Port 87 Rotterdam, Netherlands

by Ed · Published June 5, 2022 · Updated June 22, 2022

Hallo! Goedemorgen! (Hello! Good morning!)

Another overcast morning covered our arrival in Rotterdam on un 4th, 2022. Although I woke up an hour before “arrival time” we were already snugging up to the pier. I needed to be up two hours earlier to watch our entry into the river!

We are parked in front of a beautiful cruise terminal, but a shuttle bus to city center is being provided, so we’re not as close to the heart of town as this suggests.

Yup, it turns out to be over a 30-minute walk to just get across this bridge (beautiful, huh?) and then several more blocks in to town.

But I cross that bridge in style! On a tour! I’m going to see the Mauritshuis Museum and the Hague! (Joy is on her last day of quarantine!)

I couldn’t resist showing this one. We are told the king’s palace is in this forest – we can’t see it for the trees. But trust me – this is a picture of the palace! ;o)

We’re not going here, but we are told this museum was opened as an interactive showcase to show small scale working models of a lot of things! For example there is a small cargo ship that people can load and unload with small cranes. There is a 1/4-scale DC-3 airplane! It’s supposed to be a lot of fun for families.

And out front is a model of a dyke, and Hans Brinker is still trying to stop the leak in the dyke with his finger!

As we get in to the Hague itself, we pass by this building. It was the first train station of the Hague. Now it is a private home.

We stop by the Palace of Peace. This was built with contributions from many of the United Nations countries. You can see the UN flag flying on the right!

The grassy knoll in front is bordered by bench seats inscribed with words of peace in multiple languages!

Beside the grassy knoll are these benches, one with hands reaching out to each other, and the other with a dove holding an olive branch. Behind the benches…

…is the World Peace Flame! Every country in the world signed the World Peace agreement in 2004, and Ambassadors from every country donated a rock from their native land to create the ring around the flame.

I wish Putin would remember Russia signed this agreement! The Russia Rock is on the back side to the left of the fire pillar – its the reddish rock pointed at by the arrow.

Across the street is this interesting monument! The inscriptions tout the message loosly translated to say “Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but win over evil by doing good.”

We finally arrive at the heart of the Hague – the Parliament Building! What a beautiful structure on the waterfront!

We go around the corner – this is the entrance to the Parliament quad – much of it is undergoing renovation. But we’re here right now to visit…

…this building – the Mauritshuis Museum. That is, the Maurits House Museum! We’re gonna see one of the most famous paintings in the world by Johannes Vermeer!

We go down stairs to get to the entrance, then up these stairs to get to see the collection. “Flash | Back” is a new addition to the historic paintings that stand here. They have installed multiple photographic works throughout the hall. Interesting, but not what I’m here to see.

Oh, and art isn’t the only thing to see here! The woodwork on the staircases is exquisite! And these candleabras are uniquely interesting as well!

But I am here for the Dutch masters! And few resonate better with me than Rembrandt! They have multiple Rembrandt works here, so I am thrilled! I include this one only as an example!

And then, of course, the piece that all of the Museum’s advertising includes – Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”!

Then we have time on our own. Instead of heading to the interior of the Parliament through that gate I showed you earlier, I decide to go around the perimeter and see what else is out there! Plus, I was on the hunt for a flower shop!

This is Willem den Eerste, a Prince of Orange – another name for the Netherlands. The House of Orange from a medieval dynasty in France became the royal family of the Netherlands. This is why you will also see orange as the main color work by the Dutch at events!

Facing the square where Willem den Eerste’s statue stands is the Department of Justice. Beautiful building!

I was surprised to see Buger King snagged some prime real estate in this building!

I stumbled in to this shopping mall trying to find a shortcut to a palace I targeted. This is The Passage and it’s really nice! And guess who snagged the center atrium spot?

Would you believe Apple?

The stork is the national bird. I found this street art very interesting!

This is the Old Town Hall! It seems like it was a church repurposed, but it wasn’t!

Then as I approached the church I found this water pump! And it still works!

This is Grote Kerk (Large Church) of Saint Jacobs! The time is 11:45 and the bells chimed the 3/4 hour. I wanted to hang around for the noon bells, but had to move on – only one hour left of free time!

When I reach the Veenkade Canal I realize I missed a turn! But it is fun to see all of the bicycles chained to this bridge!

This is Noordeinde Palace. It was once the home provided to the widow of Willem of Orange and her children.

Across the street, facing the palace is this statue of Prince Willem I of Orange, also known as Willem the Silent. Paying attention to the horse’s hoof positions, it says he died in battle (two hooves in the air). He was actually assasinated for his role in leading the Dutch revolt against the Spanish.

This is the Monastery Church. I was here when the noon bells were ringing, but this church sounded it like there was only one bell, ringing again and again and again. Far more than twelve times!

I was surprised to find this sculpture – it appears to be two sculptures in one! The one on the left is marble with a man in period clothing at a desk, looking back through a door. The part on the right is three people in contemporary garb discussing something, and is constructed of stainless steel! I see my reflection in the base! There is not a sign anywhere giving this a name or explanation.

The Euromast rides high near port. We are told it has two restaurants – one in the large section in the middle, and a small one in the black disc near the top – this one goes up and down!