Stuif's Adventures

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The Netherlands, 2011, part 2
Creating this album, I realised how busy I have been during my recent visit of my native country. It was not easy to make a selection of the ~ 700 pictures I have taken.

During my whole stay I had wonderful spring weather. When I arrived, spring just started. Within a few weeks there were flowers everywhere, the tulip fields, the cherry blossoms and when I left it was almost summer. I was really lucky.

Below first a trip through North Holland with its tulip fields, via Leeuwarden where I met an old friend, to Groningen where my brother and his family are living. It is one of my favourite towns.

After visiting the famous Groningen Museum I went back to Friesland, to Franeker to meet my brother Pim and Nanda, who had recently visited us in Malaysia. Franeker is a beautiful small town, with a glorious past. From 1585 to 1811, the city housed the University of Franeker, which was the second university in the Netherlands.

Both in Groningen and Friesland we made nice walks. There is a subtle difference between the countryside in both provinces...:-)

Back in Amsterdam in time for the Queen's birthday. I had arranged to meet friends in the Vondelpark, not a very smart move, with hundred-thousands of visitors. It is the biggest festival in the Netherlands and it was big fun as usual.

Next was a nice countryside walk with one of my former students. The Holland countryside has its own beauty. Many flowers, many birds.

About the visit of my British friends I will write a separate report later..:-)

Gouda was my next target, to visit an old friend and explore the town. I think I have never before visited so many highlights of Dutch town architecture during one visit..:-)

Finally I went to Brussels with my friend Inez, but that will also become a separate report.
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Water tower and tulip fields
 

Hyacinth fields
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the Poldertuin
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Orgy of colours
 

Parrot tulip
 

Various flowers
 

Jacobijnekerk, Leeuwarden
 

Leeuwarden architecture
 

Stadhouderlijk Hof
 

Beautiful spring weather
 

Groningen, my brothers house
 

Visiting family in Groningen
 

Bloemetjesmarkt (Flower Market)
 

Cactuses
 

These are real flowers!
 

Enjoying a "Lekkerbekje"
 

Early 20th century architecture
 

Blossom everywhere
 

A proud uncle..:-)
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Groningen countryside
 

Romanesque church
 

Another old romanesque church
 

Nice frog
 

Nice flowers
 

Groninger Museum
 

Intriguing exhibition by Chi Peng
 

Friesland countryside
 

Dandelions everywhere
 

Dandelion seed head
 

Typical Fries landscape
 

Fun on the water
 

The famous Friesian cows
 

Could have been 50 years ago!
 

Each hamlet has its church
 

Another church
 

Enjoying a beer after a long walk
 

Spring blossom
 

Crow's nests
 

Franeker, kaatsbaan
 

Cammingastins and Martini church
 

Detail Martini church
 

Franeker canal
 

Townhall, built 1591-1594
 

Various architectural styles
 

Typical Dutch gables
 

More buildings
 

Details
 

More details
 

Martena Stins, 1498
 

The Queen's Birthday
 

Everybody wearing orange
 

Crowd in the Vondelpark
 

Children, playing music
 

How to meet friends here?
 

But we did!
 

Traditional boat parade in the canals
 

Busy traffic
 

Holland countryside
 

Horse chestnut blossom
 

Typical Dutch windmill
 

Visiting former school colleagues
 

This was a Sunday school!
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Nice house with "leibomen"
 

Many birds, young and old
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With Cathy and Neil in Delft
 

Gouda townhall ~ 1450
 

Waag (Weigh house) 1667
 

Details of gate decorations
 

Old house
 

St Jans church (1530-1603)
 

Interior and organ
 

The famous stained glass windows
 

More stained glass
 

Former fish market
 

With Inez in Brussels
 

I visited many friends..:-)
 

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
Indeed a very beautiful country. Looking forward to you next album

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
I can spend days here.

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
Nice. Diagonal lines at bottom right and horizontal at the top.

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
Yes, it gives depth to the view.

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
oh...what a fairy tail school!

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
so cute...like a toy :)
Beautiful country.

wrote on Jul 5, 2011:
Well... great-uncle. But proud is he:-)

wrote on Jul 6, 2011:
oh wow... i would love to study here!! ha ha.. hope u're well .. holland is such a beautiful country. Love the tulips!!

wrote on Jul 6, 2011:
this is duck or birds ah?

Kwai Loh wrote on Jul 6, 2011:
Top lef is a Mute Swan. Middle picture a young duck.To the right a Crested Grebe, my favourite bird..:-)
Bottom picture are Grey Geese, adults and juveniles.

Dan wrote on Sep 12, 2011:
Nice ... everything seems so clean and in order there, unlike Malaysia ... LOL.

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