Dr. Hugo K s' Jacob, Historian and Author of the ' Rajas of Cochin : 1663-1720 ; Kings, Chiefs and the Dutch East India Company', gave us an impressive tour of present day Netherlands - a modern Nation, which succeeds in achieving a balance between preserving history and architecture of yore with historical significance, alongside a very modern and eco-friendly cityscape.

We walked through the streets, visited the National Library in Den Hague to attend a Seminar organized by Historians about a Dutch Outpost in Japan. Later, we went to his Reading Room at the Library, where he explained how he translates documents from Old Dutch to New Dutch and then re-translates them into English. Only a handful of Scholars are well-versed in Old Dutch. Today, reseach and studies at the Docotorate levels are organized, to continue the study of Old Dutch.

The next day we visited the National Archives. I felt privileged at having been given an oppurtunityto take a look at their meticulously preserved Manuscripts from the Dutch seafaring days and the numerous Volumes holding information on the Dutch dealings with the Rajas of Cochin and other Chieftains in the 17th and 18th Centuries.