You might have heard of the World Peace Flame before: inaugurated in 1999 when seven “flames of peace” from five different continents were united into one in the UK. World Peace Flames have been established in several places across the globe since then, each flame representing our highest intentions for peace.

In The Hague in 2004, 197 countries joined together in peace, and the World Peace Flame The Haguewas inaugurated, a symbol of our aspirations towards peace for the world, a goal as important as ever at the moment.

This monument in The Hague is open 24/7, is free of charge and can easily be combined with a visit to the famous “Peace Palace” (or Vredespalais as it is called in Dutch). In fact, many who visit the Vredespalais walk by it without noticing; it is situated just near the entrance but easy to miss.

Apart from its obvious significance, you might find it an interesting place to visit because each of the 197 countries contributed a special stone to the monument. The Netherlands’ stone is basalt, which is used to build dykes and therefore has a particular meaning.

The World Peace Flame monument is also a place you can take older children to – the fact that so many different stones are displayed is quite fascinating. You can look at them, touch them and simultaneously educate children about the significance and importance of peace — so it makes for very educational sightseeing! 😉