[The Netherlands - Den Haag & Delft].
My second stop in the Netherlands brought me to the country's third-largest city, The Hague. The train ride from Rotterdam to The Hague took less than half an hour. The train was incredibly comfortable, quiet, and equipped with Wi-Fi—so dead silent, in fact, that there weren't even any arrival announcements! Luckily I was taking it to the final stop, or else, glued to my phone, I definitely would've missed it. Besides being home to the International Court of Justice, The Hague also serves as the residence and workplace of the Dutch royal family. This coastal city gives off a similarly laid-back vibe. Having gotten hooked on cycling in Rotterdam, I decided to rent another bike upon arriving in The Hague. Since it was almost noon and the shop owner knew I planned to ride to Delft, she kindly bent the rules, letting me rent it for a full 24 hours and counting the next day's return as a single day's rate (normally, bikes must be returned on the same day).
So, making the most of my time, I first rode for nearly an hour to reach Delft—a town highly recommended by James, famous for its Delft Blue pottery. It's also the hometown of the renowned Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, whose masterpiece, "Girl with a Pearl Earring", is housed in the Mauritshuis royal art gallery in The Hague. Surrounded by canals, Delft possesses a unique, elegant tranquility. Free from urban hustle and towering skyscrapers, a relaxing, everyday vibe flows through the streets lined with red-tiled historical houses. The pace of life here is so beautifully simple that it feels like stepping into a parallel universe. The two major landmarks in the city center—the leaning Oude Kerk (Old Church) and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which boasts the second-highest church tower in the Netherlands—are absolutely worth the effort to climb for a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire town. The uniquely designed hall of the old City Hall across the square is also free to visit. Because I was pressed for time, I only managed to stroll through the free areas of the Royal Delft Museum, Museum Prinsenhof, and the Vermeer Centrum. I really hope to come back next time and dive deeper into the town's stories.
Next, I hopped back on my trusty two-wheeled steed and headed to Scheveningen Beach on the other side of The Hague to catch the sunset. Along the way, I noticed that The Hague's street art easily rivals Rotterdam's (though for some reason, the main theme mostly seemed to be birds). The early summer seaside was absolutely packed. The entire beach was buzzing with party music, lively bars, the distinct smell of weed, and wasted young people fooling around. Nevertheless, the clear water and fine sand set against the sunset's silhouette created a deeply romantic atmosphere. My favorite spot in the whole area was the nearby Beelden aan Zee museum; even though it was already closed, the outdoor public art installations were incredibly cute and amusing.
Early the next morning, right before I had to return the bike, I went for a ride to stroll around the Dutch royal palace. The royal residence is tucked away inside a massive green park, heavily guarded not just by walls but also by a moat. However, the vast majority of the green spaces are public areas. The lush lawns, shady trees, and tranquil ponds make you mistakenly feel like you're cycling through a verdant paradise. Afterwards, I hit up the traditional Hague Market on a quest for novelties. Egged on by a vendor, I finally gave the raw herring sandwich a try. The shop assistant was quite the salesman—he offered me a half-price deal and talked me into buying another whole herring to eat straight up without the bread (the texture is pretty much like salty sashimi, paired with raw onions to cut the fishy smell). I then spotted some bizarre-looking Kwie kwie fish at another stall. Before heading off, I grabbed a raw beef burger to go and enjoyed my lunch sitting by the Hofvijver lake.
After returning the bike in the afternoon, I casually wandered around The Hague's city center. The new district near the station is bustling with traffic and highly modernized, but it has fewer skyscrapers than Rotterdam, and their designs are more conventional. The old town, on the other hand, is home to the oldest existing parliament hall, as well as various museums, art galleries, and churches. Since I was catching a night bus to London later that evening, this wanderer only visited the spot I wanted to see most: the Peace Palace (home to the International Court of Justice). Although you need to book well in advance to actually tour the Peace Palace itself, the adjacent visitor center offers a free audio guide and historical exhibition. Walking through it was a profoundly moving experience! American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie once said, "The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced." Driven by a vision of peace, he donated a portion of his fortune to build the Peace Palace. The exhibition highlighted how numerous thinkers, politicians, and writers throughout history have viewed war and fought to maintain peace. What struck me most was a quote from the theologian Erasmus in "In Praise of Folly", stating that war is the greatest hindrance to human progress, and that dying on the battlefield should never be considered glorious!
Finally, my thoughts on this whirlwind two-day, one-night trip to The Hague: it's an incredibly calming and comfortable city. With institutions like the International Court of Justice, international human rights organizations, and groups dedicated to child protection and women's rights all based here, it's truly a place committed to fostering peace. It also boasts a profoundly rich artistic and historical heritage (it's a shame I couldn't see it all this time). Moreover, the consistently playful nature of the Dutch often brings a knowing smile to a traveler's face. While I was taking photos on the street, hilariously mischievous pedestrians loved photobombing my shots. At one point, as I was holding my camera up to shoot a church, a road worker actually grabbed a megaphone and broadcasted, "Yo man, photo me! Photo me!"—leaving all his coworkers doubled over in laughter!