The Hague and the Princess

                                                    The DutchParliament Buildings

The Hague or 'den Hague' as the Dutch call it, is the capital of Holland and the seat of the Dutch government and parliament.

                                           The Royal Palace, residence of Queen Beatrix.

The Hague is a very grand and majestic city which is befitting because it is also the residence of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. She lives at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. As the flag was not flying, she was not in residence when we passed. Our guide told us that she was at her summer home which is located in a private deer park in the countryside.

Words cannot describe how thrilled Ariana was when she learned that Queen Beatrix has a nine year old granddaughter named Princess Ariana! Her father is Prince Maurits (used as a first name), the elder of Queen Beatrix' sons. He will be successor to the throne after Queen Beatrix' death. Thus, one day there will be a King Maurits! Princess Ariana is the eldest of his three daughters, so she will be Queen one day.

Queen Beatrix with her three granddaughters, Princess Alexa (7), Princess Amalia (4) and Princess Ariana (9), and their parents, Prince Maurits and Princess Maxima. (No, we didn't actually see them. I found this photo of them taken this past summer, online.)

I thought the Royal National Library building was spectacular.

All foreign embassies in the Netherlands are located in the Hague, and most famously, the International Court of Justice, where the United Nations often meet to discuss issues of world importance.

By the time we arrived at the International Court of Justice (above), it was just starting to get dark. Shortly afterwards, it started to rain. Papa wandered around the grounds for a bit, but Ariana and I elected to stay dry in the bus.

As we drove back to Amsterdam as rain streamed down the windows, Ariana, sleepy after her long day, cuddled up to me. For a time we talked about princesses and royal houses. "I can't believe I actually saw a palace where a Queen really lives", she said. "You may not be royalty", I told her, "But, you'll always be Nana and Papa's Princess."