On our final day in the Netherlands, we decided to get out of Amsterdam and into “the countryside.” Apparently we went the wrong way because all we saw where buildings, homes, buildings, farms and buildings. Oh yeah, and people. We took the train to Den Haag, which is the capital of Holland. There wasn’t too much to do here, except for one amazing thing. Maybe amazing to girls, not so much to boys.

The Maritus Huis in Den Haag is home to Vermeer’s Famous Girl with a Pearl Earring. The Maritus Huis is a beautiful building that used to be a family residence. However, it has sense been turned into this art museum. The great thing about the museum is you wouldn’t know it was there unless you KNEW. It’s tucked away off of the main streets in Den Haag, and there’s relatively no advertising for it. But thanks to Frommer’s, we knew exactly where we were heading. Inside you can see all kind of art by many famous Netherlands painters, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh to Vermeer. They have quite an extensive collection of beautiful art from all periods and all types and mediums. The most wonderful feeling, however, is when you are looking for Girl. Let me paint (ha!) you the picture:

You enter The Maritus Huis from the basement through the servant’s entrance. You can see the gift shop, so the excitement of seeing the original Girl is building up inside you. As you climb the staircase that leads you gracefully into the center of the first flower, you look around, take in the art, but all the while knowing that Girl is there somewhere, waiting for you to seek her out. You try to keep yourself calm by reminding your anxious heart, “She’s here! She’s here! Don’t worry! We’ll get there. Just enjoy the wonderful art and don’t miss out on anything!” But that becomes increasingly hard as you wander through the rooms and yet, you’re looking for someone. Climbing the stairs to the third floor, you’re surrounded by still lifes of tulips and Lilies and various other flowers as your audio tour hums in your ear, “Naturally, these flowers wouldn’t bloom all together, but here (such and such artist) portrays the eleg”….blah, blah. I KNOW! But where is she???

You enter the room, resigned to the fact that you might have to go back through again and find her. As you stare into the stamens of another tulip, you look to your left. Here, Brother Bee is looking at a painting, then back at you, and then at the painting. As you turn, you realize, your senses weren’t on radar. Here she is! In all her splendor. The Girl with the pearl earring is staring back at you. She’s not on her own pedestal or behind glass. She’s hanging on the wall with other pictures as plain as can be. But you can’t help thinking to yourself, that this is how she should be. In fact, Girl with a Pearl Earring was never supposed to be that big of a deal, but yet, it’s Vermeer’s simplicity with this painting that makes her stand out beyond all others. Not to mention that Tracy Chevalier made her famous with her book, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Oh yes, and the movie.

I was enchanted, charmed, stunned, and moved. It was almost as good as seeing a celebrity…without the paparazzi, flashing lights, and “I make millions of dollars” attitude. It was surreal to say the least, and completely wonderful. Am I in love? Quite possibly. But I can only imagine what goes through one’s head while traveling around The Louvre. I assume it’s much of the same.