Along the market square

The gift shop / candy store at the market square in Bourtange.

Bourtange street

The old village of Bourtange is an open-air museum and has a population of less than 500 people.

The waiting dog..

..in front of the restaurant at the market square in Bourtange.

Merry Christmas

Fijne kerstdagen

Merry Christmas

Mr and Mrs Straw Bale..

.. selling pumpkins and gourds. Photo taken in the village of Bourtange earlier today.

Christmas #12 - window shopping

Window shopping around the market square in Bourtange during the Christmas Fair.

Christmas #11 - beards!

Lots of hair at this year's Christmas Fair in Bourtange ;)

Christmas #7 - Bourtange shop

The shops at the market square in Bourtange are always opened during an event like the Christmas Fair. 'De Commanderie' (The Commander's House) on the photo sells all kinds of presents as well as nostalgic Dutch candy.

Christmas #6 - Bourtange Christmas fair

The market square during the Christmas Fair in Bourtange.

Christmas #5 - reindeer and santas

A gathering of Rudolphs and Santas just begging passers-by to take them home! :)
Photo taken yesterday at the Christmas Fair in Bourtange.

The Solognote sheep in Bourtange

Walking back to our car after our visit to the Autumn Fair in Bourtange, we saw a shepherd with his flock of sheep coming towards us.

Look how beautiful they are, I love their colour! These are Solognote sheep, a old breed originally from France. They are known as being nosy and intelligent. Here in Bourtange they graze on the steep dikes that you see on the first photo.
If you are interested to read more about the shepherd Wim Bannink, and his flock, click HERE (only in Dutch)

Autumn has arrived

At the Autumn Fair in Bourtange, this afternoon.

CAUTION

Seen on a Christmas fair earlier this month.

Linking to Lesley's signs, signs.

Bourtange

two more pictures taken in Bourtange last Sunday during the Christmas fair

Christmas fair Bourtange

A traditional Dutch treat (and very nice to eat when you are on a Christmas fair and it's cold!) are 'poffertjes': small, fluffy pancakes with a light, spongy texture. They are served with powdered sugar and butter. In this stand the poffertjes are cooked in one of the special cast iron or copper pans that you see hanging in the back, the pans have shallow indentations in the bottom. So you get them fresh and hot!

Around the market square where the Christmas fair was hold are several small and beautifully decorated shops, always great to have a look in them as well..

This gentleman in black was entertaining us with his songs.

Bourtange, where these pictures were taken today, is a historical village in the province Groningen. Fort Bourtange was initially built during the Eighty Year's War (circa 1568-1648). In the 16th century it became part of the fortifications on the border between the north of the Netherlands and Germany. Nowadays part of the village is an open-air museum.