American reporter praises The Hague: “People were having ice cream and talking!”

A clip of the American TV show Today With Hoda & Jenna, where the presenters discuss the “charming town” of The Hague where people "don't have phones," is going viral in the Netherlands.

People in The Hague "don't have phones" according to Hoda Kotb

American journalist Hoda Kotb visited The Hague this week for the Invictus Games, an international sporting event founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex for physically and mentally injured military personnel. Kotb explained how, before making her trip to the Netherlands, she didn’t know what to expect from The Hague. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what it was,” she told co-host, Jenna Bush Hager. 

Clearly though, despite her lack of expectations, Kotb was left thoroughly impressed by the Dutch city. “It’s the most beautiful, beautiful town,” she explained, “It’s got winding streets, it’s got canals everywhere, it’s got houseboats, it’s charming.” But the real stand-out moment for her was when she stumbled upon a “flea market” where “not a single person had a phone out or a phone in their hand.” 

Unsurprisingly, this clip has been met with mixed reactions here in the Netherlands; some are amused, others are pleased to hear their home city praised by those all around the world. Check out the clip below to hear more about Kotb’s visit to The Hague!