This time Streets & Squares goes to Den Haag, or The Hague as it is called in English. It is the third-largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
The Hague was first mentioned as Die Haghe in 1242, and in the 15th century the name des Graven hage (The Count’s Wood) came into use. The spelling “’s-Gravenhage” was officially used for the city from the 17th century onward. Today, this name is only used in certain official documents.
The Hague is just filled with eponymous streets! And what is particular about the street signs here is that the signs often tell you who the street was named after. Not all, but many do. Very helpful! Naturally, many of the names have local connection - Den Haag or other areas in Netherlands - but many are also from former Dutch colonies, and yet some have international background.
Here is an example how Google maps the smaller streets of, in this case, The Hague!
And here is some vocabulary at first. Kade, straat and weg can all be translated as streets. Furthermore, laan is avenue, plein is square, and park is park. And as always, clicking on the addresses will open Google Maps for you, and clicking on the names will (usually) lead to the person’s Wikipedia page.
Adriaan Pauwstraat - Adriaan Pauw Heer van Heemstede (1585-1653) was a statesman, Grand Pensionary of Holland, and ambassador for Holland, instrumental in securing the Peace of Münster. Born in Amsterdam, Dutch Republic. StreetView
Albert Lutulistraat - Albert Luthuli (1898-1967) South African teacher, activist and politician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960. Born in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (1967/c.69). StreetView - Wiki
Albert Schweitzerlaan - Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was an Alsatian theologian, philosopher and physician who received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life”. Born in Kaysersberg, Alsace-Lorraine, Germany. StreetView
Alexanderstraat -Prince Alexander of the Netherlands (1818-1848) son of King William II/ nephew of Tsar Nicholas I. Born in Soestdijk, Netherlands. StreetView - Wiki
Antonie Duyckstraat - Anthonie Duyck*(c.1560-1629) Grand Pensionary of Holland and an avid journal writer. Born in Den Haag. StreetView
Antonie Heinsiusstraat - Anthonie Heinsius (1641-1720) politician and Grand Pensionary of Holland, born in Delft, Dutch Republic. StreetView
Architect Berlagelaan - Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934) prominent Dutch architect born in Amsterdam. A visit to the U.S. in 1911 greatly affected his architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright being a major influence. StreetView
Architect Dudoklaan - Willem Marinus Dudok (1884-1974) modernist architect (Hilversum Town Hall), born in Amsterdam. StreetView
Architect Jan Wilsstraat - Jan Wils (1891-1972) architect who designed the Olympic Stadium for the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Born in Alkmaar, Netherlands. StreetView
Architect Krophollerkade - Alexander Kropholler (1881-1973) architect who designed several buildings in his birthtown Amsterdam, as well as elsewhere. Streetview -
Architect Krophollerstraat - Alexander Kropholler (1881-1973) Another street (just nearby) named after this architect. StreetView -
Architect Oudkade - Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud (1890-1963) was a Dutch architect born in Purmerend, Netherlands. StreetView - Wiki
Architect Wesstrakade - Herman Wesstra (1843-1911) Dutch architect born in Oldetrijne, Netherlands. Streetview
Blois van Treslongstraat - Willem Bloys van Treslong (1529-1594) nobleman, military leader during the Dutch war of Independence, and one one of the leaders of the Sea Beggars who captured Den Briel on 1 April 1572. Born in Den Briel. StreetView
Christiaan de Wettstraat - Christiaan de Wet (1854-1922) was a Boer general, rebel leader and politician. Born in Smithfield, Orange Free State. StreetView
Cornelis de Wittlaan - Cornelis de Witt (1623-1672) burgomaster of Dordrecht, and politician assassinated like his brother Johan de Witt. Born in Dordrecht, Holland, Dutch Republic. StreetView
Dag Hammerskjöldstraat - Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) was an economist, diplomat and the 2nd Secretary-General of the United Nations. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Price posthumously in 1961. Born in Jönköping, Sweden-Norway. StreetView - Wiki
Dreves Uitterdijkstraat - Dreves Uitterdijk (1866-1940) Dutch linguist who promoted Esperanto. Born in Readtsjerk, Friesland, Netherlands. StreetView -
Folke Bernadottestraat - Folke Bernadotte (1895-1438) was part of the Swedish royal family, but also a diplomat who negotiated the release of about 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps. Born in Stockholm, Sweden. StreetView - Wiki
Frederik Hendriklaan - Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1584-1647) the leading soldier in the Dutch wars against Spain/son of William the Silent. Born in Delft, Dutch Republic. StreetView
Gabriël Metsustraat - Gabriël Metsu (1629-1667) was a painter born in Leiden, Dutch Republic. StreetView
Herman Costerstraat - Herman Coster (1865-1899) Dutch lawyer/State Attorney of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Born in Alkmaar, Netherlands. StreetView
Jan Palachstraat - Jan Palach (1948-1969) was a student of history and political economy who set himself on fire in protest of the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia. Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. StreetView
Joubertstraat - Piet Joubert (1831-1900) was Commandant-General of the South African Republic, and also Vice-President to Paul Kruger. Born at Farm Cango, British Cape Colony. StreetView
Keizerstraat - this street is named either for Maximilian I (1459-1519) Holy Roman Emperor born in Wiener Neustadt, Inner Austria or for Charles V (1500-1558) Holy Roman Emperor born in Ghent, Flanders, Habsburg Netherlands. DenHaag.com - StreetView - Wiki
Martin Luther Kinglaan - Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) civil rights activist. Awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1964. Born in Atlanta, GA USA. I Have a Dream - StreetView
Paul Krugerlaan - Paul Kruger (1825-1904) Boer resistance leader/President of the South African Republic. Born in Steynsburg, Cape Colony. StreetView
Prins Hendrikplein - Prince Henry of the Netherlands (1820-1879) Hendrik Willem Frederik in Dutch. Born in Soestdijk Castle, Baarn, Netherlands (1879/58) StreetView - Wiki
Prins Willemstraat - William I of the Netherlands (1772-1843) Prince of Orange, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Born in The Hague, Dutch Republic. StreetView - Wiki
Raoul Wallenbergstraat - Raoul Wallenberg (1912-disappeared 1945) was an architect, businessman and humanitarian who saved thousands of Jews in German-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust. Born in Stockholm, Sweden. StreetView - Wiki
Tram #1 on Spui, a street in central Den Haag
Steve Bikostraat - Steve Biko (1946-1977) South African anti-apartheid activist and one of the leaders of the Black Consciousness Movement. Born in Tarkastad, Eastern Cape, South Africa. StreetView - Wiki
Van Beverningstraat - Hieronymus van Beverningh (1614-1690) was a prominent Dutch regent, diplomat, hobby botanist and patron of the arts. Born in Gouda. StreetView
Van Boetzelaerlaan - Gideon van den Boetzelaar (1569-1634) Lord of Langerak and Dutch statesman born in Keulen. StreetView
Van Egmondstraat - Lamoraal van Egmont (1522-1568) was Count of Egmont, general and statesman in the Spanish Netherlands whose execution helped spark the national uprising that eventually led to the independence of the Netherlands. Born in Lahamaide, Henegouwen. StreetView
Van Goghstraat -Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) post-impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. Born in Zundert, Netherlands. StreetView - Wiki
Van Loostraat - Albrecht van Loo (1472-1525) a.k.a. Albert van Loo (perhaps to distinguish himself from his father wih the same name), was an attorney and Grand pensionary. Born in Den Haag. StreetView
Van Lumeystraat - Willem van der Marck (1542-1578) was Lord of Lumey and the admiral of the Watergeuzen, the so-called ‘sea beggars’. Born in Lummen. StreetView
Van Slingelandstraat - Simon van Slingelandt (1664-1736) Dutch estate owner and Grand Pensionary of Holland. Born in Dordrecht. StreetView
Wesselsstraat - Cornelius Hermanus Wessels (1851-1924) South African statesman who visited the Hague once during his career. Born in Winburg, Orange River Sovereignty. StreetView
Willem de Zwigjerlaan - William the Silent* (Willem de Zwijger) (1533-1584) the main leader of the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs resulting in the formal independence of the United Provinces. Born in Dillenburg, County of Nassau, Holy Roman Empire. StreetView
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OnHvlY32YE
A to Z FROM DEN HAAG
i.e. a list of people born in Den Haag/The Hague. Just another fun way to know something more about the city. We pick a couple of people for each alphabet, if possible. The numbers you see at the end of each line indicate the year of birth. This list is updated from time to time. And last but not least: the flag of Den Haag!
A – Dick Advocaat* football player/coach (1947)
B – Reinier Beeuwkes* football goalie (1884)
C –
D – Robbert Duval* painter (1639) - Cornelis Andriesz de Graeff* nobleman/chief landholder (1650)
E –
F –
G –
H – Constantijn Huygens Jr.* statesman/ poet/maker of scientific instruments (1628) - Christiaan Huygens* mathematician/astronomer/inventor (1629)
I –
J –
K – Frans Koppelaar* painter (1943) - Tim Krul* football goalie (1988)
L –
M – Magdalena Moons* Dutch heroine (1541)
N –
O –
P – Christoffel Pierson* painter/poet (1631)
Q –
R – Wolfgang William Romer* military engineer (1640)
S – Johannes Secundus* poet (1511) - Carel Struycken* actor (1948)
T – Jan Tinbergen* economist/N (1903) - Nikolaas Tinbergen* biologist/ornithologist/N (1907)
U –
V – Dirck van der Lisse* painter (1607) - Pieter van Os* painter/engraver (1776) - Simon van der Meer* physicist/N (1925) - Paulien van Deutekom* speed skater/WG (1981)
W – Jacob Westerbaen* poet (1599) - Sarina Wiegman* football player/manager/EC (1969)
X –
Y –
Z –
LINKS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Streets_in_The_Hague
https://www.eur.nl/sites/corporate/files/Thesis_Straatnamen_Kooloos.pdf
https://denhaag.com/en/the-best-districts-of-the-hague
https://denhaag.com/en
https://www.thehagueonline.com/news/2018/08/09/a-section-of-the-spui-is-renamed-beyonce-boulevard
Updated 2.9.2022