DEN HAAG 2026-06-14
Dutch travelog, part 5. Read part 4 here. We were in two locations, so part 5 is divided into two parts.
Sunday felt like our first, properly chill day. We slept in a bit and took our time getting ready. I had wanted to go to Bartine for brunch, but Daniel convinced me to eat at home to save some money, as R&S offered to make breakfast.
So we all had breakfast together, and I invited R&S to join us (along with Luca!) for a walk to Nowhere Bookstore, a bookstore that was founded in Taiwan.
But first, breakfast:
Homemade open-face toastie.
Piet Heinstraat
We made our way to probably the hippest corner of Den Haag. This street has it all: Bartine, Nowhere, and the best ice cream I've ever had in my life, to be revealed in part 6. Piet Heinstraat is lined with cute cafés and artisanal shops. R said that if he could choose to live anywhere in Den Haag, it would be in this area.
We passed by Bartine and it was packed. R said you could never find a seat and we'd have to sit outside because of Luca. I still wanted to try something, so we decided to stop by after the bookstore.
NOWHERE BOOKSTORE
Of course, Han was the one who suggested Nowhere Bookstore to me, as the shop focuses on the East Asian diaspora and has a collection of zines and self-published works.
"Nowhere Bookstore began with publications from the broader Sinosphere world, focusing on social issues, gender, and identity... but also expanded themes to English works on migration experience, colonial histories, feminism, and queer communities, etc. We also focus on Pan-Asian histories, societies and cultures, featuring English works and translations by classic authors, as well as original English writings by Asian diasporic authors." (Source)
They also host various community-wide events, such as film screenings and workshops.
We spent about half an hour perusing. It's not a big store but there was so much to see! In the end, I walked out with two books: the highly-acclaimed Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi and Ghost Town by Kevin Chen. (The latter was recommended to me by the store clerk.)
Books with a side of beans.
I actually wanted the other cover, but they only had this version. I bought it anyway because I want to support them. S also bought stuff too, including a research book about mushrooms and a very nice puzzle set.
BARTINE
Bartine Bakery & Market is known for their exceptional baked goods and changing menu. When we walked back, it seemed less packed, but there were still no seats available, so we stood in the long line instead. In addition to baked goods, they offered takeaway lunches, some kitchenware and cookbooks, and what you'd expect to find in a hip café.
I ordered the cardamom bun, Daniel the pain au chocolat, and we shared a miso chocolate chip cookie. Next time, I will be sure to take pictures, because goddamn was it good! The cookie in particular. I didn't taste any miso at all, but I suspect it's what made it perfectly chewy.
We strolled around the rest of the neighborhood and slowly made our way to the central station. Daniel and I decided to go directly to Delft, because I knew that if we took a break at R&S's, we might not get up from the couch. Delft is only a 15-minute train ride away, so it would be a pretty easy journey.
Stay tuned for part 5.5!