Monday 31 October 2011

Our World Tuesday, ABC Wednesday, P for Peace Palace

Welcome to Our World Tuesday! This meme continues in memory of the work of Klaus Peter, whose "that's My World" brought people together from around the world every Monday to share the wonders therein--big and small.Please click on our new logo for "Our World Tuesday" in the sidebar.

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with P.


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The Peace Palace (Dutch: Vredespaleis) is a building situated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is often called the seat of international law because it houses the International Court of Justice (which is the principal judicial body of the United Nations), the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the extensive Peace Palace Library.


Apart from what Wikipedia says about the Palace, I can add that for my husband, his brother and his parents, the Peace Palace had been very important, because my husband's father had worked there as the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration for 46 years until 1968. His room was right over the main entrance. When my father-in-law retired we attended a reception in one of the rooms.I never wore hats, but for this occasion I had to buy one and felt very overdressed.;))



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In addition to hosting these institutions, the Palace is also a regular venue for special events in international policy and law.


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The statue of Carnegie

The idea of the Palace started from a discussion in 1900 between the Russian diplomat Friedrich Martens and the US diplomat Andrew White, over providing a home for the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which was established through the first Hague Peace Conference in 1899. White contacted his friend the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie about this idea. Carnegie had his reservations, and at first was only interested in donating money for the establishment of a Library of International Law. White however was able to convince Carnegie, and in 1903 Carnegie agreed to donate the US$1.5 million ($40,000,000, adjusted for inflation) needed for a Peace Temple that would house the PCA as well as to endow it with a library of international law.





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Various views of the Peace Palace.
At first Carnegie simply wanted to donate the money directly to the Dutch Queen, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands for the building of the palace, but legal problems prohibited this, and in November 1903 the Carnegie Stichting was founded to manage the construction, ownership, and maintenance of the Palace. This foundation is still responsible for these issues at present



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Gifts came from all over the world and pieces of art created by sculptors, painters and other artists from many countries and their rulers. This vase was given by Czar Nicholas II of Russia. The same czar that was so brutally murdered together with his entire family.


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To have a better look, please click on the photos!

35 comments:

Arija said...

What a great post and a great palace Wil and even more interesting with your personal connection to it.

I know in Europe All Hallows is kept quite differently than in America, whichever way, I hope it is a happy day for you.

Anonymous said...

It is a remarkable building and thankfully the man who built all the libraries in America, built this place for law and the legal system. The library in Greenville, Ohio is where I used to go when I was a small boy.

Chloe m said...

That looks like a very posh palace. What a great opportunity to be employed there!

George said...

Thanks for sharing this magnificent building -- and your personal connection to it -- with this us. I found the history and other information to be interesting.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I was in the Hague last year Wil and I thought it was the most beautiful city.

Kay said...

Thank you for showing us these photos. We were at The Hague, but didn't get to see the Peace Palace. Darn! I guess we shall have to go back some day. :-)

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic post, Wil, and such superb captures! Such an interesting look at your world and your connection to it! Because of the severe ice storms in the northeastern part of the US, Sandy has had difficulty posting Our World, but hopefully it will be up at 10 pm Eastern Standard Time. Thanks for your visit and comment as always and they are always much appreciated!!

Sylvia

Roger Owen Green said...

great bit of world AND PERSONAL history!

Indrani said...

Each pic was a delight. The staircase is stunning! Great place.

Anonymous said...

Wow! What an incredibly beautiful place!

Gattina said...

Very interesting post and what a beautiful building !

You ask me if there is no entry anymore on the Our World Blog, I had the same problem, but now it works. Unfortunately I have no access to change anything in the posts I think it is Sandy who is in charge of that.

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Great Photos and awesome history ~ wishing for Peace for all ~ thanks, namaste, CArol (A Creative Harbor) linked w/OWT

B i r g i t t a said...

Impressing building and architecture indeed! I enjoyed the pictures and the text very much :)

??? said...

That's an incredibly impressive building. Well worth buying a hat for (but I would have felt just as overdressed as you).

Nanka said...

A posh palace and exquisite designs and decor!! Such an interesting place and you commentary makes it even more enjoyable!! I marveled at every bit I saw here as you took us through the inner ramparts of the magnificent Peace Palace in The Hague!! The central staircase is breathtaking!!
Gorgeous!

Rajesh said...

Very impressive architecture and interiors of the palace. Thanks for sharing.

EG CameraGirl said...

The Peace Palace is a stunning building! How amazing your father-in-law worked there for 46 years!

anthonynorth said...

It must feel good to have personal connections to such a place. Excellent post.

Kay L. Davies said...

We were only in Den Hague to spend the night before continuing on to Schiphol, Wil, so we didn't have time to see such wonderful places as the Peace Palace. It is SO beautiful. Thank you for telling us about it and sharing these photos with us.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Wow-what an incredible palace! I loved learning about via your story-as you have 'taught' us so many things before. Thanks!

Leslie: said...

How beautiful! I would love to see a photo of you wearing that hat! (I don't look good in them myself.) LOL

Leslie
abcw team

Chronicles of Illusions said...

Wil this is such a great post - so much to see and read - loved it.

photowannabe said...

What an amazing building and how wonderful that you could be involved in a wonderful family activity there.
P.S. I would have felt over dressed in a hat too.

Anonymous said...

How great to learn from you. Thank you for this interesting journey. Please have a good and peaceful new month ahead.

Tumblewords: said...

Exquisite! A grand post!

Linda said...

What a majestic building.

Linda
ABC Wednesday Team

http://word-painting.blogspot.com

Hildred said...

A Peace Palace, - what a lovely idea, and thank you Wil, for all the information and the gorgeous pictures.

Marja said...

A very interesting piece and a beautiful building and what a special visit it must have been knowing that somebody close has workded there for so long and what an amzing place to work in the first place.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Hi Reader Wil,

I laugh to myself. You post a building of Peace, of law and justice.

and I posted one on lawlessness, Prison.

Your weather is getting cooler?

Louis la Vache said...

Fantastic post, Wil!

Josien said...

Wat heerlijk dat ik via jou nog veel van mijn vaderland kan zien!
Het Schielandhuis vind ik ook erg mooi.

Hartelijke groet,

Jackie said...

What a beautiful palace, and the office your FIL worked in is gorgeous.
The only time I wear a hat of sorts is in December, when I'm dressed as Santa's wife, Mistress Holly Claus. I am not a hat person either.

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

What a great place to work. I bet it was hard leaving.

Unknown said...

Excellent pics of het Vredespaleis, Wil:) I actually never went inside, but have very happy memories of it, since my wedding pics were taken in front. Also, for a few years I went to school (an American college) across, on the Scheveningse weg.

Dina said...

So impressive--the history, the building, and especially your father-in-law's high position and long service.