Inspired wanderings to Amsterdam
Throughout 2024, Virginia travelled back and forth to Holland to work on a wonderful project: a beautiful home in Wassenaar, a prestigious suburb of The Hague known for its charm and elegance.
The project allowed Virginia to immerse herself in the rich cultural heritage of the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, she explored the treasures of the Rijksmuseum, wandered along the iconic canals, and sourced fabulous ironmongery for the project from Weijntjes. Her visits reignited her admiration for the timeless beauty of checked flooring, often seen in Dutch interior paintings.
Continuing with the house in Wassenaar, Virginia also sought out authentic 17th- and 18th-century Delft tiles, a hallmark of Dutch artistry. This led her to the historic potteries of Delft, where she also discovered exquisite dealers lining the main market square. Her explorations then extended to Vermeer’s home and museum, a space steeped in creativity, where nearly all of his 36 known masterpieces were painted.
Whilst staying at the stately Hotel Des Indes in The Hague, Virginia was able to visit her all-time favourite, the Mauritshuis Museum. This intimate jewel of a museum, housed in a 17th-century palace, showcases an extraordinary collection of Dutch and Flemish Golden Age masterpieces. Among the highlights are Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Carel Fabritius’ The Goldfinch, and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. The richly decorated silk-damask-lined rooms and the views of the canals were sure to evoke an atmosphere of old-world elegance.
The Hague itself is a captivating mix of cobbled streets, hidden eateries, quaint bridges, and grand townhouses lining the canals. On drives through the countryside to reach Wassenaar, Virginia was mesmerised by the vibrant patchwork of tulip fields, their colours stretching endlessly across the horizon—a quintessential Dutch scene.
For this special project, Virginia incorporated a range of fabrics from the Virginia White Collection, carefully chosen to complement the character of the Wassenaar house, which we look forward to showcasing in an upcoming Wanderings!