Statenkwartier, the Photogenic Beauty of The Hague.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We are back in the Hague, the Summer is sadly long over and the winter weather has set in. I’m back to sorting through archive photographs and seeing what catches my eye.

The Statenkwartier is one of the Hague’s old established suburbs and it’s represented by the Yellow cards on the Dutch Monopoly board,  which should warn you that you will need deep pockets to be able to afford property in this neighbourhood.

Many of the buildings date from between 1870 and 1920 and the entire area is a photographers dream because the buildings abound with architectural detail, ornamental florisheres  in stone, wood, ironwork, brick and tile, and every time I’ve taken walks here I always spot something new even in streets I’ve photographed often before.

This is the neighbourhood where the Doctor’s, Dentists, Lawyers and captains of industry,and heads of family businesses resided and to some extent that is still true today.

The houses are often referred to as “herenhuisen” (gentlemen’s houses)  and when you hear if any  Dutch house being described in these terms, you can immediately know that the rooms are often very spacious for Dutch standards, with high, and sometimes ultra high ceilings, ornate moulded plasterwork in the interiors,  beautiful leaded glass, wider than usual hallways, sweeping staircases and an attention to detail in the nooks and crannies that  echoes that of  the ornate decoration of the façades.

Let’s take a look around…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Psst, Wanna Come Home and See my Etchings?!!!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

It’s not often that I post to advertise an upcoming  very local event, but this one is very special so I will.

Two things make this special:

Firstly, it’s that this is an Art Exhibition of the like of which you will probably never heard of before.

Why? Becuase the Artworks on show to the public are actually in private homes… (but none of them happen to be mine, more’s the pity). Yes that’s right, these members of the public will let you come into their living rooms, hallways and bedrooms to take a peek at Artworks on show there.

It’s called “Kunst Route“  (Art Route)  Statenkwartier  /Den Haag (The Statenkwartier is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in The Hague)

“Uitnodiging” means “Invitation” by the way…

Not only is the Statenkwartier eye-wateringly expensive (with many home valued at  over Euro 1.000.000,–) but it’s also one of the oldest and most established neighbourhoods of the city.

Buildings here tend to date from the late 19th century and the turn of the 20th, so high ceilings, larger rooms, stained glass, and elaborate decorations in stone and tiles are the norm rather than the exception.

The affluence of the area attracts many ex-pats, many embassies are close by and so this exhibition gives people not only a chance to see new Artworks in situ, but also to take a peek at some amazing homes too.

Brochures are available both beforehand on the day so all you need to do is a) visit them all or b) choose the bits you like most, look up their addresses on the list wit the numbers and just visit those.

Secondly, and understandably,  these people don’t open their home to the public regularly, it happens for two days only, every two years.

Both the  brochure and website http://www.kunstenaarsinhetstatenkwartier.nl/index.html (scroll down a little for your English translation)  tell me that:

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

“Almost sixty artists, all of whom live or work in the Statenkwartier, will open their studios and homes to the public to show their work in the weekend of 2-3 April 2011.

The second Art Route in the Statenkwartier showcases a colorful mix of professional and skilled amateur artists who specialize in various techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, mixed media, ceramics, glass, jewellery, metals, etc.

A selection of the work will also be on view in Art Gallery De Fietsenstalling during the weekend. In the online folder you will find the names and addresses of the participating artists, a map indicating where they can be found and a description of their work.”

Personally I think this is a brilliant idea, and I’m more than a little frustrated that this year it’s not going to happen for me, as I have to resign myself to the fact that  “walking tour + crutches  = no chance”.

BUT, ….if you care to hang around my blog for another two years when this event returns, I will definitely have my walking shoes on, camera ready and you may join me if you are near and I’ll take you on a virtual tour if you are not. Sound like a plan?

So, if you live in Den Haag (The Hague) or elsewhere within commuting distance right now and would like to go on your own Art Walking tour in the Statenkwartier  this weekend, then the following details are for you.

What: “Kunst Route“  (Art Route) 

Where: Statenkwartier  / Den Haag (The Hague) /    When: Saturday 2nd April  and Sunday 3rd April 2011 /     Times: From 11:00 a.m. until  5:00 p.m.

… and mark your calendar for this to come around again in 2013!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Hard Work Going on in More than Just the Bakery…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Yesterday’s post was about our  soap holder and toilet roll holder tiles that are recessed into the wall and original to our 1930′s Dutch home.

Our simple yellow ones are beautiful for architectural reasons but they can’t compete with their glamorous and famous cousins from Delft, or many of their decorative relatives dotted on and in buildings around certain parts of the city.

First a few new Dutch words and their pronunciations…  if you go to the Haven (pronounced “haaa van”) which is the “Harbour”  of The Hague, you will pass  in or around the Statenkwartier , (pronounced “start-en-quar-tear”) which is a very affluent neighbourhood of the Hague.

It’s an old established neighbourhood with many beautiful and ornate buildings, and in that neighbourhood you will find the Frederik Hendriklaan,  which is also affectionately known locally as “the Fred“.

On the “Fred” there is a bakery, and it’s worth a second look, not only for the baked goods but also for the tiles that adorn the inside.

Last year I went in one day near the end of the afternoon when I knew they would be less busy and asked if I might take some photos please.

They were happy to oblige, but actually with the strip lighting in the shop it was harder than I thought.   The tiles depect typical historical agricultural scenes from  around the Netherlands. Here are the results…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)