City of Goes in the Netherlands

Bart & Marion sent me this nice card featuring Goes, a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on Zuid-Beveland, in the province of Zeeland. The city of Goes has approximately 27,000 residents.

Water Towers in Netherlands

Since 1839 Water towers form a characteristic part of the environment in the Netherlands. The first towers were used for the water supply of the steam locomotives of the railways, followed by that of the tramway. This type of water tower was not very successful because of its small size and capacity.  

Most notable are the bigger water towers. From 1856 more than 260 water towers were built for the benefit of the central water supply.  

 Finally, by hospitals and private water towers built as part of small drinking water supplies in places where there was no mains present. The number of decommissioned towers are rising constantly. In addition, it does not appear that there would be many water towers built in the Netherlands in the future due better technological advances.

This card sent to me by Marianne show ten of the prominent water towers in Holland.

Map Card from Holland

Rene from Holland sent me this nice card from there.

The Terrible Lifeguard !

Gerda My Dutch friend sent me this card with a picture drawn by  Joshua Douglas a Dutch children's author.

Joshua Douglas made ​​his debut as a poet at the 32nd International Poetry Festival in 2001. In 2009 he published his picture book The Kiss Crocodile and other night creatures dear. " Loes Riphagen did the illustrations. Joshua is the brother of painter Daniel Douglas. He lives and works in Utrecht.

The Terrible Lifeguard – the picture depicted on the card is about Lifeguard Brulboei.

Lev takes his father to swim training to Lifeguard Brulboei, the most famous swimming champion ever. Everyone thinksthis idea is. But Lev knows better. Brulboei is the most terrible lifeguard you can think of. He is rude and mean, he is fierce, rough and cruel. And he has a terrible secret ... Together with his neighbour Lita he plays……. Can they uncover the terrible lifeguard and show who Brulboei really is?.......................

Interesting!

The Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands

This nice card on which is shown The Peace Palace is an administrative building in the Hague, the Netherlands. It is often called the seat of international law   because it houses the International Court of Justice   (which is the principal judicial body of the United Nations), the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International law, and the extensive Peace Palace Library, was sent to me by Marlies from Holland. 

In addition to hosting these institutions, the Palace is also a regular venue for special events in international policy and law. The Palace officially opened on 28 August 1913, and was originally built to provide a symbolic home for the Permanent Court of Arbitration, a court created to end war which was created by treaty at the 1899 Hague Peace Conference. Andrew Dickson White whose efforts were instrumental in creating this court and securing the funding to provide it with a "worthy accommodation", wrote of the idea to his friend Andrew Carnegie who eventually provided 1.5 million dollars to build the Peace Palace:

"A temple of peace where the doors are open, in contrast to the Janus-temple, in times of peace and closed in cases of war as a worthy testimony of the people that, after many long centuries finally a court that has thrown open its doors for the peaceful settlement of differences between peoples".

Were such a fabric to be created, men would make pilgrimages from all parts of the civilized world to see it. It would become a sort of holy place, prized and revered by thinking men throughout the world, and to which, in any danger of war between any two countries, the minds of men would turn naturally and normally. The main difficulty now is that the people of the various nations do not really know what was done for them by the Conference; but such a building would make them know it. It would be an "outward and visible sign" of the Court, which would make its actual, tangible existence known to the ends of the earth"

--Andrew Dickson White to Andrew Carnegie to, August 5, 1902

28 August 2013 is both the Centenary of the Peace Palace, and the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's"I have dream" speech. King's embrace of pacifism and the Gandhian method of satyagraha  is a clear legacy of the 19th century Peace Movement from which the Peace Palace and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, emerged. 28 August 2013 is also the anniversary of the death of Hugo Grotius. Grotius, who died in 1645, is recognized as the founder of the vision of International Law of which the Permanent Court of Arbitration is an expression. In his autobiography, Andrew Dickson White, who led the U.S. delegation to the 1899 Hague Peace Conference which established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, wrote "Our work here, at the end of the nineteenth century, is the direct result of Grotius' work at the end of the 17th century"

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNLM)

The ship shown on this card belongs to the Royal Military Police of Netherlands. This nice card was sent to me by Stella.

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNLM) is a gendarmerie corps, i.e. a police corps with military status. Marechaussee personnel are both military and police personnel. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is deployable in all situations at home and abroad in the interests of security, especially when the going gets tough. The RNLM is deployed to areas of strategic importance, from palaces and airports in the Netherlands to Europe’s external borders, as well as to conflict areas and theatres of war anywhere in the world. Within the Netherlands Defence organisation, the RNLM also functions as a military police force.

IJmuiden

IJmuiden is a port city in the Dutch province of North Holland and is the main town in the municipality of Velsen. It is located at the mouth of the North Sea Canal to Amsterdam, and lies approximately 17 kilometres north of Haarlem.

In the picture on this card sent to me by Kitty one can see the IJmuiden's Rear Range lighthouse, a radar reflectoe buoy and the Old water tower.

Marken Lighthouse

The lighthouse on the Peninsula of Marken on the IJsselmeer.
The present lighthouse was built in 1839 and was declared a national monument in 1970. When on a sailing trip at the IJsselmeer, Marken is definitely worth a stop.

Marken is a peninsula in the Markermeer, in the Netherlands and a former island in the Zuiderzee, located in the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It is the namesake of the Markermeer, the body of water which surrounds it. The former island is nowadays connected to the North Holland mainland by a causeway. Also, Marken is a well-known tourist attraction, well known for its characteristic wooden houses. For some time during the later 19th and early 20th centuries, Marken and its inhabitants were the focus of considerable attention by folklorists, ethnographers and physical anthropologists, who regarded the small fishing town as a relic of the traditional native culture that was destined to disappear as the modernization of the Netherlands gained pace. Marken was a separate municipality until 1991, when it was merged into Waterland.

Thank you Ina.

The Dutch Royal Family

Millions of Dutch people dressed in orange flocked to celebrations around the Netherlands Tuesday 30^th April 2013, in honour of a once-in-a-generation milestone for the country's ruling House of Orange-Nassau: after a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix abdicated in favor of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander.

At 46, King Willem-Alexander is the youngest monarch in Europe and the first Dutch king in 123 years, since Willem III died in 1890.Like Beatrix before him, Willem-Alexander has assumed the throne at a time of social strains and economic malaise.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane on the balcony after the abdication of the former Queen Beatrix. This photograph was taken on 7^th May 2013.

This pretty card was sent to me by Dineke.

Helmond in Holland

Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands. It is quite near Eindhoven a big city. Eindhoven is known for many things, amongst them PSV Eindhoven the football club. If luck favours them Eindhoven may host the 2018 FIFA World Cup there. Helmond has many textile companies. The Vlisco factory is located next to the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal which runs through the city. Helmond is home of the professional football team of Helmond Sport. The centre of Helmond has a castle which was built by Jan III van Berlaer around 1350.

This pretty card which sends greetings from Helmond was sent to me by Josien.

George Hendrik Breitner

Irene sent this card which features a painting by George Hendrik Breitner (September 12, 1857 – June 5, 1923) who was a Dutch painter and photographer from Amsterdam.   

Painting by Frans Hals

This is a painting by Frans Hals a dutch artist. It depicts a meeting of officers and NCOs of the security detail. A 1633 Frans Hals painting in the Frans Hals  Museum, Haarlem.

This lovely card was sent to me by Laury.  She says that this is a typical dutch painting from the 17^th Century. The man shown at the bottom of the picture is Colonnel Yohan Claese Loo. This painting it seems was an inspiration for a self-portrait by William Merritt Chase. 

Helmond, Netherlands

Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands. It is quite near Eindhoven a big city. Eindhoven is known for many things, amongst them PSV Eindhoven the football club. If luck favours them Eindhoven may host the 2018 FIFA World Cup there. Helmond has many textile companies. The Vlisco factory is located next to the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal which runs through the city. Helmond is home of the professional football team of Helmond Sport. The centre of Helmond has a castle which was built by Jan III van Berlaer around 1350.

This pretty card which sends greetings from Helmond was sent to me by Brigite and John who live in Helmond and are very proud of it. I would be too if I lived in such a nice town!

Stamp Exhibition ‘Filacento’ 1984

This interesting card was sent to me by Bert from Zwolle in Holland.  It shows the Stamp Exhibition ‘Filacento’ held in Holland on 13.6.1984.

I would also like to draw your attention to the three lovely stamps affixed to the card. The first one was in accordance with the theme of EUROPA86, which was “Conservation of Nature”.

The second stamp commemorated The Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of St. John (Sint-Janskathedraal) of Hertogenbosch, North Brabant which is the height of gothic architecture in the Netherlands. It has an extensive and richly decorated interior, and serves as the cathedral for the bishopric of Hertogenbosch. The cathedral has a total length of 115 and a width of 62 metres. Its tower reaches 73 metres high.

St. John’s Cathedral is a so-called ‘Kanjermonument’ (whopper-monument, loosely translated) and being such, it receives financial support from the Dutch government. In 1985, it received the honorary title of Basilica Minor from Pope John Paul II.

And the third stamp is for the 400^th Death Anniversary of William of Orange. Now, William I, Prince of Orange (24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584), also widely known as William the Silent, or simply William of Orange, who was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the William I, Prince of Orange. William joined the Dutch uprising and turned against his former masters. The most influential and politically capable of the rebels, he led the Dutch to several successes in the fight against the Spanish. Declared an outlaw by the Spanish king in 1580, he was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard (also written as "Gerardts") in Delft four years later (1584).

Texel in Holland

Texel  is a municipality and an island in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the largest and most populated of the Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea, and also the westernmost of this archipelago, which extends to Denmark. The next island in the archipelago, to the north of Texel, is Vlieland.

The name Texel is Frisian, but because of historical sound-changes in Dutch, where all -x- sounds have been replaced with -s- sounds (compare for instance English Fox, Frisian Fokse, German Fuchs with Dutch Vos), the name is typically pronounced Tesselin Dutch.

 The municipality also includes the uninhabited sand bar of Noorderhaaks. The island of Texel, which received city rights in 1415, originally was made up of two islands, Texel proper to the south and Eierland to the northwest, which were connected by shoals. In the seventeenth century, the islands were poldered together. Today, Texel forms the largest natural barrier between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea.

The dune landscape on Texel is a unique habitat for wildlife. Texel is known for its wildlife, particularly in winter, when birds of prey and geese take up residence. About one third of Texel is a protected nature reserve. Popular with tourist. The island is wonderful for walking, swimming and horse riding. Thank you Ivon for this nice card.

The Wiesensee

The Wiesensee is an artificial lake, dammed up in 1971, in the Westerwald low mountain range. The lake covers about 80 hectares and lies in the area of Stahlhofen am Wiesensee's various centres on the lake's west shore, and Pottum on the north shore in the Westerwaldkreis. The community of Winnen borders on the lake to the southeast. The lake is a nature conservation area, and only parts of the water surface are open for recreational use.

It is a holiday and tourist destination. Several hotels, a luxury hotel and golf course lie near the shore. Many leisure facilities in the winter and summer make the Wiesensee attractive for athletes, young families and youth. Around the lake runs a roughly 6.5-km-long hiking path loop.

Once every year, usually in the third week of October, the lake is fished clean, and completely drained. On this occasion the fishing festival is traditionally held.

Every three years, the Vereinsring Pottum ("club ring") stages a Sommernachtfest ("Summer Night Festival") at the lake.

Thank you Benny for this card.

Sail Amsterdam

Sail Amsterdam is a Dutch maritime event held every five years for 5 days. In 2010, the eighth edition took place from 19 to 23 August. The next edition of Sail Amsterdam will be held fromAugust 19,2015 to August 23, 2015.

The event was first held in August 1975 during the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the city of Amsterdam. During the preparations was proposed to organize a nautical event in the port of Amsterdam, somewhat following the First Dutch Exhibition held in 1913 in Shipping Technology, which would be the focus of the harbour and the city. There were ships from around the world for this event 'Sail Amsterdam 700' invited.

After the success of 'Sail Amsterdam 700' it was decided in 1980 to organize a Sail Amsterdam to lead the organization in the right direction is the permanent organization Stichting Sail Amsterdam (SSA) was established in 1977. Since then it has succeeded the SSA to organize an event in 1980 , 1985 , 1990 , 1995 , 2000 , 2005 and 2010 .

This maxicard commemorates Sail Amsterdam 1995, held from 6^th June 1995.

In 2000 and 2005 there were more than two million people at the event, including 360,000 foreigners. In 2010, the buzz was with 1.5 million visitors a little smaller, partly because the event took a day shorter, but still belongs Sail Amsterdam's busiest public events in the Netherlands.

Thank you Dear Maria for this nice card.

Rotterdam - Experience one of the world's largest ports in all it's glory

You cannot visit Rotterdam, one of the largest harbours of the world, without seeing the harbours. The best way to see the harbours is making is a boattrip riding the Spido boats.

Among the busy traffic of sea-going and inland ships, this trip is a special journey through one of the largest harbours in the world. You can see Rotterdam's impressive skyline with its imposing buildings glide by, and then get a unique view of the harbours shipyards, docks and the hypermodern transshipping of thousands of containers. Last but not least the tour will end with a view of the steamship 'Rotterdam', the former cruise flagship of shipping company Holland America Line. An exciting 75 minutes with clear descriptions of everything you see.

When you go for a trip on this boat, you can eat as many pancakes as you like:-))

The trip takes about an hour and whike you are eating you can admire the Rotterdam Skyline. On Saturday night it is possible to have a moonlight cruise and of course eat as much as you like. 

The year round Spido offers various harbour trips. I made the regular boattrip of one and half hour through the port of Rotterdam, but there also trips of three or even six hours to the Botlek, Europoort and Delta Works.

From the boat you can have a good look at the spectacular skyline of the 'Manhattan on the Maas' with its impressive architecture. You will have nice views at the Erasmusbridge and the Willemsbridge, the hotel New York, the Euromast an other sights as well. Heading west you will reach the harbour areas with the docks and wharfs.

Thank you Marco for this lovely card and the info with it.

Dutch Fleet at Anchor

A lovely painting of the Dutch Fleet of the 1800's at anchor.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre. Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre. Its strategic location at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea and at the heart of a massive rail, road, air and inland waterway distribution system extending throughout Europe is the reason that Rotterdam is often called the "Gateway to Europe". In the province of South Holland, Rotterdam is in the west of Netherlands and the south of the Randstad. The population of the city was 616,250 on February 1, 2012. The population of the greater Rotterdam area, called "Rotterdam-Rijnmond" or just "Rijnmond", is approximately 1.3 million. The combined urban area of Rotterdam and The Hague is the 206th largest urban area in the world. One of Europe's most vibrant, multicultural cities, Rotterdam is known for its university (Erasmus), cutting-edge architecture, lively cultural life, striking riverside setting and maritime heritage. It is also known for the Rotterdam Blitz. The largest port in Europe and one of the busiest ports in the world, the port of Rotterdam was the world's busiest port from 1962 to 2004, when it was surpassed by Shanghai. Rotterdam's commercial and strategic importance is based on its location near the mouth of the Niew Meuse (New Meuse), a channel in the delta formed by the Rhine and Meuse on the North Sea. These rivers lead directly into the centre of Europe, including the industrial Ruhrregion.

Also seen on the card is the Erasmus Bridge which is a cable-stayed bridge across the Nieuwe Maas, linking the northern and southern regions of Rotterdam.  The Erasmus Bridge was designed by Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996. The 802-metre-long (2,631 ft) bridge has a 139-metre-high (456 ft) asymmetrical pylon, earning the bridge its nickname of "The Swan". The southern span of the bridge has an 89-metre-long (292 ft) bascule bridge for ships that cannot pass under the bridge. The bascule bridge is the largest and heaviest in West Europe and has the largest panel of its type in the world. After costing more than 163 million euros to construct, the bridge was officially opened by Queen Beatrix on September 6, 1996.^[1] Shortly after the bridge opened to traffic in October 1996, it was discovered the bridge would swing under particularly strong wind conditions. To reduce the trembling, stronger shock dampers were installed.

The Bridge has been used during many memorable events. The bridge featured in the 1998Jackie Chan film "Who Am I?" In 2005, several planes flew underneath the bridge as part of the "Red Bull Air Race". In 2005, the bridge served as the backdrop for a performance by DJ Tiësto titled "Tiësto @ The Bridge, Rotterdam". The performance featured fire-fighting ships spraying jets of water into the air in front of the bridge, a fireworks barge launching fireworks beside the bridge, and multi coloured spot/search lights attached to the bridge itself. The bridge was crossed during the prologue and the opening stage of the 2010 Tour de France.

Thank you Marco for this nice card.