Jaap van 't Veen's photos

Deurne Castle, locally known as 'Groot Kasteel' or 'Nieuw Kasteel' (Great Castle or New Castle) was most probably built around 1397 by Gevard van Doerne. The castle was originally a square building with several turrets. Due to the thickness of the walls it is not likely that the building had a real military purpose. It is located in the swampy valley of a stream called the Vlier. It is more or less surrounded by the remains of a moat. In the 16th century the building was burned down and decades later plundered by Spanish troops. Mid 17th century the castle was enlarged. In 1759 the castle was bought by Theodorus de Smeth. His family also thoroughly rebuilt the castle and would own it until WW2. During the liberation of Deurne in 1944 the castle suffered heavily from allied fire and there were only remains left. Nowadays the ruin - which was consolidated in 2002 - of ‘Groot Kasteel Deurne’ is used by a youth association.

Kungagraven (King's Grave) is a grand Nordic Bronze Age double burial, about 3.500 years old. Thee mound has a diameter of 75 metres. The site has been used as a quarry and its stones carried off for other uses. The cists are adorned with petroglyphs carved into the stones. In 1748 two farmers discovered the 3.25 meter tomb constructed with ten slabs of stone. Several years passed before it was discovered that the slabs of stone in the tomb were adorned with petroglyphs. Between 1931–1933 a thorough excavation was undertaken and the remains of a Stone Age settlement were found under the massive cairn. The mound has been named Kungagraven due to its size, long before it was known to contain two burials. The restoration of the site was based on etchings from the 18th century and conjecture. A new chamber was constructed out of concrete and a tunnel extended into the cists. It is possible for visitors to enter the tomb and to see the engraved stones.

Sankt Nicolai kyrka (St. Nicholas’ Church) is dating back to the 12th century and was first mentioned in 1161. The nave was added during the next century. The church - named after Sankt Nicolaus, the patron saint of the sea men - was originally a chapel for fishermen and as the town expanded, has been built on substantially. It became its present size at the end of the Middle Ages. The exterior of the church was changed in 1953 when the white plaster was knocked down and the original facade of quartzite appeared, something that gives the church its external character. The church is located in the centre of the city of Simrishamn, next to the Stortorget, the central square. The flowers are from a Crimson Hawthorn.

Glimmingehus is considered to be the best-preserved medieval castle in Sweden. The construction of the castle was started in 1499 (completed in 1505) knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand, who apparently terrorised the farmers of the region in the service of the king of Denmark. Sweden’s province of Skåne was part of Denmark at the time. The impressive castle is more of a ‘keep’. Glimmingehus contains many defensive arrangements of that era, such as parapets, false doors and dead-end corridors, 'murder-holes' for pouring boiling pitch over the attackers, a moat and drawbridge. The castle is 30 meters long, 12 meters wide; the highest point comes to almost 26 meters. The lower part of the castle's stone walls are 2.4 meters thick and the upper part 1.8 meters. Glimmingehus looks imposing, just a big stone box located on the vast fields of Österlen. Nowadays the castle is a museum; on site there are also a restaurant with medieval dishes, a shop and a coffee house.

Ales Stenar (Ale's Stones) is located at Kåsehuvud abobe the little harbour of the old fishing village of Kåseberga (ten kilometres southeast of Ystad). Ales Stenar is Sweden's largest preserved stone ship. The megalithic monumen consists of 59 boulders in the form of a 67 metres long and 19 metres wide ship. Mystery, myth and legend surround this monument of 59 stones. Not even the experts know why they are known as Ales Stenar. What is for certain is that this is a stone ship 67 metres long and 19 metres wide and it is a grave, most probably from the late Nordic Iron Age, about 1400 years ago. The monument was first restored in 1919 when the monoliths were returned to their original position and again in 1956. Whether the stones were a gathering place for sun cult worshippers, or used to determine the winter and summer solstices is a mystery that still remains unsolved.

Lilla Västergatan: one of the most photographed streets in the old part of Ystad. In the background the tower of the S:ta Maria Kyrka (13th century).

The southern province of Skåne (Scania) offers wonderful Marvinsholm Slott. The estate already was mentioned as Bosöe, Borsöe and Bordsyö in the beginning of the 12th century. The present renaissance castle was built in 1644 - 1648 by the Danish noble Otto Marsvin, who renamed it after himself. Originally the castle was built on beech wood poles in a small lake and is still surrounded by a moat. The building forms a square in four floors and is provided with remarkable towers. Late 18th and mid 19th century there were major renovations and restorations to the castle. Marsvinsholm is privately owned and closed to the public; however, one can visit the (sculpture) park all year round. The red coloured castle is considered to be one of the five most beautiful castles of Sweden. It is located a couple of km’s west of the city of Ystad.

The area around the little harbour of Smygehuk has been inhabited for a long time. The small fishing hamlet has existed here since the 17th century. The harbour, built in the 1920's, was originally a limestone quarry. The small 'falu red' houses are huts where fishermen keep their nets. Nearbij the harbour one can find a coign af vantage that marks Sweden's southernmost point. Smygehuk's lighthouse (see note in the main picture), built in 1883, ia a 17 m high cast iron tower.

In 1988 traces of a fortress complex were found at the highest point of the city of Trelleborg. It turned out this wall belonged to a wooden ring fortress from the Viking Age. The fortress was built in the 980’s - most probably on orders from Harald Bluetooth, by that time king of Denmark. The Trelleborgen as it exists nowadays is a reconstruction from 1995, based on the archaeological finds, crafts traditions and educated guesses. The reconstructed quarter of the fortress lies in the middle of the city. The complex offers also a Vikingmuseum, a souvenir shop and a café.

The castle in Baños de la Encina has several names: Castillo de Burgalimar, Castillo de Baños de la Encina, Castillo de Bury Al-Hammam, which is derived from the Arabic Al-Hammam Bury, which means "castle of the baths”. The castle, located on a top of a hill above Baños de la Encina is the most important monument in the city. The construction of Castillo de Burgalimar started in the year of 967 by Caliph Al-Hakam II, as described by a plaque next to the entrance. Originally it was a mighty military fortress in the foothills of the Sierra Morena. It was given over through a treaty by the Muslims to the Christians in 1225. After that it was used continually - by several different ‘owners’ - until the middle of the 17th century. The site was redundant until 1850 when it was used as the city cemetery. This practice continued until 1928; three years later the castle was declared a national monument. The Bury Al-Hammam castle is one of the best preserved Moorish castles in Spain. The medium-sized stone building has an elliptical design and is surrounded by an impressive wall with fifteen towers and parapets. The Baños de la Encina Castle is also known as the ‘fortress of the seven kings’, due to the number of monarchs who lived here, including Ferdinand the Catholic.

‘De Wieden’ is a large marsh wetland in the northwest of the province of Overijssel. This part of the National Park ‘Weerribben-Wieden’ is managed by the Dutch nature reserve organisation ’Natuurmonumenten’. ‘Wieden’ are man-made lakes by the excavation of peat. If one doesn't touch marsh wetland (swamp), it will gradually transform into land again. In order to maintain variety in the area’Natuurmonumenten regularly digs new holes, just like the peat diggers used to do. Nowadays ‘De Wieden’ is one of the most important lowland peat wetlands of Western Europe.

Castle Schaloen - also named Chaloen - was first mentioned in 1375. It was owned by the knights Johan Struver van Hoelsbergh (or Hulsberg) and Geraerdt Mulaerdt. The last one became the full owner and the castle stayed within his family for the next one and a half century. During the Eighty Years' War (late 16th century) Schaloen was occupied by Lodewijk van Nassau, but a year later it was destroyed by Spanish troops. The ruined castle came in the hands of Johan Reinier Hoen van Cartiels, who rebuilt it in 1656, using local marl. Through marriage the castle came in possession of the De Villers Masbourg-family. Famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers was in charge of the restoration (1894) of the castle in a neo-Gothic style. The last owner of noble descent, a countess, left the castle in 1934. The castle has been used as a school, but nowadays it is a private house. The bailey and gate house are housing a restaurant and hotel. The buildings are surrounded by a moat.

Drawbridge in the village of Zuiderwoude; a small settlement with about 300 inhabitants, which is located less than 10 km’s from Amsterdam. The wooden bridge, over a stream called ‘Zwet’, dates back to the Middle Ages and was restored in 1983.

The current mill is the third one at this place. The first mill was a so called ‘grondzeiler’ with wings which came about two feet above the ground. The mill was built in 1854.by Abraham Ledeboer. Five years later the mill was sold to family Dieperink. In 1896 the original mill was destroyed by fire. The second mill was a thatched stage mill and was used by the same family till the year of 1948, when it was bought by family Vorderman, well known millers in the region. In 1967, still in operation, the mill was restored for the first time. Four years later the mill was destroyed again by fire. A local foundation took the initiative for rebuilding the windmill in Terwolde, 100 meters to the west of the old mill site. For the reconstruction the octagonal buck from the ‘Holtermansmolen’ from Deventer (most probably built in 1640 as a polder mill) was used. In 1990 the reconstruction of ‘De Ooievaar’ (the Stork) was completed . Since then it houses one of the seven remaining operational flour mills in the Netherlands. But on 31 August 2015 the mill burned down again. Eearly May 2018- after the reconstruction - 'De Ooievaar' was opened to the public again.

Middelburg, capital of the province of Zeeland, was one of the three fortified towns on the former island Walcheren. It is dating back to the 9th century and still steeped in culture and historic allure. Middelburg took advantage of its proximity to the sea and became - after Amsterdam - the second most important trading center in the Dutch Republic during the Golden Age. The 'Kuiperspoort' - hidden gem in the center of the city - is named after the 'Kuipersgilde' (Coopers' Guild), who resided there in the 17th century. This alley is one of the most charming places in Middelburg. The alleyway shows traditional brick warehouses, step-gabled roofs and beautiful restored buildings dating to the 16th century. Its close proximity to the harbour was convenient during the Golden Age, when the barrels that were made there had to be rolled toward the ships. The narrow path in the middle of the cobblestoned street still can be seen.

Castle Nijenbeek was first mentioned in 1266, but most probably it was built around the year 1230 as a wooden keep, soon expanded into a stone castle and a fortified baily. First owner was Theodericus (Dirk), Lord of Nijenbeek. Its location on the banks of the river IJssel was very strategic, assuring control over the traffic on the river. Early 16th century Castle Nijenbeek lost its strategic importance and the Gelrian Duke Karel van Egmond sold the castle. Shortly after 1533 it was adjusted for permanent habitation. During the Eighty Years' War Nijenbeek was considerably damaged due to a Spanish siege in 1585 and a siege by the Dutch troops a year later. In 1672 the castle was used as headquarters by the State troops under the leadership of Johan Maurits van Nassau. The troops were supposed to prevent a French invasion over the IJssel. However the French occupied the entire region. Castle Nijenbeek, opposed to other castles, wasn't destroyed. In the middle of the 18th century and in the following centuries the castle underwent several renovations. In 1945 the whole castle was shelled by Canadian troops because it was used by the German troops as a lookout post. Despite emergency repairs, the roof finally caved in and the elements have taken their toll. All that remains of Castle Nijenbeek is a ruin that only can be viewed from a distance. Nowadays (early 2014) there is a new plan to consolidate the present situation preventing a totally collapse of Nijenbeek, Picture: the castle standing in the flooded floodplains of the river IJssel.

Úbeda became more and more important during Moorish rule. The town was by Abd ar-Rahman II (822–852), who called it Medinat-Ubbadat Al-Arab (which means Úbeda of the Moors). The town was captured from the Moors in 1233 by King Fernado III. Úbeda (and neighboring city of Baeza) benefited from extensive patronage in the early 16th century, resulting in the construction of a series of Renaissance style palaces and churches. In 2003, UNESCO declared the historic cores and monuments a World Heritage Site. Although the ‘Sacra Capilla del Salvador del Mundo’ (Sacred Chapel of the Saviour)looks like a church, the building is a funerary monument and was created to be used as mausoleum of local nobility (nowadays there are religious services). Both interior and exterior are richly decorated; the main façade (picture) with relief work and statues. The building is considered to be one of the finest examples of Andalucian architecture from te Renaisance period. Construction of the chapel started in 1536 by the architect Diego de Siloé; a second phase, four years later, was directed by Andrés de Vandelvira. In 1559 it was consecrated.

In the Netherlands the ‘kievitsbloem’ (snake’s head) is a very rare flower, which is even legally protected. Most of them - about 80% - can be found around the city of Hasselt in the province of Overijssel Sometimes there are many flowering together and people call it the natural bulb fields of the Netherlands. It is commonly found growing in grasslands in damp soils and river meadows along the rivers ‘de Vecht’ and ‘Zwarte Water’. Snake’s Heads are flowering from mid April till early May. It has a couple of names, like Snake’s Head Fritillary, Checkered Daffodil, Chess Flower and Leper Lily (in the Netherlands ‘kievitsbloem’). Pictures were taken in a small nature reserve, called ‘De Brommerd’ (see PiP).