The Hague was founded in 1248 by Count William II of Holland. "Des Graven Hage" literally means "the count's hedge," or metaphorically "the count's private enclosure." As a neutral town it became the administrative center for the cities of Holland. The French designated it as a city in 1806.
      In 1988 a set of three stamps was issued which had a map of a portion of the town of 's-Gravenhage as a part of the design. The date of the map was given as 1270 which is an error. The proper date is 1570.

     The map may be one drawn by Jacob Van Deventer, about 1560.