And tonight we go back to the Hague in the Netherlands. Jules Vasquez and the rest of the media contingent are back in Belize - and that gave him some time for reflection of the city which is considered to be the home of international law and arbitration. Jules found it to be much more than that:...
Jules Vasquez reporting
We've seen the ICJ - ICJ Cathedral designed like a Cathedral to The Law - its saints, the holy men of nonviolence - Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, and its high priests the men and women who hang on these walls and sit on these chairs.
But to understand the court - and its distance from petty scuffling, you first have to understand the history of the Hague - the administrative centre of the Netherlands - and its third biggest city.
It is a city settled as far back as 1200 - and has been taken in battles by European conquerors from Napoleon to Hitler - its tales and travails celebrated in this light show. And while that is the setting, the logic of the city is best told maybe in all these bicycles, - everyone uses one and even the Prime Minister and some high court judges have been seen whizzing past on them. They're everywhere, the quintessential Dutch means of transports and reflective of a practical approach to everything:
Jan Hennop, Journalist - AFP
"With the pragmatic approach, the Dutch are very pragmatic people. They look at creating solutions to the problems."
And - to us outsiders - the problems in the Hague seemed fewer, no litter, no sexual harassment in the street, no traffic jams, no public drunken-ness. Of course, like all city it has its prejudices and biases and not everyone can be Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring.
But the magic of the city is in its contrasts - but ancient and historic and modern and throbbing with life:
Jos Van Tagelan, City Guide
"I think the contrast is as you may have experience today is striking and makes it even more impressive, that you think hey wow there is much more to the Hague and just a court. The Hague is a beautiful city, because it has the nice combination of the beautiful old houses, history, it is lively, it is diverse, there is lots to see. I like being a citizen of the Hague, because it's a city you can never get enough of."
Email
Print