Peace Palace, International courthouse in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Peace Palace is a red brick courthouse with an 80-meter (262-foot) tower that houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The architecture follows Renaissance Revival patterns with battlements, bay windows, and ornate window frames that resemble a castle.
French architect Louis Marie Cordonnier designed the building, which opened on August 28, 1913, with funds from American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. After the First World War, it became the seat of the newly established Permanent Court of International Justice.
The name comes from the early twentieth-century peace movement that wanted to create a permanent place for international dispute resolution. Visitors today see courtrooms where judges from around the world gather to hear cases involving international law.
The visitor center organizes guided tours that introduce the architecture and the judicial authorities, but you need to register in advance. The grounds with their gardens and ponds are freely accessible and offer a good view of the facade.
More than twenty countries donated building materials and artworks, including Russian vases, Italian marble, and Indonesian wood. The library inside has collected international law documents since the opening and is now one of the largest legal collections in the world.
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