Why The Hague?
The Hague is a pretty little city on the Netherlands' North Sea coast yet it is often overlooked by tourists for its more glamorous sibling Amsterdam to the north. But it is well worth a visit for its architecture, beautiful green spaces (400 hectares of forest) and low-key vibe.
The Hague dates back to the 13th century, when it was hunting grounds for a count, but most of the buildings are from the 18th and 19th centuries. They were constructed in a high and narrow fashion in the neo-classical style and the best examples of this are the imposing homes and townhouses in smart suburban neighbourhoods. The posh Statenkwartier neighbourhood near the harbour has beautiful Art Nouveau buildings. The city's centre however is where you can see splendid buildings from the Middle Ages onwards, including the Baroque mansions in the Lange Voorhout which were constructed in the 1700s.
Despite the thousands of expatriates who live here, the Hague retains a pure, continental charm unsullied by hordes of tourists in search of European cafe culture.
A comfortable bed
The swankiest place in town is the Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel (www.kurhaus.nl; 00 31 70 416 2790), which started as a bathhouse and spa in 1818. The beautiful and sprawling building framed by a long and well-kept avenue overlooks the sea and has recently undergone renovation. It has always been the place to stay for visiting royals, politicians and celebrities. Superior (double) rooms start at €305 (Dh1,500) including taxes.
The Ibis chain of hotels (www.ibishotel.com) are a good choice for those on a smaller budget. There is one near Scheveningen beach (00 31 70 354 3300) with double rooms starting at about €59 (Dh287), including taxes.
The Carlton Ambassador (www.carlton.nl/ambassador; 00 31 70 363 03 63) is a mid-priced option in the city's centre close to the embassies and within walking distance of major tourist sites. Double rooms booked online start at about €147 (Dh723), including taxes.
Find your feet
The Hague has a fantastically efficient and extensive network of trams and buses so driving isn't necessary. Den Haag Centraal train station brings you into the middle of town. Walk up Spui, the pedestrian road, and check out the clothing shops and small restaurants some of which serve the Dutch speciality, bitteballe, bite-sized, deep-fried meat snacks dipped in hot mustard. Turn right for the Mauritshuis museum, which has a wonderful collection of Dutch masters including Johannes Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring. Next door is the Binnenhof building, once the home of the Dutch parliament. The sparse courtyard was used for executions.
For a modern take on crime and punishment and the Netherlands' push to establish itself as a centre for international justice, sign up for a guided tour of the Vredespaleis (guidedtours@carnegie-stichting.nl), home to several institutions including the International Court of Justice. The beautiful neo-Renaissance building was donated by the American tycoon and peace activist Andrew Carnegie in 1913 to study ways of permanently abolishing warfare at a time when the international peace movement was strong.
On the outskirts of the city, the massive beach at Scheveningen attracts nine million visitors a year and is terribly overcrowded in the summer but it can be fun to sit back and watch the crowds.
Meet the locals
Sometimes it seems as if the city is overrun with diplomats and expats working for the bewildering array of international organisations such as Shell or the UN. Many Dutch, regardless of age or class, can be found at any number of coffee shops or fish restaurants by the harbour.
Rent a bike for a few days to see how the Dutch live and get around. Riding bikes isn't a death sport the way it is in many other cities with crash helmets, leotards and neon jackets. Rather it is a gentle activity and cyclists have right of way on the roads. You will see parents on these paths with children in tow, either on their own little bikes or being pulled in small wagons. The Dutch adore dogs and take them everywhere (even to the banks) and petting a friendly pooch is a good way to start a conversation.
Book a table
The restaurants around the harbour can be pricey but the seafood restaurants are worth it for the mussels when in season from late July until March. Order them with frites and mayonnaise and use a pair of empty shells to lift and eat the mussels.
If it's red meat you're after, then one of the best restaurants in town is the Habour Club's steak house, the Steak Club (00 31 70 891 3229). This friendly, loft-style eatery has a good selection of cuts but expect to pay top whack - €5.50 (Dh27) for a small basket of bread. A three-course meal for two people will cost about €100 (Dh486).
For a more casual option, check out Onder de Watertoren (00 31 41 43 45 91), a post-modern style cafe with lots of glass and wood in the middle of a nature reserve. It has a simple but solid menu of pancakes with a variety of fillings, fries, sandwiches and the most delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream. Or take a walk down to the Plein in the city centre and choose from any number of cafes.
Shopper's paradise
The Frederikstraat in the Willemspark neighbourhood has lovely boutiques selling clothes, electronics and furniture. Around the corner on Mauritsake is Secondhand Rose (00 31 70 3467144), a city institution selling vintage designer clothes for men and women. If it is the Mad Men look you favour, this is the place. You can find a 1960s Burberry mackintosh in nearly mint condition for a bargain €90 (Dh438).
The Frederik Hendriklaan, known as "the Fred" to locals, has become gentrified in recent years thanks to an influx of expatriates. It is a good place to find delicious cheeses and deli meats, which shopkeepers will vacuum pack for customers to take abroad. Blokker is famous for good quality, reasonably priced homewares. It is also fun to wander into the flower shops - every neighbourhood has at least one - to admire the pretty blossoms and elegant arrangements. It is hard to leave a florist without a small bouquet of something.
What to avoid
The areas around Hollands Spoor or Centraal train stations at night are not very pleasant as they are not well lit, although the most danger you face is from pickpockets. There is also ongoing construction around Hollands Spoor, making it difficult to find parking, and traffic can be heavy. Many streets and parks are littered with dog mess as most owners don't bother to pick up after their pets, so take care where you step.
Don't miss
The Dunes in the Scheveningen neighbourhood is a breathtaking wild nature reserve. These are not dunes in the sense of waves of undulating sand but a vast green space with birds, ponds and wooded areas leading out to the beach. In the summer it is a great place for picnics and horse riding. In the winter, if there is enough snow, people go cross-country skiing.
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
UAE v United States, T20 International Series
Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.
1st match: Friday, 2pm
2nd match: Saturday, 2pm
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
Facebook | Our website | Instagram
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday:
- 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
- 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
- 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
- 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
- 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
- 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
- 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
- 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
- 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
- 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
