Amsterdam Wanderings

Amsterdam, the dam across the river Amstel, is compact and easy to get around on foot, quicker by bicycle, of course. A great place for art lovers with its great masterpieces, museums, galleries and collections. Soaking up the atmosphere with its century old buildings, strolling along the canals with houseboats, over its many connecting bridges, gardens and prolific flowering hanging baskets it's easy to wander and enjoy what this city has to offer. 

The narrowest house in Amsterdam. 

Tulip bulbs anyone?

So this is how they move furniture up inside. 

Visiting Noordmarkt with all its wonderful fresh produce. 

I had a fine time tasting flavoured cheeses - tomato, basil, truffle, chilli, coconut, lavender 

Take away cheese sticks. 

Such a variety of mushrooms. 

THE DUTCH RESISTANCE MUSEUM has an exhibition showing everyday life for the Dutch people and their families living under occupation during WWll. As they were forced to make choices their dilemma was to collaborate, tolerate or resist? 

REMBRANDT HOUSE MUSEUM 

This is the house and studio that Rembrandt had for 19 years, where he lived, painted and trained 40 apprentices during that time. 

The room of his etchings

His studio

There was an explanation of what pigments were used, how they were ground and where they came from, then mixed with linseed oil to make the painting oils. 

Statues of 'The Night Watch' by Rembrandt. 

BODY WORLDS is a unique and fascinating exhibition. It takes you on a voyage of discovery through the human body in search of what makes us happy. 

It's called The Happiness Project and with donated organs and plastinated bodies it shows how life events, stress, food and exercise affect our health and happiness. 

The Netherlands has a wonderful cycling culture. With endless miles of cycle paths throughout the countryside and in the towns and cities it is so easy for everyone to park and ride. 

On My Bike

Angela Esmee is my home for two weeks while I explore The Netherlands on two wheels. 

Sandra, our guide, briefing us for the next day's ride. 

Bikes on deck

Offloading the bikes. In some harbours we can take them down the ramp ourselves. 

About to set off Day 1. We usually cycle in small groups that often join up with others and separate as the day goes on. 

Two essentials - my map and itinerary with instructions for the ride. 

The itinerary and instructions safely pegged to the cables for easy reference. 

It's important to check the signs to follow the correct route. 

 

Sometimes they're at ground level on mushrooms. 

Great signs that tell you about the area you're in, but unfortunately only in Dutch. 

 

Cycle path through the dunes. 

There are more than 35,000km of dedicated bike paths and apparently more bicycles than the number of citizens. Everyone seems to cycle. 

Being overtaken by bikes with sails. 

Coffee stop with my cycling buddies. 

Checking those trusty maps and instructions. 

 

Oops! Someone had a fall. 

This is a country of cyclists. Those of us on two wheels have right of way. 

There is very little occasion for riding on roads as there are well marked cycle paths in as many directions as roads, if not more as they crisscross the countryside. Bikes come in all shapes and forms to suit the purpose. 

One for a parent and child. 

For the family pet. 

Most important for a special baby carriage. 

Cycling the South

The region south of Amsterdam is less rural, though they do have their fair share of big healthy cows producing great quantities of milk for delicious gouda. 

There are more big cities. Even though they have populations of about 500 thousand, they blend together with surrounding small towns. Here the canals and riverways are enormously busy with the movement of goods and cargo. The smaller canals have boats of varying size. Life for the Dutch is so entwined with the water that surrounds them. 

A steep up and over to start the day. 

A bird watchers paradise through a wetland area. 

One of the magnificent homes along a canal. 

I'm curious about this pair with their 'nose in the air' expressions. 

Drawbridge up

An operational windmill pumping water. 

The garden in the New Church in Utrecht. 

About to enter a lock

Sharing the lock with a scrap metal barge. 

Decorative boats on one of the lock supports. 

DELFT

A visit to the Royal Delftware porcelain to hear the history behind the blue and white and learn about the process. 

An exact size Delft tile picture of Rembrandt's Night Watch. 

Around the city square are small Delft tiles with writing that is put on dinner plates to provoke conversation. 

A visit to the Museum of Vermeer who came from Delft. 

My favourite Vermeer - The Milk Maid

Around town are signs about his work and his life. 

The New Church in Market Square 

Mother and Father duck keeping a close watch on their family. 

Quaint old house in the countryside. 

I think I've got the hang of this cycle route system. I even have an idea where the obscure ones are to be found. 

Often houses have decorative crockery and ceramics outside that we'd normally have inside. 

A horse in a zebra coat 

I had a gouda cheese tasting in Gouda. The cheese didn't actually originate from here, but the town is very happy that their name is attached to the most popular cheese in the country. 

ROTTERDAM 

A busy harbour city. Cruise ships come in as far as here and commercial barges are constantly moving up and down the river. 

Evening city walk 

After Rotterdam was bombed during the war this statue was erected with a man with a hole through his heart. 

Another windmill, different style

Fierljeppen - far leaping 

This is a traditional sport from Friesland. The pole is 8-13m in length with a flat plate in the bottom to prevent it sinking in the muddy bottom of the water. The sprinter runs at speed and jumps onto the pole, he climbs to the top then moves his body forward so he can land as far as possible onto the sand bed on the other side. The record is about 21m. 

Siroopwafel - syrup waffle. Sweet and tasty. Say no more. 

De Haar Castle - the front door. This has been renovated with support from the Rothschild family. 

The back door

Another castle, from late 13th century and no funding for renovation. 

My South Tour Canadian cycling buddies

Bikes at a railway station. Too many, so need to be double stacked 

A do it yourself lawnmower 

Catching the ferry with the kids going to school. Cycled with a couple of young girls who do this trip, 40 mins each way on their bikes in all weathers. 

Ferry back and followed them along. 

Through the sand dunes with a stop at the hairy cows and a few horses. 

Small narrow streets of Haarlem. 

In Haarlem are a few hotjes. A small narrow gate opens into a beautiful courtyard garden shared by the people in the small houses. This one was originally built for poor widows. 

For my last day here in The Netherlands it's been a no cycling day with varying degrees of rain throughout the day. So I took myself off on the train to visit The Hague. It was a fleeting visit motoring around the city on foot visiting places I've only heard about. 

Parliament buildings 

A visit to the Escher Museum set in the winter palace of the current king's great-great-grandmother. It was very interesting learning about his drawings of optical illusions and perspective. 

A very detailed piece carved from a woodblock. 

And also famous for his symmetrical drawings. 

The Royal Palace 

William of Orange 

The Peace Palace - the seat of the International Court of Justice 

Street sculpture 

A statue of a cute young boy with his hat and basket is sung about in a children's song. 

The Dutch artist, Mondrian, with his colourful abstract art has his work shown everywhere including this construction site walk.