City host Fred Schmale proudly shares his The Hague
- Hospitable The Hague
- July 5, 2024
- 6 min read
Anyone who wants to get to know The Hague would do well to hire a Cityhost. These local ambassadors know the city like no other and are happy to share their love and knowledge about the most special places that you might not find yourself. Let yourself be surprised and experience the real The Hague through the eyes of the people who know it best. Get to know the Embassy of The Hague.
From teacher to Cityhost
'As a Cityhost you are really a point of contact.'
Fred Schmale
Fred finds the contact with people the best part of his volunteer work as a Cityhost. 'I'm always joking around and actually everyone likes to have a nice chat with me. In English, French or German, but I like English the most!'. Fred has a fixed pattern of working, depending on what people want. 'Some people like to start a conversation and some people you can't get away from', he says laughing. 'They have someone they know they can go to and who can help them with their questions. As a Cityhost you are really a point of contact.'
The hidden gems of The Hague
Fred knows more lesser-known places in the centre of The Hague that he can recommend. 'The Escher Museum, the bomb shelter of the Catholic church or the secret door to the palace garden are real recommendations. The Kloosterkerk is also special, although it can be very cold there in December. I once caught a cold there,' he adds with a laugh. 'Did you know that they even cast cannons there and kept horses?'
Fred thinks it is important to give people that little bit extra during their visit. 'People often start with a simple request for a map, but then I always ask what they really want to see. That often leads to nice conversations and it sometimes happens that people come back later to tell how much they enjoyed my advice.' Fred also likes to tell things that are not so standard. 'Did you know that there is a very beautiful painting hanging upstairs in the Mauritshuis that has something special about it? It is a painting of a bull and if you look very closely, you can see that the left hind leg is slightly raised. People always like to hear that.'
The pride of The Hague
What makes The Hague so special for Fred is the small scale and charm of the city. 'It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam,' he explains. 'Everything is a bit closer together here, and that makes it nice for tourists too. You can see a lot in a few hours.' The historical buildings, the special streets and the personal connection he has with places like the Dalton School, for example, ensure that the city has a special place in Fred's heart. Although some parts of the city have changed, Fred still feels at home in The Hague. 'Of course a city changes, but The Hague still feels familiar. The atmosphere is different than in Amsterdam, for example. It's smaller here, you can easily walk through the city centre and discover everything.'
With a smile he tells how he sometimes walks with tourists through the forest towards Kijkduin. 'You can of course take the tram, but if you have time, you can walk beautifully through the forest. Then I always look at their shoes and think: Well, that's possible!' His enthusiasm is infectious and shows that Fred is more than just a Cityhost; he is a true ambassador of The Hague.
Want to know more?
Want to know more about the cityhosts? Take a look at the website: https://www.ambassadevandenhaag.nl/nl