The city of The Hague had been familiar with Japanese art and
culture long before Japan was discovered by the rest of Europe. One merchant in
The Hague, Dirk Boer (1803-77), was particularly taken with Japan. In the early
19th century he opened his shop "Japansch Magazijn" (Japanese Repository) which
he filled with exotic merchandise. He also introduced the public to a hitherto
unknown Japan in his gallery "Panorama van Schilderijen en Kabinet van
Zeldzaamheden" (Panorama of Paintings and Cabinets of Curiosities). His second
store, the "Groote Koninklijke Bazar" (Grand Royal Bazaar), became a popular
venue with its fame extending far beyond the Netherlands.