Travel Tips: The Hague - Majurodam

It had been a long time since I had visited Majurodam. Perhaps between 10-12 years ago. It was not the best of weather but the autumn rains and colour gave all the miniature gardens a realistic allure and they are all so magnificently cared for it was true eye-candy. That on top of the super quaint cathedrals, town halls, majestic monumental buildings, water and windmill landscapes with mini French TGV high speed trains racing through the tunnels and along the tracks, almost through your legs.

 Country manors in miniature tiny colourful autumn gardens

 Train tracks along side fields with windmills

Majurodam is The Hague and rightly so, an enormously popular tourist destination. For those who can't travel through the whole Netherlands, the best of the best in terms of architecture and culture is all on miniature display.  The details in everything is wonderfully done. The entrance takes you to the first attraction and gives the history which I had not previously known, shame on me!

George Majuro was a brain leader in the military during the second world war and was part of the Resistance. He led a storming campaign to retake buildings the Germans had then conquered. Unfortunately, he was caught and put into prison. When the prison was bombarded by Allies and he could escape, he took time to help other prisoners which assisted in him being arrested again and imprisoned by the Germans. George Majuro died just a few weeks before Liberation Day at the young and tender age of just 28. His family wanted to put up a memorial in his name and for it to be a place that would bring pleasure. Thus, Majurodam was born. 

 

De Dam, Amsterdam

  

 

All the tiny details are there, including this little row of bikes :)

 

The chain bridges 

  

And typical small canals with big boats

There are several other mini attractions in the park which all take about 5 to 10 mins. The New Amsterdam sees you enter into an old wooden ships with goats, hens and metal old plates. You sail across the shores to America and lank at New York, hearing the history of the developments from a Dutch 'Wal" to American Wall street. It's dark and lights flash on an off as the waves crash up around you projected on windows with other boats out at sea. All quiet impressive. 

Another attraction is the entry into a mini castle dungeon where the great old Masters met in Dordrecht many hundreds of years ago to talk about forming resistance to the Spanish who had taken hold of The Netherlands and the King of Orange was to lead the battle against the enemy. In the room with stained glass windows and projected fireplaces, everyone sits around a huge long hardwood wooden table and benches, putting together the declaration of freedom that would be taken into the future where we all today, enjoy the decisions taken back then. To practice any religion and to be whoever you all. 

  

The Hague government Quarter

 Even a Budget day ceremony with the royals arriving by coach :) 

Majurodam is a delightful day out for young and old. It's not too big but there is so much to see as you amble along and recognise famous Dutch squares, buildings and key landmarks, you can easily spend a few hours in this wonderful miniature funky town. There are sluice gates, boats, a Schiphol airport and aeroplanes with motorised boats, planes, cars and barges. The Majuro family certainly did honour their son for it must be one of the most photographed places on earth!

 

Typical Dutch castles and moats

  

 

Water landscapes 

 

There are tulips, clogs, Dutch figurines and this tropical scene for photographs

As I said... it was wet but that didn't ruin the pleasure. 

Dutch architecture never ceases to impress me :)