Museum Meermanno, the Book Museum

Museum Meermanno

There is an interesting exhibition in this well-known Book Museum about birds in books. Birds in medieval manuscripts, in the margins, as illuminations, in early printed books, painted, woodcuts, in modern books and in historic bird encyclopaedias, in old and new books up to the first half of the 20^th century.  I was especially impressed by the old illustrations, by the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, sometimes looking more like a goose than a dove. The manuscripts are beautifully illuminated in gold and very bright colours. I tried to take pictures which was quite difficult as the books are displayed in glass showcases and there was no daylight, just artificial light reflecting on the glass. Nevertheless I managed to photograph some of the illustrations.

 The view from the museum

 Part of the walled garden

The view towards the museum

The museum itself is in an interesting building, one of a row along a canal. Next to it is a Jewish Synagogue and centre adjacent to the Masonic Lodge. They are big houses and have large gardens at the back. The weather was so nice that I could sit in the garden and have a coffee enjoying the pattern of this formal garden.

 An illuminated manuscript

A Liber Amicorum. Right: Icarus falling down

The museum is in an interesting part of The Hague. The Hague has been ruined in the fifties and sixties. Canals were filled in, wide streets which were supposed to cut through The Hague just stopped in the centre leading nowhere. It is so sad to see pictures of the city in the 19^th and early 20^th century, and see the heart of the city as it is nowadays. But at least we still have our “Binnenhof” and renewed Mauritshuis.  

 The "Hofvijver" looking at the old and the new, as "Jantje" does too 

The area I walked through has many specialist shops and art galleries. It is a pleasure to browse through beautiful books, publishers’ rejects, through Italian, French and German films on DVD, art films which are difficult to get at. Paper shops, a shop with all the materials bookbinders dream of, glues, linens. The most fantastic hand marbled papers and soft silky Japanese papers with wonderful prints. To see small statues of bronze in art galleries, expensive, but wonderfully made.  

 One of the few canals which are left

 A Ferrari bought with the profits of this second hand bookshop???

Ice cream van in front of the Noordeinde Palace

Of course there are also expensive boutiques and shoe shops, many colourful cafe’s, pubs and restaurants offering food from around the globe. It is good to see that The Hague has at least left that part of the town intact.