den haag - girl with the pearl earring & goldfinch

Saturday 2nd of March - Den Haag

Seeing the film The Goldfinch last night was the inspiration to go and see the masterpiece by Carel Fabritius today! So we went to the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
The last time we visited this museum was in the early 90s, when we still lived in The Hague, to admire THE painting, obviously. Girl With the Pearl Earring, Vermeer's most famous painting. It is not a portrait, but a 'tronie' – a painting of an imaginary figure.

So today we came especially for The Goldfinch and Girl with the Pearl Earring.

As a bonus we found an incredibly beautiful mural at the Molenstraat, extra enchanting by the March sunlight.

what a beautiful day, we went for a walk in the Noordeinde neighborhood, we visited a few galleries and had coffee & cake on the terrace at Lola Bikes & Coffee.

Later this afternoon we went to West Den Haag, contemporary art in the former American Embassy building. Surprising exhibitions and super cool library, where you can have a drink.

and what a joy that it is finally March!

year of vermeer

Last Saturday when we visited Delft, the Year of Vermeer started. (pure coincidence)

Up to Saturday there was not a real ‘Vermeer’ in Delft, the place where he was born, lived and worked as a painter. Finally after 320 years, one of his masterpieces 'Het Straatje'(The Little Street) can be seen in Delft until 17 July.
Just recently it became clear, where Vermeer painted his little street. There have been many theories about the exact location. But an old tax register proved that it was in Vlamingstraat 40-42, where Vermeer situated his painting. At the painting there are two gates, one is still recognizable today.
The Vlamingstraat is not far from the place where you can see the painting, at the Prinsenhof. The exhibition is called: Vermeer is coming home, the little street back in Delft.

We visited the Rijksmuseum last month and have seen 'Het Straatje van Vermeer' in Amsterdam, so we went to the Botanical Garden instead.