Dutch Tourism
But this is exactly what The Hague has around the Dunne Bierkade: the dwelling houses of world famous painters Paulus Potter, Jan Steen and his father in law Jan van Goyen. Jan van Goyen was a painter of landscapes and sea and river scapes. His son in law Jan Steen is famous for his interior scenes. And Paulus Potter, a painter of rural scenes, is famous for his “Bull” which has the same renown worldwide as Rembrandt’s ’“De Nachtwacht” (The Nightwatch).
You can visit their houses nowadays and you could even stay in your very own (newly renovated) canal apartment. At the same canal, visitors can enter the monumental house of Claes van Balckeneynde, who has built the Royal palaces in The Hague as well as the Catshuis – the Dutch Prime Minister’s house.
Around the corner is the house of the great philosopher Spinoza.
Well, there is even more. In the 19th century painters of “De Haagse School” were living at this canal. Vincent van Gogh took his first painting lessons from them and lived for about 7 years in this area, before going to the French countryside where life was cheaper for a poor painter.
So far, The Hague hasn’t been proud of its past. However, it is now time for change. Especially since visitors from abroad seem to be more interested in these things than the Dutch in general. Are you interested in an authentic tour of the houses of the outdoor museum? Visit the Buitenmuseum.