Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: reflectie

We visited the city of Groningen in a weekend before Christmas and came across an atmospheric event WinterWelVaart (WinterWealth). Along the Hoge and Lage der A - cobblestoned quays with beautiful century old houses and (former) warehouses - about twenty of mainly historic (charter) ships were moored. On these ships several different cultural events were featured, such as intimate concerts, special children’s activities and art exhibitions. On the quays were a Christmas Market and an art route. WinterWelVaart can be seen as a tribute to the special and historic relationship between Groningen and the shipping trade.

‘De Wachter’ is an octagonal smock mill ( stellingmolen ). The three storey smock mill has a base of a four storey brick base. The stage is at 9,55 metres above ground level. The smock and cap are both thatched. The sails have a span of 22 metres. The flour and oil mill was built in 1851 for the family Van Bon; the first miller. In 1895 the mill was bought by Jan Medendorp, who installed two steam engines; one of these engines was used to power a spice mill. In 1935 the oil mill and spice mill ceased to be used and were dismantled, as were the steam engines. Between 1968 and 1970 the mill was restored, as the rest of the of the mill was later. In 1989 the mill was transferred into the ownership of a foundation (‘Stichting Koren- en Oliemolen De Wachter’). Nowadays ‘De Wachter’ is a cultural-historical museum (with limited opening hours). Apart from the flour, oil and spices mill the complex houses period shops and a couple of workshops. These are all presented as they would have appeared in 1895. (For more info: www.dewachter.nl)

The Fraeylemaborg originates in the year of 1300 as a strong stone house with thick walls (in the Dutch province of Groningen they were called “borg”). In 1475 there was already a farm with the name “Frealemaheerd”. In the archives of 1504 the name is found of one Remmer Fraeylema. In the 16th century, the house was expanded and became a moat. From 1670, both wings were added, resulting in a U-shaped building. Through the centuries many powerful families have made the Fraeylemaborg their home. In 1781 the Fraeylemaborg was sold to “Hendrik de Sandra Veldtman”. He rebuilt the Fraeylemaborg into its present shape. The Thomassen à Thuessink van der Hoop van Slochteren family lived until 1972 in the house. It was sold to the “Gerrit van Houten Stichting”. Nowadays is the Fraeylemaborg a museum, with an interior that illustrates how people lived in a luxury house. The interior consists of precious antiques and everyday personal objects and the collection includes works by the Dutch painter Gerrit van Houten (1866-1934). The museum is combined with a wide range of cultural events and temporary exhibitions. (During my second visit to the “borg” - second half of December 2018 - the rooms of the Fraeylemaborg were beautifully embellished with Christmas decorations: see PiP’s).

Wooden breakwater at the beach of Schoorl, nearby “De Kerf’, a man made opening through the first row of dunes. Breakwaters are constructed to absorb the energy of the waves, intended to prevent the erosion of sand along the coast. Usually they stand perpendicular to the dunes. These breakwaters are very rare along the coast of North Holland, so I was quite lucky to find one. (In Zealand and Zeelandic Flanders they are quite common.)

Lake Plansee - nearby Reutte - is the second-largest natural lake in Tyrol. The lake is fed by the Spiessbach and Torsäulenbach, as well as by Lake Heiterwang and its runoff is the Archbach river. Lake Plansee is characterised by outstanding water quality of grade A. The water is used for generating electricity. Lake Plansee is situated at an altitude of 976 m, has a surface of 280 ha and a maximum depth of 78 m.

Wat Neramit Wipattasana is located on a hillside above the little village of Dan Sai (Loei province) and set in a manicured garden (PiP 1). This rather new temple is famous for its large ordination hall and pagoda made of red-coloured laterite, which is unlike elsewhere in Thailand. The ordination hall is surrounded by painted murals (PiP2) and columns lining the way to three golden buddhas, among them an official replica of Phra Phutthachinnarat, a revered buddha image in Phitsanulok Province.

Gram Castle is one of the most monumental buildings in southern Jutland. The stately building with three wings opens its courtyard to the main road and bids a warm welcome to local residents as well as tourists. Gram Castle was first mentioned in 1231, when it was a mansion with 3-4 farms owned by King Valdemar. The castle consists of three wings, starting in 1470 and built over three centuries: 15th, 16th and the 17th. This means it has architectonic features from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque !! In the Middle Ages Gram Castle was an important castle, due to the fact that the main road between Haderslev and Ribe crossed over Gram Å (the stream), so it was possible to collect tolls from all the travellers and merchants passing through with their goods. It is the largest Middle Age building in Denmark outside Copenhagen

Heiligenhafen, a small city located along the Baltic Sea, has a modern marina with 1.000 moorings. The marina is located at the open part of a bight close to the city centre and the Graswarder Nature Reserve. It is considered being one of the most beautiful wharfs of the Baltic Sea.

The ‘Wedderborg’ has a history which is going back to the year of 1362, when the first house was built by Egge Addinga. It has 14th, 15th, and 16th-century elements and became its present form in 1959. The castle became many owners and functions, the last restoration took place in 2010. Nowadays the castle houses a hotel and restaurant.

The Stadshaven (City Harbour) is the former port of Goes, a city in the Dutch province of Zeeland, which was founded in the 10th century. The harbour is located in the town center and is connected to the Oosterschelde by the ‘Goese Sas’. The quay walls of the city harbour are a national monument. The streets around the ‘Stadshaven’ (Kleine Kade, Turfkade and Bierkade) are lined with historic homes. The names of these streets refer to the historical significance of some products that were of great importance for the local economy: beer (= bier) and peat (=turf). Nowadays the City Harbour of Goes focuses on yachts; the modern marina has seventy moorings.

Strömsrum is one of these ‘in the middle of nowhere’ hamlets in Sweden’s countryside. It has just a few Falu red painted (farm)houses, and a beautiful mansion. Strömsrum is situated in a beautiful park landscape with old oak trees, which is bisected by the slow flowing river Alsterån. Strömsrum slott - one of the oldest wooden mansions in the country - is dating back to the year of 1312 (see PiP).

At the end of the 19th century Ronneby Brunn was a famous spa. People went here for the nourishing mineral water as well as the beautiful surroundings. The beautiful Brunnspark is a spa park with a history that goes back to 1705, when a Danish landscape designed the 100 hectares large park with wooden buildings. n the 1980s a famous Swedish landscape architect planned and designed the restoration of the park by adding new elements. The ‘spa buildings’ are also renovated and host modern companies. In 2005 the park was named Sweden’s most beautiful park; one year later Brunnspark came fourth in the “Europe’s most beautiful park” competition. We were lucky (early June) seeing all the flowering rhododendrons.