From
Belgium on to the second leg of our trip, in the land of tulips and windmills...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ49inEnLel3QW-_xo98Q1t-oCrj3y4PgbPg9YbghNpx2HT3nJXzdMhFf7AiXPapZAQ5V8Z8zndWo5jfnjCvJsUp-cSQlZ-jX_48Kj5L6DF09thiU3FeNQPOS36bRiZ4LpO-aANxc6EVY/s640/holland_006.jpg) |
A 'real' Dutch windmill, not many of these left nowadays.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGErzhbXYnG3hDKMzZox3OBco8nSHCCU6cn0aQNvTSW14ZGq1TlVKs0it5ZnhCr2Z8_US-PxahZDHfnyTDH984lypX4Q8Yr67aBNg8FCUBIoK8kdQSBcHfNdhpon7354W4GVxyQ50Rhyw/s640/holland_001.jpg) |
First stop in The Netherlands - flat as far as the eye can see. |
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I've spotted this windmill from a distance, I had to get a closer look. |
Zeeland - literally the Land of The Sea
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYmgFPXQWIMDaanLDZGbPYTocweyaGET333ZRGxC9Nw3QjQwkKRfrYisHmNe1aGUJf8YQcbr4h_q0uF1JJKSxJ-kC5EnuhMj85hCSkGYEDXmvIGF1bG5iWc5G7kmesAxIzByOByvs27c/s640/holland_007.jpg) |
This is Oosterscheldekering in Zeeland, part of the Delta Works |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgimXcU-rohKXhLbyKT2VxCi8HI8tY-V7iPOAtxCxbHXLRRv3nOLBKca_sbGSZXg0B9j2Ri93J9tHcgZ7T7JacZL673uhJ4H-vxyl9836V0YhdOqo4FWRdzPPtjJsYYWRmpsjoHK6P9c/s640/holland_008.jpg) |
The Delta Works are a system of dams and storm surge barriers designed to keep the North Sea at bay. |
Next we are in The Hague
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHVrcuJjjOTN0JalSsePgmvlbe6IP2RvXnbjYS2aQFWDHL_a7KL78JAICJ8jbIBaNo5S11O2rfQC5MWpSI9u7l65ijP1QxwEe_f6AaXPH7kz0E70VDLoOxQgITZoS4N6EO0kGkkDgCkM/s640/holland_019.jpg) |
Mauritshuis and the Binnenhof |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCcgzNfV2HtedXvA_xFSU9n99mEvwMxy9JK_Wol1VvhZWdG9EKKtw8Zns-9NVwLPkJaH4SGaHkbK4KEYmfiGV8CoXZxG2hJhJu1gJaFBjLJfpUhpxIGQW1yj0JdobxmQQUOcCajOZr8E/s640/holland_020.jpg) |
The Binnenhof is the seat of the government in The Netherlands. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUNGTwm2EWSXLffXso4zyOzAZYYwQv8n8FaBtqa_SnShSNsCZVIYVVnNqee_M16mfMBx_rRRHiI0nQkEX4HnF_Q7MiDhFBwvuF-Q4JhJ46_J1mAYrTmZI5f9sf_6iOnsfxb00j1StzVQ/s640/holland_025.jpg) |
The pond in front of the Binnenhof has a name as well, Hofvijver. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquYeXB6gpo-CKl3RH6su9OeRDPxonOrYkhFSpLPIW4MP88Y-QjBF-5c_uaO98otWmn9uMig4qzadS9yp7oJB9TQZl-UoOqySGBNULlv2yaumlWLJROBS4VdG4DMqzZcyDt5HUfQKdk6Q/s640/holland_029.jpg) |
Inside the Binnenhof |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZJEOmaF45F6fHKWMf4T9beGLeFBwr-bd-2DjYBq2822FJfd6uhG5mk60ksHEa1-EdU_S4ctis53ZJhvi9KwFGXeYicuYxAi1L26ear9SguNihq71_9OjdIi7lGerB5L83UJwBnFpCVc/s640/holland_031.jpg) |
This is the Ridderzaal or Knight's Hall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrHkbOYdGJFXauC9vvuxjV_qY29anyZ0tFxKSI2-5mzfvn83ZCCSfoOh-sMtSo6iRV77tw-AO8KpLk4MqDT2HALl95a3_qzTRlBdLOgyq4mFCzhN-g7_nOMV9nq5xPQLu9Zp9rJYTuk0/s640/holland_037.jpg) |
Some kind of ancient fountain in the Binnenhof. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOWeYKucKfg4rwsK92QiLCF2DfxZosYS4NXrFbRQCun1pCdxdSWeuVzcN_HZnVNp-WUUB2gqlaopGAxjEf5vVop0q7YPXoIjFvQPt-9-rJW4y-XSf2ENMXLwF4Qgpxp75HCbD-kjcniY/s640/holland_040.jpg) |
Another high street with a roof, similar to the one we saw in Brussels the day before. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xgTJs2rMvpfa2EtimLQ_kojCHopLdcDD7LZoJJPSH7dnUy8uV4XEiGmAvaDSpqO5-FoCXa0ktMK5KW3NRUIui_QS0hvXr1q-FFl_xZZpEjPD35e9NQEXPF04aeMk9tLodcCJgQ84ts0/s640/holland_044.jpg) |
Another big church, it seems like people in the past could never be too far from God. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnvl6NYb8yhA4Knn3F6kL7d9LkNPA2quQyMO8CbNnL2-LPkarKBrwQvjjZm9GM8feCWJjyiA2mopfyDL7Z9lVtYEhfR7b0FSYWE6fYTMNAdlitmnEXfrN4P8-LdoDqX80yDsRe0u8Xfo/s640/holland_045.jpg) |
Lovely convertible VW Beetle with a basket of flowers. |
Another day, another city and this time it's Amsterdam
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qzWV8nanEYI4WeXSei6qH6I33iJOKaDIysE7YytQM8RlwAVBe2TAQwOXx7bhWAXPS3msW5GpNDa5uKeas1Z88OF3RG_50XpywGTianS8cHVSGjP0jjGB74XMK0mFtsKb5cmyHCV4v5g/s640/holland_049.jpg) |
Looking out towards the harbor, or maybe the Amstel river, I don't remember. |
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Farmer's market in Amsterdam's China Town, selling mushrooms fittingly. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpFSLzWu1qEMItLZvy4jMZC4A9tAh_yiXs0gFTJcXOUgyryvFeyb3jkFYMlp3XWKPrCUa_wmeLLdIzHXhFwJcjCEvhO9sIguulKYJ5Ft_hSFVPmhAXOsBEIX5046NAMAXtBowwwoy17U/s640/holland_053.jpg) |
The red light district of Amsterdam. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Lt2q5xFaplwoXjVHyIB0srkuC_P5WTaJUsg1sAhgpnhZ4Gdxp-61wPOw0o6oJ09_K_muUXnZERsb0GpMYI8eFOjpLd_SVh7yolU6LQGN5_Mqd8GgQTDtTRz2xD_MB_gcruUUVzCHp04/s640/holland_055.jpg) |
Here is the address, if you're wondering where it might be. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuRLwTby_uAZajJsghS0kBddCvxL0H3unN5EqdqAz8wsZmJ57RD3Hq8SNZFqQgzKUXn9m8AuyjKxYRJK8mh07APZoH34jownp2aEP6fBelGadCgp5OLILuCURKtHY4OcMJBWq8cCb1zQ/s640/holland_056.jpg) |
Spot the lady in the window. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi29Sol83waubNfBWlK0BENO26O9hKFo6mdn6zJrn8DeqvnLYcEckqJTFbTUI7n34Hf-s2ySa9Xon-z7ObcQIpduf7Ysc4aYb6kBmOlAtQPnDDnvKKO576szvoV3rWqXcG8_85Swc7IGg/s640/holland_060.jpg) |
The main train station and apparently the river boat station as well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4lUYkoU8d7iXS6z00NqIuub5PyXfyjXZrs2WqXz1sxCVsqElaoqiKQXsdKTDFO8IT2HL1mE7X9HIJm-gbuzpOU3HCaApFltyZ6Ocpw4HxkuBF26pqsbn2ulEUgi7EbnYMYEsXQ5_x7k/s640/holland_062.jpg) |
Rows of houses and canals alternate in the historic center of Amsterdam. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqQixehT0piy2kNwT4cU8DhCeg7I_U_XwlNFq4iHyvRmLO4s0gsthQ_0uIGS7t6GxcpBvXz5IHtRmBmE7ciFBwZD9ODhtpm0an9yUhKWCLwanlQymaBw4eh72rNYywMtcNDzELvMYzmo/s640/holland_065.jpg) |
Boat houses or is it house boats? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm9Uel-dK0FPfZ1Kr259kpSFT3O79CZjSzVcYLssO8UiZBgyaDPh56AFm7-EnCMTtE0sU4RP1Lygj760Cya9qlRtiHMY5wWxKG6l9V_TjCxdLfpPP1u2VRPKP2W8jrxNN_gvdoml8h80/s640/holland_067.jpg) |
You can book some of these and spend the night on water. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaBk5Annp-yk98nXmHElASXCmAhuiYq-qB5lb5Dpb4m0b-B3ych24aH5C5YvvBQfbN0kdh2wrpSSP5PQSvsjWL8lPN4Vu0Qf4PNMapmSpyxmWDmzVT5drypXEGHFCBARzLCLl89O-syQ/s640/holland_069.jpg) |
People actually live here, you can tell by all the junk laying around. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCrmJHP31NrPQlixuHwpBQ0ZtaQVKp6LWI7Q6Kxw6xiMYdL5XMWDmVA4VlV1Z7Es9DUzdGzhb8Cql-ZuFnhsQOoge37X1At_pX1w4wgHh4AQ0_I21zCP9MaWmBSwrDW5w1-i9fn-cZws/s640/holland_070.jpg) |
Interesting draw bridge. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWTwFdh6IcI9cQJlBSk7tbYvSytaVELqkxah7xcimNM58WtGjmeQHzzNb50HtS2x_Z6BAUSjCi1i9PWI-iLbgohjItjCUnpnKd8PzG5_CZsBtxvyIrXUU-ZmeLd5S2aqdGWEEIS7AID0/s640/holland_071.jpg) |
Boat coming in and NEMO Science Museum in the background. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEsVMi16NaRya_3FaOIpMpvyfmPrKSN-ThyphenhyphencMGof48a5jxDtcNU1r_uiZspwmvSsr_zdWO8WVeEcArpikZ6LNI_fnsxE4iIVHykVNnmgTXUjur9Ru-33XSmxCFBXIxe0eqaUDpMjPbD8/s640/holland_075.jpg) |
Maritime Museum with old sail ship moored next to it. |
And that concludes our trip to Holland, next stop
Germany