Photography: Thijs Tuurenhout Text: Maaike Kraaijeveld

This book is about The New Hague and The Old Hague. City of gold leaf, civil servants, administrators, sambal, yellow rice and international allure. A centre of power, a royal city without frills. A fine city with a strong cultural mix and a city of contrast. There are two Dutch words for people from The Hague:"Hagenaars" and "Hagenezen". The former are "plummy" and well-spoken, while the latter speak in guttural tones with a rasping "g" sound's The Hague is a city of history and renewal. Of demolition and new developments. A city of carriages and gold leaf.