It’s time to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of The Hague at an exhibition devoted to the love affair that its many expatriate residents have had with the city over the years. The Expatriate Archive Centre, The Hague Municipal Archive, and ACCESS have collaborated to create the exhibition, which is centred around the way that international residents in The Hague have experienced and reacted to their adopted home from the 1950’s to the present. Entitled ‘Expat Impressions of The Hague’, the exhibition includes an abundance of photographs and other visual content, as well as delving into the journals, letters, and other writings of expatriates to tell the story of The Hague as seen through their eyes.
More than History
The exhibition touches on the expatriate perspective on historical events, such as the massive storm that devastated the city in 1953. However, it also focuses extensively on the everyday aspects of life in The Hague, and what it’s like to live here as an expatriate. From photographs of spring flowers and autumn leaves to harrowing accounts of the perils of learning to cycle like the Dutch, expatriates have recorded many of the little things that make The Hague different from any other place. They have tasted the delights of bitterballen, Dutch beers like Heineken and Grolsch, and hazelnootgebak, and enjoyed the uniqueness of Dutch architecture, both from the inside and the outside.
The exhibition will cover expatriate views on topics as diverse as housing, socialising, and shopping in The Hague. Personal experiences of everything from childbirth to ice skating will also find a place in the exhibition.
A Meeting of Cultures
Through their words and photographs, the expatriates included in the exhibition paint a picture of what it is like to experience The Hague for the first time, and how they have integrated their own cultures and customs into their life here. Expatriates and Dutch residents of The Hague alike will find a fresh perspective on their city and its international heritage at the exhibition, which is being sponsored by Shell, The Hague Bridge, CB&I, Rabobank, the American Women’s Club of The Hague, and Petroleum Women’s Club The Hague.
When and Where
The exhibition is free of charge, and will run from 26 October to 14 November 2015 in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00 to 19:00, Thursday from 7:00 to 21:30, and Saturday from 9:30 to 17:00. The mayor will officially inaugurate the exhibition at an invitation-only reception to be held on 4 November. For more information, contact The Expatriate Archive Centre at 70 427 2014 or pr@xpatarchive.com.
