Author Archives: Niki

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About Niki

I run the blog http://www.lifeinthehague.com

By the old library (Or: Unassuming bridge in The Hague)

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Niki

Yesterday I was walking near the old library, where the theatre school Rabarber is now at. See also Google Maps. That link also lets you see where the canal runs.

The old library used to be in the building on the left side, where the orange signs are. Yesterday I noticed for the first time that the bridge had a name – Bibliotheekbrug, or “Library bridge”. The library moved to the city centre, in the same building as the city hall, in 1995.

And of course, it’s not a photo of The Hague without some bicycles!

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Holiday lights on New Year’s Eve (Or: By the statue of Johan de Witt)

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Niki

Last night I took a few pictures of the holiday lights by Steltman Jewelers, with the statue of Johan de Witt (English Wikipedia) in the foreground.

This was taken a bit after 17:00, as darkness was falling, but before the Netherlands turned into the warzone they are known for on New Year’s Eve. If you don’t know what I mean, check out this four minute video from last night’s fireworks in The Hague, but make sure you turn down your sound first! Or check out the bonfire and (legal) fireworks celebration held in Scheveningen on Monday. It should have also been last night, but it was moved forward a day due to high winds last night.

Here is a close up of the holiday lights:

Happy New Year’s! Have a great 2025.

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Feminine products available for free (Or: At The Hague’s library)

Posted on December 29, 2024 by Niki

Some months back The Hague’s central library made some changes to their bathrooms. Previously, only the bathroom on the 1st floor was open to the public, and you either had to show your library card or pay a small fee of 50 cents to use it. That is quite common in this country, with cafés and restaurants being one of the few exceptions.

Earlier this year, the library opened up bathrooms on all of their floors for free There was much rejoicing, since it also meant you didn’t have to go back down to the 1st floor just to use it. I usually go to one of the bathrooms on the higher floors, though. The first floor bathroom can be a bit crowded because it is the first one you come across if you use the escalators.

A few days ago, I used the one by the first floor and noticed the library’s generous supply of feminine products:

You don’t often see this offered for free in The Netherlands (as far as I am aware anyway). it’s a great initiative.

Categories: Culture, Daily Dutch living, Everyday purchases | Tags: | Leave a comment

Christmas decorations (Or: Spotted at the Mall of the Netherlands)

Posted on December 25, 2024 by Niki

Did you know the Mall of the Netherlands is quite busy in the week leading up to Christmas?

Of course you did. And so did I. But somehow I still went for a few hours, before I made a strategic retreat to the tram… aka, fleeing from the crowds.

Here’s a look at one of the Christmas decorations:

This decoration was outside of the America Today clothing store, which is a chain found in The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. (Those three countries also go by the term Benelux which amuses me whenever I see it. Read more at Wikipedia.)

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Singing in De Passage (Or: Christmas choir, 2024)

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Niki

A few days ago I came across a Christmas choir performing in De Passage (a shopping area in The Hague’s city centre):

They were singing for Artsen Zonder Grenzen (the Dutch branch of Doctors Without Borders). And, as things go in this modern day, they even had a QR code as well where you could donate – see the paper at the bottom of the image.

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The Hague’s coat of arms (Or: Christmas decorations)

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Niki

At the crossing of Venestraat and Gravenstraat, near the Grote Kerk, you can find a Christmas decoration in the form of The Hague’s coat of arms (well, at least the stork):

And here’s a close up:

Venestraat (the street the camera is pointed at) also has some nice Christmas lights above the street. It’s pretty nice to walk along it as the sun sets.

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Bijenkorf’s Christmas tree (Or: 2024 edition)

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Niki

Marco was kind enough to take some photos of Bijenkorf’s Christmas tree for me earlier this week. This is a Christmas tree which starts on the 1st floor (2nd floor if you’re American) and goes up to the 4th floor. It is an interesting design this year:

And here is a close up of the ribbons hanging in the tree:

If you are interested, you can also see Bijenkorf’s Christmas tree in 2023 and 2022.

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A bit of holiday cheer (Or: ‘t Goude Hooft decorations)

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Niki

Additional Christmas decorations have been added to ‘t Goude Hooft since the last blog post I wrote:

And here is a close up:

It has been looking pretty festive in the city centre these last few weeks!

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Red and white (Or: Christmas ornament themes)

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Niki

This year we have a bit of a red and white theme going on in our tree:

Somewhat accidental, but somehow still a bit on purpose. A coworker gave me the mushroom ornament this year, so I immediately hung it up in the tree. Here’s a close up of Mickey and his mushroom:

Now I want to play Super Mario Brothers 3 again…

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De Passage’s Christmas tree (Or: In the spotlight)

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Niki

De Passage (literally “The Passage”) is a covered shopping area in The Hague’s city centre. Here’s a look at the 2024 Christmas tree which arrived a few days ago:

It’s in the middle of the old part of De Passage, visible from every part. To be fair, I think it is the same decorations as last year, but that doesn’t detract from it. It does make me realize I should check if Bijenkorf has their Christmas tree up yet, though…

Categories: Holidays, The Hague | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

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