Bonfires and gatherings seem to go hand in hand wherever you may find yourself. Even just gathering around a small fire, it is all about coming together. Of course every nation and culture has it's own special version of joining together around a fire. It might be for the warmth the fire offers or simply the pleasant company that goes with it. Even so here in the Netherlands and to be more specific, here in The Hague we have our very own unique tradition.

At the end of every year there is battle between Scheveningen (The North Beach) and Duindorp (Zuiderstrand) for the claim to the title of 'highest bonfire in The Netherlands. During the five days between Christmas and New Year's both parties attempt to build the biggest and highest stack of pallets. On New Year's Eve the winner of the competition will be revealed by measuring which of the two stacks of palets deserves the victorya and claim to the title. Of course both stacks will subsequently be lighted and hundreds of people are gathered around these massive fires. 

As will all traditions they came about many years ago. This particular tradition finds it's roots in the period after World War II, when youngsters crossed The Hague in search for Christmas trees to light up and build bonfires with.
​For more history and how this tradition evolved (including the battle between the two neighbourghoods) click here. 

This may very well be one of the best kept secrets: the world famous painter Vincent van Gogh has lived in The Hague for 7 years (divided into two periods). There is no other place where he has lived that long. During his time here in The Hague he decided to become a painter and took lessons from the great painters of those days. One of these great painters was Bosboom who lived in the Jan Van Goyen House here at the canal. 
His teachers in painting had the 'common people' as a subject, not the rich and wealthy. Fishermen in Scheveningen, farmers, the rural and idealized life. Van Gogh added to this the poverty of the labourers of the industrial revolution and the hopelessness of their existence. In doing this, he was deeply influenced by the writings of Charles Dickens. 
In his Hague years, Van Gogh lived in our neighbourhood. At Lange Beestenmarkt, and nearby Hollands Spoor Station. He has painted a lot of people and locations in our city.