Saturday, September 10, 2022

Luxembourg, Luxembourg: Notre-Dame Cathedral

Here's a look at the only cathedral in Luxembourg. It dates all the way back to 1613, when the cornerstone was put in place.

It was originally run by the Jesuits, and earned the name Church of Our Lady early in the 1800s. Pope Pius IX elevated it to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in 1870.

Some members of Luxembourg royalty were place in the crypt here. The cemetery contains the National Monument to the Resistance and Deportation. 

A fire did some damage to a tower in 1985, but some fast repair work had it up to date later in that year. 

Luxembourg, Luxembourg: Monument of Remembrance

Upon entering the old city portion of Luxembourg, a large memorial towering above the area certainly stands out. It's called the Monument of Remembrance in English. Most of the natives just call it Gelle Fra, or Golden Lady.

On top is Nike, the goddess of victory - although it's hard to find a swoosh. The figures at the bottom represent the soldiers who volunteered to fight for France in World War I. Luxembourg was neutral in WWI, but the Germans occupied it anyway ... because they could. About 2,000 citizens of Luxembourg volunteered to fight for the Allies, and they died in teh process. The monument went up in 1923. 

The memorial came down in 1940 when the Germans marched into the country again. The locals took some parts of it and put it into hiding. Some of the structure was restored after the war. 

But in 1980, the Golden Lady was discovered to be hiding under the bleachers of a soccer field. She eventually went back on top of it, and notes about WWII and Korea were added to the memorial. It was all unveiled in 1985. 

All in all, that's a pretty nice story about a monument.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg: State Bank and Savings Fund

First impressions are always important when visiting a new country. When arriving in Luxembourg, we left the bus on the other side of the valley from the center of town, and headed for the bridge. On the way, we passed this building.

Naturally, we had no idea what it was - the language barrier was part of the problem, but there were no signs of what it was. 

It turned out it was a bank. OK, it was the State Bank and Savings Fund. It was established in 1856, and it is wholly owned by the government of Luxembourg. Those who keep track of things say it is one of the safest banks in the world. Maybe that's why foreigners have been putting money there since 1862.

Friday, September 9, 2022

Trier, Germany

I can't say I had ever even heard of Trier before I noticed it was on our trip schedule in the summer of 2022. My loss. What an interesting place!

It was founded by the Celts about 2400 years ago and was captured by the Romans about three hundred years later. That makes it the oldest city in Germany. The Romans made it something of a regional capital, and it grew to 80,000 residents - the largest city north of the Alps at the time. So there's still lots of history in the city, and that makes it a place of historical significance. 

Trier had its own witch hunts in the 1580s. It was taken over by France in 1794 after several attempts (that region was in chaos for most of that era). But Prussia took it over in 1815, and it has stayed in German hands ever since. 

The place turned 2,000 years old in 1984. It must have been a heck of a party. Here's a video that shows us around.

Trier, Germany: Aula Palatina

It's an old lesson, but sometimes it needs to be repeated. Make sure you have a good photo of an historic place before you leave the area. Because quite likely, you ain't coming back ... ever.

Such is the case with Aula Palantina, also known as Konstantin-Basilika. Since we never made it in the old building, this photo is posted courtesy of Trip Advisor - a place that any traveler should have bookmarked.

This was built around 300 A.D. during the reign of Constantine the Great. It's the biggest open hall that is still around from the Roman days, and thus has been placed under UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The place used to be part of a larger complex, and the area has gone through a variety of changes over the years. The facility burned during an air raid in World War II. When it was repaired and restored, the wall coverings inside weren't replaced. Therefore the brick walls can be seen on both sides.

It's important to see the whole place.

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Trier, Germany: Karl Marx House

Time to visit the Karl Marx House in Trier ... sort of.

Marx was born in a house in the old town in 1818. He only stayed a year before the family moved several blocks. Nobody cared about the place until 1904, when the Social Democratic Party started efforts to buy it. It succeeded in 1928, but the building was confiscated by the Nazis.

In 1947, the building reopened as a museum dedicated to Marx. The place got the once-over in 1983. The museum is divided into three sections - a biography, his work, and his global impact. Karl's reading chair is there, as is a first-edition copy of "Das Kapital." 

Why isn't there a photo of the building around? I've got one, but I think this is more interesting. A half-block from the museum, a couple of the crossing lights have been adapted to cartoon drawings of Marx. A green Karl means go, a red Karl means stop. It's probably the funniest crossing light I've ever seen, although there's isn't much competition.

I've read a description that the museum is one of the dullest places imaginable, at least for an English-speaking tourist. That got my attention, so the photos will have to do. It does pack in something like 50,000 visitors a year, and a third are from China. At least we can see more through a short video.

Trier, Germany: Heuschreckbrunnen

Here's a fountain in Trier that demands to be photographed.

Let's see. On the top is a grasshopper. OK. Then there's five men's likeness. I've read that they represent the original members of the Carnival Society of Trier. 

Then look carefully at the bottom. That represents the sculptor, Willi Hahn. He made it so that his head is sticking out of one side and his feet come out on the other.

The Carnival Society donated this in 1977, but Hahn's likeness indicates they wanted to have some fun with it along the way. 

It's not your usual fountain, and that's OK.


Trier, Germany: St. George's Fountain

If you are a fan of fountains, this probably is a worthwhile stop on a walking tour of Trier.

It was placed in the historic center of the city in the middle of the Kornmarkt. The fountain was build around 1751 and paid tribute to the sovereign at the time, Elector Franz Georg von Schönborn. Saint George and the seasons of the year are shown on it.

Naturally, World War II plays a role in the story. The fountain was damaged by air raids. They fixed it up and moved it a little, and it was ready for display. The last restoration took place in 2003.

Trier, Germany: Karl Marx Statue

Karl Marx might be the most famous person to come out of Trier. There are a couple of places where he is mentioned as an historical curiosity. But it's an interesting question on how to salute someone whose economic theories, in some ways at least, didn't work particularly well.

That didn't stop the government of China from donating this statue of Karl to the city of Trier. It was unveiled in 2018, the year of Karl's 200th birthday. Historians' arguments that it wasn't appropriate to honor him in such a grand manner fell on deaf ears. The statue was supposed to be in front of his birthplace, but it was too big for that setting. So it wound up relativly close by. 

The ceremony drew some protestors. Soon after that, a banner attached to the statue was set on fire, although there was no significant damage. Me, I'd rather honor Groucho Marx.

Trier, Germany: Cathedral

A church in the oldest city in Germany? It must be pretty old too. And sure enough, it is.

The cathdral is the oldest church in Germany. The first church was built on this spot in the 300s. Constantine the Great, a Roman Emperor, ordered its construction. Every so often it got knocked down, more or less. They tried again in the 1000s, although it took until 1196 to finish it that time. There have been a series of additions and renovations since then.

We did not go inside, choosing instead to take a photo around noon with the light giving the front of the building an odd look. You get the idea.

Trier, Germany: Petrusbrunnen

This is another view of the Main Market. Let's concentrate on the statue to the left in the photo. 

The guy standing on top of the fountain is Peter, the patron saint of the city. As usual, there are plenty of extra ornaments on the structure. They includes coats of arms, representations of a few animals, and some decorations. It used to be a working fountain, but now it's just there for decoration.

By the way, a bouquet of flowers is pinned to Peter at the start of the Old Town Festival. That's supposed to guarantee good weather during the holidays; there's no word on how well that works.


Trier, Germany: Main Market

Some of the major commercial streets of Trier have converged on this square. That's why it is called the Main Market - or Hauptmarkt.

It's been this way for centuries. The market has been here for more than 1,000 years. You can pick up flowers or fresh food, or just people-watch. The architecture in the area is interesting too.

Now, a tip. There's a big building on the corner toward the top left of the photo. Click on it to blow it up a bit. If you do, you'll see a familiar logo.

Yes. It's a McDonald's restaurant. 


Trier, Germany: Dreikönigenhaus

One of the joys of walking around European cities is that you never know what you might see. Take this building, just up the street from Porta Nigra.

This one dates back to 1200, when construction was started. They finished the job in 1231, showing that waiting for workmen to be finished isn't a modern invention. It's actually two buildings in one - front and back, connected by a staircase. It's gone through some changes over the centuries. In 1938, the owners decided to bring back an old-time feel to the place. You'd have to say the place looks pretty sharp more than 800 years after opening.

Trier, Germany: Karl Marx Residence

"Can Karl come out and play?"

It's easy to wonder if Karl Marx heard that phrase while living in that house. He spent most of his childhood here through high school at this location, which is quite close to Porta Nigra. Therefore, when you walk down the street in front of his house, you are following the same route that Karl used to go to school back in the 1830s. He later returned to the place and even lived here for a short time when circumstances dictate such moves. Along the way, of course, he was busy writing articles about economics that made him quite famous over the long term. 

You can see the plaque under the left lower window that indicates Karl Marx Slept Here. I took the liberty of editing out the building on the right side of the photo - a Burger King. Wonder what Karl would have thought about that?


Trier, Germany: Porta Nigra

The city of Trier makes a heck of an entrance.

In our case, we got off the bus, walked about a block, and looked up to see Porta Nigra. That's Latin for "black gate," and it's one of the most impressive man-made sites around as these things go.

The Romans built this around the year 170 A.D. It was never quite finished, but it was still used while the Romans were in control of the region. There were four of them; this is the one that survives. It's the largest Roman gate north of the Alps, if you like statistics. 

The building took a few hits over the years, as parts were taken for other purposes. It looked as if Porta Nigra was headed for the scrapheap of history. But the hermit Simeon moved in to the place sometime in the 11th century. After he died, Bishop Poppo turned it into a church - thus preserving it indefinitely. 

Napoleon arrived in the early 1800s, took over ownership in a sense, and ordered its restoration. The Prussians/Germans eventually got the title back in the 19th century. Happily, it hasn't changed much since then. The big-city pollution in the neighborhood has taken a toll, of course, but with a little help it might just last a few more centuries. 

You can pay a relatively small admission charge and take a walk around all four floors of the building. It's rather moving to think about all the history that the building has seen over the years. Or, you can watch a video from home and save on the trip to Germany.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Cochem, Germany

The village of Cochem is actually what you'd want when asking for a charming area along a pretty river. 

An impressive castle overlooks it all, giving it that old-time feel. The old city continues that atmosphere nicely.

This area actually was controlled by the French in 1794, but Prussia won it back in 1815 through the Congress of Vienna. This area is remembered for hosting a slave labor camp during World War II, as about 13,000 people were forced to work for Bosch to make such items as spark plugs. In addition, some bombing took a toll on downtown, but you'd have to say the people did a fine job of rebuilding it. 

Let's look around.

Cochem, Germany: Skagerrak Bridge

The main bridge in Cochem not only is functional for vehicles, but it is a charming way to walk to the other side over the Moselle thanks to its elevation. This structure was built in the 1920s, and opened in 1927. The name of the bridge refers to a battle fought in 1945. 

One part of it stands out, and it is shown here. It's something of a visual history of the town. There's a reference to some damage that the bridge took in the final months of World War II, although details are not easily found.

Cochem, Germany: St. Martin's Church

St. Martin's Church has a presence in the city of Cochem. Its tower stands well above most of the other buildings of the city. The problem is that it's tucked in the middle of town, so it's difficult to take a photo of it. This perspective helps a little. 

St. Martin's was damaged during World War II - no surprise there - and it was rebuilt during the 1950s. The whole church can be visited, and seems to be best known for its simplicity. However, you can walk - or drive, with a small car - through the bottom of the tower!

Cochem, Germany: Martinsbrunnen

The object on the right is a sculpture/fountain of St. Martin, who is cutting off part of his cloak to give to a beggar. No wonder he's a saint. Martin is considered the patron saint of those who work in the vineyards, and there are a lot of them in the area. Martin was born in Hungary, and served as a soldier for the Romans and as a Bishop.

By the way, at the bottom of the fountain are two taps for water. 

St. Martin has become a fixture in this spot, as he was first placed here in 1459. That's pre-Columbus if you are keeping score. Replacements have come along every so often, with the latest arriving in 1935. You'll notice it during a walk around town.

Cochem, Germany: Freidhof Cochem

It's a little difficult to find much information about the biggest cemetery in Cochem - at least in English. It's on the edge of the downtown section of the city.

We visited after coming down the hill from the castle. If nothing else, this photo is a nice look at the area. 

Cochem, Germany: Reichsburg Castle

Every town on a river in Germany ought to have a castle. It's good for setting a mood.

Cochem follows that rule closely with its Cochem Castle - also known as the Imperial Castle. A castle has on this spot more or less since the 11th century. Then France's Louis XIV ordered his troops to demolish the place ... probably because he could. 

The ruins sat around for more than 170 years. Then in 1868, Louis Ravine decided he wanted his own castle. So he rebuilt the place to be a summer home. Louis died before it was finished, but his son finished the job.

It's been argued that the reconstruction hurts the authenticity of the place, but I can't say that bothered me. Sure looked like a castle, with a nice job of making the 40-minute tour worthwhile. I took several photos of the place during a visit, although you'd have to see most of them to get the idea. For our purposes, a video works well.

Bonn, Germany

The history of Bonn stretches back more than 2,000 years. It was founded by the Romans and thus is one of the oldest cities in Germany.

The most interesting story comes with the end of World War II. Germany was in ruins, and it needed a capital. Former Chancellor Konrad Adenauer that Bonn should be the capital of the new West Germany. The old capital, Berlin, was in the middle of a long argument involving the Allied powers. Adenauer was from that region, and he liked the idea of placing the capital designation there. There was some thought that it should be in a bigger city like Frankfurt, but others thought that a small city would work better. The thinking was that the capital wouldn't be around for long - once Berlin got straightened out - and it would be easier to move the title from a small city.

In 1991, Germany's government voted to move the capital to Berlin. The consolation prize was that some functions were left behind in Bonn. About 8,000 people in Bonn work for the government. 

The result of the move is a slightly curious city. It certainly has seen better days, but it is clean and modern with some top-notch infrastructure left over from the glory days. Still, there aren't a lot of must-see locations in the area. It sort of struck me as a bigger Hartford - a better place to live than to visit. One that deserves a mention is located on the ground in front of the Old City Hall. It has the names of some banned books placed on the cobblestone, in the form shown above. 

Bonn, Germany: Beeethoven House

We'll keep this simple at first: Beethoven was born here.

The family moved in around 1767, and Ludwig arrived about three years later. He was named after his grandfather. The Beethovens bounced around a little after that, and this is the only one of Ludwig's homes still to be around. He moved to Vienna in 1792.

Bonn has turned this area into something of an industry surround the music composer. There's a museum honoring his works. It also has letters, coins, instruments and pictures. Just don't expect any original furnishings. The buildings around the museum are devoted to All Things Beethoven. There's a library and a chamber music hall in the complex, and a souvenir shop across the street that has recordings and other Beethoven-related products. 

The Beethoven House is one of the most popular attractions in all of Germany. You'll be humming his Fifth Symphony before you know it.


Bonn, Germany: Marktfontaine

You might have guess this translates to Market Fountain. It is located very close to the Old Town Hall.

There's a funny story behind its creation in 1777. It seems that Prince Maximian Friedrich von Konigsegg-Rotherfels ordered it constructed. The catch is that the good people of Bonn had to pay for it. Maybe the enscription on the side captures their feeling about coughing up the money because it contains the phrase "You dug your monument yourself into our hearts." The structure got an update in 2013.

 

Bonn, Germany: Alte Rathaus

This space has had some ups and downs over the years. That's not unusual for Germany, thanks to World War II. 

The original town hall on this space was built in 1738 to replace an old structure. It served that purpose until October 18, 1944, when Allied bombers blasted the place. Reconstruction was done after the war. 

When Bonn became the capital of West Germany, the building took on some symbolic significance. When world leaders wanted to make a publish statement, they turned up here. The list included Charles De Gaulle, John Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth and Mikhail Gorbachev. 

By 1978, the place was too small to be a City Hall. Still, it's an important symbol for the city and is used for certain ceremonial conditions. You can even get married there.

Bonn, Germany: "Mean Average"

Public art's purpose doesn't have to be obvious, and that's certainly the case with this piece by Anthony Cragg. It was unveiled to the public in 2014, and is located in the town square of Remigiusplatz.

Here's what Cragg had to say: Artists carry a special responsibility for the aesthetic quality of our surroundings. […] Look out of the window. The formal appearance of virtually everything in our environment is mediocre, serves commercial purposes and is ultimately a consequence of economic imperatives. Sculpture can play a special role here. It can bring into the new world, hitherto unseen forms and stimulate new ideas. Thus also fulfilling a political function.

In other words, it sounds like Cragg wanted to make something completely different that what existed in the surrounding world. He certainly succeeded, although I would guess that opinions about this differ greatly.  

Bonn, Germany: Bonn Minster

It's time in this blog for Bonn to showcase its old church downtown. The date of construction is a little vague, but it seems likely that the place may be as much as 1,000 years old. Bonn Minster became the first large church in the area.

Bonn Minster was quite important in religious circles as the home of Roman Catholics in the Cologne region of Germany. These days, it's "just another basilica." Still, the church's image is part of Bonn's official seal, which tells you something about its importance in town history.

Visitors can enter the building and look around. Guided tours are available for those who find the place really, really interesting. 


Bonn, Germany: Electoral Palace

Everyone should have the chance to go to a college and take a class in a building named "Electoral Palace." It hints at a sense of history. 

The history this case dates back to around 1700, when it was built. Its first use was for a residence for the Prince-Electors of Cologne. But since 1818, the structure has served as the home for the University of Bonn's administration and for a couple of the colleges. There's a park right in front of it - the Hofgarten - that adds a calming feeling to the area. It's a good place to hang out; it's also been the site of some demonstrations over the years.

We didn't come to this place at a particularly photogenic time, since some construction was taking place. Still, it was good to see the building. The university has cranked out 11 Nobel Prize winners over the years, and it's ready to take in a few more. The alumni list includes everyone from Karl Marx to Pope Benedict XVI.

Bonn, Germany: Homage to August Mache

Public art always should be celebrated, and this little tribute to one of Bonn's favorite sons qualifies.

August Mache was an expressionist painter who spent a great deal of his life in Bonn. There is a museum in the city that contains some of his work. Mache is said to have liked his characters to be rather neutral, and that certainly qualifies in this tribute by Stephan Balkenhol. Here our anonymous man looks to the sky, represented by the roof, and moving out attention upward. 

Well, at least that's the goal. Some might say it's a nice bit of color in some open area near the University of Bonn. Which it is, of course.

Balkenhol unveiled this piece of work in 2018 as part of the 4th Bonn Art Project. It's the only such tribute to Mache's work. It's also good to salute a Native Son.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Cologne, Germany: Kranhaus Nord

What exactly do we have here?

This was odd enough of a sight from the boat on the Rhine to make an item out of it. You don't see buildings like this on the waterfront very often.

The complex is called Kranhaus Nord. That translates to crane house. This used to be a big shipping area, and the design of the building is something of a tribute to the big cranes that used to occupy the region. 

The new 17-story buildings have a split purpose. Two are used for office, while the third (and on the right of the photo here) is for luxury apartments.

Cologne, Germany: Deutsches Sport and Olympia Museum

One of the problems with river cruises is that you can't stop everywhere. Much of our earlier trip to Cologne was spent around the Cathedral, and deservedly so. But the sports museum up the river a bit sounds good too.

This covers all sorts of subjects in the history of German sports. Two obvious starting points are the Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin and 1972 in Munich - both monumental events in their own way. As you'd expect, there is plenty of material on football (soccer for us), boxing, cycling, and winter sports. 

This opened in 1999, and the roof even has a couple of playing fields on it. Some of the reviews say it has lots of items but seems to be a little disorganized. Sounds like it would be worth a visit if you are closer to shore than we were.

Here's a video look around:

Cologne, Germany: Imhoff Chocolate Museum

We didn't know what this was when we went by it on the Rhine in a boat. It's a good thing too, because some members of our party might have jumped into the river and tried to make a visit.

That's because it's a chocolate museum, and chocolate has a strange effect on people.

The building has a tropicarium containing cacao trees, a chocolate fountain, model chocolate-making machines, and a collection of machines and items related to items. Yes, there's also a gift shop. 

This opened in 1993, and it draws about 675,000 visitors per year. That's in the top ten of German museums in attendance. 

I think I need some more of this subject.

Groesbeek, Netherlands: Freedom Museum

Reminders of World War II are still around in much of Europe, at least if you are looking for them. It's still difficult to grasp what exactly happened in the years leading up to the conflict.

The Freedom Museum in Groesbeek is designed to give you something to think about, and it succeeds nicely. It concentrates on the Netherlands and Germany, since the latter is only a few miles away. The museum tried to cover the Story of War and Freedom Without Borders from a variety of perspectives. 

This used to be the National Liberation Museum until 2019, and has a big wide white roof that soft of looks like a parachute. The location is significant too, since some major battles took place nearby. Since three languages are available for the exhibits, its potential audience is expanded. 

Let's hear an opinion about it:

Nijmegen, Netherlands

Nijmegen hasn't been around forever, although it may seem that way. It went past 2,000 years back in 2002. That makes it the oldest city in the Netherlands. The Romans put a camp here because of its strategic value. 

Fast forward quite a bit, and Nijmegen was the first city taken by the Germans in the Netherlands during World War II. The Americans bombed the city heavily in 1944, but it turned out to be a mistake in the chaos of war. That left few ancient structures intact. 

So what's the photo? That is the sculpture that greets people on the waterfront - which probably has been an entry point to the city for generations. It is called "The Waterwolf and the Aquanaut." At least according to the literature, this was designed to show the continuing struggle between the city (the aquanaut) and the elements of nature around it (the waterwolf). 

Care to look around a bit? This should help you get the feel of the place.

Nijmegen, Netherlands: Barbarossa Ruins

This certainly is an odd part of a nice park located near the waterfront. 

It was once part of a palace that dates back to 1155, and was constructed by Frederik Barbarossa - the emperor of the region at the time. This part was spared for some reason when the rest of the building was destroyed in 1796. As for what's left, well, they don't call it ruins for nothing. 

Valkhof Park certainly is a nice place for a walk, and this is an interesting little stop along the way.

Nijmegen, Netherlands: Railway Monument

"Unity Makes Strength" is the translated version of the slogan on this statue. It's a tribute to the cross-border railroad that was constructed in 1865; it took Nijmegen 19 years to get it done. The goddess Victoria is portrayed at the top.

The story takes an odd turn around 1991. That's when the rail line stopped carrying passenger traffic. Eight years later it was closed completely. That's around the time that travel between borders was about to become much easier thanks to free passage between some European states. So this monument needs to be explained to those who are too young to remember the old system of going to Kleve. 


Nijmegen, Netherlands: Saint Stephen's Church

It wouldn't be a European city without a big, beautiful church in the middle of it. Nijmegen is no exception. So introduce yourself to Saint Stephen's Church.

The present building was opened in 1273, although the site was used for a religious building before that. It moved from Catholic to Protestant in 1591. The city was bombed rather heavily in 1944, and the building was a bit clobbered. But the church was rebuild by 1969. 

The inside of the building isn't used very often for any sort of service these days. The floor space is mostly empty in order to hold exhibitions. But it's still a church as this nice pulpit indicates. 

Saint Stephen's is right by Grote Markt, and thus remains in the middle of city life. Time for a look in the immediate area:

Nijmegen, Netherlands: "Kitty the Wise" Statue

Kaatje (Kitty) de Wijze came to Nijmegan with the rest of her family in 1932. A little more than 10 years later, she and sister Joke were arrested by the Nazi occupiers, and sent to Westerbrook. From there, they were sent to Auschwitz within a month, and promptly murdered there. 

A relative who escaped execution led the effort to make sure that people like Kitty who were killed in the Holocaust won't be forgotten. The photo takes a look at the little plaza near the shopping idstrict called Kitty de Wijzeplaats. By the way, she is shown bent toward the Jewish Synagogue. 

The names of all 449 Jewish victims from Nijmegen are on a wall nearby. 

Nijmegen, Netherlands: Mariken van Nieumeghen Statue

Here's something you don't see in America - a statue about the subject of a novel written around 1515.

Say hello to Mariken van Nieumeghen, who is the star of the book since her name makes up the title (at least in some versions) and is close to the town's name. In the story, she spends seven years with the Devils before an unexpected release. The story is written in Middle Dutch, which might hurt sales today. 

Since then, the story has been passed down and gone through some adaptations to other cultures. A couple of movies have been based on it. 

You can find Mary in Grote Markt in Nijmegan.

Nijmegen, Netherlands: Latijnse School

We're coming up on 500 years for this building, which is located on Grote Markt. 

As the title suggests, this used to be a Latin school in Nijmegen. It's gone through a number of uses over the years, and received a good-sized restoration in 1965. The building looks like it should be ready for a 500-year celebration in 2045.

Nijmegen, Netherlands: De Waagh

The De Waagh is a restaurant in a beautiful building in a great location. Sounds like a recipe for success.

The structure was built way back in 1612, and apparently it survived the Allied bombings at the end of World War II to still be here. Its purpose seems to have changed, when it anchored a market in the town square. I understand there are still anchors and pulleys in the building as a link to its past.

Oh, and the food reviews seem quite positive. Sounds like a good place for lunch.

Nijmegen, Netherlands: Home of Karl Marx's Mother

There are all sorts of odd "attractions" on this site. This fits in well with them.

When walking a couple of blocks up from the riverfront, the visitor encountered this sign. This was the home of Karl Marx's mother. How many mothers receive this sort of treatment?

Henriette Pressburg grew up in Nijmegan. Her father was in the textile business, and the family did quite well financially. Eventually she moved to Trier, got married, and had a bunch of children. 

I recall the guide saying that this building had taken some heavy hits during World War II, and had to be rebuilt. Henriette might not recognize the place. But she'd be surprised to see herself remembered like this.

Zwijndrecht, Netherlands: Water Tower

As water towers go, this looked like an interesting one when we passed it on the Ringdijk on the ship - even if it was at a bit of a distance. At 41 meters high, it still does a good job of guarding the waters.

The structure was built around 1898, and is said to be done in a style related to the Dutch Renaissance. The tower is a national monument and thus protected by the government there.   

Soon, though, it apparently will have a new look. The tower is part of a planned commercial project. We'll have to wait to see if it all comes together.










Kinderdijk, Netherlands: Windmills

We've become used to the sight of windmills once again. They turn up in many different locations around the world, as they quietly turn the breeze into energy. You can find them everywhere from mountains to seas.

Kinderdijk has windmills, a bunch of them. But this is a different story, because they are old. Ancient, even, as in 1740 or so. Older than the United States of America is as a country. 

The Netherlands is something of the swampland of Europe, since a lot of water drains down into the region. That's given the Dutch a problem over the years - the land tends to get wet. In Kinderdijk, the solution was to use windmills to pump the water away in order for the land to stay dry. There are 19 of them. 

It's a different sort of tourist attraction. People do live in the windmills, although the little chores like going to the grocery store take on something of a different meaning since it's a little tough to get around. A boat tour usually starts the visit, and it concludes with a stop at an actual working windmill. The facility is a little cramped for those bigger than a 10-year-old, but it's still worth the effort to see one from the inside. By the way, keep an eye out for birds that are perched on one of the blades. They can be spaced out evenly, like the stereotyped "birds on a wire" concept but with a twist. 

One photo doesn't get the point of the place across.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Willemstad, Netherlands

Willemstad was founded in 1583 by a King named William. Some called him William the Silent, some called him William the Tactiturn, but most prefer William of Orange. He essentially is the first link in the monarchy of the country. Some years later, this village picked up his name. 

Geography might be the most interesting part of the village. It's right on the sea (Hollands Diep), and therefore had some strategic importance. Willemstad was laid out to be a seven-sided star, featuring barriers all the way around. The eighth side was the ocean. There is a wall that goes around most of the town, and it is still quite intact even though it was decommissioned for military purposes about 100 years ago.  

Did I mention it's a cute little place? I particularly liked one street that had an "island" in the middle of the road. Good-sized trees were planted in two long rows on it, making it a shady place for a summer walk. Ships were coming and going out of the small harbor during our visit, with the windmill (known as the D'Oranje Flour Mill) watching over it all. About 2,500 people live there now, and it certainly looks like a great place to retire. 

Don't confuse the name of the place with the city that is the capital of the island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. Most of the video searches on YouTube go to the other side of the Atlantic. Luckily, this one doesn't. It really gives the viewer an idea about why this is a nice place for a visit:

Willemstad, Netherlands: Dome Church

The Dome Church's history is linked to that of the town - which you could imagine in a very tiny village. It opened for business in 1607, so that meant that Willemstad went more than 40 years (founded 1565) without a church of its own.

The building has taken some hits over the years. In 1793, the French Army showed up with bad intentions. Willemstad kept the French out, but the building suffered damage. Then in 1944, the Dome was hit 18 times by shells and needed a major renovation. Soon after it was fixed, a major fire broke out and the place was a mess - only walls were left standing. So the good citizens of Willemstad simply started over, with a few items remaining from the old facility.

Willemstad, Netherlands: Mauritshuis

For those who happen to be in Willemstad, a stop at the visitor center is a good idea. It's located on a well landscaped piece of landing that holds the Mauritshuis Museum. 

When we were there in August, though, something else caught our attention. A green river? So far from St. Patrick's Day? Yes. The green comes from algae, and it covers up all the water in the creek that goes by the building. It also could be found in other places around Mauritshuis. No, it doesn't look inviting for a quick dip. 

Willemstad, The Netherlands: Belgian Cemetery

One of the main roads into Willemstad has a sad reminder of part of the town's history.

In 1940, a ship that was carrying 1,200 Belgian prisoners of war sailed close to the Netherlands town. It hit a mine, split into two pieces, and sank into the ocean. More than 100 Belgians died in the incident, while others were taken in by those in Willemstad. 

So in 1950, when life in this part of the world had settled down, Willemstad dedicated a new cemetery for the Belgian victims. There are 159 of them in a common graves, which is marked by the monument shown here. Not all of them were on the ship; a few other soldiers' bodies were buried here as well.


Antwerp, Belgium

Some of the old cities in Europe always were a little more sophisticated than others because they were on the water. Therefore, they had a steady stream of visitors, who brought with them new goods and ideas. 

Such is the case with Antwerp, a major seaport to this day. Bet you didn't know that Germany fired about as many missiles at Antwerp during World War II as it did at London. The Germans knew the importance of its location.

To add to the international reputation, Antwerp hosted the Olympics in 1920. The 1916 Games had been wiped out by World War I, so this must have been a happy time for all. There is little left from the Olympics today. The stadium has been adapted for soccer and remodeled, and a free street names near there still reflect the Olympic experience. 

It's tough to say who the most famous person to be born in Antwerp is. Vincent Van Gogh lived there for four months, if that helps. The city is famous for beer and chocolate, and you probably can find a Belgian waffle around town. 

Let's take a look around:

Antwerp, Belgium: Port House

When leaving the city of Antwerp by boat, this strange building comes into focus shortly after leaving the dock. The first guess is that it's a tribute to some futuristic hammer, but that's too silly to be true.

No, it's actually the building that houses the Port of Antwerp/Bruges, and about 500 people work there. That makes some sense. The port extends from that point for quite a while, so it takes a good-sized authority to run it. 

Zaha Hadid is the British architect (by way of Iraq) who came up with this design, which opened in 2016. I have read that the inside part of it also has a very interesting design. You may not love it, but when you are in the area at least you'll know which direction the city is.  

Here's a way to look around: