Private
tour in governmental city of The Hague (Den Haag) and your selection of its museums Private
tour in governmental city of The Hague (Den Haag) and your selection of its museums
Dutch/Nederlandse version.
The Hague (Den Haag), our educational and fun day trip, is the national seat of Government and is situated in the Dutch province of South Holland. The Netherlands. The Hague is situated southwest of Amsterdam where I live, and is just 1 hour drive away by car in perfect traffic. If you choose my car, it seats 3 or 4 adults.
As the Hague is the seat of the government of the Kingdom of The Netherlands it has many official institutes and ministry buildings.
Among the many treasured museums in the city is the small Royal Collection of Paintings in the Mauritshuis. Relatively small in size, the museum is like a jewel box, and its holdings include important paintings by the Dutch masters Vermeer, Rembrandt, Hals, Steen, Potter and many others. Near by is the inner court of the Counts of Holland, now the Houses of Pariament. Watch out: Closed 2012-2014 for major renovation. The best masterworks are shown in the Gemeentemuseum.
A little further is the tree-lined lane with stately Embassies. I can tell you stories about friendship between England and Holland and also about international intrigues. The French ambassador had a big ego and there is a wonderful story how stately carriages coming from opposite sides got stuck and nobody wanted to back down. A Dutch politicial defused that situation.
Various statues show the existence of philosophers, kings, stadholders, politicians and how later generations viewed, celebrated and sometimes manipulated their role in Dutch history.
The Hague is also known for its vast Municipal or Gemeente-museum, whose geometric-inspired
yellow brick architecture is a masterwork by Dutch architect Berlage.
It houses the worldís best collection of the works of painter Piet Mondriaan.
Various historical collections include fashion halls and an extremely fine 17th century dollsí house.
The varied collection includes pottery, design, paintings.
The museum was founded with high ideals: elevating the viewer's minds.
Pictures above. Another fine museum, specializing in nineteen century Barbizon art, mainly from French artists but also showing some cutting edge Dutch masters - is the Mesdag museum. A journey back into the 1880's.
Close by is the Panorama Mesdag, one of the last remains of an art form which presented historical or geographical events in a stunning, mind-boggling 3D environment. One can actually run in circles and get a mind altering experience without taking chemical drugs!
On the way back we may drive past the International Court of Justice, a building founded to promote peaceful solutions to international conflicts. Hugo Grotius, an author from 17th c. Delft was one of the first men to come up with the idea that states should make peace, not war. Het wrote the treatise on International Law at Sea.
A visit to the new Town Hall by architect Richard Meier shows one of the largest cathedral-like lobbys in Europe.
Practical matters
Tour duration: 2 to 3 hours. We may go on foot.
Read a biography.
Fine Print / Legal issues
Money-back Guarantee: In case of cancellation during the first 15 minutes, your money is returned in full (this does not apply for tuktuk). Bookings are finalized with a downpayment. I will send detailed instructions. Cancellation: The charges for cancellation more than 48 hours in advance are covered by your deposit. Charges for client cancellation 24-48 hours in advance: 25% of the agreed sum to be billed to the client's credit card. Charges for client cancellation less than 24 hours in advance: 60% of the agreed sum to be billed to the client's credit card. When booking, you agree to these arrangements.
As an art historian based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I can meet you in Utrecht for a personalized guided tour of art museums and the historic center.
Together we will experience the beauty and history . Enjoy yourself and learn about history while strolling and discussing the country's history, art and culture. In doing so, we may touch many bases - spanning not only fine art and architecture but also the city's history and current social issues. See client testimonials.
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If you want to just walk around with a very nice social companion for a day, we recommend www.friends4action.com
Starting at your hotel I will take you on a wonderful private cultural walking tour of your choice. My guided itinerary offers you accessable informative conversation in English, Dutch, or German (my French and Italian are more limited).
Drs. Kaldenbach is chairman of the Circle of Academic Tour Guides of the Netherlands and Flanders (CATON)
You may also arrange this VIP treatment for business contacts or friends. Our cultural tour organisation office will take care of a unique and memorable experience.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours" *.
*Martha Gellhorn, Travels with Myself and another, p. 182.
Please contact me for time and fees of the tailor-made tour you ar interested in.
These tailor made tours are available upon request - please contact me to book a date. Minimum group size: 1 person. Maximum group size is limited to about 10 persons. With a megaphone I can also manage larger groups on the streets.
Photo by Dick Martin.
Endorsements
The Rijksmuseum has done me the honor of linking the main Rijksmuseum site to my website. Start at www.rijksmuseum.nl and select Collection. Then choose 'Digital Collaboration' and the 'Digital Vermeer House'.
I conduct Rembrandt walks in Amsterdam for the Netherlands Bureau of Tourism, London and New York City offices. These clients include important journalists.
The travel site www.luxurytraveler.com has devoted a main feature to my tours and walks.
Read further client testimonials.
Read a biography.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach has been featured in television and radio documentaries, including BBC2 TV, NTV Japan, Danish TV and Radio Netherlands World Service. In July 2004 he was interviewed about Delft artists the Nishinippon (Japan, 2012) and by Tetsuya Tsuruhara for the leading Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun. In 2004 and 2005 he acted in an advisory role to additional BBC teams. Kaldenbach has written extensively on Vermeer and 17th century Delft, also on Vincent van Gogh and on other art history topics.
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach is your private "scholar-lecturer on culture tours".
Further information is available on his encyclopedic web site: www.johannesvermeer.info
See the TV programme on Dutch national TV on Kees Kaldenbach as masseur and art historian. NPS Nederland 2, Saturday, November 25 2006. Go to the Dutch programme Vals Plat. Then move the horizontal bar at the bottom to the desired date. The first minute starts with a clown in a car. Then my 9 minute bit of fame. Audio track in Dutch.
Contact
information:
Drs. Kees Kaldenbach , kalden@xs4all.nl
Haarlemmermeerstraat 83 hs
1058 JS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
telephone 020 - 669 8119 (from abroad NL +20 - 669 8119)
cell phone 06 - 2868 9775 (from abroad NL +6 - 2868 9775)
Reaction, questions? Read client testimonials.
Open seven days a week.
Member of the VVV Tourist information and the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel).
Email responses and bookings to art historian Drs. Kees Kaldenbach.
This page forms part of the 2000+ item Vermeer web site at www.xs4all.nl/~kalden
Launched April 15, 2006. Updated Feb 19, 2013.
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