Posts Tagged With: HTM

Tram advertisements (Or: Anyone want to go to Scheveningen?)

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Niki

As a side note I must say that I am proud to be able to spell Scheveningen without having to look it up. It definitely has to do with the weekly visits to Scheveningen to practice my Dutch with my taalcoach from SamenSpraak.

When riding around in a tram this summer I noticed an advertisement for taking the tram to Scheveningen:

Advertisement for Scheveningen in the tram

The tag line reads: “Have fun at the coast of The Hague”. The two lines underneath say:

  • Strolling on the boulevard and lounging at the beach pavilions
  • Fun events? Look at “Discover it with HTM” at htm.nl (the tram website)

What caught my eye was the verb flaneren. I hadn’t seen it before so I had to look it up. There’s a few different English translations like to stroll, to amble, to saunter – all relaxed way of walking. But the Dutch definition suggests a bit more: lopen om gezien te worden, or walking to be seen.  There is no compact verb to express the two parts together in English (I think). Maybe “to strut” but that isn’t quite the same.

I thought it was pretty cool. Flaneren!

Categories: Scheveningen, The Hague | Tags: , | 2 Comments

New bus/tram stops (Or: Look up)

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Niki

The Hague is slowly but surely getting new bus and tram shelters!

Here is a photo of one of the old tram stops being removed (while buses, trams and traffic in general ride past just a few feet away!). You can see the old stop being moved in the air, including the stone base underneath.

Old tram/bus stop being removed in The Hague

 

Here is a look at the new design being used (link).

But when you find yourself at one of the new designs, make sure you look up at the roof, as the design is uniquely The Hague:

Ceiling above new bus/tram stop in The Hague

The symbol of The Hague is the ooievaar (stork). Very pretty!

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

Waiting for your tram? (Or: Play the HTM piano)

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Niki

Imagine my surprise when Marco and I went down to the Spui tram stop (which is underground) and saw a piano available for playing.

Holiday piano from HTM

The piano was offered through HTM, the public transportation service of The Hague. Pretty neat idea! Read more here (in Dutch).

Categories: Holidays | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Waiting, waiting (Or: Random bus observations)

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Niki

How does one work 9 hours and manage not to get more than 5 minutes total on their own project? (Answer: It happens. I am sure I am not the only one.)

1. One of the more annoying things about working a later schedule (besides working a later schedule!) is that the time between when my shift ends and when the bus arrives is longer.

2. Today’ s total wait: 45 minutes

3. Bus drivers really know how to drive slow when they want to. I thought there was no way we would miss that green light (on an internal road with no one around, too), but we did.

4. The person sitting in the row in front of me put their seat back (this is fine, they weren’t directly in front of me). But this did mean I could see their phone. Over about 6-7 minutes, they set 3 phone calls from “Job” to ignore. I can’t even comprehend that. Although maybe they had already worked 12 days straight and work was calling to ask them to come in tomorrow too…

5. All of the sudden I realized the windshield wipers were in use. Oh boy, rain for the 4th day straight? But it didn’t seem too bad.

6. As I got to my stop and was getting off the bus, the passenger in front of me ignored a 4th phone call from “Job”. Heh.

7. Hello drizzle. Halfway home, it starts raining harder. Hello power walking.

8. Cold, wet. But then, home. Warm. A late dinner. Good times.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | 1 Comment

Rijswijk (Or: Where I act like a confused American)

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Niki

First, I want to mention how amusing it is to be subscribed to a dozen or so Dutch blogs and see how most of them talk about the weather. Snow, cold, and the prospect of elfstedentocht (elf-steden-tocht, 11 city tour). It’s a rare event where the canal ice freezes up enough for ice skating through 11 cities to take place. It hasn’t happened since 1997.

Over here, I am just glad we’ve only had two snowstorms: the Halloween one which knocked out my power for 5 days — just a few inches of snow — and one a few weeks ago, about 5 inches.

Today’s topic is de bogaard in Rijswijk, a shopping area near the Hague which you can get to by bus. I visited it twice. The first time I had someone with me, the second time I traveled there alone.

Continue reading →

Categories: Rijswijk, Transportation | Tags: | 3 Comments

12 months before the Hague move

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Niki

Having moved from Chicago to New York with only two suitcases to my name, I look forward to the move even further eastward to the Netherlands — the Hague to be exact! The move date will be around Christmas 2012.

tram at a street corner (pssst...turn right for the "bibliotheek" or library!)

This blog will detail life before and after the move, including immersing myself in a culture that seems alien but also shares a lot of Americanized features — there’s even a New York Pizza joint just up the corner from the apartment I will be moving to!

Categories: Moving, The Hague, Transportation | Tags: | 1 Comment

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