Les meilleurs hôtels à La Haye

Politics and pop culture swirl together in The Hague (Den Haag), the Netherland's political capital. The business of the nation is conducted here, at the parliament and various ministries, and the reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix, calls The Hague home. But here, too, the nation's cultural legacy is preserved in places such as the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the Netherland's national library. Even cyber-travelers can explore the marvels of the library's collections at the glorious Hundred Highlights site, which showcases illuminated manuscripts, early maps and other treasures. Modernity has been both a blessing and a curse to this governmental capital. An urban development movement has erased some of the city's charm, with the old canals lost tonew roads, and quaint, narrow buildings replaced by new office structures. And unlike the sophisticated high-life of Amsterdam, where the good times are king, the metropolitan sizzle of The Hague sometimes fizzles in the drizzle of daily bureaucratic doings. Not that the city lacks pleasures, both old and new. The famous Ridderzaal, in the center of the Binnenhof Courtyard, still stands. Though once the home of the Dutch Parliament,it's now been relegated to ceremonial occasions, but its church-like architecture remains a popular tourist draw. And just behind the Ridderzaal lies the palace-like Mauritshuis, the Royal Picture Gallery, which displays works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Van Dyck and other Dutch treats. And the nearby historic towns of Leiden and Delft provide plenty of day-trip touring potential. The Hague also boasts several major science and technology museums, including the PostMuseum, which focuses on telecommunications, and the Gemeetemuseum (Municipal Museum) complex, which includes the Popular Science Museon. The Municipal Museum also exhibits the works of a Dutch painter who helped shape the face of modern art: The museum boasts the world's largest collection of paintings by PietMondrian. As the nouveau political capital of this old world land, The Hague blends the everyday business of running a modern nation with the timeless touches of wordly masters.