Today we traveled from Rotterdam to the Hague, which is the Netherland’s government center and an international hub of law. We started by exploring on our own and ended up at the Mauritshuis museum. The Mauritshuis is home to many famous Dutch and European paintings, including Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” Not only were the paintings beautiful, but the architecture and interior of the museum were equally stunning. I was excited to see the work of masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Rubens in person for the first time.

Afterwards, we joined our tour guide Brian and Dr. Dukes for an Indonesian lunch. Indonesia was a Dutch colony, so now there is a wealth of Indonesian restaurants in the Netherlands. I had a rice dish with some unknown toppings, and it was the best meal I’ve had so far this trip. Afterwards, we went to see the Peace Palace, which is an internationally recognized symbol for world peace. We learned more about the history of the building, including the fact that most of the funding for the building came from Andrew Carnegie. From Pittsburgh to the Hague, his influence was clearly widespread. We also heard about the organizations housed within the palace, including the International Justice Court and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. If countries have disputes with other countries or organizations, they can settle their issues here.

The Hague is known as the International City of Peace and Justice, so I got to walk in the footsteps of the many world leaders who visit here every year. I think among the chaos and tensions in the world, it is easy to forget that there are systems dedicated to the preservation of peace. I find it inspiring that people funded the creation of projects like the Peace Palace, and that this work continues today with global support from various countries and organizations.

Saturday 5/17/2025