

Delft is such a charming city, still relatively unspoilt with traditional architecture, canals and lots of bikes. Delft came into my consciousness through the blue and white ceramics that I see at numerous museums all over Europe. It's about 20 minutes on the train from Den Haag and in some of the carriages, the NS train service provider offers free wi fi, which is more than one can say of train services in the UK. 

Delft's old town is a short distance from the train station, although in the evening summer heat, the short distance seemed more than just a short distance. The centre (dare I call it a town centre?) is small enough to walk across in ten minutes. 

The Old Delft Canal on a warm summer evening

More of the Old Delft Canal
A boat has been converted into a floating restaurant
and two men were dipping their feet into the water to cool off

The Town Hall in the foreground and the New Church in the background, Delft

On the day, there were very few tourists sitting at the pavement cafes in the main square. A lot of the Dutch residents have already gone on their summer vacation, so the city looked a little bit deserted. It was a lovely place to escape the bustling crowds and indeed from the stress of work.

Tunnel leading to Delft train station

What really hit me in the Netherlands is the number of bikes and the excellent condition of cycle lanes. I could hardly spot a pothole, and it looked liberating to ride on a bike and not be too worried about being knocked down by an aggressive motorist. Next to the train station is a bike park, double tier no less, where people leave their bikes before stepping onto a train. 

Children playing in the city centre

I spotted three young children playing in the city centre and they beamed at me when I asked if I could take a picture of them. Children playing on their own in city centre without parental supervision is absolutely unthinkable in the UK. The Delft scene tells of a safer and more trusting environment in which children are brought up.

Scotney Castle, Kent

Summer has arrived at the UK! One weekend of summer sunshine does not make a summer but this rare gift has come at long last and has lifted spirits.

Tucked in the Kent countryside is Scotney Castle, the ruins of what was once a medieval, moated manor house, situated by a small lake and surrounded by wooded gardens planted with shrubs that provide year round colours. The interior of the old castle was disappointing; the empty shell failed to convey any sense of historical significance.

Old Scotney Castle

At the top of the large expanse of a garden is the Scotney New Castle, a perfectly underwhelming building of the Tudor Revival architectural style of the 19th century.

New Scotney Castle, constructed from sandstone quarried from the slope below

New Scotney Castle

Drawing room New Scotney Castle

There were very few objects inside Scotney New Castle that caught my eye on the day. The rooms were plain and the owners past and present failed to make an impression. For me though, the extensive collection of watercolours was perhaps the most interesting feature of the house.

Voorburg, Den Haag, the Netherlands

The destination was Den Haag. The hotel was in Voorburg, a town in South Holland, a suburb of Den Haag, and about 18 km from Rotterdam. A few minutes walk away from the hotel is the historical shopping centre of Voorburg - a district of small boutiques and restaurants. Nothing spectacular, all very backwater. It is so nondescript that years later one would struggle to remember the place, apart perhaps from the dreadful meal at the hotel, where they served laksa using spaghetti noodles.

The Old Town Hall of Voorburg, from 1632

Shop sign at Voorburg, Den Haag

Shop sign at Voorburg, Den Haag

Shop sign at Voorburg, Den Haag

A very tranquil office area at Voorburg
Perfectly mowed lawns and water features

Breda, the Netherlands

The destination was Rijen, but the nearest city with a decent hotel is Breda. This municipality with a population of just under 180,000 is a charming place, a bit small for a city girl like me, but as a place to put my feet up after work it will pass. It offers a good selection of eateries and drinking places including the ubiquitous Murphy's pub and other universal favourites: a sushi restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, pizzas, and many others besides.

With the new Central Station built in 2011, Breda is connected by high speed trains to the main European cities. However, on a Sunday, there is no direct train between Schiphol Airport and Breda, so one has to connect via Dortrecht, which makes the journey rather long - just over two hours including waiting time at Dortrecht.

Grote Markt, the main square with pubs and side walk cafe

Breda, in common with many European cities, thrives on a cafe culture. The Grote Markt is lined with pavement cafes and the locals, especially the young ones, are out in droves in the evenings drinking beer. Not surprising, as Breda formerly houses the largest brewery in the Netherlands (Oranjeboom).

Breda Town Hall, Grote Markt, the Netherlands

Breda boasts some charming architecture. In the centre of Grote Markt is the old Town Hall. This historic building has a stone staircase with a landing and statues of lions carrying the arms of Breda. Today, it is used for events and weddings, and it is easy to see the attraction.

Grote Kerk, Breda, the Netherlands

What came as a surprise was the Grote Kerk in Breda: I was not expecting to find a church of this size in a small city. The Brabant style of Gothic architecture from the outside is impressive. Unfortunately, the church was closed in the evenings so there was no opportunity to venture inside. Situated in the Grote Markt, it co-exists with a wide crop of restaurants, bars and cafes. I am curious to visit it on a Sunday to check the attendance.

Park Valenberg, Breda

Halfway between the Central Station and Grote Markt is Park Valkenberg, a public park where the old and young come to rest and play. At the edge of the park is a canal and some artist has humorously erected a Google drop pin. 

The restful Park Valenberg, Breda on a weekday evening