Jaap van 't Veen's photos

Trettachtal (Trettach Valley) is one of Oberstdorf’s valleys, which are characterised by glacial drift from the latest ice age. The valley glaciers from the large side valleys gradually crept south, forming the scenery that is visible today. As the glaciers receded, watercourses formed the current valleys, among them the beautiful Trettachtal . The Trettach stream originates south of Oberstdorf near the Trettachspitze and is about 14 km long. North of Oberstdorf, the Trettach merges with the Breitach to form the river Iller. Nowadays the valley - almost car free - offers a more or less level, yet beautiful walk. We often made a round trip during our winter holidays in Oberstdorf. First following the river and passing the hamlets Gruben and Dietersberg, back along the golf course, the frozen Moorweiher and the historic Moorbad swimming pool.

Sanctuary Wood ( Heiligdombos ) was named by British troops in November 1914 during World War I, when they used the cover of a forest at this location to tend to their wounded during the First Battle of Ypres, so it was literally a ‘sanctuary’ of sorts for those casualties. At the end of the battle the front line stabilized and would remain so until the Third Battle of Ypres, when the Commonwealth troops managed to push the front line a few miles into German-held territory. In the Spring Offensive of 1918, however, the Germans pushed the Allies back towards Ypres and Sanctuary Wood was occupied by the Germans until the final battle and the defeat of Germany. In 1919 the farmer who had owned the land of what became Sanctuary Wood returned to reclaim his property. He decided to preserve some of the British trench system he found. It is one of the very few original sets of World War I trenches left as they were found at the end of the war. Nowadays it is a privately owned museum nearby the Canadian Hill 62 Memorial and the Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.

At the end of October 1914, World War I stalled in Flanders Fields. After the first battle of Ypres (October-November 1914), trenches were dug in a wide arc around the city of Ypres. The second battle followed the first gas attack (April 1915). The front line shrank into the “Little Ypres Salient” at 3.5 to 4.5 km away from the city centre. The front started moving again on 7 June 1917. British troops broke open the Ieperboog (Ypres Salient) at the cost of huge losses during the third battle of Ypres (July-November 1917). However the German spring offensive of 1918 pushed the Ypres Salient back towards Ypres. The German troops were forced to give up the Ieperboog at the end of September 1918, due to exhaustion and the arrival of American troops. These battles almost completely destroyed the city of Ypres, while thousands of citizens and over hundreds of thousands soldiers from around the world lost their lives. More than 150 military cemeteries were built and monuments erected in and around the city in the 1920’s. Cemeteries, monuments, trenches, mine craters and museums nowadays still remind us of the futility of war.

The Lakenhalle (Cloth Hall) is a well-known landmark, located in the heart of Ypres. This large hall was built in Gothic style between 1200 and 1304. It was one of the largest commercial buildings of the Middle Ages, when it served as the main market and warehouse for the Flemish city's prosperous cloth industry. At 125 meters in width, with a 70 meters high belfry tower, it recalls the importance and wealth of the medieval trade city. The Lakenhalle was completely destroyed during World War I. Between 1933 and 1967, it was meticulously reconstructed to its prewar condition, under the guidance of architects J. Coomans and P. A. Pauwels. In 1999, the Lakenhalle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France. Nowadays the building houses the In Flanders Fields Museum, the Yper Museum and the local tourist information office.

Sint-Maartenskerk or Sint-Maartenskathedraal (St Martin's Church or St Martin's Cathedral) is the former cathedral and seat of the former diocese of Ypres from 1561 to 1901. Construction started on the church in 1230, and was finished in 1370. There had previously been a Romanesque church in the area, dating from the 10th or 11th century. Sint-Maartenskerk was heavily damaged during the World War I. Subsequently (1922–1930) the ruin was cleared and the church was entirely rebuilt following the original plans, although the tower was built with a higher spire than the original. With a height of 102 meters it is one of the tallest buildings in Belgium.

The Sint-Pieterskerk (St Peter's Church) is located in on the place where the Flemish count “Robrecht de Fries” is said to have founded a place of worship in 1073. This Romanesque church dedicated to St Peter was built in the 12th-13th centuries. At the end of the 15th and the first half of the 16th century, it was converted into a Gothic hall church. The first tower burned down in 1638. It was not until 1868 that the church had a new tower. During World War I, the church was almost completely destroyed. Only the vaults of the church were spared. The famous reconstruction architect Jules Coomans has integrated the remains of the walls in the new church and replaced the Gothic superstructure of the tower with a Romanesque tower.

Singraven is an estate near the town of Denekamp. It includes a manor, a garden, a water mill, a carriage house and a number of farmhouses. The estate offers a versatile landscape with forests, lanes, fields, meadows, marshes and the ever-present river Dinkel. The water mill has been part of Landgoed Singraven (Singraven Estate) since 1448. The mill consists of an oil mill (no longer in operation and partly demolished, nowadays housing a restaurant), a corn mill and a saw mill. The corn mill and saw mill are still in operation and can be visited. The mill is run - mostly on Saturdays during summer time - by volunteer millers. Watermolen Singraven is the last water-driven undershot sawmill in the Netherlands. Its water supply comes from the small river Dinkel, which rises in the town of Holtwyck in Nordrein Westfalen (Germany). The mill has three water wheels, each with a diameter of 5.5 metres. The left wheel against the restaurant is from the former oil mill. The oil mill was demolished in the early 20th century, so the wheel is the only remaining part. The middle wheel is from the corn mill and the right wheel from the sawmill.

The history of the Sint-Nicolaaskerk (Church of Saint Nicholas) is dating back to the year of 1276, when Denekamp was mentioned as a parish for the first time. The church is one of the few religious buildings erected in the region of Twente in the 13th century that is still largely preserved. The medieval part of the present church consists of a single-bay. As far as this region of the Netherlands is concerned it is the oldest preserved single-bay church, though no longer completely intact. The medieval parts were built of sandstone from nearby Bentheim. The tower was built against the church in the second half of the 15th century (or early 16th century). Later there were many more enlargements, the last one started in 1910 with the construction of a new transept and choir and apse, which were built with bricks. Architect ‘Te Riele’ also gave the tower - which had been fully closed - an entrance in a pseudo-Romanesque style. After the reformation the church was used by the protestant minority for about two centuries. In 1809 King ‘Lodewijk Napoleon’ gave back the church to the Catholics. The church is still used for services.

Lutterzand is a nature reserve situated in the most eastern part of the Netherlands, nearby the German border. This beautiful area consists of 750 hectares of pine forests, juniper bushes, heathlands, flat moorland and sand drifts through which the Dinkel river runs. The Dinkel meanders through the area, creating beautiful shores and steeply eroded banks. Along the winding river natural sand cliffs - up to eight meters high - have been cut out by the erosion. Even the oldest and firmest trees eventually perish, drifting off in the current.

The Mariakapel (Mary Chapel) was built in the years 1954-1957 using medieval building materials. The bricks are from the foundations of an old monastery and the roof beams are from an old Saxon farmhouse. Money, volunteer labour and design were provided by the local community of Borne. The chapel is 6 metres wide, 4 metres deep and 8.5 metres high. On either side is a stained-glass window. The statue of Mary, carved from sandstone, came from Vreden in Germany, where it had been found in pieces near a bombed-out church. It has been fully restored and provided with head and feet. Borne's Mariakapel is considered being one of the most beautiful in the region. In september 1957, the chapel and the statue of Mary were consecrated.

A “hofje” is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages. The Netherlands has several “hofjes”. The Hofje van Aerden (or officially Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden ) was established at the end of the 18th century by Maria Ponderus, who wanted to provide free housing for impoverished female relatives from her or her husband's family. The stipulation was that these women had to prove their familial connection and adhere to strict behavioral and religious guidelines: remaining unmarried, of impeccable conduct, and of Protestant faith. Maria's vision was so profound that she ensured its continuation through a foundation established in her will, leading to the opening of the hofje on November 1, 1773. The Hofje van Aerden was designed to house eleven women, but it expanded over the years. By the late 19th century, it could accommodate up to fifteen women. Today, the criteria for residency have evolved, and it now serves as a residence for ten single women. The complex is arranged around a central courtyard, nearly square in shape, measuring approximately 40 by 32 meters. It was constructed on the site of the former Leerdam Castle, which was destroyed during the Eighty Years' War.

Kasteel Ammersoyen (Ammersoyen Castle) is considered being one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. The typical Dutch moated castle has four round corner towers, a fortified bailey and is encircled by a moat. The castle was built around 1350 along the river Maas. The river was redirected a short time later, but the castle remained surrounded by water. With its square design and four corner towers, the castle is a good example of the type of castle introduced by Count Floris V of Holland. The castle had many owners until it was severely damaged by a fire in 1590 and it took a long time to repair the damage. In the year of 1667 the “Van Arkel” family restored the castle to its medieval state. Two hundred years later Kasteel Ammersoyen became a convent for the Order of Saint Clare. The moat was filled in and an adjoining chapel was built. During World War II - between 1944 and 1945 - the castle suffered severe damage. The nuns left and the castle came into the possession of the Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen (a Dutch nature and heritage foundation). Restoration work - which took 16 years - has brought back the castle to its former medieval glory.

Kasteel Renswoude (Renswoude Castle), formerly called Borchwal , is a castle and knight's manor and estate nearby the village of Renswoude. The first house probably dates from the late 14th century. Perhaps the name refers to a borgwal (circular rampart) that surrounded the castle. During the Dutch 'Golden Age' - in 1654 – the original house was demolished by order of Johan van Reede and replaced by the current country house in Dutch-classicist style. It was probably built on the medieval foundations. The castle has a special design, which gives it a double appearance. The white plastered back gives the building a real country-house appearance, while the front with its towers is more reminiscent of a castle. The facade of the main building is dominated by the large tower in the middle with a corner tower protruding on either side. Kasteel Renswoude is surrounded by a park, which is open to the public. Nowadays the castle is divided into several apartments where some members of the castle owners' family reside.

Fort Honswijk , originally called Fort Willem II, is one of the most impressive forts of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (New Dutch Waterline: a line of defensive works using water throughout the western part of Holland) which is part of this 200-kilometre long UNESCO World heritage Site. Construction of the tower fortress along the river Lek began in 1841. The tower had three floors with an open artillery battery on the roof. The fort was completed in 1848. In the 1880s, the fort was extensively modified and the top floor was demolished. Fort Honswijk was used during the mobilisation in World War I. In 1935, the fort was briefly used as a concentration camp. It was the first concentration camp in the Netherlands. Dutch soldiers were based there during the 1939/1940 mobilisation. Until 2012, the fort was used by the Ministry of Defence. In September 2016, the municipality of Houten became the owner of the fort and it was restored.

Nowadays the Hervormde kerk (Reformed Church) - originally named Cathrijnekerk consists of a 19th-century nave and a detached, 15th-century tower. The oldest mention of a church dates back to 1395. The brick tower dates back to the second half of the 15th century and is built in late-Gothic style. The construction was plagued by flooding from the river Linge, which regularly washed away the soil from underneath the tower. The builders tried to correct this problem half way up, which only caused it to lean to one side. In the 18th century, the upper part of the tower was demolished to prevent the it from toppling over all-together. The rest of the church was also demolished after it had been badly damaged by a hurricane in 1674. It was replaced by the current Reformed Church in 1844. The remaining tower is 17.5 metres high and still consists of two sections. The top of the tower is tilted 115 cm off-centre. Its angle is in fact almost similar to that of its famous Italian counterpart, the “leaning tower of Pisa”. In the tiny churchyard one of the graves belongs to “Cornelia Pisa”. Cornelia’s name and the tower’s crooked appearance have contributed to the tower´s nickname as the scheve toren van Pisa te Acquoy (leaning tower of Pisa in Acquoy).

Slot Loevestein (Loevestein Castle), or officially Museum Slot Loevestein , is one of the most well-known castles of the Netherlands. The castle was built by the knight Dirk Loef of Horne (hence "Loef's stein" (stone) house) between 1357 and 1368. Around 1575 it was expanded to a larger fortress surrounded by earthen fortifications with two (later three) stone bastions, two moats, an arsenal, and barracks for a commander and soldiers. The castle was also integrated into the Hollandic Water Line. From 1614 on Slot Loevestein was used as a state prison. In 1619 a famous Dutch jurist, humanist, lawyer and poet “Hugo de Groot”, was imprisoned in the castle together with his wife and daughter to serve a life term sentence. In 1621 however he managed to escape from the castle by hiding in a big wooden bookcase, which was being brought out of the castle. In the 19th century the castle was incorporated into a new and enlarged earthwork fortress, which made the castle an important stronghold in the New Dutch Waterline (a line of defensive works using water throughout the western part of Holland) and is part of this 200-kilometer long UNESCO World heritage Site. During all these works the bailey of the castle was torn down, the sole remnant is the round tower which was used as a powder magazine. Loevestein Castle lost its military function in 1952. Nowadays Slot Loevestein is used as a medieval museum and function centre.

Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof (St. Alexius Beguinage) is an oasis of quietness in the heart of Dendermonde. It has 61 houses around a green trapezium-shaped courtyard with a chapel in the middle. The beguinage was built in 1288 and has been occupied ever since. At one time two hundred and fifty beguines, members of a religious sisterhood, lived here; the last died in 1975. Her former home houses a museum of folklore. To keep the memory of the beguines alive, one small house has been furnished as an authentic beguine's home. Since the year of 1998 the Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After Belgium became independent in 1830, the fear of a European conflict or invasion remained. Because Belgium had no noteworthy natural defense, it was opted not to defend the whole country, but to opt for a 'National Redoubt'. For strategic, political and economic reasons, the city of Antwerp was chosen to become that National Redoubt. In 1859 the Belgian government decided to defend Antwerp by building a new rampart around the city, called the 'Big Rampart', after a plan of the military engineer Capt. Henri Alexis Brialmont. It consisted of 15 km long earthen rampart with 19 gates around the city. It also had a ring of 8, almost identical, brick forts. These forts were built almost 2.5 km outside the city, at 2 km from each other. They had to protect the city from enemy fire. Every fort was about 30 hectares and consisted of a central reduit, caponiers, platforms and earthen walls for artillery, all surrounded by a wide moat. Although building the rampart and forts was a massive and very expensive undertaking, it was finished in 1864. In 1907 the rampart and forts were modernized. The rampart was demolished in 1960. The forts are now more commonly known as the “Brialmont Forts”. Fort 4 in Mortsel is one of the seven remaining “Brialmont Forts”; it is made from brick with sandstone decorations. Between 1909 and 1911 a gun turret was built in Fort 4, which was later strengthened with concrete. During WW II the German Army occupied this fort and built several barracks. After the war it was used by the Belgian Army up until 2000.