Netherlands Galleries

Brisbane, Queensland : Recently went on holidays overseas and passed these guys at the Brisbane International Airport - they are called 'Travellers' - I was disappointed that they didn't depict an Australian. I wonder what impression an overseas visitor to our city would have after viewing them.

Brisbane, Queensland

Recently went on holidays overseas and passed these guys at the Brisba ...

Updated: Mar 22, 2009 5:17pm PST

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Nijmegen, Netherlands

Nijmegen is a municipality and a city in the east of the Netherlands, ...

Updated: Sep 28, 2008 1:29am PST

Vaalserberg, Netherlands : After leaving Monschau, Germany, Ed & Liesbeth drove us to the Vaalserberg, which is the centre where three countries meet. It is also the highest part of Holland - and that isn't very high at all. The Vaalserberg 'Mount Vaals' is a hill 1,059 ft in height, the highest point in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of Limburg, at the southeasternmost edge of the country in the municipality of Vaals, near the eponymous town, some three kilometres west of Aachen. The Vaalserberg is also noted for being the location where the borders of three countries intersect, giving its summit the name of Drielandenpunt ("Three-Country Point") in Dutch, or Dreiländereck ("Three-Country Corner") in German, or Trois Frontières ("Three Borders") in French.

Vaalserberg, Netherlands

After leaving Monschau, Germany, Ed & Liesbeth drove us to the Vaalser ...

Updated: Sep 26, 2008 4:44pm PST

Blitterswijck, Netherlands : After collecting us at Antwerp, Ed & Liesbeth drove us to Blitterswijck where they had reserved a lovely cottage in the woods at Landal Het Roekenbosch. There were 219 bungalows on 25 acres. The upstairs bedrooms in our cottage were in the loft and accessed by a very narrow ladder. I really enjoyed my time at Blitterswijck and the food was great!!! From Blitterswijck we explored Monschau in Germany and Nijmegen in Holland.

Blitterswijck, Netherlands

After collecting us at Antwerp, Ed & Liesbeth drove us to Blitterswijc ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2008 1:39am PST

Stoom tram from Medemblik to Hoorn : After we left the Friesland charter boat, we had lunch in Medemblik and caught the steam train to Hoorn. This was really fun, it was cold, with showery rain, and most of these photos were taken when the train was moving. Not even time to compose the photo. I was pleased with the results. The Museum Steam Tram Hoorn-Medemblik is the officially registered museum that captures the history of the steam tram in The Netherlands, highlighting the role of rural rail transport in the development of the country between 1879 and 1966. To that end, the Museum Steam Tram organisation acquires, restores and keeps a collection which as a whole represents this history. The collection, incorporating authentic Dutch steam tram stock, as well as the secondary railway line between Hoorn and Medemblik including buildings, signalling, objects and archival documentation, is the basis for a historically correct and recreationally attractive presentation. The presentation is centred around the historical setting of the year 1926.

Stoom tram from Medemblik to Hoorn

After we left the Friesland charter boat, we had lunch in Medemblik an ...

Updated: Apr 18, 2008 1:45pm PST

Enkhuizen to Medemblik on the Friesland : After our early morning walk on the 14th day, Ed drove us to Enkhuizen Harbour. We boarded the Friesland and sailed across the IJsselmeer to Medemblik. It was a cold and drizzly morning and visibility was very low, nevertheless we all enjoyed the trip very much.

Enkhuizen to Medemblik on the Friesland

After our early morning walk on the 14th day, Ed drove us to Enkhuizen ...

Updated: Apr 17, 2008 3:57am PST

Morning walk around Midwoud : Day Fourteen and Judy and I take an early morning walk around Midwoud - I love this small country village, so much to see as it is so different to where we live.

Morning walk around Midwoud

Day Fourteen and Judy and I take an early morning walk around Midwoud ...

Updated: Apr 14, 2008 1:50am PST

Hoorn, Netherlands - again : Today is the 13th day and we went back to Hoorn to see a reproduction of a traditional merchant cheese market as operated in the Middle Ages. I have seen old photos of cheese markets taken in the late 1800's and early 1900's and I can tell you that what we saw at Hoorn was exactly as it happened years ago. I especially loved the traditional music and singing. This was the last cheese market in Hoorn for 2007.

Hoorn, Netherlands - again

Today is the 13th day and we went back to Hoorn to see a reproduction ...

Updated: Apr 13, 2008 1:44am PST

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands : On Day 12 we visited the Zaanse Schans, a delightful old hamlet on the banks of the river Zaan with characteristic green wooden houses, charming styalised gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops. This enchanting hamlet gives an excellent impression of how a typical Zaanse village must have looked like in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was a delightful place - so much to see. Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk in the municipality of Zaanstad in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

On Day 12 we visited the Zaanse Schans, a delightful old hamlet on the ...

Updated: Apr 06, 2008 1:04am PST

Amsterdam, Netherlands : It's Day 11, and we are off to Amsterdam - Ed led us on a guided tour - it's a bleak day but it doesn't rain. We parked the car at Amsterdam Arena and caught the train into the city. The Arena is huge, and Amsterdam City in their wisdom use the stadium as a carpark to help pay for its construction. Parking tickets can be purchased on the net. The Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA rail station is right next door. Amsterdam on the River Amstel was given city rights in 1300.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

It's Day 11, and we are off to Amsterdam - Ed led us on a guided tour ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 4:48pm PST

Schermer district, Netherlands : On the afternoon of the first day, Ed & Liesbeth took me for a drive in the rural area around where they live. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of their country which is so different to Australia.

Schermer district, Netherlands

On the afternoon of the first day, Ed & Liesbeth took me for a drive i ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 6:28pm PST

Afsluitdijk, Netherlands : is a major dike in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of 32 km and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level. It is a fundamental part of the larger Zuiderzee Works, damming off the Zuiderzee, a salt water inlet of the North Sea and turning it into the fresh water lake of the IJsselmeer. On Sunday, my third day in Holland, we drove over the Adsluitdijk on our way to Sneek.

Afsluitdijk, Netherlands

is a major dike in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 5:14pm PST

Twisk, Netherlands : Day number 4 we spent at Twisk, a village near Midwoud in the Dutch province of North Holland. Sunny skies turned to rain forcing us to leave early and return the next day - exactly the same thing happened, the skies opened and the rain poured down.

Twisk, Netherlands

Day number 4 we spent at Twisk, a village near Midwoud in the Dutch pr ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 5:08pm PST

Oostwoud, Netherlands : Oostwoud is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Noorder-Koggenland, and lies about 8 km north of Hoorn. Liesbeth & I stopped there on our way home from Medemblik.

Oostwoud, Netherlands

Oostwoud is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a par ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 4:45pm PST

Enkhuizen, Netherlands : Day seven - one whole week - we sailed to Enkhuizen for the day. Enkhuizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Enkhuizen was one of the harbour-towns of the VOC, just like Hoorn and Amsterdam, from where overseas trade with the East Indies was conducted. It received city rights in 1355. In the mid-17th century, Enkhuizen was at the peak of its power and was one of the most important harbour cities in the Netherlands. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the silting up of the harbours, Enkhuizen lost its position to Amsterdam.

Enkhuizen, Netherlands

Day seven - one whole week - we sailed to Enkhuizen for the day. Enkh ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 3:56pm PST

Walking around Midwoud, Netherlands : Day Nine is an exciting day, my sister Judy arrived at Amsterdam in the morning. We enjoy a walk around Midwoud after her long flight.

Walking around Midwoud, Netherlands

Day Nine is an exciting day, my sister Judy arrived at Amsterdam in th ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 3:51pm PST

Muiden, Netherlands : Ten days already and we are off to Muiden visit an amazing castle, Muiderslot and the adjoining gardens. What an adventure !!!! The Muiderslot is a castle in the Netherlands, located at the mouth of the river Vecht, some 15 kilometres southeast of Amsterdam, where it flows into what used to be the Zuiderzee.

Muiden, Netherlands

Ten days already and we are off to Muiden visit an amazing castle, Mui ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 3:43pm PST

Medemblik, Netherlands II : Later on the 9th day, we introduced Judy to Medemblik. There is so much to enjoy there including Radboud Castle.

Medemblik, Netherlands II

Later on the 9th day, we introduced Judy to Medemblik. There is so mu ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 2:59pm PST

Hoorn, Netherlands : On Day eight we returned to Hoorn, Ed & Liesbeth were searching for new flooring for their house. I really enjoyed this day especially the time spent wandering around the harbour.

Hoorn, Netherlands

On Day eight we returned to Hoorn, Ed & Liesbeth were searching for ne ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 2:53pm PST

First day at Midwoud, Netherlands : Arrived at Midwoud at 7.30am and took me nearly three hours to make my way through customs. The weather was lovely and we had a celebratory lunch in their back yard.

First day at Midwoud, Netherlands

Arrived at Midwoud at 7.30am and took me nearly three hours to make my ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 11:55am PST

A walk around Hoorn, Netherlands : On my second day in the Netherlands we visited the Hoorn Markets, it was the first time I experienced an ancient city. The oldest building in Australia was built in Parramatta in 1799, so you can imagine how I felt walking in Hoorn which was awarded city rights in 1357 and who knows how many years it existed as a town before then.

A walk around Hoorn, Netherlands

On my second day in the Netherlands we visited the Hoorn Markets, it w ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 11:14am PST

Mijdrecht, Netherlands : After spending the morning walking around Hoorn markets, we visited Ed's parents in Mijdrecht .... what wonderful people they are !!!!!!

Mijdrecht, Netherlands

After spending the morning walking around Hoorn markets, we visited Ed ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 10:42am PST

Sneek, Netherlands : On the third day we arrived at Sneek which received city rights in 1456 - can you imagine that? Although archeologists have found proof of habitations in the Sneek area in the first centuries after the year 0, the town originated in the 12th century. Four centuries later, Sneek was a walled city, the only one in Friesland. The walls were razed again by the early part of the 18th century. A few decennia later, both land gates into the town were demolished as well.

Sneek, Netherlands

On the third day we arrived at Sneek which received city rights in 145 ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 6:04am PST

Medemblik, Netherlands : On the fifth day, Liesbeth & I left Twisk and drove through Opperdoes on the way to Medemblik. Medemblik was perhaps inhabited already in the 8th century, the village was first mentioned in 10th century records as Medemleck. It was fortified at the end of the 13th century when the Radboud castle also was built. Having been granted city rights in 1289, Medemblik became the predominant port of the Zuiderzee east coast, until the economic emergence of Hoorn and Enkhuizen overtook it. In the 16th century, Medemblik went from disaster to disaster: it was attacked by all kind of warring parties, was ransacked three times, and put to the torch twice. Even in the 18th century Medemblik became a battleground. In the 16th and 17th century Medemblik built on its importance as a port, constructing large harbor facilities. Plans were made to establish Navy facilities in the 19th century, but with the building of the Noordhollands Kanaal, which connects Amsterdam with the North Sea, Medemblik's maritime role diminished.

Medemblik, Netherlands

On the fifth day, Liesbeth & I left Twisk and drove through Opperdoes ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 6:00am PST

Haarlem, Netherlands : Haarlem is the capital of the province of North Holland, which at one time was one of the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic. The city is located on the river Spaarne, about 20 km west of Amsterdam and near the coastal dunes. It has been the historical center of the tulip bulb-growing district for centuries and bears the nickname 'Bloemenstad' (flower city). Ed had to work, so on the sixth day, Liesbeth & I took the train from Hoorn to Haarlem and spent 8 hours walking around Haarlem city central. What an adventure !!!!

Haarlem, Netherlands

Haarlem is the capital of the province of North Holland, which at one ...

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 12:13am PST

Architecture in Hoorn, Netherlands : Founded in 1357, Hoorn rapidly grew to become a major harbour town. During Holland's 'Golden Age' (or 'Golden Century'), Hoorn was an important home base for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and a very prosperous centre of trade.

Architecture in Hoorn, Netherlands

Founded in 1357, Hoorn rapidly grew to become a major harbour town. Du ...

Updated: Oct 04, 2007 4:21am PST