The Hague is a beautiful city behind the dunes and today still known as 'the largest village of Europe ', that over the past 800 years has grown from a small hamlet to a city of 500.000 inhabitants.
With the Dutch Houses Parliamant, the Dutch Supreme Court, the Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice and the Foreign Embassies The Hague is an international city of peace, justice, diplomacy and democracy. And plus to that: it's also a city full of Royalty.
The Hague is the seat of government, but, somewhat anomalously, not the capital of the Netherlands , a role set aside by the Dutch constitution for Amsterdam . Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands lives and works in The Hague .
The Hague was founded in 1248 by William II, Count of Holland and King of Germany, who was supposed to become the Holy Roman Emperor. He started the construction of a castle in a forest near the sea in Holland , where he intended to live after his coronation. He died in battle before he could be crowned. His castle was never finished, but parts of it remain and are now called the Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall). It is still in use for political events, such as the annual speech from the throne by the monarch.
The centre of Dutch democracy: the Binnenhof with the Houses of Parliament and the Knights' Hall. The Netherlands as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system).
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