Hofvijver · 50 × 70
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The Hague
Hofvijver
The Binnenhof reflects in the water as a couple pauses beside the pond. A warm city scene for anyone with a soft spot for The Hague.
In the illustration
- The Binnenhof façades beside the Hofvijver
- Four swans among the reflections
- A couple beneath the tree by the water
The story behind the poster
Water, trees and monumental façades give the Hofvijver its distinctive character. Historical views, maps and more recent perspective photographs informed this poster. A photochrom from around 1890–1905 records the relationship between the water and surrounding buildings. The Hague Historical Museum dates the island’s present extent to the nineteenth century.
The water’s history reaches back to the counts’ court. An account from 1353 already mentions the pond, although its exact construction date is unknown. The Haagse Beek supplied fresh water to the court and its moats. Excavated sand helped raise the Vijverberg, so digging the pond also helped shape the neighbouring land.
These references guided the viewpoint. Warm daylight, the walkers and four swans were composed for the illustration, giving the scene the atmosphere of a travel poster from the 1920s and 1930s.
