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Showing posts from May, 2023

The splendid history of the Kurhaus in Scheveningen

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Although Scheveningen is not especially my favourite beach resort in The Netherlands, I'd like to do a special mention of the Kurhaus. The Kurhaus of Scheveningen, The Hague in the Netherlands is a hotel which is called the Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus The Hague since October 2014. It is located in the main seaside resort area, near the beach. A beautiful History The Kurhaus was built between 1884 and 1885 by the German architects Johann Friedrich Henkenhaf and Friedrich Ebert. It consisted originally of a concert hall and a hotel with 120 rooms. Having suffered serious damage by fire, it was rebuilt between 1886 and 1887.  Interior The ceilings were painted by the Brussels artist Van Hoeck and his large workshop.  The history continued Until the mid 1960s, the Kurhaus remained a public attraction as a major concert hall, at which many top artists performed.  Ike & Tina Turner performed at the Kurhaus on February 11, 1971. The show was aired on Dutch television VPRO and...

OTD 24 May 1913 An important Royal wedding

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On 21 May 1913, King George V arrived at Vlissingen on board of the Royal Yacht, Victoria & Albert. Together with his wife, Queen Mary, Lord Stamfordham (his secretary) and sir Frederick Ponsonby he walked to a car, which brought them to the imperial train. The company was on their way to Berlin, for attending the royal wedding of  Victoria Louisa of Prussia and Ernstest August, Duke of Brunswick. This important royal wedding took place on 24 May 1913. The marriage ended a rift between the Houses of Hohenzollern and Hanover. However it took a long time that this event took place: anydiscussions of marriage were prolonged for months due to political concerns. Ernest Augustus was also the heir to the Kingdom of Hanover, which the Kingdom of Prussia annexed following the 1866 Austro- Prussian War.  The Prussian crown prince was displeased with the match and wished that Ernest Augustus would abdicate his rights to Hanover; in a compromise, it was decided that, in e...

Coronation Day

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Coronation day is finally there! On 6 May 2023, a historic event took place: the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 👀 How to watch the coronation?  Check it on BBC on this link . You can even follow the coronation on Youtube. See this link .  Happy Coronation day!  Their Majesties are underway in a procession screenshots The King and his crown! The King and Queen are crowned After the service in Westminster Abbey there was a lovely procession to  Buckingham Palace. At Buckingham Palace we got a view of the gardens and all the regiments bringing a salute to their Majesties.  Later King Charles III and Queen Camilla appeared on the balcony of Buckingham  Palace, just as the rest of the working royals and the fly past took place.  It really was a very well organized event and it felt if we all were a part of living history.  I received on 24 August 2023 a special postcard  Screenshots BBC

The Coronation of Queen Victoria

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On 28 June 1838, the coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom  took place at Westminster Abbey in London. The planning Queen Victoria succeeded her uncle King William IV on 20 June 1837. Her first prime minister was Lord Melbourne, with whom she developed a close personal friendship.  Until 1867, the Demise of the Crown automatically triggered the dissolution of parliament: voting in the subsequent general election took place between 24 July and 18 August. The result was a victory for Melbourne, whose Whig Party government was returned to power for another four years. Their majority over the opposition Conservative (formerly Tory) Party was reduced from 112 seats to 30. Melbourne was the leading player in the planning, preparation and implementation of Victoria's coronation. The crowd Prior to 1838, only the peerage had taken part in a coronation. The day's ceremonies would have begun in Westminster Hall, (now attached to the Houses of Parliament), and upon their com...

At the Royal Greenhouses of Laken

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On April 20th. 2023, I finally got the chance to visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laken (near Brussels). First we passed the Royal Palace of Laken, the family home of King Philippe of the Belgians. In the Royal Park of Laken, the Greenhouses are located.  Dark clouds above the Royal Greenhouses of Laken History The original gardens of the Royal Palace of Laeken date back to the 18th century, but King Leopold II drastically changed their appearance. The king, having visited the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, wanted such a progressive building in his palace's garden, which would combine his love for plants with multifunctional spaces that could also be used as a banquet, theatre and dining halls. He commissioned his architect Alphonse Balat to create a greenhouse. The inauguration took place in 1880, but the complex was also expanded afterwards.  After Balat's death, Leopold called upon the architects Henri Maquet and Charles Girault. The octagonal Palm ...