Mauritshuis and Nationale-Nederlanden launch running routes along street art murals
Runners can discover The Hague in a unique way this summer. The Mauritshuis, together with partner Nationale-Nederlanden, has developed three running routes that pass by street art murals. Nationale-Nederlanden (NN) is also known as the main sponsor of, among others, the NN CPC Loop in The Hague and the NN Marathon The Hague. The routes of approximately 5, 10, and 15 kilometers connect art, exercise, and the city: a sporty way to experience the large murals.
Open-air gallery Every route leads past murals scattered throughout The Hague. Six street artists created these works, each inspired by a masterpiece from the Mauritshuis collection. The artworks are free to view and together form a unique open-air gallery.Martine Gosselink, General Director of the Mauritshuis: “With these routes, we literally put art in motion. Looking at art and running have more in common than you might think: both provide energy and contribute to your well-being.”Mariëlle Krouwel, Chief Marketing Officer NN Group: “Through our partnerships, NN aims to contribute to a healthy mind in a healthy body. As a partner of the Mauritshuis, we make art accessible to everyone together, while challenging people to get moving with our running events. These new running routes merge those two worlds in a unique way.”
Own route Runners can choose from three distances. The route of approximately 15 kilometers passes by all the Mauritshuis murals in the city. Each distance is easy to download via the Mauritshuis website or to import into a navigation app or sports watch. Of course, runners can also create their own route past the artworks. For those who want to discover more about the museum and its collection along the way, there is the podcast *Het geheim van het Mauritshuis*to listen to while running. The running routes pass by murals by Nadia van Luijk (inspired by the artwork *Vase met bloemen* by Jan Davidsz de Heem) and BEYOND (inspired by the artwork * Diana en haar nymphen* by Johannes Vermeer), among others.
Win a Mauritshuis goodie bag The Mauritshuis invites runners to share their run on Instagram. Five Mauritshuis goodie bags worth €100 will be raffled among the entries. You can participate by posting a photo or message of your run using a public Instagram profile by July 15 at the latest, tagging @mauritshuis_museum, and using the hashtag #mauritshuismurals.
Universal Pictures International Netherlands and Pathé welcomed the millionth visitor to Universal Pictures’ Michael yesterday. This special moment took place at Pathé Buitenhof, where new boutique theaters recently opened. Service Manager Jenny Lau was present to surprise the visitors with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, exclusive Michael merchandise, and a voucher for a six-month Club Pathé subscription of their choice.
A regular cinema visit unexpectedly turned into a celebratory moment for Mildred this afternoon. She turned out to be the millionth visitor to the popular biographical film about Michael Jackson. As a memento of this festive occasion, she received two exclusive Michael T-shirts, a bouquet of flowers, and a Club Pathé subscription. With this, she can enjoy unlimited movies at all Pathé cinemas in the Netherlands for six months.
Mildred herself was pleasantly surprised when she heard that she was Michael ‘s millionth visitor. She was actually planning to go to the movie with her granddaughters, but they were unable to join at the last minute. “My granddaughters will be incredibly happy with the Michael T-shirts. They really would have loved to be there. This really is the theater I like coming to most!” said Mildred. What makes this milestone extra special is that more than half of all visitors saw the film at a Pathé theater.
Service Manager Jenny Lau was also present at this special moment. “We are proud to have welcomed Michael’s millionth visitor to Pathé Buitenhof today. Since its release, this Universal Pictures film has developed into one of the most successful music biographies ever at Pathé. At Buitenhof, too, many visitors enjoy the impressive life story, timeless music, and unparalleled performances of Michael Jackson in the recently renovated boutique theaters of Pathé Buitenhof, where comfort and the cinematic experience come together.”
Michael is the cinematic portrait of the life and artistic legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life outside of music, following his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as frontman of the Jackson Five to the visionary artist who, driven by creative ambition, was determined to become the world’s greatest entertainer.
About Pathé
Pathé is the first and largest cinema brand in the Netherlands, offering visitors an unforgettable, welcoming cinema experience. This began with its founding in 1896, which led to the first cinema in Paris in 1906. Pathé continuously invests in innovations that elevate the film experience, such as color, sound, 3D, IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema, and ScreenX, as well as the best seats to enjoy it all: Relax Seats. Today, Pathé theaters can be found in eight countries, with 32 theaters in the Netherlands, including the iconic Royal Tuschinski Theatre and CineCity. Together, these account for 265 screens and 1,700 employees. This involves much more than just a cinema visit: from gaming and escape rooms to a private on-demand cinema and a stylish (cocktail) bar. Many visitors are also welcomed annually for business events, school screenings, premieres, and conferences.
Bloomsday is a literary celebration held every year on 16 June in honour of Irish writer James Joyce and his landmark novel Ulysses. The date marks the day on which the novel takes place: 16 June 1904, as Leopold Bloom and other characters move through the streets of Dublin.
Around the world, Joyce enthusiasts mark Bloomsday with readings, performances, music, walking tours and other cultural events. In The Hague, the occasion is being celebrated at Amare with readings from Ulysses, bringing Joyce’s Dublin characters and language to life for an English-speaking audience.
This event is particularly suited to literature lovers, Irish culture enthusiasts, and anyone curious about one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century.
This is a walk-in event @ Amare, tickets not required.
The Irish Theatre Company (ITC) proudly presents
BLOOMSDAY readings from JAMES JOYCE’S ULYSSES
Dramatised: Ruud Hisgen Directed: Paul Treanor Producer: Mary Gavin Music: Eva Crowley & friends
Performed by the Irish Theatre Company: Sheila Clarke, Emma Zoe Corrigan, Sophie Day, Patricia McAteer, Donal Merren, Paul Treanor, Eva Crowley
In this play Shakespeare explores Love in all its guises. Four pairs of soulmates meet in the mysterious Forest of Arden. One pair leap straight into bed. Another pair are instantaneously dumbstruck by each other’s beauty and pledge their undying troth. The third pair torment each other: he showers chaste love upon her which she haughtily rejects – yet secretly she enjoys the flattery. The fourth pair go further still, playfully blurring their roles and identities to such an extent that flirting becomes more pain than pleasure, and Love itself is pushed to the limit of its endurance – and beyond.
This September, Shakespeare’s iconic comedy will be performed where its action is set – in the great outdoors, by a 5-strong cast of classically trained professional actors.
Illyria, a multi-award-winning company, has built a reputation for excellence over three decades and dominates the outdoor touring theatre sector. Join us for a memorable night of laughter and romance under the stars.
Running time: 140-minutes (approximately), including a 20-minute interval.
Suitable for all ages.
All are welcome to picnic in the Wijdehorst grounds from 17:30 onwards.”
Location: Tuinderij Wijdehorst, Rijkstraatweg 599, 2245 CA Wassenaar
Summertime Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with three days of Latin music, young professionals, icons, and musical heritage.
From July 16 to 18, the Summertime Festival celebrates its twentieth anniversary on the Grote Markt in The Hague. For three days, the rich music culture of Latin America and the Caribbean, including Suriname and the Antilles, takes center stage in a free festival program. For a brief moment, The Hague becomes Rio on the North Sea.
Summertime Festival presents a rich program full of emerging careers and established names; from original folk music to Latin jazz, salsa, samba, kaseko, reggae, and modern fusions. The genres central to the festival emerged from encounters between African, European, and indigenous traditions and carry stories connected to migration, colonial history, and cultural exchange. In doing so, the festival connects artistic quality with accessibility and societal significance.
The anniversary year is dedicated to passing on musical traditions. Young professional musicians are given the opportunity to collaborate with experienced masters of the genre. For example, the big band Reyes del Mambo, in which young professionals perform alongside renowned musicians. Mid-career artists such as Cuban singer Evelyn Dupuy and the internationally composed group Jabuticaba are also part of the program. For the youngest audience, there is Koló, an interactive family performance in which children are introduced to South American music through play. Another highlight is the performance by flutist and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders, who celebrates his 75th birthday during the festival with the project Bigi Yari. Summertime is for the whole family.
Just like last year, there are public dance workshops preceding various concerts. Local dance schools provide introductions that tie in with the live program and invite visitors to participate actively.
With twelve concerts on the Grote Markt, Summertime expects to welcome approximately 15,000 visitors once again. The festival offers a platform to Hague-based creators, young professionals, and artists from home and abroad, and contributes to an inclusive and culturally diverse city.
Stamkartstraat, near The Hague University of Applied Sciences, has recently been brightened up with a series of new street art murals. The artworks were officially unveiled recently in the presence of district alderman Mariëlle Vavier, local residents and others involved in the project.
Mariëlle Vavier, alderman for the Laak district, said: “It is wonderful to see how cooperation between residents, the municipality and artists has transformed this street from an unpleasant and unsafe place into somewhere fresh and bright. Initiatives like this make me very happy as district alderman. Only by working together can we make Laak, and keep Laak, a pleasant place to live for everyone.”
Klaas Verschuure, alderman for Urban Development, said: “We are working on major area development in the Central Innovation District (CID). This involves building, renewing and improving. At the same time, it is important that the area remains a pleasant place to live. As a municipality, we cannot do this alone. I am therefore extremely proud of these committed local residents, who have rolled up their sleeves and helped create something beautiful.”
Peter van Daalen de Jel, chair of BOLF Laak, said: “Only together, with residents, organisations and people from the municipality, can we make and keep the city enjoyable, clean, safe, green and liveable. And it is something you can enjoy doing together too.”
In recent weeks, local residents, BURO Samen, students and new residents of the container homes worked together on the colourful murals. The result is a series of artworks that create a bridge between the past and the future. The design refers both to the history of the former Laakhavens harbour area and to current urban developments, including the growth of The Hague’s skyline as part of the wider Central Innovation District development.
The initiative came from the Bewonersoverleg Leeghwaterkade, Fijnjekade en omgeving, known as BOLF. The residents’ group had noticed that many local residents and passers-by experienced Stamkartstraat as an unpleasant and unsafe place. With funding from the municipality’s Stadmaken programme, they were able to support a project intended to make the street feel more welcoming.
The colourful murals have given Stamkartstraat a fresher appearance and created an opportunity for local residents, students, organisations and the municipality to work together on a shared neighbourhood initiative.
Text and image: Gemeente Den Haag Translation: The Hague Online
