Netherlands and Amsterdam
I have been in The Netherlands for a few days. Here in Norway we still have winter for a few more weeks, so when we started planning this study trip a few months ago I was really hoping that we could meet spring and tulips in Amsterdam. But this winter has been cold in Europe, and were still quite cold last week. It was wet and rainy, though still Holland is a beautiful country.
The first days we spend driving around, meeting people working for an organisation called GAVE. GAVE works with refugees all over Holland, and I am in the board of a Norwegian organisation doing the same. So we wanted to get inspiration and impulses from friends and colleagues in The Netherlands. It was very intereting to learn more about how they work among refugees in the refugee camps.
When the week-end came our work was done though, and we drove in to Amsterdam to be tourists for a few days. I have been in Amsterdam twice before, both times on day trips, both times with children. But this time I had almost three days, and I was free to do what I want to do as a tourists - museums, churches, walking and caféing. And I really did that for hours non stop.
Saturday was the big museum day. With three of my friends we took a canal boat up to The Reijksmuseum. The museum is partly closed for some years due to renovation, but the most famous pieces of arts are still to be seen. Among them my favorite, The Kitchen Maid by Jan Vermeer, and of course Rembrandt's The NightWatch. Amazing. Seeing so many masterpieces took alot of our energy, but after a coffee break we were ready for the next museum, The Van Gogh. Another highlight of course.
Later in the day two of my co-travellers returned back to Norway, and the third wanted to rest. But I wanted to use every minute. I walked down to RembrandtHuis and spent an hour there all by myself. I have no words to describe it all! I loved it. Later in the afternoon I went to an anglican evening song prayer in St. Nicolaus Church and I wandered along the canals for a long time - in spite of the wet and the cold.
On Sunday I went to Anne Frank Huis. I have only passed this house by canal boat earlier, and have wanted to visit inside for years. And I was not disappointed. The house and all the different rooms were so filled with strong impressions and strong memories from the years Annd and her family spent here. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the house. I always bring at least one camera with me whenever I go, but inside Anne Frank Huis it felt good to put the camera deep down in my backpack. My camera there were my heart and my feelings. I brough my notebook though, and wrote down a few sentences from Anne's writing.
"March 25, 1944. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people. Ands therefore I am so grateful to God for giving me this gift of writing, of expressing all that is in me" Anne Frank.
The first days we spend driving around, meeting people working for an organisation called GAVE. GAVE works with refugees all over Holland, and I am in the board of a Norwegian organisation doing the same. So we wanted to get inspiration and impulses from friends and colleagues in The Netherlands. It was very intereting to learn more about how they work among refugees in the refugee camps.
When the week-end came our work was done though, and we drove in to Amsterdam to be tourists for a few days. I have been in Amsterdam twice before, both times on day trips, both times with children. But this time I had almost three days, and I was free to do what I want to do as a tourists - museums, churches, walking and caféing. And I really did that for hours non stop.
Saturday was the big museum day. With three of my friends we took a canal boat up to The Reijksmuseum. The museum is partly closed for some years due to renovation, but the most famous pieces of arts are still to be seen. Among them my favorite, The Kitchen Maid by Jan Vermeer, and of course Rembrandt's The NightWatch. Amazing. Seeing so many masterpieces took alot of our energy, but after a coffee break we were ready for the next museum, The Van Gogh. Another highlight of course.
Later in the day two of my co-travellers returned back to Norway, and the third wanted to rest. But I wanted to use every minute. I walked down to RembrandtHuis and spent an hour there all by myself. I have no words to describe it all! I loved it. Later in the afternoon I went to an anglican evening song prayer in St. Nicolaus Church and I wandered along the canals for a long time - in spite of the wet and the cold.
On Sunday I went to Anne Frank Huis. I have only passed this house by canal boat earlier, and have wanted to visit inside for years. And I was not disappointed. The house and all the different rooms were so filled with strong impressions and strong memories from the years Annd and her family spent here. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the house. I always bring at least one camera with me whenever I go, but inside Anne Frank Huis it felt good to put the camera deep down in my backpack. My camera there were my heart and my feelings. I brough my notebook though, and wrote down a few sentences from Anne's writing.
"March 25, 1944. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people. Ands therefore I am so grateful to God for giving me this gift of writing, of expressing all that is in me" Anne Frank.
posted by Britt-Arnhild | 8:56 AM
1 Comments:
Oh, how I envy you your trip to Amsterdam - one of the most interesting cities one could ever visit! And how I agree with you that the paintings of Rembrandt almost leave you speechless.
The market that I had metioned was on the Leidesplein - but if you did not get to visit it, you are just going to have to go back another time, aren't you? :-)
Loved your photographs - especailly the night view. Welcome home now, though - good to have you back!
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