Memorial Centre photos and postcards

Following up on yesterday's post, this photo wall shows some of the 9,000 portraits that are displayed inside the Camp Westerbork Memorial Centre. Under the title A Name and a Face, the centre wants to bring possible victims and survivors back from anonymity. The names of the victims, their date and place of birth and place of murder are continuously projected onto the museum's special Name Wall, in one of the other rooms.

From the Memorial Centre we walked the 3 km to the former camp grounds, where this photo was taken. It shows one of the enlarged postcards that are displayed along the walking route through the area. They were written by people inside the camp during World War II.

Westerbork Memorial Centre

We recently visited the Westerbork Memorial Center ('Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork'), that tells about everything that happened in the nearby World War II refugee, detention and transit 'camp Westerbork'. The camp's function during the Second World War was to assemble Romani and Dutch Jews for transport to Nazi extermination camps and other concentration camps.

A great amount of photos, letters and postcards, all kinds of documents as well as old film fragments are exhibited and shown. So very impressive, all that happened back then is really beyond comprehension. The museum was built in 1983 on private initiative and with financial support from the Dutch government. The original camp grounds are also part of the Center and accessible for the public, more about that later.

Zandhazenbrug

On our way to and back from the North Sea coast, earlier this month, we crossed the new Zandhazenbrug near the town of Muiderberg. The name of the bridge refers to an old nickname of the residents of Muiderberg, apparently they were called 'zandhazen' (lit: 'sand hares'), a name soldiers in the army sometimes get.
The bridge is a railway bridge with a span length of 255 m, and is in use since August 2016. It is part of the Weesp-Lelystad railway, known as the Flevolijn.

I'm linking to Skywatch Friday.

King's Day

Today is King's Day in the Netherlands, or 'Koningsdag' in Dutch, on which we celebrate the birthday of our King Willem-Alexander. He turned 50 years old today. 

TIt's a national holiday and the whole of the Netherlands colours orange, literally so here on Buienradar, a popular weather radar site. And even though we can't do without an umbrella today and with about 11°C it's rather chilly, but it's a festive day!

The forest that failed

Last Sunday when we were near the villages of Westerbork/Hooghalen we passed this square area where -apparently- all trees had been cut, and thought nothing special about it until we saw the sign saying 'Mislukt bos' or 'The Forest that failed'. Staatsbosbeheer (a Dutch government organisation for forestry and the management of nature reserves) explains and tells about the planting of the lodgepole pine (Pinus Contorta) 50 years ago on this spot.

Common to the US and Canada, the pines unfortunately didn't do well here in the Netherlands. When some ditches in the area were closed in order to save a nearby vulnerable wet heather field, the forest became wetter. The trees were cut down then and now all is left to nature to 'spontaneously' create an area with whatever else will grow.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Westerbork observatory

Near the village of Westerbork, about 30 min drive from our home, is this row of 14 antennas with a diameter of 25 meters each, and together they form one big (HUGE is a better word) telescope. Four of them are movable along 2 rail tracks. They are operated by ASTRON, the Dutch foundation for astronomy research. The telescopes are often combined with other ones around the world to perform certain observations.
Officially called the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT), it is commonly known as 'sterrenwacht Westerbork' ('Westerbork observatory').

Noordwijk aan Zee lighthouse

The lighthouse on the photo, located along the Wilhelmina Boulevard in Noordwijk aan Zee, was built in 1921. The first mention of a lighthouse on this spot dates from 1444, and in that time the light was lit only when fishermen were active at sea. The current tower has 6 floors and a staircase with 108 steps. Visitors are not allowed inside.

Zooming in we saw a very pretty weather vane!

Garden center

One of the bigger local garden centers had open house today. Always nice to have a look around.

We spotted some walnut trees (here in front) and were 'happy' to see them here without leaves and/or any sign of life as well. Exactly like the one in our garden, so no worries anymore about that  haha :)

Keukenhof #7

One of the sculptures on the grounds of the Keukenhof Spring garden is this beautiful piece named "Najade". It is made from Corton steel, known for its rust-like appearance.

The sculptor is Jack van Iwaarden de Vreede (1962). When I googled for the name "Najade" I found that it has several meanings, one of them is a Greek water nymph. Isn´t it lovely?

Lost and found

 

 A 'vindboom' or 'found items-tree' between the Queen Wilhelmina boulevard and the dunes of Noordwijk aan Zee.

It's mostly sneakers and flip flops as you can see ;) I like the initiative but wouldn't recommend to hang any valuable found items there..

Noordwijk aan Zee

View from the dunes into Noordwijk aan Zee. The town was founded around 1200 as a fishing village. During the 19th century tourism replaced fishing as its primary income.

Nowadays it is a popular resort town with over a million overnight stays per year.

Walk of Space

Since September 2013 the town of Noordwijk has a "Walk of Space", consisting of a number of tiles in the pavement of the Queen Wilhelmina Boulevard. With this they try to draw attention to space travel in general and their connection with it through the Space Expo: the town's permanent space exhibition which is also the visitor's center for ESA in the Netherlands.
The photo above shows the imprint of an original moonboot by Wubbo Ockels, the first Dutch astronaut who stayed inside the space ship Challenger for 7 days back in 1985.

Another one I'd like to show you is a handprint from André Kuipers, another Dutch astronaut who turned into a true national celebrity in 2011/2012 after he was selected for a 6 month mission to contribute to the International Space Station (ISS) project. The launch into space as well as his return to earth were broadcasted live on television, and there was lot of media attention for his stay inside the space station where he did all kinds of experiments and tests. Because of his enthusiasm the reports from space were a great pleasure to watch.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

At the North Sea coast

Before we visited the Keukenhof Monday a week ago we spent a day at the North Sea coast at Noordwijk aan Zee. The weather was more than perfect to be at the beach, it was warm and sunny and it felt like Summer; lots of people were sunbathing and some even went swimming in the sea. This photo was made when the tide was getting high; of course the sand castles that were built earlier had to be reinforced!

I'm linking to All Seasons.

Monday Mural

Watching the artist at work on a boarding fence surrounding a building site at the market square in Emmen.

I'm linking to Monday Mural.

Keukenhof #6

Vrolijk Pasen!

Happy Easter!

Keukenhof #5

This mirror-like screen hung semi-circular from the tree branches down, creating a peculiar reflection as the ground is now down ánd up. Photo taken at the Keukenhof flower park last Monday.
Happy Easter!

I'm linking to Weekend Reflections.

Bulb fields

The Keukenhof and the nearby village of Lisse are located in the so-called 'Bulb Region' ('Bollenstreek' in Dutch), in the west part of the Netherlands. Floriculture, the processing of bulbs for export, and other activities in the floral industry are major economic activities in this area.

When the bulb fields are in bloom it is one of our country's most visited tourist attractions. These 2 photos were taken from a viewing platform at the edge of the Keukenhof.

I'm linking to Floral Friday Fotos.

Keukenhof #4

On the grounds of the Keukenhof several pavilions have flower shows. This is a flower arrangement with Gerberas inside the Orange-Nassau Pavilion..

..and here we are at the Orchid show in the Beatrix Pavilion.

Keukenhof #3

I can't imagine the effort it takes for the gardeners at the Keukenhof to keep the many flower beds as neat as they were when we were there. Here the daffodils are tidied, watched by a growing number of people..

..and this man was putting iron sticks at each single hyacinth to keep it standing straight.

Keukenhof #2

The history of Keukenhof goes back to the 15th century, when Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria, Jacoba van Beieren (1401-1436) gathered fruit and vegetables here for the kitchen of Teylingen Castle. Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641, and the estate grew to an area of over 200 hectares.

The castle gardens were redesigned in 1857. That park, in the English landscape style, still forms the basis of Keukenhof. In 1949 a group of flower bulb exporters came up with a plan to use the estate for a permanent exhibition of spring-flowering bulbs, and the park opened its gates to the public in 1950.
If you would like to read more click HERE.

Keukenhof #1

We drove to the Dutch North Sea coast yesterday, spent the night there and we visited the Keukenhof today, in the village of Lisse. The Keukenhof (lit. "Kitchen Garden") is an annual Spring garden and flower show, with 32 hectares of flowers and 700 million (!) bulbs in bloom this Spring. Apart from many different varieties of tulips we also saw other Spring flowers like hyacinths and daffodils.

It was so great to be there and we were amazed to see the many beautiful flowers and combinations of colours. More photos will follow the coming days.

I'm linking to All Seasons.

Zwolle canal reflection

On foot from the train station to the city centre of Zwolle, a few weeks ago. The street on the left is the Burgemeester van Roijensingel.

I'm linking to Weekend Reflections.

Magnolias

From the 2 magnolia trees in our garden; both photos were taken a few days ago.

I'm linking to Floral Friday Fotos.

St Hubertus Hunting Lodge

This is the ´Jachthuis Sint-Hubertus' or 'St Hubertus Hunting Lodge', located in the north of De Hoge Veluwe Nat.Park. It is the former residence of the Kröller-Müller family, who were the original owners of the grounds that later became the National Park. The house was completed in 1920 and has been designed by the prominent Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934), who was inspired by an English country house. The tower was added on request of the Kröller-Müllers, so they would be able to enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside.

The inside of the house can only be viewed during a guided tour, something we definitely should keep in mind for a next visit. For more detailed information regarding the lodge check the official Park site HERE.

The White Bicycles

The 'Witte Fietsen' or 'White Bicycles' are a well known thing in De Hoge Veluwe Nat.Park. As a visitor you can use them for free in the park and cycle along the 40km of bicycle paths. There are about 1,800 bicycles available, they are stored at the various entrances as well as near the museum and visitor's centre. And, how unusual in the Netherlands, note that it is forbidden to lock them!

Bicycles that are damaged or not working properly can be placed here, apart from the rest, so they can be picked up and repaired.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

His Master's Voice

"His Master's Voice" is an artwork consisting of dozens of copper pipes each ending with a horn. It was created by Dutch sculptor Paul Vendel (1964) in 1993 and can be found in the 'Museonder', the underground part of the De Hoge Veluwe Nat.Park visitor's centre.

And seen from above. According to Vendel the construction connects the underground museum with the ground above.

Hoge Veluwe landscape

Both views were taken during our walk in De Hoge Veluwe Nat. Park, last Thursday. The size of the nature reserve is about 55 square km in total, consisting of heath lands, sand dunes, and woodlands. The landscape was created during the last Ice Age.

And as you can see we had the whole area for ourselves! Well, not entirely so ;) but as it was a weekday and no holiday it was nice without the crowds :)

I'm linking to All Seasons.

Visitor's centre entrance

Two more photos taken in the visitor's centre of De Hoge Veluwe Nat.Park. Standing at the entrance hall looking inside..(the gentleman behind the counter giving me a bit of an angry look..)

..and outside, where you can see another tree growing through the roof. The house there in the distance across the square is the park restaurant.