Jaap van 't Veen's photos

Amersfoort is an old medieval city. Around 1300 a first city wall was constructed. When the city grew strongly in the 14th century, more land was needed and between 1380 and 1450 a wider, second city wall and city canals were built. In particular, the Langegracht (see PiP2 and 3) and the Havik (main picture and PiP1) cross the city centre. Around the Havik, the medieval harbour used to be located. The name Havik can therefore be translated as Havenwijk (Harbour area). The oldest mention is from 1390. Nowadays, it is a neighbourhood with beautiful façades and monuments. One of them is the Havikbrug , which dates from the year 1642. The bridge is popularly called Heksenbrug (Witches’Bridge). The bridge owes its name to a story that tells that at this spot, women suspected of witchcraft had to proof if they were a witch or not.

The Koppelpoort is a medieval gate - part of the second city wall of Amersfoort - which was built between 1380 and 1425. It combines a land and water-gate, which is unique in the Netherlands. The gate was attacked in 1427 during the siege of the city, but was repelled. The name Koppelpoort refers to an area outside the gate, which was called De Koppel . Travellers could be allowed or refused to enter through this combined gate, even if they were travelling over water. In addition, the water levels in the inner city could be regulated with it. In the past, the city gate had to be opened and closed daily to protect the city. The gate could be set in motion by means of a treadmill. This task was performed by twelve prisoners, who were called the raddraaiers (wheel turners). The men had to walk in a large wooden wheel at the same pace to get the gate moving. It was not a harmless job; when one man got out of step, he ran the risk of falling and dragging the rest of the wheel turners. In the front of the gate a wooden extension is visible, the so-called mezenkouw (tit cage). From this cage, attackers could be harassed with hot oil or malt when they came too close to the water gate. The Koppelpoort did get its current appearance during the restoration by well known Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers in 1885 and 1886. The latest restoration was completed in 1996. Nowadays the Koppelpoort is one of the eye catchers of Amersfoort.

Kasteel Horn is one of the oldest still intact medieval wall castles in the Netherlands. The castle is built on a natural boost nearby an old meander of the river Maas. It was built in the 13th century and the castle consists of a square gatehouse, a south wing and two semicircular towers connected by a ring wall. Probably in the 15th century a lot of rebuilding took place at Kasteel Horn . The living quarters were extended, which caused the two southern towers to disappear. Also the gate tower was added to the living quarters and a new gate - the present gate - was build next to it. In 1798, the castle was sold to Marcel-Gérard Magnée from Liège. The Magnée family still owns the Kasteel Horn . In 1954 the castle underwent a restoration after it was damaged by fire in 1948. The castle - privately owned – is not accessible. The park however is always open for visitors.

The Basiliek van de H.H. Wiro, Plechelmus en Otgerus in Romanesque style - standing on top of the Sint Petrusberg on the outskirts of the village - is an impressive sight. Its history goes back to the first half of the 8th century, when three Anglo-Saxon priests founded a monastery here. In the 9th century this monastery became a refuge for the chapter of the cathedral in Utrecht; they stayed here until 1361. After a century of decay the former monastery became a convent. The church was handed to the parish in 1680. The original church was a one-aisled building with a westwork and a narrower choir. Of that building nothing remains above the ground. A new nave was built in the 11th century, followed by transept, choir and towers in the 12th century. The current look of the church however is in many ways the result of a restoration by the famous Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers from 1880 until 1883. He restored the church according to his own ideas, which usually meant reconstruction, leading to the loss of historical value. In this particular case, parts that had vanished long ago, like the side-aisles, the southern tower and the two choirs on the transept-arms, were rebuilt. Older parts were often replaced by new ones. Of the original building little was left. World War II worsened the situation even more. On January 26th of 1945 German troops needlessly destroyed the church. After the war the church was almost completely rebuilt.

Kasteel Eijsden (Eijsden Castle) is as a matter of fact a moated manor house. The first building at this site was probably some kind of fortified farm, called the “Caestertburg” or the “Borg”. The current castle was built in 1636-1637 by Arnold de Lamargelland is located just south of the village of Eijsden next to the river Maas. The house was renovated in 1767 and restored at the end of the 19th century. It is made up out of two angled wings with a heavy cornertower. The eastwing has another towerlike building with a gate towrds the inner square. The castle - built in Mosan renaissance-style - is surrounded by a moat. Next to the castle is a gatebuilding, built in 1649 when a fire destroyed the earlier buildings. They were restored between 1883 and 1885. By inheritance the Kasteel Eijsden was owned successively by the noble families Van Hoensbroeck, De Geloes and De Liedekerke, who are the current owners of the castle. It is a Dutch national monument and is part of the Top 100 Dutch heritage sites. The castle is not open for visitors, but the castle park, created around 1900, is freely accessible.

Stevensweert is an old fortified town situated on an island between two branches of the river Maas. During the Eighty Years' War, this island was conquered by the Spaniards in 1633. They immediately built almost impregnable fortifications. Stevensweert was surrounded by a high earthen wall with seven bastions; around the wall a wide moat was dug out with five ravelins. The Spanish garrison stayed in specially built barracks. In 1702, after a two-day siege, the fortress fell to Dutch troops. Three years later, five additional bastions were constructed. In 1874 the fortifications were purchased by the municipality of Stevensweert. The land was parcelled out and the inhabitants were able to buy the available plots. In the 1980s, plans were made to reconstruct part of the fortifications. This plan was realised in 2010 and nowadays Stevensweert again partly resembles the impressive fortress it was in the past. (Due to bad rainy weather I only took one picture of the present fortifications.)

The Kapel onder de Linden (officially the Kapel van O.L.Vrouw van Loreto onder de Linden ) was built in 1673, commissioned by Canon Elisabeth of Manderscheidt-Blanckenheim from the Thorn Abbey . The chapel is a copy of the holy house in Nazareth, which, according to legend, was brought to the Italian town of Loreto by angels during a church persecution. The construction was supervised by master Willem Boyens, city architect of Roermond. In 1811, the chapel was extended westward with a higher section, while the confessional hall was added in 1898. In the interior of the chapel, the baroque stucco decorations from the end of the 17th century, the altar with the beautifully carved oak fence in baroque style and the painted medallions are particularly important. During the French occupation, the chapel was closed for several years. In 1797, the occupying forces decided that all church property would belong to the French state. When the French banned the church and the Catholic religion, the chapel had to be closed. In 1801 it could be used again for Catholic worship. Since its foundation, the chapel has always attracted many devotees of Mary. Processions from the surrounding villages to the chapel are still held to this day. The Kapel onder de Linden is open for visitors.

The Sint-Michaëlskerk or Abdijkerk (St. Michael's Church or Abbey Church) is a church building in Thorn (known as 'the white village' for its white-washed brick houses in the centre of town.). The history of Thorn - which starts at the end of the 10th century - is closely connected with that of a convent, which was founded around 975 as a noble Benedictine monastery by Count Ansfried van Teisterband and his wife Hilsonmdis. This convent evolved into a more secular foundation for ladies of high nobility, known as a “Stift”. Later it became the nucleus of the small principality of Thorn. The church was largely built in the 14th century and replaced an older structure. Laterr this Romanesque building was almost completely replaced by a Gothic house of worship. By the end of the 18th century a radical change to the abbey’s church interior is instigated: walls were painted white, a new marble floor was laid and the pillars were given new stuccoed capitals. The church received its current baroque interior. In 1785 the current high altar was re-installed – coming from a suppressed Roermond Carthusian monastery - in the church. After the French invasion in 1797 the “stift” was ablolished and almost all convent buildings were demolished. Solely the church is prreserved and fortwith serves as parish church for Thorn as Sint-Michaëlskerk . Famous architect Pierre Cuypers from Roermond restored the church at the end of the 19th century. Among other things, Cuypers had the eastern chapels demolished and the neogothic tower raised. The Sint-Michaëlskerk or Abdijkerk is listed in the 'Top 100 of Dutch heritage sites’. The church can be visted at a small fee.

During our walk through Roermond, we came across several mansions with beautifully decorated carriage gates in the Swalmerstraat.

The late-gothic Sint-Christoffelkathedraal (St Christopher's Cathedral) is the cathedral of the diocese of Roermond. Construction started in 1410 - designed as a basilica on a cruciform ground plan - as a parish church to replace an older church outside the city walls. In the 15th century, the church was extensively rebuilt. The choir was extended and the nave was widened from three to five naves. The building was completed in the course of the 16th century. In 1661, Sint-Christoffel became the cathedral of the diocese of Roermond, which was founded 102 years earlier. In the church, all important events of the diocese take place, such as ordinations of priests and the installation of a new bishop. Sint-Christoffelkathedraal suffered severely from war damage during the World War II. The tower was blown up by the Germans one day before the liberation and rebuilt in a modified form after the war. It was not until 1957 that the rebuilding of the church was completed. On 13 April 1992, an earthquake near Roermond caused considerable damage. The church was renovated in 2005. The church with its lavish interior is known for its colourful stained-glass windows. On the 86-metre-high tower stands the gilded statue of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of the church and the city of Roermond. The cathedral can be visited daily.

The Munsterkerk (officially Onze Lieve Vrouwe Munsterkerk ) (Munster Church of our Blessed Mother Mary) is located in the heart of Roermond and is considered being one of the most beautiful remaining examples of architecture in late Romanesque style in the Netherlands. Munsterkerk was built during the period from 1220 to 1265 as an abbey church and place of burial for its founders. For almost six centuries - until 1798 - it served as a monastery church. In the 19th century military barracks were housed in the abbey and the church became part of the barracks. The church is the only remaining part of the abbey, the rest of which was demolished in 1924. Having been an abbey church for the Cistercian order of nuns in Roermond for almost six centuries its interior is not as sumptuous as in many aother catholic churches. It also served as the sepulchral church for count Gerard III van Gelre and his wife countess Margaretha van Brabant. Their tomb still has pride of place in the Munsterkerk . The church has been mostly spared by calamites and has therefore retained much of its original character. The most far reaching restoration took place at the end of the 19th century under the supervision of the famous Dutch architect P. Cuypers. In 1992 Munsterkerk was struck by an earthquake, after which the eastern towers had to be rebuilt. The Munsterkerk is a Dutch National Monument and is one of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites.

After World War I the Netherlands decided to set up their own international communication network. This enabled a permanent connection with the Dutch East Indies. A search was made for an uninhabited, remote area for placing a broadcasting station. This was found in the Veluwe, where 450 hectares of land was purchased from Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch State Forest Commission). About 150 labourers from Amsterdam levelled the terrain. The antenna terrain was constructed as a circular plain with a diameter of approximately 1.200 meters, a ring of five 212 meters high masts around a central mast at the foot of the transmitter building. The radio transmission centre was officially put into operation in May 1923, initially for Morse telegraph traffic. Not only buildings were built for the broadcasting system, but also houses, workshops and a water tower were erected. The entire village was named after its function: Radio Kootwijk. In the late 1920s, around 200 people lived in Radio Kootwijk. The village was remote and there was no regular bus connection with villages in the area. That is why the community arranged a school bus, a market bus, a football bus and even a church bus on Sundays. The village also had its own fire brigade, garbage collection service, electricity and water via the water tower and pumps. The architect of the main building - officially called “Building A”, but well known by its nickname “De Kathedraal” - was architect Julius Luthmann, who worked for the Dutch Government Building Agency. The building could, for example, not be built in wood because of the fire hazard of overheating due to radiation from the transmitters. The sending station therefore consists of reinforced concrete, in the form of a sphinx (the architect was interested in Egyptian mythology). The style from which it is executed is a mixture of German expressionism and the Amsterdam School, with some Scandinavian influence. Luthmann worked with the sculptor Hendrik van den Eijnde for the decoration. As of 1962 the transmitter station provided long-distance connections for the maritime industry from the Netherlands. In 1998 the station finally closed it doors. The buildings and corresponding terrain went back to the hands of the Dutch State Forest Commission. Nowadays it is used as venue and scenery for several cultural events and productions. Visitors are welcome on certain days.

The hamlet of Oele has a watermill since the 14th century, although De Oldemeule is dating back to the year of 1690. The first known owners were the counts of Bentheim, who issued the mill, the 'Ole Mole', as fief. Over the centuries, the mill was owned by the noble families Van Bevervoorde (1334 - 1684) and Von Münchhausen (1684 - 1804). After that the mill changed owners several times and from 1880 it belonged to the Twickel Estate . In the past there also was an oil mill nearby, but this was demolished in 1900. During World War II the mill was still used for grinding grain, but after the war the mill was in decline. Nowadays De Oldemeule is owned by the municipality of Hengelo, which reinstated the mill in 1979. Every now and then the mill is open ofr visitors. During the last couple of years, new millers have been trained to operate the mill.

Huis Zypendaal is a manor - although the locals call it popularly a castle - located in the green outskirts of Arnhem in Park Zypendaal . The house is surrounded by beautiful parklands and is situated on an isle in the valley of the Sint Jansbeek. Huis Zypendaal was built in the years 1762-1764 for the wealthy family Brantsen - who owned already a large house in the city center of Arnhem - as a summer residence. The house was built just south of an older one, called ‘die Syp’ or ‘Sypendall’, which was demolished. Till 1926 the manor was inhabited by ancestors of the first owner Hendrik Willem Brantsen. Since 1975 it houses the ‘Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen Foundation’. Huis Zypendaal is well known for its 18th century architecture and impressive period furniture. The house has limited opening hours (mostly on Sundays) for visitors.

Park Zypendaal (also called "Zijpendaal") is a city park on the north side of Arnhem. The park is situated on a lateral moraine that was pushed up by glaciers in the penultimate ice age (about 150 million years ago) at the southern edge of the Veluwe. As a result, there are quite large height differences for the Netherlands. The park is named after the water that “sijpelt” (seeps) from the ground in some places. The Sint Jansbeek has its source in the park and flows via ponds and waterfalls 35 metres lower into the river Rhine. Park Zypendaal is designed by landscape architect Eduard Petzold and dates from 1864. The park is sloping and wooded with pine and deciduous trees and meadows in the north. Huis Zypendaal - a beautiful 18th century country estate - is situated in the park.

Kasteel Middachten was first mentioned in the year 1190, when it was owned by Jacobus de Mithdac. At the beginning of the 14th century Everardus van Middachten transferred the property (for protection) to Reinald Count of Gelre. Everardus - ancestor of all later Lords and Ladies van Middachten - got the castle back as a loan in 1357. It is remarkable that Middachten has never been sold. It was inherited in both male and female line and was owned by the families Middachten, Steenre, Raesfelt, Reede, Bentinck and now Ortenburg. Currently, it is held in the 25th generation. The year 1673 is important in the history of Middachten. The French troops withdrew that year, after Stadholder Willem III had conquered the city of Bonn from the French. The castle was partially destroyed during that retreat. Godard van Reede had the castle rebuilt (1694-1697), with Palace Het Loo (nearby Apeldoorn) as the source of inspiration. He hired the same architect Jacob Roman. Kasteel Middachten has not undergone any further substantial changes since that renovation. The garden was laid out at the beginning of the 18th century based on the garden in Versailles. In the late 18th century, the garden was adapted to the English landscape style. Later during the early 1980s, it was restored back to the original design. In addition to the castle with its outer bailey and gardens, the Middachten Estate - which is no longer owned by the ‘family’ - also includes forests and farms. All buildings belonging to the estate can be easily recognised by the red and white painted shutters. Red and white are the colours of the coat of arms of the Middachten family. During summer months the gardens are open for visitors. Kasteel Middachten itself is open on special days.

Access bridge across the inner moat to Kasteel Twickel . This bridge was built in 1709 of sandstone blockwork with two round arches. The bridge forms the connection between the moated forecourt and the moated main building. The bridge has a simple wrought-iron railing. In 1987, the last restoration of this national monument took place.

In 1565 the city council of Harlingen received permission from Philips II to expand the city on the north side. This mainly concerned the widening of the northern canal to Noorderhaven (Northern Harbour) and the planned neighbourhood to the north of it. These activities were completed in the years 1579-1580 and Harlingen had approximately tripled in size. This tidal port accommodated many vessels that came from the Frisian hinterland and was connected to the sea. The port became a popular place to live for wealthy citizens and still has many monumental houses today. Warehouses were also built along the water. Some names of the warehouses recall the destinations of the merchants, such as Poland, Russia, Java, and Sumatra. In 1730, town architect H.J. Norel started with the construction of the new town hall , which is also located along the Noorderhaven .