30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 5: In Search of 'The Girl with a Pearl Earring'

(Previous chapter of my journey: 30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 4: The Gentle Art of Doing Nothing - A Day in Giethoorn)

When travelling alone, it is important to savour every moment. To me, that means immersing myself in the quiet magic of museums in the Netherlands. This morning, I made my way to the Mauritshuis in The Hague, home to one of the world's most beloved paintings: Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. Just before I left the hostel, I randomly picked a pair of pearl earrings and put them on, coincidentally paying tribute to the girl who has captivated so many over decades.

The Mauritshuis museum itself is a work of art, with grand, classical halls housing the Royal Cabinet of Paintings. Among the treasures from the Dutch Golden Age, one that particularly caught my attention was Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, a piece he painted at the age of just 25, yet already showing mastery in his profession.

I finished visiting the Mauritshuis by early afternoon. Then I picked a cosy restaurant called Happy Tosti nearby, with its good reviews on Tripadvisor. There, I enjoyed a panini and a salty caramel latte as sunlight streamed through the window, reminding me how simple joy in life looks like.

With no fixed plans for the rest of the day, I decided to visit the Kunstmuseum Den Haag. I'd read a Taiwanese blogger's article and remembered that it houses several Mondrian paintings. So I thought, why not?

While I was walking around, I was fascinated by a dedicated exhibition detailing Mondrian's role in the De Stijl movement. Walking into the room displaying the famous Victory Boogie Woogie, I was surprised to find myself completely alone, as though the art had been reserved just for me.

The Kunstmuseum's collection is wonderfully diverse, spanning different eras and styles. This visit featured numerous works by M.C. Escher. Though the layout of the exhibition rooms felt like a maze, it never seemed overcrowded. On a light-hearted note, I couldn't help but notice how different museum guards are here compared to Hong Kong. Back home, they're often older men who occasionally doze off on chairs – but here, many are young, tall, and rather easy on the eyes. An unexpected bonus for those looking for a pleasant, aesthetic experience, haha!

《The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp》

Self portrait of Rembrant

《Girl with a Pearl Earring》

And just like that, my day among the old masters drew to a close. I returned to the neighbourhood nearby my hostel, walked into a small Italian restaurant for handmade pasta and a G&T, and lingered till past nine. The sky was still not completely dark when I headed back to the hostel, tired but deeply fulfilled. I enjoyed my night penning down today's memories into words.

My journey continues: 30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 6: Visit Miffy's Hometown in Utrecht