the hague: where even the seagulls have diplomatic immunity
i’m writing this from a cafe that charges €6 for a cappuccino because apparently international courts suck all the cheap coffee out of this place. the hague is… weird. like, it’s the capital-but-not-capital, full of people in suits arguing about war crimes while tourists take selfies with the Girl With a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis. also, i just checked and it's 8.5°C but feels like 6°C there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
someone told me the Peace Palace has WiFi faster than my ex’s lies. no idea if that’s true, but go check. the Binnenhof’s all gothic and intimidating-i think i got lost three times in the vaulted hallways before a security guard gently ushered me out.
scheveningen beach is windy. like, "why did i even bother brushing my hair" windy. but the fries are good, and if you get bored, Rotterdam, Leiden, or Wassenaar are just a short drive away.
also, the haagse bos? that forest has a literal palace in it. the dutch king lives there, which explains why there’s a guy with a machine gun casually leaning against a tree.
anyway, this city’s a sandwich where the bread is bureaucracy and the filling is North Sea salt. would recommend, but maybe bring a scarf.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/my-brain-is-melting-in-mandalay
- https://topiclo.com/post/moscow-where-cold-weather-and-confusion-meet
- https://topiclo.com/post/havana-a-sensory-overload-and-the-weathers-something
- https://topiclo.com/post/bekasi-the-city-thats-always-in-a-rush
- https://topiclo.com/post/beirut-at-dawn-when-the-city-coughs-itself-awake