Shocking!

If sometimes you may think it's nice to live on the waterside, forget it when it is abnormally hot and sunny and when everybody in the city and around has decided to enjoy a day out on the beach.....

The worst experience was to see all the garbage left on the beach by uncivilized Dutch people...it was hard for me to believe I was in the Netherlands. What do they think? That because the beach is cleaned every night it gives them the right to throw away cans and plastic bottles where they sit? It reminded me of El Rodadero beach in the Colombian city of Santa Marta; when I then asked locals why their beach was so dirty at the end of the day, they then answered that they were not bothered because that would give some work to all the poor people who would during the evening gather and then sell the garbage...... This is not the case in Holland, and I suggest the Council to stop cleaning the beaches for a week to see whether they would be a reaction in the papers!

Still in Muzee (see yesterday's post), you'll find this strange bathing machine in use about 1830 to 1920.

The description reads:
"The bather would enter the bathing machine, undress and put on a bathing costume. A horse pulled the coach into the sea to a depth of 70cm, the bather then enjoyed a dip in the water and after bathing he re-entered the coach. Then the horse pulled hte coach back up on the beach. During the bathing there was always supervisin by a "bath man" attendant". In case of affluence, people had to get a number to get on the waiting list.

Any idea of how we will be having a bath in the sea over 150 years?

Back from Zeeland

Zeeland ("sea and land") is one of the 12 provinces of The Netherlands, and consists of islands. It is only one hour drive from The Hague and is a popular holiday destination. You can enjoy there very nice sand beaches, and mussels and oysters, the local specialty.



The region has a very rich history in the 16th and 17th century due to influent trade, hence beautiful town and villages like Middleburg, Veere and Zierikzee are worth a visit.



It is also known as being the symbol of flood fighting with the Deltaworks, since the disaster of the North sea flood in 1953 when nearly 2000 died in one night.

Month theme : " Water"

I could not choose this month between..........the foam from the sea and the reflection of the sky. Let me know which one you prefer!

Take some time to visit some of the 178 cities around the world who are posting today snapshots of what "Water" inspires to them:

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, 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, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, 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, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Walking in the sand....

Nice song from a French singer "Marcher dans le sable".....

Dog policy

There are strict rules in The Hague one must follows regarding dogs:

* Dogs are only allowed on the beach from 1 October to 15 May (except two locations on the Zwarte pad and close to Kwartellaan).
* They must be kept on a leash at all times in the city except in some designated free-run areas.
* A new "clean up after your dog, everywhere, and take a bag with you” policy, in force for two years now, with potential fine for owners of up to €75 (€50 if a dog owner cannot present the mandatory “pooper-scooper”.

Has dog poop vanished from the city streets? Well not entirely, but it could be worse....

Kite jumping!

Snow this morning, wind and sunshine this afternoon. Not many kite surfers dared to brave the waves and the cold waters (6,9ºc). I could only spot 2 of them. Do enlarge the picture by clicking on it, and enjoy the height of that jump, it was impressive to see, well nearly as impressive as on this video.

Stormy weather

This morning I went again to one of my favorites spots in the city, ie the beach, though the wind was blowing 80 km/h. All the shells are building small hillocks of sand, fighting not to get blown off. This blustering wind will be getting stronger tomorrow, and I'm thinking of all the beach places that are being built at the moment to be ready for the opening of the summer season. Let's hope for not too many damages in the coming hours!

Low tide

It was still nice weather on the beach yesterday to walk when the water was low. I can't wait for the new summer season to start. Beach places are allowed to start building their pavilions as from March 3rd, and it is in the news today that meteorologists expect one of the hottest summers ever in The Netherlands this year... Forget the French Riviera, and plan your summer holidays in The Hague!!!!

If you want to read more about climate expectations for The Netherlands, just read the new "State of the Climate 2007 (in Dutch)" that was published today.

Love is in the air, Oh oh oh Oh oh oh!

Do you remember this song from John Paul Young (1978)? That was already 30 years ago!!! We are having some great days of sunshine without any wind (which is quite exceptional here), and you can see that spring is coming up (not to forget Valentine's day)!

Atlantic wall

These 2 bunkers are part of a bunkercomplex North of Scheveningen on the Noorderstrand which was built during WWII and form part of the Atlantic wall. The German Atlantikwall was built by the German occupation forces in the period 1941-1944 along the coasts of France, Channel Islands, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Denmark. The main goal was to prevent allied landings on the shores of these countries. During this period a total of 14.000 heavy, concrete bunkers were built.

On this picture you can see an "open gun platform" on the left and a "671Sk" bunker on the right. Most of the bunkers lays under the sand. There are plans to establish an Atlantikwallmuseum in these bunkers. If you are interested in looking at other pictures of WWII sites, then you should visit this website.

You cannot go too close to them as they are now housing some rare species of small brown bats that are protected!

View from under!

Here is my second post on the Scheveningse pier, from under the structure. Low tide, the concrete pillars are colored with mud. On the background you can see the "bungy" tower (300 steps up, and down) from where I made yesterday's post. From there in the summer you can experience a 60 meter jump into the Northsea.... Nothing for me!

Update: Fenix from Boston was wondering how come they can leave the tower open in the winter.... I looked at the pier website and found out that the access to the tower is allowed to everyone above 5 years old, and that it is safe to go up there as all security barriers are in place to prevent any accident....

View from the top!

Early morning, desire of fresh air, I decided to climb on top of the Bungy tower of the Scheveningse Pier. That was without reckoning with some hard winds! This 100 ton steel construction that needed 400.000 man hours to be built, 110.000 bricks, and 8.000m2 of asphalt among others, remains for me one of the ugliest buildings of Scheveningen. You do have a nice view on the seaside and the Kurhaus hotel (where the flag is) though...

Finish line

The Red Bull Knock-Out event took place today on the beach....but I arrive too late to catch one of the 500 motorbikes that were racing in the sand....So have a look here if you want to see more pictures!!!! I'll give it another try next year...

Sunset on the beach

On my way home tonight.....

Junk on the beach

Walking yesterday on the coast in Kijkduin, I came across this very special museum, the Jutterskeet museum, where the owners gather everything they find on the beach around....Some amazing items as you can imagine!

For more information and pictures of what you can find in the museum (in Dutch only), click here.

High tide and high waves

Probably many people have come home today with a similar picture. The beach in Kijkduin was packed with people equipped with cameras trying to catch the unusual high waves for that Dutch beach.

Storm expected

This is actually only the beginning of the storm that reached the Dutch coastline yesterday. I just wonder what the wind limit is for the kite surfers to stop getting into the water. All dikes were closed overnight, especially the one closing down the access to Rotterdam harbour, as everybody keeps in mind the North sea flood of 1953 that killed 1800 people. One third of the country is below sea level......

Horse riding

Isn't that wonderful to go and do some horse riding in a (nearly) deserted beach? Horses are welcome again on the Hague beaches since 15 September. This was taken in Kijkduin yesterday.

Lonely man

I just love the early hours on the beach. I took this photo this morning in Kijkduin, the second sea-side resort of The Hague after Scheveningen. Hardly anybody except a lonely fisherman, horse ridders and dog owners!

Kijkduin was established in 1923 by the developer Joh. D. van der Houwen. Architects Bijvoet and Duiker were the inspiration and architects for a 126 residence village often called 'Meer en Bos' (sea and woods). Most of the houses have been destroyed during WWII by bombs and the building of the Atlantic Wall.