I want to share a few pictures of my week in Zoutelande in the Kingdom of The Netherlands with you. Zoutelande is a small village and well-known bathing place in the Zeeland Province.
I start with a typical Dutch landmark: the windmill. This one in Zoutelande was built in 1722.
The North Sea was beautiful and calm, the water too, and - by its standard - "warm": 21° C.
The Netherlands are a small, beautiful and rich country - with lots and lots of water in form of channels and Grachten. They have bridges on roads over channels that can be opened - and they do that! - and even an ambulance has to wait...
More than the tourist-oriented Zoutelande...
... I love the town Middleburg:
Queen Wilhelmina (1880 - 1962)
I love the cozy Dutch villages, here Dreischor, a church-ring-village, first mentioned in 1206. You think you are in Rye - and Miss Mapp or Lucia might cross a threshold :-) (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreischor):
With nice food (here you see the oyster banks in Yseke):
... impressing skies
Queen Wilhelmina (1880 - 1962) 
or the impressing technical world-wonder of the Deltawerken in the Oosterschelde, protecting Holland against the sea. The North Sea can be murderous, remember the flood catastrophe in January 1953. (holland.com/de/tourist/reiseziele/provinzen/zeeland/deltawerke)
So: It was a relaxing holiday.
... impressing skies
... and the unforgettable scent of Rosa Gallica and the Sea:
How Holland has grown over the last few hundred years. Almost anywhere you dig you find soft sand.
ReplyDeleteDear Tom, they are masters in extracting land out of the sea. And protect what they have gained. Around Dreischor (= three sheared (sheep)) is only meagre marshland - only sheep can live off the salty grass.
DeleteI love the long view of the canal in Middelburg. It is like Venice but more friendly
ReplyDeleteThose canals are really enticing. Maybe all this looks friendlier because the houses are smaller?
DeleteDear Britta - your post reminds me of just how long it is since I last visited the Netherlands. Middelburg looks a charming place for a visit. Those long steps leading up and down to the beach would certainly keep one very fit. Oysters have never appealed to me. I have been offered them from time to time but always hand them on to my husband.
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary, some aspects of the Netherlands are very British, I think - even in their language you find lots of it.
DeleteBoth seafaring nations. Cosmopolitans. Yet homely in a cozy way.
Their literature is a bit clouded by melancholy where the English novel is more witty by using irony and humour.
Your husband will always be glad to get more oysters! :-)
It is a beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Mimmylynn, and I always love to visit it.
DeleteSo many steps up! And back.
ReplyDeleteBut that, Joanne, is a special way through the dunes along the sea (which I love very much) - from Zoutelande-village to the strand and sea are only a few steps over the dyke (maybe 20 up and down, if you use the stairs - you even can ran through the sand).
DeleteThe Netherlands is on my list of places to visit. The North Sea, canals and beaches are beautiful. The landscape seems always pristine and well cared for. City centers and architecture is to be much admired as well. That's a lovely photo of you enjoying your holiday.
ReplyDeleteA good plan, Susan - and don't forget to visit Friesland too (I love Groningen). As the country isn't very big one can visit many very differing places. Well cared it is everywhere, almost a bit much - though otherwise a tiny space cannot be kept in a good atmosphere. The buildings old, and very well kept, give me a feeling of continuity and having "roots". Thank you that you liked the photo of me - sitting in front of a nice cake shop.
DeleteBeautiful images Britta ..... it looks stunning. I have only been to Amsterdam and Delft and enjoyed visiting both so much. Loved the canals, the architecture, the history and the food. I love oysters but, I don't think they like me !!! I always have a bad stomach after eating them which I am so sad about ! So pleased that you had a lovely holiday. XXXX
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jackie! Amsterdam and Delft, Den Haag and Leiden or Groningen: as a city-lover I am always very happy there!
DeleteAs to oysters: I was surprised that they had a huge menu card with variations (so as fresh oyster with Gin and cucumber - to my surprise that was excellent) - but of course: if the stomach cannot tolerate ist, I would never force myself to eat it - there is so much other lovely seafood! XXXX
Britta: I had not realized you still had this blog until I spotted it today. I really enjoyed this travelogue of your trip to the Netherlands. Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, I am glad you found out that I am still writing - though at the moment I am more in Bavaria with the triplets than in Berlin. But even if I can only spend a few days a month in Berlin, I enjoy that too very much.
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