It was still raining when I made this picture this morning on Het Plein; all the cafes on this square are preparing for the soccer match of tonight of Netherlands v France... You can expect crowds tonight, and many more orange flags!!!

Detail of a door

One of the nicest doorways in the city...

Best kept secret in town

If you dared coming in the Pulchri studio to enjoy the latex wall I talked about yesterday, you'll discover one of the quietest outside cafes in town where you could have a rest. This is really a lucky find!

Latex wall

I saw this massive latex wall (20 meters * 3m) today in the Pulchri Studio. This installation from the young Dutch artist Marisja Smit is made of three panels attached to each other, (each of them can be bought separately for €20,000 euros btw...) and is supposed to be a reflection of our society, naked. I immediately thought of the photographies of Spencer Tunick which I love, where bodies are really treated as a substance in our nature and landscape.

Go and have a look at this installation if you can, it was inaugurated last Friday and will only be displayed until the end of the month!!!

Berlage Kiosk

With the renovation of the Buitenhof, the architect H.P. Berlage built this kiosk in 1924. This small building is made of a combination of concrete and bricks, two distinct materials used in his works. It housed originally a newspaper stand, as well as a ladies restroom underground.

Flag day 2008

It was extremely busy yesterday in Scheveningen, when 250,000 visitors made it to the harbour to celebrate the 2008 edition of Vlaggetjesdag (Flag day), which celebrates the arrival of the "new" Dutch herring. Hollandse Nieuwe is the name given to young herring caught between mid-May and the end of June with a body fat of at least 16%. The fish are gutted and salted but the pancreas containing an enzyme which helps the fish to ripen is left in place. The first barrel of new herring was auctioned for charity last Tuesday, raising €55,000. The barrel was bought by online restaurant guide Iens.


Here one of the 100 fishes from the presentation of 100 kinds of fish caught in the North Sea. One had to evaluate the overall weight to win some prizes.

NYPD in The Hague

I spotted those Smart cars in a Smart dealer in The Hague today and was wondering whether they actually were real cars or just an ad to promote the brand... as the Smart car was launched in the US not so long ago (see here).

See the answer on this forum (a sticker promotion!!!!!!)

Roots

Tree roots have always had a fascinating impact on me, I can always see animal shapes or wild hands trying to get a grip on soil... They are also a fantastic playground for kids and a nice place for animals to hide!

Het torentje

The stroll along the river opposite the Binnenhof (Dutch Parliament) is always a nice walk, especially when the weather is not too bad. You can see on the left the famous Mauritshuis museum, and next to it, the small tower, dubbed the "torentje" in Dutch which since 1982 is the work office of the Dutch Prime Minister.

Garbage tree

I know this is common in parks around the world, but I'm always shocked when I see disclosed garbage in a natural environment. Obviously, this is the result of a nice afternoon break among youngsters: beers, crisps and sweets hanging in a tree...

Day of the building sector

31st May was the "Day of the building sector" in The Netherlands, and a certain number of works were open to the public. This was the case of the Hubertus Tunnel, a 1600m long tunnel which is going under the Hague and should be inaugurated next September. 3400 people walked into the tunnel that day. It was quite impressive to see!

Month theme : "My corner local shop"

Paagman is the perfect destination to go to on a grey Sunday like today. It combines a bookshop, office supplies, CDs and videos and a nice inside cafe. It is in the area one of the only leisure shops open on Sundays, so I've spent there many hours hanging around books and magazines!

Every month new cities are joining the CDP community and are activiely contributing to our theme days. Click on any of them to travel around local stores around the world.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey by afyonblog, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Clare Unsworth, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gainesville (FL), USA by Leah, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Los Angeles (CA), USA by Martha Perez, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Fotos. Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Urayasu, Japan by Zono, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,