Does the term “The Hague” ring a bell? In my book, it is the only city in the world with the definitive article “The”, making it unique and unforgettable.
But here’s the catch. I bet before March 11, or barely two weeks ago, most Filipinos had never heard of this place and would therefore be unaware where it is located.
I know where it is. I have been there twice. In the 1980s and in 2007. In the first one, I was lucky to be accepted to the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. I was, modesty aside, a recipient of a Dutch Government scholarship for a Master of Social Studies degree, majoring in Regional Planning. The course took 15 months, so I was in The Hague for quite a while. The second time was when I was part of an official government mission to Germany to study government decentralization.
Holland (or the Netherlands) is a beautiful place just like many other areas in Europe. Of course, Holland, a country with a population of 18 million, is famous for its windmills which were used to pump water out of their lowlands so that these can be farmed. It is a country where tulips of many colors fill large tracts of land especially in areas near the North Sea with the most famous of these being the Keukenhof Gardens. This place attracts millions of tourists each year. Quite a pretty sight.
They have a thriving dairy industry, meaning it has a very large cattle population numbering 3.77 million as of last year. Some writers have commented that in Holland, they placed people on top of each other so they can make room for their cows. This was a reference to the rapid rise in multistorey apartment buildings amidst wide areas devoted to cattle farming and dairy.
And the cheese is great, acknowledged to be among the best tasting in the world. I was astounded to see in one of their food fairs a circular piece of cheese that was so large they had to use a saw to slice it.
And their national costume includes wooded shoes, the counterpart of our “bakya”. They wore these in areas in ancient times when many places often experienced wet weather and sodden grounds. One-fourth of Holland is below sea level. They are pioneers in building dikes so they can have land for their homes and protect their communities from floods.
The Institute where I studied and finished a master’s degree is located in a section of The Hague that is adjacent to Scheveningen, where the International Criminal Court is located. Now I am in awe. It surely did not occur to me at that time more than 30 years ago that I would be studying in a building only a kilometer away from the ICC. Scheveningen has luxurious beach resorts because the beach is several kilometers long and is only 15 minutes from the center of The Hague. When I was there this beach had a nudist section, a symbol of the Dutch tradition of liberality and freedom. I learned it is still there.
Now, why did I mention the ICC? We all know that former President Rodrigo Duterte is in the ICC facing 43 charges of murder, all related to the “War on Drugs” during his presidency. I will not discuss the legal aspects of his case. I simply want to share how I miss The Hague, one of the most beautiful places in the world. I plan to go there in two years' time.
It is just a pity that former President Duterte is not there to enjoy the panoramic beauty of his surroundings, relish the cool weather outdoors in the summer months like in these months, and see how majestic the castles in Holland and nearby countries are. Instead, he is there in an extremely problematic legal situation, sleeping in a room without a window, and facing a probable trial that can result in his inability to return.
If I had a choice between going to the US and going to Europe, especially Holland, no contest, I would choose Europe. This is certainly not a choice for former President Duterte, at this time.
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