I would like to show you folks my home town. Last year we celebrated our 650th year as a "city". It existed centuries before the royal decree, but it was this great honour that we see as being our most important date. Hopefully you folks will feel like showing pics of your home towns as well. I know that I would be interested. I will begin in the harbour. The first three fotos are of the harbour and the harbour tower--a symbol the city. Other symbols are the unicorn and the red horn. The flag of our city is red and white. This is the square in the very center of town called "De Rode Steen", (the red stone). Across the way is the old weighing house for cheese. At the base of the statue is a red stone where people were beheaded. The original one is in the museum featured in the next foto. It was once a sort of council house where the administrators of the surrounding towns came to meet. St. John's Hospital. A little street near the church. A peek-through at the Oosterkerk. One of the several canals that we still have left in the city. Several were filled-in to make streets. And finally, the Oosterpoort (eastern Gate). The only remaining city gate from the old days.
Really interesting Sjoerd, your town has a lot to offer. I enjoyed the video, and never knew that Holland was known for cheese...so are we here in Wisconsin! It gives me a better understanding and I look forward to my trip to Europe this summer. Nothing here in the U.S. is that old and historic. I can't wait, and thanks for sharing. P.S. Our small town doesn't have a video to share, but in the future I'll try to post some pictures of our area here in northeast Wisconsin.
Oh yes... cheese is synominous with Holland- all sorts like Gouda and Edam. The city of Edam is up the road from me a ways--along the dike. I know about Wisc. and cheese. I've eaten some. It was pretty good stuff. yummmm... Thanks for looking at the video...and thanks for the nice comments. Amsterdam is full of old historical buildings and musea. I shall be looking forward to seeing some of your town's sights.
great picts Sjoerd. I liked the film. Your streets are differant there. Yours are bricks and our are black or dirt covered. Not sure if there are any kind of films but if I could find one it would be of our great Mackinaw Bridge. See what I can come up with. Thanks for sharing yours.
Somebody's been outside playing tourist in their own town, and I'm ever so pleased! Lovely shots. I like the little, leaning houses by the church. The film is great, I saw it twice in order not to miss anything. I'm impressed by all the ornaments on the roof tops too, and the row of brick houses by the canal looks a lot like some I've seen in Amsterdam.
very very beautiful, and so ornate. the architecture is just superb. thats what i love about europe is the old world look that most of the cities have kept, and retain their culture an history. I can't see the video right now, because we are having a wind an rain storm that keeps knocking me off line, but i will. well as far as showing our community,,,lol. it consists of 3 farms, including this one, an a bunch of marshes, mountains, and the sea,,lol. But i did have in mind of a tour of the Viking museum for everyone. but its from summer. Don't know how many would be intrested in it tho.
Thank you folks for your warm comments. Petunia, many of our streets are made with bricks, but some are paved with asphalt too. Like the big highways and Provencial road. The city's streets are divided. They definately give charm to the binnenstad , or town center. Biita, I for one would be very interested in seeing pics of the Viking museum. I find that a very interesting folk and a group of people that have had an enormous influence upon european culture, although it isn't always recognized after all these years. I vote yes!..........(with a 'please' added for good measure)
I love the architecture and I hope a lot of them will stay and not be redeveloped. It gives the 'dorpie' a sense of history. You really live in beautiful part of the world. I also love cheeses. Nice to see the areas where they were originally made. Our dairies here also make them - under license I assume.
Sjoerd...these pictures are so fascinating...I love all the detail. I love the accent on the man doing the tour....was it you? Everything was so interesting that I watched the clip twice and I no doubt will bring my husband on the computer to watch it tonight if he has time. One thing I didn't see were wooden shoes...I think that would be such an interesting detail sitting on a front porch or in the garden...are they still around? I do like the unicorns... I saw the shop that looked like Elvis in the window..he was here in Green Bay and I was sick and couldn't stand out in bad weather to get tickets..I would of loved to have seen him. Everything was so nice, all the beautiful old buildings, so colorful...you live in a great place and if I liked to travel, I would visit your area. Thank you so much for the video and the pictures.
Your town is beautiful Sjoerd. I just love historical buildings. I notice that the roofs all appear to be slate? Thanks for sharing
What gorgeouse buildings and scenery Sjoerd, thanks for taking us on the tour. I love the street of houses near the church. Biita, yes please, a tour of the Viking museum would be wonderful. And pictures of the farms and scenery in your town too.
Sjoerd Thanks for the Awesome tour of your town , and video.. I have gotten a small preview of how it looks there , we visited a small town in USA. It is Pella, Iowa, and it is set up in some ways of yours... All brick roads and walks and even they made up a canal with large post of flowers all around. A wishing well also......Large windmills, however I loved your tall building as well with the clock. Reminds me of the Lighthouses, so popular here in the USa...... Love the photos ......Show us mor. b