"For a Saturday, it was eerily quiet, as though time itself was standing still. But it did give me time to stay and simply admire this building for a while; something I usually wouldn't have the time or space to really do."
The tram that stops at the end of my street takes me straight to the centre of The Hague in about 10 minutes. You wouldn't really think you are in a city here; it is not crowded or bustling in the way you might expect. There is a laid-back vibe and feeling of open space that is far more like a suburban neighbourhood than a big city. For me, this is one of the things that makes The Hague such a comfortable place to live.
I jump off the tram at Gravenstraat, the very centre of the shopping area. Small, narrow side streets of shops run off the main street with all kinds of stores from familiar chains to small independent shops. The Passage, a covered walkway of shops, also begins here. There are no shortage of designer shops, if you dare to step inside their doorways đ. Some of the very small, winding streets have some real gems to find if you have a wander.
Right near the tram stop sits the imposing building you see in the photograph. The tram runs either side of it and several shops and cafes surround it. One of my favourite pastimes during the weekend has been to sit for a while with lunch and a coffee in this area, and who couldn't admire this intriguing building?
This building is home to a clothes store, but it is without a doubt attractive in itself and is a real centrepiece of the city centre. It is known as 'the candy box' and it is no surprise why with it's eye-catching, colourful design. It was built in 1998, reportedly designed by a British architect and is far more attractive than the old buildings that stood there previously. Whilst I often walk past (and of course, go inside to shop âșïž), on this particular bright day, I decided to go with my camera and take some photos of it.
It was just at the start of the coronavirus outbreak and I decided to take advantage of the quieter streets to go and get this shot. With such wonderful bright conditions and the sun positioned perfectly, I wanted to take an image that would fully show the colours and grandeur of this building. It was my goal to capture the lens flare, an effect you'll have noticed that I love in my photos. The colours and shape of the building work well against the bright blue sky.
It was calm, bright and very peaceful that day; unusually so, because of the current situation. A few people passed by me, but I had that part of the city almost to myself that day. I definitely felt a tinge of sadness...usually there would be a row of bikes parked up to the left of the building and people walking around with their shopping bags, but for a Saturday, it was eerily quiet, as though time itself was standing still. But it did give me time to stay and simply admire this building for a while; something I usually wouldn't have the time or space to really do.
The cheerful bright colours of this building, the peace and quiet of the day and the warmth of the sun make this image a worthy addition to my collection of images that give me a sense of calm and peace, as I remember the atmosphere there every time I look at it. And it is certainly worth stopping for a while and admiring this incredible piece of architecture that is a centrepiece of such a beautiful city.
Take a look in my gallery of The Hague if you'd also like to see another photo I took of the area, where you'll get more of a sense of the surroundings of this building.
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