Wassenaar (Netherlands) Daily Photo

Theme Day Farewell (Tot Ziens)!

2008-06-01T08:00:00.001+02:00

Sorry for breaking the rules -- you've probably noticed that this is not a photo of a shop window.
Why, you ask? Well, this is the last post for our Wassenaar Daily Photo blog. After two years of living in The Netherlands and trying to see as much of Europe as possible, we are moving back to the U.S.

The collage you see represent the Theme Day photos published on this blog. You can see the original posts here.

We'd like to thank everyone who visited and commented on our photos. If you'd like to see more of The Netherlands, be sure to visit The Hague and Rotterdam daily photo blogs, or one of the many blogs not in the CDPB group like Dick in Texel, JoAnn in Naarden, or one of the other links to your left.

Feel free to leave a comment (even though we won't be able to return comments for a while). And if you want to get back to the CDPB Theme Days, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Windmill Week

2008-05-31T08:45:00.000+02:00

We don't have internet access this week, so we decided to review some of our previous Windmill photos. Kind of like repeat season on TV.

Be sure to visit tomorrow for a special post.

This photo was included in the IMAGES International Photo Club exhibition and originally posted here.

Windmill Week

2008-05-30T08:45:00.000+02:00

We don't have internet access this week, so we decided to review some of our previous Windmill photos. Kind of like repeat season on TV.

Be sure to visit on 1 June for a special post.

Again our Wassenaar "Windlust," original post here.

Windmill Week

2008-05-29T08:45:00.001+02:00

Windmill Week

2008-05-28T08:45:00.000+02:00

Windmill Week

2008-05-27T08:44:00.000+02:00

Windmill Week

2008-05-26T08:44:00.000+02:00

We don't have internet access this week, so we decided to review some of our previous Windmill photos. Kind of like repeat season on TV.

Be sure to visit on 1 June for a special post.

This is the Wassenaar windmill, "Windlust." Original post here.

Windmill Week

2008-05-25T08:50:00.001+02:00

We don't have internet access this week, so we decided to review some of our previous Windmill photos. Kind of like repeat season on TV.

Be sure to visit on 1 June for a special post.

This is one of the windmills at the Kinderdijk (see this recent post from The Hague). We hadn't published this photo before, but we use it for our blogger profile pic.

Colorful Blooms

2008-05-24T09:25:00.001+02:00

The rhododendrons are in bloom at the Clingendael. Eat your heart out, Augusta.

If it's a rooster, why do they call it crowing?

2008-05-23T09:34:00.003+02:00

This rooster didn't care that it was the middle of the day, he was determined to show off his vocal skills anyway.

Calm but Crowded

2008-05-22T09:30:00.002+02:00

See what we mean about the people at the Japanese Garden in the Clingendael (referencing Monday's post)? Even so, it's a pretty place.

Are we in India? Where?Wednesday

2008-05-21T07:56:00.004+02:00

The dutch call this the "Indische Gans" (Indian Goose, known in english as the Bar-Headed Goose). They are native to India, but they do not migrate here. Some are kept in captivity, and there are some breeding escapees throughout Europe.

I don't know if this family is captive or not, but we spotted them right here in The Hague in the Clingendael.

Sleepy Kids

2008-05-20T07:59:00.002+02:00

3 little goats just settling down for a nap at the Clingendael estate (just barely over the Wassenaar border in The Hague).

Not-so-secret garden

2008-05-19T08:45:00.003+02:00

Every year, for just about one month, the Japanese Garden at the Clingendael estate opens to the public. I posted on it last year, and my neighbor in The Hague beat me to it this year.

For photographers, it's best to go during the week. On the weekends there are so many visitors that it's almost impossible to get a photo that doesn't include people (can you spot them in this photo?). But don't let that stop you ... even when it's crowded, it's a special place.

Joy Ride

2008-05-18T09:01:00.001+02:00

We don't really know the story behind this team of horses and the carriage -- they passed by us when we were visiting one of Flander's war cemeteries. But the passenger seemed to be having a great time! Given that this is hop-growing country (see yesterday's post), perhaps they're draught horses returning from a tasting?

Growing Beer

2008-05-17T10:53:00.003+02:00

Most beer drinkers have never seen the raw version of a key ingredient -- hops. In Belgium, a key hop-growing region is near Poperinge, the town where we stayed on our short trip.

These hops are just starting their climb ... they'll reach the top before they're harvested. Poperinge has a lively hop festival in September -- you can read about it here.

Age Fifteen

2008-05-16T08:09:00.004+02:00

The Essex Farm Cemetery, just outside of Ieper/Ypres, is best known as the place where Canadian John McRae composed the poem, "In Flanders Fields." There is a commemorative plaque just outside of the cemetery gates near a group of bunkers.

We were drawn, however, to a grave that was receiving much attention from a tour group that was visiting the cemetery. This particular grave had, by far, the most decoration of any grave in the small cemetery. And then we saw why ... the soldier, V.J. Strudwick, was only 15 when he lost his life in the war.

Mourning Soldiers

2008-05-15T07:46:00.002+02:00

The statue of mourning soldiers stands in the German War Cemetery (Deutsches Soldatenfriedhof) in Langemark, Belgium. Over 44,000 WWI soldiers are buried here. In stark contrast to the Commonwealth graves, there are 8-20 soldiers buried per marker. There is also a mass grave, and some of the graves surround a few bunkers.

Remembering WWI: "Where?Wednesday"

2008-05-14T08:25:00.006+02:00

Our quick trip to Belgium was mainly to visit West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen) to see some of the WWI memorials. There are over 170 cemeteries and there are seemingly more memorials than you can count. The area around Ieper (Ypres) saw some of the most brutal fighting of the war. You can read more about the "Ypres Salient" here. Winston Churchill once said of the area, "A more sacred place for the British race does not exist in the world."

The largest of the cemeteries is Tyne Cot, named after a barn that was called "Tyne Cottage" by the British soldiers. In fact, this is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, with nearly 12,000 soldiers of the U.K. and commonwealth countries buried here. The number at the bottom of the war graves listing for Tyne Cot is a bit shocking: only 3,588 of the soldiers buried here are identified.

Gazing in Ghent

2008-05-13T10:55:00.004+02:00

This week we're going to share some photos from our neighbor to the south, Belgium. Our first stop on a quick weekend trip was Ghent. Sunday was obviously a beautiful day... perfect to appreciate the architecture, maybe have a glass of beer or wine, or just relax along the canal.

2008-05-10T08:28:00.004+02:00

We're still amazed sometimes that we can walk 10 min from the center of town and see cows and sheep grazing. This one is a bit lazy.

Garden Gazing

2008-05-09T07:49:00.003+02:00

The roses in the Princessetuin aren't in bloom yet, but the garden still makes for a nice place to relax during our warm spell.

Spring has Sprung

2008-05-08T08:40:00.003+02:00

We've been so busy traveling that the greening of the area seems to have happened overnight. The warm sunny weather has helped.

This pic was taken yesterday evening, just outside of one of the many embassy residences located here in Wassenaar.

Continent-Hopping: Where?Wednesday

2008-05-07T13:02:00.003+02:00

Last week we were in sunny southern California, home to the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. Said to contain the oldest building still in use in California, the mission is a beautiful place to visit. In addition to the gardens and buildings, there's plentiful wildlife: the famous swallows, other birds, lizards, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Highly recommended if you find yourself in this part of the world.

Grass is always greener...

2008-05-06T11:15:00.003+02:00

Back in February, I posted a pic of this houseboat in Amsterdam. It now looks like it needs a haircut. Makes me wonder how one mows the roof (?)

Amsterdam Abstract

2008-05-05T08:00:00.004+02:00

Every once in a while I like to throw in something a bit different. This is the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. There is a water feature between the main museum building and the auditorium. The swirls in the water (algae? seaweed?) remind me of some of Van Gogh's paintings.

Thanks to all who visited on Theme Day. We're just returning from a lot of traveling but hope to visit some of the sites over the next few days.

Evil Commemoration: May "Numbers" Theme Day

2008-05-01T07:00:00.002+02:00

I commented on our anniversary post that, through researching blog posts, I've learned a lot about this little town that we've called home for nearly two years. This theme day post is another example.

You might guess that "1944" refers to a war event. But you might not guess that Wassenaar, with its tree-lined streets, big homes and green spaces, played a very significant role in the advancement of warfare.

That's right ... during WWII, the first-ever ballistic missile was fired from occupied Wassenaar. You can read about the V2 in Wiki and more about the first missile's landing in Chiswick(London). The dutch resistance provided critical information to the allies about the rockets, launch sites, and factories; you can read more about that here.

This small plaque sits on an unassuming corner in a quiet part of town ... marking the spot where the launches took place.

We're posting this remotely and can't list all of the sites participating in May's "Numbers" theme day, but you can visit the City Daily Photo Blog Portal to see more from cities around the world.

Haar-dy Ho!

2008-04-24T09:09:00.003+02:00

After posting a German castle ruin yesterday, I thought I'd dip into the "archives" to show you a castle from here in The Netherlands.

You don't necessarily think of castles when you think of The Netherlands, but there are actually quite a few castles and ruins throughout the country.

This is Kasteel De Haar, located about 70km from Wassenaar in the province of Utrecht. It was rebuilt in the late 1800's on the 15th century foundations. The "new and improved" version was built with new-fangled modern conveniences like central heating and running water.

We hope you enjoy the contrast with yesterday's post. We're taking more time off, but we plan to participate in May's Theme Day, so please come back and visit on May 1. Many of our recent posts have been outside of Wassenaar, but our post will be a return to reveal a little-known but historic fact about this town.

On the Rhine/Rhein/Rijn: Where?Wednesday

2008-04-23T09:37:00.005+02:00

If you like castles, beautiful small towns, terraced vineyards and overall nice scenery, then we can heartily recommend a cruise down the middle Rhine in Germany.

We took a round-trip cruise from Rudesheim to St. Goar, and literally saw so many sights I can't even tell you which castle ruin is pictured above.

I Am...

2008-04-22T11:28:00.002+02:00

The city of Amsterdam's marketing slogan is the centerpiece of the Museumplein, a large open space that borders the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Concertgebouw.

Politie Paarden Parade

2008-04-21T07:17:00.003+02:00

Amsterdam's police force were all over the city a couple of weeks ago. At first we thought that there must have been a major drug bust, or perhaps the royal family were in town. But later we saw the tail end of a protest march weaving its way through town -- although we never did find out exactly what they were protesting against (or for).

Thanks to all who commented on our recent photos and our one year photoblogging anniversary. It'll take a couple of days for us to catch up on our fellow bloggers' sites. We just returned from a wonderful trip to Germany with our sister-in-law and her boyfriend ... we'll show a sample in a couple of days.

Happy Anniversary!

2008-04-16T07:42:00.003+02:00

Another shot from the Keukenhof garden. These bands of color wind their way all through the park.

Without much fanfare, this celebrates our 1-year anniversary. I guess a photo of tulips and other bulbs is appropriate for a photo blog from The Netherlands!

We have really enjoyed sharing our experiences in and around Wassenaar and The Netherlands (and sometimes beyond). We've learned many interesting things while researching some of our posts. We've learned to look for things to photograph that we wouldn't have otherwise. And we've "met" a lot of interesting people who have visited and commented. So thanks to all those who've come to see a little bit of this part of the world.

Now, we're off again ... hope to see you back next week.

Grape River

2008-04-15T07:40:00.002+02:00

The Keukenhof is a world-famous garden in the province of North Holland devoted to the display of flowers, primarily spring bulbs. Now in its 59th year, the garden is open from late March through mid May.

While there are indoor exhibits (featuring flowers like the ones pictured here yesterday), the main attraction is the open air garden. Millions of tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs are spectacularly displayed.

This woodland garden scene features a river of muscari (grape hyacinths) surrounded by tulips and daffodils.

Red velvet

2008-04-14T09:30:00.002+02:00

I just liked the texture of these flowers from the Keukenhof garden. Flower fans, check back over the next couple of days for some more pics from our recent visit.

Hospital Leftovers

2008-04-12T09:09:00.002+02:00

All that's left of this women's hospital in the North Holland town of Haarlem is the portal. Above the portal is this wonderful scene of one of the patient rooms.

Unfortunately I can't really translate the inscription, but I believe that it refers to the founding of the hospital. I also found this site which says that if you read the capital letters as roman numerals, they add up to 1435, the year of the original foundation.

Sorry for cutting off the last numeral in the year that this portal was built. It's a "4", which dates the portal back to 1624. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be in a "women's hospital" back then!

Cool air, Warm sun

2008-04-11T08:42:00.004+02:00

When the sun comes out, it doesn't matter if there's a chill in the air ... there's nothing like sitting at an outside cafe, soaking up some rays and watching the world go by. Or if it's not the world, at least the town of Haarlem.

Horsing around in Wassenaar

2008-04-10T08:08:00.001+02:00

I haven't posted a lot from Wassenaar lately, so here's a shot of an activity you can see here during the "off-season." Horses are only allowed on the beach for a portion of the year (I think Oct-May). In "season" the beach is reserved for sunbathers, swimmers, etc.

Looks to me like these horses and their riders are having a great time.

Sigh...Where?Wednesday

2008-04-09T08:13:00.005+02:00

Canals are not unique here in The Netherlands, but you might have guessed from the gondola that this shot is from Venice, Italy.

The gondolier is about to go under the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs). This bridge connects the Doge's Palace to the dungeons. The English poet Lord Byron coined the phrase ... he supposed that prisoners would stop and sigh at their last view of Venice as they were led to their imprisonment.

For viewers of our travel blog, our apologies for not posting recently. We have taken many recent trips and hope to get back to posting to it next week.

Type Cast?

2008-04-08T08:25:00.003+02:00

The town of Haarlem, located just 50km from Wassenaar (or 20km from Amsterdam) is one of our favorite stops. It has a rich history and is usually very lively, especially on Saturdays.

Looking over the town square (grote markt) in shadow of the Grote Kerk (St Bavo's church, dating from 1370) is a statue of Laurens Koster.

Legend has it that Koster actually invented the type impression that Gutenberg would later use in his printing press. (Note to Gutenberg fans: I am neither a Haarlemmer nor a historian, hence the reference to "legend"). That's a piece of type that he's holding up in his right hand.

Holy Water

2008-04-07T09:23:00.003+02:00

You can find lots of interesting items at De Looier antique showroom in Amsterdam. Including a variety of holy-water-finger-dipping-thingies (sorry, I don't know the proper name for them). But I suspect that having the water blessed is not part of the purchase price.

Thanks to all who've left comments over recent days. We've been a bit busy to return comments but appreciate your visits and remarks.

Living in Water

2008-04-03T08:54:00.003+02:00

These oysters are waiting to be shipped from an oyster farm in the province of Zeeland. They are stored in these ponds for a few days while fresh water is pumped in to remove sand and silt.

Dutch oysters account for about 15% of the European Union's total oyster harvest. For more fun facts about "zeeuwse oesters" check out this site.

We're taking a few days off, hope to see you back on Monday. Thanks to all who've commented so far on our "water" series. Have a great weekend.

New Sea, New Land

2008-04-02T08:03:00.006+02:00

Continuing on the "Water" theme: some of the people who commented on yesterday's blog mentioned The Netherlands' famous battle with water. I feel the need to point out two facts:

First, the story about the boy saving the country by sticking his finger in a dike is actually an American tale ("Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates" by Mary Mapes Dodge). More here.

Second, about 25% of The Netherlands is below sea level. The dutch have an amazing network of water works, not only to protect the country but to reclaim land. In the early 20th century, the large area of water that used to be called the Zuiderzee was blocked off from the North Sea/Wadden Sea. Once the sea level in this new area (now called the "Ijsselmeer") was controlled, new land areas were created. In fact, an entirely new province, Flevoland, was created. You can read more about it in the wiki entry.

What you see in the photo is the Houtribdijk, a 30-km dike that connects North Holland with Flevoland. In the center of the dike there is a rest stop with an observation tower, from which we snapped this shot. Below is a map (from wiki) of the entire Zuiderzee area.

Water? What Water? Monthly Theme Day

2008-04-01T09:05:00.000+02:00

You might think we're trying to play an April Fool's joke -- this month's theme is "Water" and we're giving you "Sand."

Truth is, the sand dunes that separate Wassenaar from the North Sea couldn't be more important to the area's residents as far as water is concerned.

The dunes naturally filter water, which becomes the water supply for 1.2 million customers. The natural filtration means that the water undergoes minimal processing before it's distributed.

The local water authority (Duinwaterbedrijf Zuid Holland) is also responsible for the conservation of the dunes.

As often happens with theme days, the "water" theme will inspire posts for some time to come, so check back often.

There are currently 178 (!!!) blogs signed up to participate in April's "Water" Theme Day:
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Gordio, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Train Topper

2008-03-31T09:08:00.002+02:00

The central tower of Amsterdam's Centraal Station features a gleaming coat-of-arms of The Netherlands. The tile shields below continue all around the building. I'm not sure the significance of all of the shields ... my guess would be that they are a combination of towns, provinces, and perhaps guilds. The shield centered below the coat of arms is the symbol of Amsterdam.

I'd like to be able to post a photo of the entire station, but it's been under construction for as long as we've lived here, and will be long after we leave. The current estimate for completion of the new metro line is 2013.

Towering Above

2008-03-29T09:08:00.004+01:00

The current form of Delft's Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) was started in 1396. The tower is the 2nd tallest in The Netherlands. Erected in 1872, it stands 108.75 meters high, and if you are interested in the view you can walk the 356 steps to the top.

Sorry, you won't be seeing any photos from the top of the tower on this blog. You'll have to be content with the ground level view.

The Nieuwe Kerk holds the crypt of the royal family and the memorial tomb of Willem I.

Memorial in Glass

2008-03-28T07:56:00.005+01:00

The Old Church (Oude Kerk) in nearby Delft dates to 1246, but various calamities (fires and gunpowder explosions), not to mention the iconoclasm of the protestant reformation, kept the windows plain until the 1960s, when new stained glass windows were commissioned. This window celebrates Koningin (Queen) Wilhelmina, the longest serving dutch monarch (1890-1948).

The window appears to show her return to the war-torn Netherlands after WWII (where she ruled in exile from the UK). Apparently Winston Churchill once said she was the "only man in the Dutch government," a quote that says a lot about both leaders.

Over the...

2008-03-27T11:43:00.002+01:00

Taken last week by sticking the camera out of the window while speeding along the A13 between Delft and Rotterdam. I wouldn't normally recommend this technique but it was the only way I could capture the rainbow. You can just barely see the double rainbow on the right hand side of the photo (along with a big smudge of a raindrop).

Up the Mount in Normandy: Where?Wednesday

2008-03-26T12:45:00.000+01:00

Truly an amazing sight, Le Mont St. Michel rises up from the tidal flats to dominate the landscape at the edge of the Normandy coast.

After pushing through the crowds of tourists (even on a very cold "spring" day) up the narrow, steep street, you are greeted with a lot of stairs to the top of the abbey. Once you catch your breath, you can tour around (maybe even seeing some monks and nuns in a devotional service) and see the immense, rambling abbey complex.

This place has been home to religious pilgrimages as well as serving as a prison -- a microcosm of the complex history of Normandy. The monastery supposedly was built by St. Aubert at the request of the archangel Michael, who grew so impatient with Aubert's procrastination that he appeared in a vision and pressed so hard on Aubert's forehead that he burned a dent into his head. Now that's what I call leaving an impression (insert groan here)!

Weather Report

2008-03-25T09:26:00.003+01:00

We returned from our travels in France late Sunday, and woke up yesterday to our first "major snow event."

This is the view looking down our sidestreet. It doesn't look like much, but this is the first time this year that snow actually stuck to the ground. There was even a little more on the ground this morning. The lead story in one of the dutch newspapers was "Chaos op de weg!" -- chaos on the roads.

Right now I can hear the groans from our readers back in the midwestern US.

We'll return after this short break...

2008-03-15T09:26:00.002+01:00

Taking a break -- hope to see you back after Easter. I've seen "Happy Easter" many ways in dutch ... so, Gelukkig Paasfeest / Vrolijk Pasen!

Waiting Game

2008-03-13T14:45:00.004+01:00

What were these two dogs waiting for? The lip-smacking should give you a hint.

Their master was inside the Hollandse Nieuwe Haring stand just outside of the Binnenhof (houses of parliament) in The Hague. This must be a routine stop for them, as they really knew what they were waiting for.

After coming out and giving them both a bit of fish, their master went back inside the stand for a second, leaving a tempting sight (you can't tell, but the dog is at the end of it's leash).

Bull -- but no bull -- in Milan...Where?Wednesday

2008-03-12T12:32:00.006+01:00

The Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II in Milan is an amazing building. Mix a bit of neo-classicism with a lot of ornamentation and a (for the time) modern steel-and glass roof, and you get this big cross-shaped "mall" in the shopping capital of Italy.

There's a lot of mysticism surrounding this building. The architect and builder, Giuseppe Mangoni, died from an "accidental" fall from the roof just 2 days before the galleria opened. It's said that it was actually suicide, a result of harsh criticism of the building.

And then there's the mosaics in the floor. In the center of the building are four mosaics representing the cities of Milan, Rome, Florence and Turin. The symbol of Turin (Torino), the bull, has a curious cone-shaped indentation where it's -- uh -- "manly bits" should be.

Why, you ask? Legend has it that if you spin on the bull's testicles you will receive good luck.

Evidently this refers back to a bull in the city of Turin/Torino itself. Why, you ask again? Well, this one I'm not so sure of. I found a lot of references, but no real reason why. And there seems to be some confusion over how many times you must spin, what direction you should spin, and on which foot you should spin.

Nonetheless it's fun to watch. Kids love it, tourist go nuts taking pictures, and locals do it quickly and without much fuss.

Hidden Worker

2008-03-11T09:33:00.002+01:00

A neat little statue, almost hidden for wanderers to discover, along the Stadhouderskade in Amsterdam.

Dog Day II

2008-03-10T09:32:00.002+01:00

Although we never owned one, my mother loves bulldogs. They do have a sort of -- uh -- charm.

This one was having a great time in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam.

Playtime in the Park

2008-03-09T10:08:00.002+01:00

So much energy! One of the many dogs playing in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam on a nice spring day.

Another Bakfiets Shot

2008-03-08T07:44:00.003+01:00

A follow-up post from yesterday. This was shot a few seconds after yesterday's photo. Although it's a bit blurry, the girls' reactions to the horse & carriage are great.

It's true that the bakfiets probably wouldn't make it in the U.S. (see yesterday's comments) -- you'd probably have to install airbags to make them legal.

Alternative Transportation Methods

2008-03-07T08:55:00.004+01:00

In which would you rather tour Amsterdam ... a horse-drawn carriage or a bakfiets?

Not Teasing Today

2008-03-06T11:05:00.001+01:00

Today's Lesson: How to put on your own sideshow in 4 illustrated steps!

1. Capture the crowd's attention with your look. Consider something that might intimidate people --like body piercing, tattoos and a leather skirt. Create a "performance space" ... for example, standing on a pile of broken glass is a unique attention-getter.
2. Get the crowd's attention by taking off your shirt. Enhancing the look with nipple rings and more tattoos is an added bonus.
3. Start to "gross out" the crowd. You might try sewing some string through belly. Tugging on the thread, thereby stretching your skin, will induce a loud "eeewww" from the crowd.
4. Gross out the crowd even more by tying a heavy staple gun to your skin, then letting it swing like a pendulum. More "eeewwwwwws" will certainly follow.
Once you've mastered these steps, you can go on to other things, like tying objects to your nipples and twirling around. Or hammering a large nail into your nostril.

Your big money moments will come when you introduce crowd participation into your act. Have someone pay for the privilege of using the aforementioned staple gun to put staples directly into your body. Or lie face down on the broken glass and have someone pay to stand on your head.

You get the idea. All in a day's work. Hope you've enjoyed yesterday's teaser and today's follow-up lesson.

(Note: I had one report of the picture not showing on the post. If anyone else notices this problem, please leave a comment or send an email (see address under "check out our...blog).

Teaser for Tomorrow...

2008-03-05T07:53:00.002+01:00

Hmmm ... this guy is curiously dressed (you don't see too many leather kilts these days), and what's he doing with a staple gun in Amsterdam's Dam Square?

You'll have to come back tomorrow to see...

(Hint: don't check back if you're squeamish)

Easy Money? (1)

2008-03-04T08:18:00.003+01:00

There are some pretty strange street performers in Amsterdam's Dam Square. This quasi-Neptune-guy was making money snatching the hats off of kids heads. I don't really get it, but the kids loved it. As you can see by this boy's smile ... and the coins going in the bucket for the next kid. Check back for more street performers throughout the week.

Not-so-blank canvas

2008-03-03T14:57:00.003+01:00

Thanks to all who visited and commented on our theme day post. We're just returning from a weekend away and it'll be a few days before we can check out all of the theme day photos!

This is another shot at the same location as Friday's post. The guy was texting on his cell phone as he approached the building, but he put it away moments before he walked in front of the building. It would have made for an interesting juxtaposition against the scene from the mural. Oh well, you can't plan such things.

In this photo you can see the scale of the mural and the enormous amount of graffiti at street level. The mural itself probably invites graffiti, or as mentioned in the comments from Friday it's possible that this building is occupied by squatters.

Theme Day: Amsterdam Street Art

2008-02-29T05:33:00.000+01:00

Those of you who visit our blog know that we don't always stick to Wassenaar, although on theme day we normally try to post something from the immediate area.

This theme day is a tough one -- Wassenaar is a pretty "clean" area and there isn't much graffiti or street art to speak of. So we're avoiding our neighbors in The Hague and Rotterdam by going to Amsterdam for this photo of a wild building, with extra graffiti for good measure.

And no, we didn't forget about leap year. We hope you don't mind the fact that we are publishing a day early, as we won't be able to post tomorrow but still wanted to participate.

As of 28 Feb, there are over 140(!!!) city daily photo blogs participating in this month's Theme Day:
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Bloom Envy

2008-02-28T09:15:00.005+01:00

This one is for our friends back in the midwestern US and blog visitors from colder climes. These azaleas were shot just a few days ago in Amsterdam. A bit early--indicative of the mild winter we've had here.

Belgian "Sidewalk Sale" -- Where?Wednesday

2008-02-27T11:03:00.004+01:00

The Belgian town of Tongeren (Belgium's oldest city, a roman town) is home to one of the area's best-known antique markets. Every Sunday the streets are full of dealers selling everything you can imagine.

Medieval Belgium

2008-02-26T10:53:00.004+01:00

In the Belgian city of Tongeren, the area known as the "beguinage" or "begijnhof" is a quiet area containing some of the oldest homes in the town. The area dates from the late 1200s, when it was developed as a walled area with homes for women who devoted their life to serving the church. The spire of St. Catherine's church towers over the old houses.

Antwerp Garden Art

2008-02-25T09:01:00.004+01:00

A quick weekend trip to Belgium took us to Antwerp, Diest, and Tongeren. In Antwerp we came across a small garden ("Kruidtuin" or herb garden). Dating from the early 1800s, it is an interesting little oasis and it was nice to see some of the early spring plants blooming. It's not a dainty recreation of an 1800's garden, as this modern sculpture shows.

Relaxing Ride?

2008-02-23T09:06:00.002+01:00

After yesterday's rant, I thought something a little more relaxing is in order. How about a nice carriage ride around Amsterdam?

Actually, compared to many other european cities, I rarely see carriages around Amsterdam. It must be difficult to compete with the bikes, trams, pedestrians, and cars!

No Jason Dittle!

2008-02-22T08:12:00.007+01:00

If you've seen this on the City Daily Photo Blog portal and clicked through, you might have some questions. I have done my best to anticipate -- and answer -- your questions.

Q. Who is Jason Dittle? A. I have no idea. He left a comment on yesterday's blog, but his Blogger profile provided no additional information about him. So evidently he is a coward.

Q. Why say "no" to Jason Dittle? A. Jason Dittle (pseudonym or not) is a spammer. His comment on yesterday's post, which I chose to delete, was "hey, here is the site i was talking about where i made the extra cash.....this site......"

Q. What's the big deal? A. I spend time and effort on this blog. And I appreciate the comments that viewers leave, even though I don't always have as much time as I'd like to respond to those comments. So I really don't have the patience to deal with spam comments.

I googled "Jason Dittle" and saw that "he" left the same comment on a large number of blogs, the authors of which might be as annoyed as I am.

Jason Dittle is the focus of my frustration with all spam, including the 20-or-so emails that arrive each day proclaiming that I have won the UK National Microsoft Yahoo BMW Coca-Cola Lottery or that the Honorable Attorney for Abishmu Mulalahalla O'Brien needs me to URGENTLY REPLY so that I can inherit hundreds of thousands of dollars. Strangely, all of these people seem to think that I am stupid enough to send them my bank account information.

Q. So, what can one do about it? A. I am still resisting the urge to disallow anonymous comments, but that will change if the trend continues. But please be aware that most blog services have a policy and a way with dealing with spammers. Blogger has a comment policy that forbids spam, so I reported Jason Dittle's blog address. I urge any other victims to do the same.

One of Jason Dittle's other victims was witty enough to respond to the comment, saying "Thanks Jason Dittle, I usually peruse blog comment pages for ways to make extra money..."

I only wish it were possible to respond to Jason Dittle personally ... with a comment not fit for public viewing.

Stoned Stork

2008-02-21T16:27:00.004+01:00

Almost hidden outside of the American School of The Hague is this stone or cement Stork. The stork is the symbol of The Hague ... perhaps this stone is a remnant of the school prior to its current building in Wassenaar.

Aside from appearing occasionally on this blog, storks have also featured on neighboring blogs in The Hague and Rotterdam. The are magnificent birds, and it's good to see them returning to The Netherlands via conservation efforts.

Mirror, Mirror in Amsterdam: Where?Wednesday

2008-02-20T11:56:00.002+01:00

I shot this because of the different elements -- the "bunny" plaque, the reflection in the window -- but ultimately didn't think it was a very interesting photo.

Then I noticed the element that seems very out of place.

I mean, what is up with that mirror? It looks like someone ripped it off a truck and stuck it next to a window.

What possible function can it serve? To spy on a neighbor, to get a view when sitting at a desk? If anyone can enlighten me please do.

Be Constructive

2008-02-19T08:04:00.005+01:00

This would have been a good "what is it" photo, had I thought to take a full-frame picture to reveal it's full structure. So I'll just tell you that it is detail from the Naum Gabo sculpture "Constructie" (Construction) in Rotterdam.

Double Vision

2008-02-18T11:19:00.002+01:00

No, I wasn't drinking when I snapped this shot of people enjoying last week's weather in Rotterdam. It's a reflection in the building across from the cafe. Sunny spots were at a premium during last week's "heat wave." It's still sunny but a bit cooler.

Picturesque playing field

2008-02-15T17:22:00.003+01:00

We've had sunny weather most of week -- very unusual for this time of the year. Although it's cooled down for the weekend, it's still supposed to be sunny.

The weather drew out quite a crowd last Tuesday in Amsterdam. The field behind the Rijksmuseum was filled with students reading in the sun, playing sports, or just fooling around. Felt more like April than February.

Jordaan in the Jordaan

2008-02-14T10:20:00.003+01:00

In the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, we came across this tribute to Johnny Jordaan (Johannes Hendricus van Musscher), a popular dutch folk singer. "De Parel van de Jordaan" refers to one of his biggest hits, "The Pearl of the Jordaan."

Lotsa Bikes: Where?Wednesday

2008-02-13T14:18:00.002+01:00

Today we're in Amsterdam, looking at the bike park just outside of the main train station (Centraal Station). The 3-level "fietsenflat" has space for 2,500 bikes and floats over the canal.

Life on the Water

2008-02-12T09:30:00.000+01:00

Houseboats in Amsterdam ... you see them in all shapes, sizes, and styles. An interesting way to live, to say the least.

Staring contest

2008-02-11T07:29:00.000+01:00

The sheep won.

Thinking of ... Bicycling?

2008-02-07T16:28:00.000+01:00

Last in our "when people think of my city..." series. Wassenaar is an excellent area for biking. There are bike paths through diverse environments ... from town to beach, forest to dunes. The "Landgoederen" is a 32-km roundtrip around the area ... if you're interested you can find a brochure here (in dutch).

Have a great weekend, thanks for visiting and commenting throughout our "thinking of" series that started with February's Theme Day. Hope to see you back on Monday.

p.s. Although some of the photos I've published this week were from the archives, this was actually taken today. Shows how mild (albeit sometimes miserable) the weather has been here.

Thinking of ... Windmills

2008-02-06T14:20:00.000+01:00

Windmills (molen) are of course a typical image when you think of The Netherlands. The windmill in Wassenaar, the Windlust, sits just off the town center. It still mills flour, and is open on Saturdays for tours. A regular feature on this blog, it probably isn't the first thing people think of about Wassenaar, but to us it's a great landmark and defining feature of the town.

Thinking of ... Horses

2008-02-05T12:42:00.000+01:00

Continuing on the "when people think of my town" theme, many people might think of horses when they think of Wassenaar. There are stables in the area, a maze of horse riding trails, and it's home to the harness racing course Duindigt.

Some days we'll be home and hear the clop-clop of horses riding right in front of our house.

These horses were grazing last November in a field that is only a 10 minute walk from our home.

Thinking of ... School?

2008-02-04T11:53:00.000+01:00

Wassenaar is known to many as a city of expats. According to the city's website, of the 26,000 inhabitants, 13% are not dutch nationals. There are several reasons for having a large expat community: it's close to The Hague, with all of the government insitutions, international court, and Royal Dutch Shell headquarters. It's very green and spacious. And the American School of The Hague is located here. (In the area of The Hague, there's also an International school and a British school). The pic above is a statue outside of the ASH entrance; the building itself (below) has one side that reminds me of a waving flag.

Thinking of ... a vacation?

2008-02-03T14:13:00.000+01:00

Many people might think of the vacation- and attraction-park Duinrell when they think of Wassenaar. We've never actually been in the Duinrell, but it consists of an amusement park, a water park, and a vacation area with bungalows and campsites. Traffic through the town can get pretty busy on (the occasional) warm summer weekends.

More "Thinking of..."

2008-02-02T09:04:00.000+01:00

Thanks to all who commented on yesterday's theme day photo, "When People Think of My City They Think of..."

I'm still viewing the other participating sites ... with the CDPB community constantly growing, it takes longer each month!

If you read any of the comments from yesterday, especially the ones from our dutch neighbors, you might have realized that Wassenaar is considered to be an upscale area. Some people would call it downright "rich." When we tell dutch people we live in Wassenaar, we have to say "in a normal house," else they assume we are moneybags (which we definitely aren't). "Geen kasteel" we often say (no castle). There's a specific reason many expats live here, which we'll reveal in a few days time.

There's no denying the town does have its share of big estates. The prince and princess live here, and other royalty have in the past. The pic above (taken last autumn) shows DePaauw, built around 1840 by Prince Frederick and now serving as town offices. The "estate" surrounding the building is a beautiful park. Many of the large estates in Wassenaar have been repurposed as embassies, given that we are so close to the government in The Hague.

So this is the type of image that many people have when they think of Wassenaar. We'll continue with this "theme" for a few more days.

When People Think of My City ... Monthly Theme Day

2008-02-01T07:12:00.000+01:00

The first of the month -- that means Theme Day for the City Daily Photo Blogs. This month's theme is "When People Think of My City They Think of..."

We thought about this a lot, and we agreed that although Wassenaar is known for many things, it's most known for being "green." OK, so Wassenaar isn't well known outside of The Netherlands, but mention it here and everyone knows it!

When we say green, we don't necessarily mean in an "environmental" sense. We mean that there is so much green space here compared to many areas of the country. It truly is considered a luxury here--in the most densely populated country in Europe--to have so much green space.

Nothing typifies this more than the dunes (duinen) that buffer the town from the North Sea. Here is a view in the Meijendel dunes (taken last May) ... a landscape that is not common in The Netherlands except in a few places along the seashore.

Rather than doing a collage, we thought we'd continue throughout the week with other contenders for the theme, so stop back in to see what else comes to mind.

There are over 130(!) City Daily Photo bloggers participating in this theme day:
Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA

Winter Bloom

2008-01-31T14:10:00.000+01:00

The garden has remained quite green throughout the dreary but mild winter here. We had a cool start to the winter, causing many dutch people to dream of skating on the canals, but that now seems unlikely. Except for plenty of rain and harsh winds it hasn't been a tough winter at all.

The hellebores in our garden show off with their rare winter blooms, a promise that spring will get here eventually. I managed to squeeze in a few shots before the winds started to howl (gale-force winds predicted over the next day or so).

Garden of Death: Where?Wednesday

2008-01-30T13:50:00.000+01:00

Pompeii is an amazing sight -- so vast, with so many interesting things hidden within the excavated city.

One of the most poignant sights is the "Garden of the Fugitives." Here you can see plaster casts of some of the victims of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. Experts say that the ash from the eruption fell so fast that some people were killed almost in their tracks, with barely enough time to try to cover their face to protect themselves. When excavating the site, workers found air pockets in the shape of humans, formed by the decomposition of the bodies after being covered in ash. These pockets were filled to make the casts, which show in amazing detail the agony of the last seconds of their lives.

Away again...

2008-01-29T12:19:00.000+01:00

I am completely out of photos from our area (at least seasonal ones), so for a couple more days we'll feature vacation shots from our trip to the Amalfi coast of Italy.

This is the main harbor of the island of Capri. A beautiful place, the island is mainly in "recharge" mode during the off-season -- most of the shops, hotels and restaurants are closed for remodeling and restocking during this time of year. So, it was a bit sleepy, but the bright side of visiting now is that you don't have to fight hordes of sun-seeking tourists to wander around the island.

Netherlands? Nee!

2008-01-28T15:11:00.000+01:00

You might have guessed that this photo wasn't taken in The Netherlands. What gave it away? The greek ruin, the mountain, or the weather? Anyway, this isn't Greece either. The ruins of Pæstum lie off the Italian coast south of Salerno. There are three temples still (partially) standing, and a nice museum showcasing some of the archaeological finds from the area. Being somewhat off the beaten track, the site (although much smaller and less complete) is practically deserted compared to nearby Pompeii.

It's estimated that Greeks colonized this area, known to them as Poseidonia, sometime around the 7th century BC. The structure in this photo is currently considered to be the temple of Apollo (previously attributed to Poseidon then Hera). The date estimate is 450 BC, nearly 2500 years old. Truly amazing, especially on a beautiful winter day.

No Bull ... Where?Wednesday

2008-01-23T08:47:00.000+01:00

In response to the recent financial news, let's hope we can return to a "bull" market soon!

(OK, horrible pun. It's early morning, you know).

From our recent trip to the Andalucia region of Spain, this bull stands in the town of Ronda. Probably the most famous of the region's "white towns," Ronda is among other things the home of modern bullfighting in Spain.

We'll be taking a couple of days off, hope to see you back here next Monday. Sorry for not replying to recent comments--we've hit a bit of a busy patch--but thanks for visiting!

Princely Window

2008-01-22T09:15:00.000+01:00

Detail from the Prinswillemraam (Prince William window) in the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in nearby Delft. This is the same church that holds the memorial to Prince William and the crypt of the House of Oranje-Nassau. The windows are from the early 20th century, as the old windows were destroyed in previous fires and gunpowder explosions.

We've been awarded the You Made My Day award by "Blue Chic" from Chicago Daily Photo. Thanks, B.C.! We invite readers to take a look at other photo blogs from The Netherlands:
The Hague, Rotterdam, Texel, Zeeland, and Naarden. Also, visit the blogs from our previous homes from Chicago (Chicago, Chicago, Inverness, Nunda) and Detroit.

Memorial in the Dunes

2008-01-21T10:50:00.000+01:00

In the Meijendel dunes I came across this small but nicely done statue honoring Dr. Victor Westhoff (1916-2001). After a bit of internet research, I found that he was a leading dutch botanist, ecologist, and conservationist. He first published in 1934 and remained active until his death. Apparently he was also a bit of a philosopher, and had a keen interest in psychology and religion. The statue honors his observation and writings about nature (if you look closely at the figure you can see that he's writing in a journal); the setting in the dunes seems very appropriate.

Blank Stare

2008-01-19T14:10:00.002+01:00

One of the lions (leeuwen) that guard the De Paauw, a former royal mansion that now houses some Wassenaar city offices.

Floating Flowers

2008-01-19T14:10:00.001+01:00

Flowers are a part of everyday life here in The Netherlands. Flower stands abound ... in Wassenaar there are several grower-owned stands that operate only on Friday and Saturday.

Pictured above is one of the permanent stalls in the Amsterdam Flower Market. The Bloemenmarkt stalls are actually houseboats that float on the canal. You can find everything "floral" here, from fresh cut flowers to bulbs.

Molen Morning

2008-01-18T10:23:00.000+01:00

A rare break in the clouds ... this morning we had a very colorful sunrise. The view from our top floor made for a nice shot of the Wassenaar "Windlust" windmill ("molen") silhouetted against the sky. It's cloudy again already, with wind and rain forecasted for the weekend.

Another "Your Guess Is As Good As Mine"

2008-01-17T10:38:00.001+01:00

Spotted in Amsterdam. Significance? No idea whatsoever. Guesses: A work of art? Aftermath of a bad accident? A tornado? Too many biertjes? We'll never know...

Casting a Shadow: Where?Wednesday

2008-01-16T10:04:00.000+01:00

The statue commemorating writer Franz Kafka in Prague casts an interesting shadow at night. Here's what it looks like during the day. We visited Prague in November and wrote about it on our travel blog.

Blown in the Wind

2008-01-15T08:11:00.000+01:00

Grey, blustery weather here again. The clouds parted on Saturday when we were in Rotterdam, but have gone back to their dull overcast winter norm, with rain and winds forecasted for today. I'm running out of pics, especially from this area!

In the meantime, here's a shot taken at the dunes. This is a windswept area, as you can tell by the direction of the branches on the trees and shrubs. Although the shrubs have red berries on them, I think it looks better in b/w for the "architectural" interest.

Bridging The Gap

2008-01-14T14:31:00.000+01:00

I'm no architecture critic, but I think that Unilever's "De Brug" is a pretty unique building. Home to the company's Netherlands offices (the corporate headquarters are located elsewhere in Rotterdam), it straddles other Unilever buildings, including a food plant. The name makes sense, since "De Brug" translates to "The Bridge." Not only does it "bridge" the other buildings, it is close to some of the other landmark bridges that span the Maas river in Rotterdam. If you are an architecture buff, you can read more about it here.

More Remembrance

2008-01-13T12:51:00.000+01:00

More from the Canadian and British War Cemeteries in Bergen Op Zoom. In the Commonwealth cemetery are some graves of other nationalities that fought in the region's battles under British command, like these Czech soldiers.

Remembrance

2008-01-12T10:54:00.000+01:00

A few days ago, Abe Lincoln asked how the town of Bergen Op Zoom fared during WWII. Being so close to the border with Belgium and the port of Antwerp, this area was involved in the Battle of the Scheldt. That campaign involved taking the Scheldt river between Antwerp and the North Sea, and the territory north to the Maas river (which holds the port of Rotterdam). There are two good sites here and here that explain the campaign.

Just outside of the town of Bergen Op Zoom are two war cemeteries, a Canadian Cemetery and a War Cemetery where soldiers from various British Commonwealth nations are interred. We'll show two more shots tomorrow.