May 13th, 2014
On Monday we started the day with shopping at the Flower Market and continued with various shops on the way to tour the Anne Frank House. It was good that we had pre purchased our tickets since the line up went down the street and around the corner. The house was interesting especially the videos of people who knew her. Afterwards we continued to explore Amsterdam and even enjoyed a drink sitting outside watching people.
Laura & Glen at the Anne Frank House
Gargoyles
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May 12th, 2014
On Sunday we set out in the rain and wind to explore Amsterdam. We started with a canal cruise followed by lunch at the library by the Central Station. At the bottom of the library was a sculpture titled “The Mouse Mansion, A World of Encounters”. This mouse mansion which is tied to 3 children’s books has over 100 rooms done in lots of detail. Afterwards we walked to the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum). This is an excellent museum about the Dutch people from 1940 to 1945. The museum described those who collaborated, adapted or resisted. Resistance included hiding people, aiding them or fighting against the Germans. It was very sobering to read about what happened to the Netherlands during the war.
Amsterdam canals
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May 3rd, 2014
Joop and Jenny took us to the Watersnood Museum in Ouwerkerk in the province of Zeeland. This museum highlights the damage, recovery and the future after the flood of February 1, 1953. The museum is in the 4 original caissons used to close the breach in the dyke at Ouwerkerk. Afterwards we drove by the Delta Works which has gates which can be closed in times of storms and flooding. From there we drove to the Plompetoren (Plump Tower) on the Oosterschelde and Joop & Jenny’s cottage at Brugh-Haamstede. The back yard had no wind and with the sun shining it was very pleasant to sit in the back yard with a cup of tea. Before heading home we stopped for ice cream and a view of the sea. Supper was at a pannekoeken restaurant in Leerbroek. Afterwards we had a very good visit with Aunt Annie and Uncle Jan showing the pictures of the last 4 days.
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May 2nd, 2014
We had noWi-Fi (pronounced wee-fee in the Netherlands) until late Friday so here is 2 days of updates. On Thursday, after a good night’s rest and breakfast with Jenny, Jan picked us up to take us to the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery from World War II. This is a very peaceful place of 2 617 burials of which 2 338 are Canadians. Also, the Cemetery honours those who did not have a known grave. Afterwards, we drove to the Doorwerth Castle close to Jan’s work near Wageningen. While Jan went to an audit meeting at work we explored the castle. It is a smaller castle but in good condition. Jan met us after his meeting and we picked up Gerda on the way to the Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kroller-Muller Museum. This museum contains art from Van Gogh, Picasso, Gris, Renoir and other famous artists. Continuing to drive in the park we saw marshlands forests sand dunes and the Jachthuis St. Hubert house. Returning through the park we eventually saw some deer to prove that there is wildlife in the park. After being dropped off at Joop & Jenny’s we visited before heading off to bed.
On Friday Jan & Gerda took us to Maastricht and the Sint Pietersberg tunnels. These are tunnels made by cutting out the limestone starting with the Romans until modern times. They were also used for refuge when various armies invaded the area. It was very interesting to learn about the history and the amount of tunnels (approximately 250 km.). On the way back we drove through the Limburg province including Thorn (a village with white houses). Returning we went out for supper with Jan, Greda, Joop and Jenny. Returning to Leerdam we stopped to look at the bunkers from WWII that were use urging bombing raids.
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May 1st, 2014
We left Calgary the afternoon and arrived in Amsterdam airport the next morning after a 8.5 hour flight. We had a printed our boarding passes Monday evening but couldn’t get seats together. Fortunately the agent at the gate was able to get us together in row 39. After a good flight which included 2 meals (the first included wine) we landed a half hour early. However, after a very long taxi, an a long walk to our bags (there was no line up at customs) and then waiting for our bags we used up all that saved time and more. Jan and Gerda were waiting for us in the arrivals area. After coffee we drove to the National Aviation Aviodrome in Lelystad. The first thing we noticed was how lush and green the countryside was compared to Alberta. The museum had some very interesting exhibits regarding the history of aviation in the Netherlands. Afterwards Jan & Gerda drove us to Joop & Jennie’s where we are staying for the next 4 days. After supper we visited Charlie’s Auntie Annie and Uncle Jan. Auntie Annie broke her leg 5 weeks ago, has a cast from her hip to her toe and needs to stay in bed for 7 more weeks. Returning to Joop and Jennie’s we could not keep our eyes open. After being up 31 hours we went to bed.
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