Jaap van 't Veen's photos

Embalse de Canales ( Canales Reservoir) is a artificial lake of the Genil River. The reservoir is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, east of Granada and nearby the mountain village of Güéjar Sierra (see: note). The massive dam at the western end of the lake has a height of almost 160 metres and is 340 metres long.

The Cistercian Monastery of Poblet (Monestir de Poblet) was founded in 1150. In the courtyard of the cloister is a Romanesque lavabo situated. The fountain was used by the monks in their daily ablution ritual.

Part of the estate grounds of Kasteel Zwaluwenburg ( www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/27937469/in/album/537955 ) is so called 'Klein Zwitserland' (Little Switzerland). It is a little bit hilly area with winding narrow paths. In spring it is full with flowering rhododendrons and azaleas of different colours.

Kasteel Zwaluwenburg was first mentioned in 1326 as 'KasteelWijnbergen' and was for long time inhabited by the family Wijnbergen. The present building is dating back to 1728 and is considered being one of the most beautiful stately homes in the province of Gelderland. Zwaluwenburg is surrounded by beautiful estate grounds with woodland, fields and meadows and a couple of out buildings and farm houses. One of the most beautiful parts - especially in spring - is so called Klein Zwitserland (Little Switzerland - a rather hilly part with numerous flowering rhododendrons and azaleas: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/27937491/in/album/537905

'D'n Olliemeulen' - watermill along the stream the 'Vloet' in Oploo, province of Noord-Brabant. The mill is dating back to the year of 1725; nowadays this former oil mill is used as a flour mill. Locals call the mill also 'Het watermolenken op het Peelbeexken'. Very nearby you also will find a post mill called 'De Korenbloem'.

The Menkemaborg* in Uithuizen is a 14th-century, brick-built country house, which was substantially altered around 1700; since then it has since barely been changed. Nowadays, being part of a museum, the borg is open for public. *In the Dutch province of Groningen a 'borg' is a former stronghold or estate house, surrounded by moats and gardens.

The oldest part of the Dutch Reformed Church of Uithuizermeeden is dating back to the 13th century. The white walls were plastered in the 19th century. The church tower (Meister Toren) was renewed in 1717, commissioned by Onno Tamminga of Alberda, lord at the nearby Rensumaborg. After a fire at the end of the 19th century the tower was rebuilt in its original form. The remarkable white and blue tower has a height of 48,5 metres. The church has a beautiful interior and a Hinz organ, which was consecrated in 1785.

Building of the Granada Cathedral (Cathedral of the Incarnation) was started in 1523. It took 181 years for the cathedral to be built completely. This cathedral is considered to be a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance. Picture: looking towards the unprecedented rounded main altar and the impressive dome with a height of 45 metres. The two organs can also be seen.

The Monastery of Poblet (Monestir de Poblet) was founded in 1150. It is a Cistercian monastery and still used by a monastic community.

The 'Schierstins' in Veenwouden is a medieval 'Stienhús' (stone house) built around the year of 1300 out of brick and is the only remaining 'Stienhús' in Friesland. The 'Schierstins' was first mentioned in 1439 on a piece of parchment.

The present windmill 'De Vier Winden' (The Four Winds) is dating back to 1846. The mill is still used as a flour mill, but nowadays operated by volunteers.

The Domkerk (St. Martin's Cathedral) was the cathedral of the diocese of Utrecht during the Middle Ages. It once was the largest church and the only cathedral of the Netherlands. The construction of the present church started already in 1254. Since 1580 it is a protestant church. In 1674 a tornado destroyed the part of the church that was connected to the tower and was never rebuild. The Dom tower is with a height of more than 112 meters the highest medieval tower in the country. Picture: Dom Church and Dom Tower seen from the cloister (Pandhof) next to the church.

Alhambra and Sierra Nevada, seen from the Mirador de San Nicolás.

Door of the Apostles of 'la Seu Vella' (the Old Cathedral) in Lleida. Construction of this impressive church - on a hill overlooking the city of Lleida - started in 1203, but was not completed until 1431. In 1707 the church was turned into a military citadel. In 1992 the (former) cathedral was opened to visitors after a long restoration.

Borg* or castle Verhildersum, main building with the moat. The borg is surrounded by beautiful gardens. *In the Dutch province of Groningen a 'borg' is a former stronghold or estate house, surrounded by moats and gardens.

Apeldoorn - Dierens Kanaal is the second part of the Apeldoorns Kanaal, a waterway from Hattem in the north to Dieren in the south. After arriving of King Willem I digging of the northern part started in 1825. Plans for the southern part between Apeldoorn and Dieren (river IJssel) came into execution and digging began. Ten years later the canal was officially opened. In 1972 the canal was closed for shipping traffic; nowadays you only may see a canoe, rowing boat or pedal boat in the canal. More information about the Apeldoorns Kanaal (Dutch)l: www.apeldoornskanaal.com

Kersendijkje: foot/bike path from 'Castle De Cannenburch' to the water mill 'Cannenburghermolen'.

'De Middelste Molen': old water mill along the Voorsterbeek or Loenense Molenbeek. The mill already started in the year of 1622 producing paper and still is a small, but working paper factory. It is the only authentic paper mill in the Netherlands.