Day One Hundred Fifty - June 4

I am up early (05:37) to see a lonely wind turbine against the backdrop of the sunrise. Huge wind turbines line the mouth of the Nieuwe Mass channel that flows into the North Sea and our access route to Rotterdam. It will be almost another two hours before we are safely docked in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. However, when you take the metropolitan areas of Rotterdam and The Hague (only 20 kilometers away), then you have the largest population in the Netherlands with an approximate population of 2.7 million.

Rotterdam is a major logistic centre and is the largest seaport in Europe. This is easily noticeable with the vast number of cranes dotting the harbour as we make our way towards the city. Generally, Insignia makes a 360 degree turn to face the direction when it is time to leave but not on this day.

On our way to our port location, we passed the original Holland American Rotterdam ship which is now a floating restaurant.

Janice and I are on a ship tour takingus to the city of The Hague and the Mauritshuis Museum.

On our way to our first stop, we pass the International Criminal Court then make our way to the Peace Palace which houses the International Court of Justice and the location of the World Peace Flame. The Hague is known as the home of international law and arbitration. It is also called the city of peace and justice.

The Hague is home to the Royal Family and is the administrative centre of the Netherlands, housing both the government and the court. Foreign embassies from many countries can be seen as we make our way to the museum.

The Mauritshuis Museum includes works from many famous Dutch painters including Rembrandt, Rubens, van Haecht, van der Weyden, Vermeer. Of particular interest are paintings of Rembrandt and the painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Vermeer. Janice had really enjoyed the book and was very excited to see the painting that inspired the book.

Sufficient time is remaining once we return to Rotterdam to make our way into the city to see peculiar looking Yellow Cube Houses. These are built on angles with no straight up and down walls anywhere in the house.

We really enjoyed this city with the canal in the centre surrounded by shops and cafes. I think it is in Janice's top ten.

Upon departure Insignia requires the help of a tugboat to pull away from the dock and basically turn the ship completely around before we head back down the channel to the North Sea.

We are in specialty restaurant, Pollo tonight and Janice is amazed by the length of time it takes for us to get to the open North Sea.

It is off to Bruges only 44 nautical miles away.