Making of Hague Peace Challenge: Palace Tour
A Hague Peace Challenge wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Peace Palace in The Hague. To come up with a good question and a creative assignment, I wanted to visit this mustsee in The Hague again, but I needed an incentive. Then my friend Jacqueline Alders, owner of I Guide you Through The Hague told me that the annual summer Peace Palace tours had started again.
Guided Tour through Peace Palace
One of the main goals in my life is to find the exceptional, to get off the beaten track. A long time ago I worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the many departments organised a trip to the Peace Palace and, like many, I was curious to find out how the building looked from the inside. So, I went along. I remember beautiful objects, stained glasses, amazing decorations. if you haven't done it: a guided tour through the Peace Palace is definitely worthwhile. There is no proof that I went inside; you are not allowed to take any pictures.
Peace Palace tour
There is a guided tour offered at the Peace Palace in which you are allowed to take pictures. It's the guided tour through the garden of the Peace Palace. Our guide Roos - what's in a name- not only told us about the flora and fauna, the landscaping and the statues, objects and plants that were given to the Peace Palace by the different nations. She also explained how shortly after the competition for the design of the Peace Palace, three garden architects were invited to compete against each other for the design of the grounds around the building. Thomas Mawson won the competition and became the designer.
Peace in the Palace Garden
In an earlier post I have tried to define peace. Mawson associated peace with balance, harmony, symmetry, soft leaves and no thorns ( except for the roses), water. While walking through the garden I thought about the the base of the Hague Peace Challenge. imaginary situation of constructing a second City of Peace and Justice in the Middle East. I thought it would be interesting to integrate Mawson's ideas in the design of the City or in The Hague Peace Challenge itself.
If you are interested in visiting the gardens ( only in Dutch, on request in English) or the Peace Palace itself, use this link.
I want to know more about the The Hague Peace Challenge
Update: In The Hague Peace Challenge the question and creative assignment about the Peace Palace will be based on what you see and hear in the Visitor's Centre. If you are participating in the challenge, it could be a good idea to visit the centre before. Go for the opening hours to the website .
Making of The Hague Peace Challenge: Definition of Peace
What does peace mean to you? This was the first question I asked family, friends and colleagues after I had set Sunday 25 September as the date for the Hague Peace Challenge. Interesting enough, no one gave the same answer. Apparently the definition of peace is different for everyone.
Peace: word association
Try. Try to give one solid definition of peace that explains the whole concept. It's impossible. Even more difficult is when you only want to highlight the positive aspects. No mention of war, no horrific scenes of violence, crime, poverty, death. Just positive words. I asked my friends, family and colleagues for a definition of peace, or at least some positive words that are connected to peace. Respect is a word many used. Then came tolerance, acceptance, freedom. Peace can also be celebrated, think of the Gay Pride in Amsterdam. Words, celebrations that already make me feel warm inside, full of happiness and joy.
Peace in all its dimensions
Then I visited the exhibitionAsylum Search Engine in the Humanity House and I found out there are many layers in the concept peace. Everyone has different thoughts about peace. Someone living in a conflict zone thinks differently of peace than a refugee. And a refugee has a different idea about peace than you. There are even many different types of peace. Inner peace, world peace, religious peace. Most importantly, peace is something you need to work on every day. And most of us do, although we aren't really aware of it.
A daily act of peace
In the Hague Peace Challenge you are going to actively work on peace. On the route past the international organisations and local initiaves you'll explore the different dimensions of peace and become aware of the many peaceful actions you already commit to in your daily life.
When I visualize The Hague Peace Challenge on Sunday, September 25 I picture myself in front of this large group of people from different backgrounds and you are right there. After the instructions you and the other participants form teams of 4 people and all these teams challenge each other. Not compete, not fight, but challenge in order to get the best out of each individual. The best ideas, the most creative solutions. I see the teams come up with beautiful ideas to unite people and build and maintain peace.
To conclude I want to end with one beautiful definition of peace I found while trying to to define peace for myself. It is given by the Junior Chamber International ( JCI) , an organisation that has created a fantastic initiative: Peace is Possible. Their definition of peace is:
Peace is the ability to respect differences within our diverse global community, transcending the souvereignity of nations. Peace ensures human dignity and guarantees humanity is preserved for future nations. It's not just the absence of conflict, but also the prevalence of justice.
You might be interested in:
Hague Peace Challenge: building Peace &; Justice
The Hague Horse Drawn Carriage Ride in a Day Tour
The kids were exhausted. On the way back to their hotel in The Hague they just fell asleep. It didn't seem to matter that they were doing something unusual. The The Hague horse drawn carriage ride, the cherry on the cake of the whole tour, passed unnoticed. Did we do too much on this one day tour The Hague area?
Cows going outside for first time
In different areas throughout the Netherlands there are cows going outside for first time in 2020. Mid-March a farmer in Flevoland was the first to let out his dairy cows in the green pastures. Living in The Hague and being a big fan of the dairy and cheese farms in Leiden area, I searched for a chance to see the cow dance in my neighbourhood.
Cow Dance
Cowdance, in Dutch called koeiendans is the frolic jumping, twirling and running of cows let out in the meadows for the first time in spring. I saw the cows going outside for the first time at different dairy & cheese farms in Hague/ Delft / Leiden area in previous years. Boerderij de Vierhuizen is one of my favourites. It's an amazing farm with calfs, lambs and there's a lovely atmosphere.
Dry land, fresh grass
I've had quite some conversations with the farmers on when it's the right time to let the cows dance. Cows can't dance when the soil is still soggy, cows can't eat grass when grass hasn't grown yet. If the farmer lets his cows out to early, they trip in the soggy soil and will need to get back into the barn again as there is no grass yet. It's actually quite animal unfriendly to let them out too early. You will surely enjoy the cow dance more if you wait a bit.
This beautiful video by Midvliet TV was made in and around the cheese farm. In the spotlight the cheese farmer, the happy cows and....me :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFDHeivB8yk
Cow Alert
Land van Wijk en Wouden, in Leiden area gives you the opportunity to register for a 'cow alert'. This way you receive the latest updates on when and on which dairy and cheese farms in the area between Leiden and Zoetermeer you can see the the cows going outside for first time in 2021.
Vockestaert, in Delft area also has a cow alert. They publish the dates you can see the cow dance on their FB page.
Do you want to know more about the cheese that is made out of the milk given by a cow that has eaten fresh grass again after a long time? If you want to find out, just get in touch.
You might also like:
Leiden cheese & dairy cycling route
The Hague windmill & local food route
2.5 hour tour Leiden lakes plus visit windmill
Story and History of Flag Day Scheveningen
My first visit to Flag Day Scheveningen was out of curiousity. I heard that the whole festival around herring, and more precisely the new herring. But, if it was all about the herring, why wasn’t it called Herring Day or Herring Festival? I decided it was time to unravel the mystery and look for the story and history of Flag Day Scheveningen...
Peaceful place in The Hague to remember- Waalsdorpervlakte
At Peace in a Quiet Place in the Netherlands
It's May holiday. Today I just want to get away from the city a bit, visit nature and enjoy the silence there. There's a special reason I'm looking for a quiet place in Holland today...
it's Remembrance Day. Throughout the Netherlands memorial services and silent marches take place to commemorate those who gave their lives for our freedom during WWII, but also in wars and peacekeeping missions after 1945.
Freedom to enjoy nature
On this day, the 4th of May, I take my bike and cycle to the Waalsdorpervlakte, to just sit in the sand with nothing around me but birds and trees. This is the most peaceful place in The Hague for me. I lay down and look up into the clouded sky and I realise how fortunate I am to have the liberty to just be here and enjoy the Dutch nature. Freedom seems such a common thing, untill you stop for a moment to think about what you have.
Nature around The Hague
Waalsdorpervlakte is a beautiful natural area, near the Nordsea coastline & the dunes. It's a peaceful place in The Hague. It's also an important historical marker: many Dutch resistance fighters were executed here. It is one of the mayor locations in Holland where a memorial service is held. A big bell will ring. Except for this year, 2021. A small ceremony without public attendance will happen. The Dutch people are requested to stay at home and watch the ceremony online.
Two minutes of silence
When the clock strikes 8, the Netherland observes two minutes of silence, to remember and honour those who died for our freedom.
Visit the website of the tourist office The Hague for more information on the memorial service at Waalsdorpervlakte.
This is a list of all memorial services in The Hague in 2019 (in Dutch)
For more information on the Dutch Rememberance Day and Liberation Day on the 5th of May, go to 4en5mei.nl
These websites are in Dutch. If you are interested in a specific activity, do let me know, I do my best to find more information.
If you would like to visit Waalsdorpervlakte and surroundings with Verita's Visit, contact me for a personalised tour.