The Hague

The First Hague Peace Conference was convened on May 18, 1899, and was attended by representatives from 26 nations. It resulted in the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This event cemented The Hague's position as a center for international diplomacy and conflict resolution, an identity it maintains today.

The Hague became home to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in 1948, a special court that dealt with Japanese war crimes committed during World War II. This provided The Hague with a significant role in the post-war effort to bring justice and marked the city as an international center for law and justice.

The Hague hosted the First Congress of Europe in 1948, a major event that gathered influential dignitaries and thinkers committed to promoting European integration. The congress laid foundational ideas that would later contribute to the formation of the European Union.

On May 5, 1949, the Council of Europe was founded in The Hague, marking an important step in European unity. The Council aimed to foster human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe, making The Hague an important player in European international relations.

In 1954, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict was adopted, marking a significant treaty in preserving global heritage during wars. This convention underscored The Hague's leadership in cultural heritage protection and international law, influencing subsequent international policies on cultural preservation.

The Peace Palace in The Hague, housing the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, opened to the public in 1983. The events marked a significant moment in making international law and peacekeeping processes more transparent and accessible, further enhancing The Hague's prestige as the legal capital of the world.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) officially came into being on July 1, 2002, with its headquarters in The Hague. As a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, the ICC is a landmark institution in international law, reinforcing The Hague's reputation as the 'City of Peace and Justice'.

In 2005, Dutch police raided a home in The Hague belonging to the Hofstad Network, an Islamic terrorist organization in the Netherlands. Several arrests were made, which highlighted The Hague's role in counter-terrorism efforts within Europe and brought focus on the issue of radicalization and security in urban centers.

King Willem-Alexander was inaugurated on April 30, 2013, in a grand ceremony in Amsterdam, followed by festivities across the country, including The Hague. This event marked the first king in the Netherlands in over a century and was celebrated as a national holiday with numerous events in The Hague, underlining its importance in Dutch culture and history.

The Hague hosted the Nuclear Security Summit on March 24, 2014, where world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, gathered to formulate strategies to prevent nuclear terrorism. This summit was crucial in reinforcing international commitments to nuclear security and was instrumental in showcasing The Hague's role in international diplomacy.