Discover Benelux | The Hague | Best Places to See
The Mesdag Collection:
a hidden pearl in the city centre TEXT: MIRJAM VAN BIEMEN | PHOTOS: JAN KEES STEENMAN
You would not expect it, but behind the façade of Laan van Meerdervoort number 7F, you will find a big garden with a beautiful museum. It is home to The Mesdag Collection; a set of remarkable paintings collected by master painter and his wife Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) and Sientje. Most tourists know Panorama Mesdag; the museum with Mesdags’ most famous seascape painting which surrounds visitors in all directions. The lesser known Mesdag Collection is just steps away from this panorama. Manager Wite de Savornin Lohman: “Mesdag wasn’t just a painter, but also a collector and an entrepreneur. This collection is composed with love and contains masterpieces of painters whom Mesdag admired very much. The collection feels like a unity. I think this is the result of the extensive period it took
him to build the collection: around 50 years.” The collection’s focal points are the French Barbizon School and The Hague School of which Mesdag was a leading artist himself. Indeed, this Barbizon collection is the largest and most important of its kind outside France. Mesdag also collected applied arts. He bought many ceramics from Dutch designer Theodoor Colenbrander, of whom he was a loyal admirer. De Savornin Lohman: “When Mesdag visited an exposition he would buy many paintings. Sientje, more business-minded, would return less interesting pieces afterwards. The couple lost their only child, and you could say this collection was like one to them.” It is not just the collection that is impressive, so is the museum and its beautiful, tranquil garden. De Savornin Lohman: “Some friends from The Hague told me this is a true pearl that they skipped for a long time. Once found, they thought it was a very rewarding experience.”
For tourists that love 19th century art and prefer some tranquility.
demesdagcollectie.nl/en
A new taste in Chinatown TEXT: ELLA PUT | PHOTOS: FULL MOON EXPRESS
In many Asian cities, food stalls serving a plethora of delights line the streets at the night markets, drawing people out of their houses for dumplings, savoury noodle soups or some sweet nibbles after dinner at home. In particular, Hong Kong is revered as the culinary capital of Asia by many food lovers and this is the city that served as the main inspiration for the Netherlands’ first Asian fresh casual restaurant, Full Moon Express.
Located on the edge of The Hague’s Chinatown, Full Moon Express opened its doors in 2014 to serve a variety of Asian cuisines all prepared in the open kitchen where the senses of the guests are appealed to. “Guests can see how the ingredients come together during the cooking process, smell the flavours being released in the air and finally, of course, tasting the dish is the ultimate highlight,” says owner Raymond Kwok. The restaurant’s menu offers many Hong Kong-inspired dishes such as noodle soups and roasted meats, but also other Asian foods such as the famous Japanese yakitori and teppanyaki (grilled food). Kwok personally recommends the roasted duck, which comes with rice or noodles and costs just eight euros: “Our goal is to offer really good food for affordable prices, just like the night markets of Asia, and I think we’ve been successful at this.”
The restaurant’s interior is also inspired by the night markets of these Asian food cities where you find themed dining rooms such as the Chinese Courtyard, Japanese Tearoom, Red Dragon Rooms or the City Lounge. Guests can choose where they would like to sit and enjoy their meal or sip a cup of tea. “You can find a peaceful moment for lunch during a stressful day at the office, or just enjoy a nice evening with family and friends for dinner,” says Kwok. www.fullmoonexpress.nl Issue 25 | January 2016 | 53