What
History general
17th Century
History cities
Video.
Click on the picture to play the video.
First, a couple of short homemade clips. 
Medieval Muiden Castle :
A highlight, of course.
What I love especially about it, is the wide open landscape and the views when cycling or walking around there.
More on page Muiden castle - a strategic location.
Website of the castle www.muiderslot.nl.
A highlight, of course.
What I love especially about it, is the wide open landscape and the views when cycling or walking around there.
More on page Muiden castle - a strategic location.
Website of the castle www.muiderslot.nl.
A magic evening at the castle :
after a violent summer thunderstorm, the sun sort of broke through the mist. Not long before sunset.
I only had a simple photo camera with me, but I made this shot anyway.
The cows, walking to the farm. Twittering swallows. Geese flying over. Pure magic.
after a violent summer thunderstorm, the sun sort of broke through the mist. Not long before sunset.
I only had a simple photo camera with me, but I made this shot anyway.
The cows, walking to the farm. Twittering swallows. Geese flying over. Pure magic.
Souvenirs of Wars :
The region is full of military constructions of all ages. From medieval castle, to forts and World War II bunkers.
See also page war and peace.
More external information on these subjects on this links page, under "Fortifications, etc".
The region is full of military constructions of all ages. From medieval castle, to forts and World War II bunkers.
See also page war and peace.
More external information on these subjects on this links page, under "Fortifications, etc".
200 year old working windmill :
the "Onrust" (Unrest) is a powerful water pumping machine, build in 1809. It controls the water level of the "Naarder- meer", a nature reserve with lakes and marshland east of Amsterdam.
National Parks : www.natuurmonumenten.nl.
the "Onrust" (Unrest) is a powerful water pumping machine, build in 1809. It controls the water level of the "Naarder- meer", a nature reserve with lakes and marshland east of Amsterdam.
National Parks : www.natuurmonumenten.nl.
Working corn windmill :
the "Vriendschap" (Friendship) in Weesp is still in full use for flour production. With enough wind it can grind wheat with 3 milling stones simultaneously. That's quite a show ! For this clip there was little wind.
Website of the windmill : www.weesperwieken.nl.
the "Vriendschap" (Friendship) in Weesp is still in full use for flour production. With enough wind it can grind wheat with 3 milling stones simultaneously. That's quite a show ! For this clip there was little wind.
Website of the windmill : www.weesperwieken.nl.
A winter walk (December 2010) over heather fields and in woods.
Normally great for cycling, but in winter better take the train from Amsterdam Central to Hilversum-Noord, about 25 minutes. Directions are in the clip.
See also pages the region and how to get there.
Normally great for cycling, but in winter better take the train from Amsterdam Central to Hilversum-Noord, about 25 minutes. Directions are in the clip.
See also pages the region and how to get there.
Two videos of Christmas time in the small town of Weesp. 
Midwinter party at windmill De Vriendschap (Friendship).
Brass band, a bit of community singing directed by one of the millers, and hot chocolate or hot "Glühwein" (mulled wine) with "oliebollen" (sort of donuts) or other pastry. The little mill shop, where I get the flour for my bread, is also in the clip.
Brass band, a bit of community singing directed by one of the millers, and hot chocolate or hot "Glühwein" (mulled wine) with "oliebollen" (sort of donuts) or other pastry. The little mill shop, where I get the flour for my bread, is also in the clip.
Christmas market and Choir Festival, generally second Saturday in December.
A large number of choirs (all enthusiastic amateurs) give free concerts all over town. No competition nor prizes, just for fun and the joy of singing.
A large number of choirs (all enthusiastic amateurs) give free concerts all over town. No competition nor prizes, just for fun and the joy of singing.
A longer video (10 minutes) from the small town of Muiden. 
Remembrance of the Dead (May 4).
This commemoration was originally for the dead of WWII, but it broadened to all victims of conflict since then. People gather at the local war memorial, and at 8 PM two minutes of silence are observed all over the country. Here in Muiden at the graves of British and Canadian air crew.
This commemoration was originally for the dead of WWII, but it broadened to all victims of conflict since then. People gather at the local war memorial, and at 8 PM two minutes of silence are observed all over the country. Here in Muiden at the graves of British and Canadian air crew.
On the history of bicycle infrastructure in the Netherlands (see also bike history).
How the Dutch got their cycle paths.
On the YouTube channel of the maker of this video, there's much more interesting background information on bicycling matters.
As well as on hembrow.blogspot.com
See also this promotion video of the "Dutch Cycling Embassy".
On the YouTube channel of the maker of this video, there's much more interesting background information on bicycling matters.
As well as on hembrow.blogspot.com
See also this promotion video of the "Dutch Cycling Embassy".
Two clips on the flood disaster of 1953 and the resulting Deltaworks. 
Original Cinema Newsreel of 1953.
After WWII the dikes were in very bad shape. When during the night of 31 January - 1 February 1953 a severe winter storm coincided with extreme high spring tide the level of the North Sea rose more than 5 metres above normal. The dikes broke and about 2000 people died.
After WWII the dikes were in very bad shape. When during the night of 31 January - 1 February 1953 a severe winter storm coincided with extreme high spring tide the level of the North Sea rose more than 5 metres above normal. The dikes broke and about 2000 people died.
Aerial footage of the Deltaworks.
After the 1953 disaster the Deltaplan was decided : a giant complex of new dams, dikes and locks was to improve water defences and shorten the coastline. See www.deltawerken.com. All this construc- tion took 50 years. But as the of sea level keeps rising constantly ...
After the 1953 disaster the Deltaplan was decided : a giant complex of new dams, dikes and locks was to improve water defences and shorten the coastline. See www.deltawerken.com. All this construc- tion took 50 years. But as the of sea level keeps rising constantly ...
Two short clips in the category "curious". 
Images from Holland, Michigan, USA !
For Dutch people watching these American streets full of dancers on wooden shoes in "traditional costume", is absolutely hilarious. Nothing wrong with it of course, as long as people have fun.
Interesting how long time emigrants remain more Dutch than the Dutch in some respects.
For Dutch people watching these American streets full of dancers on wooden shoes in "traditional costume", is absolutely hilarious. Nothing wrong with it of course, as long as people have fun.
Interesting how long time emigrants remain more Dutch than the Dutch in some respects.
As for the bicycle orchestra, I never heard of these acrobats, until a colleague from Japan (!) mentioned their existence and website.
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