Fresh milk

During one of our hikes recently we passed a dairy farm along the Oranjekanaal in Zuidveld, near Orvelte. The sign saying 'melktap' ('milk pump') caught our attention..

.. so we had a closer look and discovered a 24/7 self-service organic milk device..

..and even a place to sit and rest. Isn't that nice? We went along without taking a bottle of milk in our rucksack, but I'm sure many passers-by do so.

SIgn

Our hike last Sunday went for a small part through a privately-owned nature area called 'Heidehof', near the village of Eext.

There was a sign at the entrance, next to the gate, telling us that nature came first and that the area was only open for pedestrians from sunrise to sunset. Many things weren't allowed, like motor vehicles, mopeds, bicycles, horses, dogs, camping, open fire, smoking, littering, making noise, and taking anything home from the area. Well, quite a lot but all very reasonable don't you think?

I'm linking to signs, signs.

The former border

From January 1, 1993 the European Union is a customs-free territory. This barrier at the former border between the small villages of Bourtange (The Netherlands) and Neurhede (Germany) reminds us of the days that it was very normal to stop and be asked for a passport or identity card. I can remember that very well.

The barrier is now a kind of monument and is placed next to the road. The sign says "closed between 10pm and 6,30am". So during these hours it wasn't possible to cross the border between the Netherlands and Germany on this particular road.
Both photos were taken from the German side; the text is in German.

Deventer manhole cover

To be honest I had never taken much notice of the manhole covers during earlier visits to Deventer, but they are worth having a closer look at!
Can you see what it says on the first line? Once you figured that out, see how the letters mix and turn until the person standing across you can do the same ..

Enjoy your Saturday :)

Bicycle shed sign

This monumental building at Brink no 16 in Deventer is nowadays used by an organisation called "KunstaanZ", who organises exhibitions with contemporary art.

A large and colourful sign above the entrance catches the eye though; on which a gentleman and his bicycle tell that this was once the location for a 'Rijwielstalling' - which in formal Dutch means 'bicycle shed'.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Beavers' work #2

A bit further on our hike in Isojärvi Nat. Park than yesterday's post, we passed a small lake called Lepolampi and saw this sign:

 ..that indicated a detour was necessary..

..because a small part of the forest was flooded due to beavers! It must have been a while since, as many of the trees standing in the water were already dead.

Car date

'Only for car date', says the text on this sign at the train station car park in Haren, a sign I had never seen here before. Google told me that it is meant as a parking place for a 'shared car'; a privatly owned car that can be booked by others through an organisation for a certain day and time. The person who books the car only pays for fuel and the amount of time, and the owner of the car earns some money.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Land of language

On and around the Oldehoofsterkerkhof in Leeuwarden is the international Lân fan taal (Frisian for 'Land of language') project this year. The programma shows you how limitless our language is, and you can learn, experience and feel the importance and diversity of language. The text on the wall says 'Language is everything, everything is language', or: 'taal is alles, alles is taal' in Dutch.
If you'd like to read more about the 'land of language' project, click HERE.

Mystery numbers

A big blue '3' and then an arrow pointing to a green '1' near Uithuizermeeden on the cycling path that we followed on one of our recent hikes. There were no other numbers, and there was no explanation to what they could mean. Any suggestions?

I'm linking to signs, signs.

What's in a name

In 2005 "Doodstil" was honoured to have the most beautiful village name in the Netherlands. It can be translated literally as 'dead-still' or 'mouse-still. Doodstil is a hamlet with about 100 inhabitants in the Groninger region Hogeland.

The name however relates most likely to a (man's) first name Doode or Doede, and 'til' is an old Dutch name for the 'bridge'. So 'Doodstil' means in fact 'Bridge of Doode', and it's a modest one too as you can see on the photo.

Between East and West

The former "inner German border", making Germany into an 'East' and a 'West', also divided the Harz region in two separate parts. At the actual spot of this border is now a memorial stone that commorates the reunification of Germany with the words "Deutschland wieder vereint" ('Germany united again').

Along the road near the city of Braunlage is a sign that says that: Here, Germany and Europe were separated until 2:30 pm on November 12, 1989".

And on both sides of the road the former patrol road is still visible -even though trees have grown into it by now-: two parallel lines of perforated concrete blocks that ran beside the border. Guards used this all-weather road to 'travel rapidly to the scene of an attempted crossing' (info from Wikipedia).

View into Súd

View into a street in the centre of Workum named Súd. In the background is the 15th century Reformed St. Gertrudis Church.

I noticed the estate agency ('makelaardij' in Dutch) on the corner had a nice sign. And yes that must be Christmas lights still hanging there..;)   (photo taken last Saturday)

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Bicycle repair and rental

The local shop for bicycle maintenance and rentals in Workum.

Deurzerdiep

View on the water of the Deurzerdiep, located in the landscape Drentsche Aa.

Safety first

 

Even though March is on the doorstep it is very cold here -for our standards anyway-; this morning at 11 a.m. it was still -8°C (18°F) and feeling much colder due to strong winds coming from the east. Brrrr! In the meantime this vehicle is busy mowing the sides of the railroad track as a preparation for the new season of the STAR steamtrain.

Zooming in I noticed the yellow sticker on the side saying: "Zie je mij, zie ik jou" or "When you see me, I see you". A text that can be seen frequently in traffic, like on long trucks. Safety first!

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Left or right

A sign in the 'Land van Bartje' holiday park. I thought it was very sweet :)

Louise

A pretty and elegant sign from the Smedenstraat in the city centre of Deventer.

"Louise" is a ladies' fashion store. I'm linking to signs, signs.

Painting blue

Above the entrance of a building at the Graven in Deventer is this sign of 2 dark blue hands and a blue cloth. (Once) a launderette maybe? I had no idea..

Back home I googled and learned that the sign pictures the hands and the profession of 'Blauwverver Barthold van Ophuijsen'. This 'bluepainter' named Barthold van Ophuijsen lived here around 1600. His profession was painting people's clothes blue, a deep dark blue until they almost turned black. His customers were mainly people who were in mourning. Being a widower or widow meant wearing dark clothes for a long period, and having your clothes painted dark blue or black obviously costed a lot less than buying new clothes.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Furniture maker

Always on the look out for special signs I found this one saying 'meubels op maat' ('custom-made furniture') in the Walstraat in Deventer.

The owner, Mr Frank Dewever, was an educated chemist, though at some point switched to his real passion: the trade of designing furniture.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Johannes Kerkhovenpolder

If you enjoy wide views, the countryside of the province of Groningen is where you should be! Like yesterday's photos this one also shows the Johannes Kerkhovenpolder. Johannes Kerkhoven was a banker from Amsterdam who had bought these lands to create a polder.  His ambitious plans were carried out by his heirs though, as Kerkhoven passed away before the project started in 1875.

I'm linking to signs, signs.