The van Dijks Go On Leave: Na Hollanda

October 15 and we're back a couple of weeks ago from a really lovely trip back to Holland.

Particularly, Jeroen and I enjoyed a motor boat trip around North Holland, in the province of Friesland. There are many small lakes and waterways and with school holidays having just finished, we enjoyed a quiet time mooching around villages, over aquaducts, under bridges that opened for us and in the fresh Noordzee air.

Nederland bordering Belgium and Germany

Friesland is in the green area of the north and Hengelo where Pap and Mam and family live, is in the purple to the east. The Fresians have their own dialect and this is where the famous black and white cows come from, also the Frisian horse.

Captain Jeronimo

We had 6 nights aboard our boat - after the owner showed us the keys we took Pap and Mam for a little spin before dropping them back to shore and saying our goodbyes.....

Captain and First Mate on Maiden voyage

Moored for our first night

Jeroen had a 20-year ago history of sailing but I had none so using ropes and how to moor were new to me.

A Kiwi boat called Kiwi!

Free-riding wildlife

Over an aquaduct

Aquaducts, or water-filled bridges, are more common in Holland; it was surreal boating over top of the fast flowing motorway traffic.

Flying formation

Tranquil Friesland

A bird-watching hut

Storks are rarely seen in Holland. We did see one but did not manage a photo. Here's a spot where you may see one from. But we did see this big ginger fella off the boat for a walk.

Boat cat

Action at sunrise

The Cook and bottlewasher

And under a bridge that opened

Because of prevalent rivers throughout the country and boat traffic is high, a bridge needs to be able to quickly raise and lower over the waterways. Dutch architects utilise tail bridges to minimise stalled traffic and allow boat passage. To be allowed access the First Mate needs to pay toll of 2 euro's to the waiting station master. He will lower a wooden clog via a fishing line, money is paid into the clog, said clog is retrieved, toll is paid and access through the bridge pass is allowed.

Waiting for our boat to pass

Hanging around fishing

Sunsetting on Friesland water

Someone's up with the lark

Giant paddlesteamer cruising past

There were many varieties of boats on the waterways. This big steamer was transporting partygoers.

Gardens to the edge of the water

Spot the village cow

Holiday house on water

Beautiful nature

A Harvest Moon

This one's for Katie

Land ahoy?

Time for milking girls'

Jaap and Tineke

This couple of long time van Dijk family friends now live in Spain but still spend time in their place in Friesland. It was great to visit them and step off our boat, onto theirs and then to their house.

Senior paddlers

One participant in the great paddle-board race

First Mate Promoted

I thoroughly loved taking control of the boat and speeding along the lakes. Ok, maximum speed is 9km/hour only.

Woman overboard!

The week on the boat led into a week of temperatures in the 30's so when this opportunity came, I jumped into the water and enjoyed swimming amongst passing boats, children young and old. I didn't consider how I was going to get back into the boat though and found it not so easy as there was no ladder. I found my way.

There are 191 windmills in Friesland out of the 1200 total in Holland. There is a National Windmill day but it doesn't seem to be celebrated.

Another windmill

Another day transporting the tractor across the river

Using the macro

Window-shop cat

Quaint village

Some doors....

Full summer still

Eernewoude village tribute to skating

The province is famous for its speed skaters, with mass participation in cross-country ice skating when weather conditions permit. When winters are cold enough to allow the freshwater canals to freeze hard, the province holds its traditional Elfstedentocht (Eleven cities tour), a 200-kilometre (120 mi) ice skating tour. The last year the race was skated was in 1997.

Beautiful church in village of Tehorne

Spot the sail in the fields

Another mill

Back on land with Pap and Mam

The tobacco plant

Village lampshade display

Menu for Uitsmijter - traditional egg with ham and cheese dish

The party comes to senior-town

Looking for lunch

Long play vinyl record village

This curious village seemed to be celebrating the vinyl music era...of long-known singers....Johnny Cash, Engelbert Humperdink, John Denver..

After our boating adventure we met with Pap and Mam, Anouk, Engelbert, Tinka and Jelle for a family weekend in a holiday house in Sneek (pronounced Snake). We didn't get any photo of you Engelbert but we knew you were there!

Night view from our holiday house on water

Candy crushers and Pokémon spotters

Jaap and Tineke visit us on their new boat

A highlight for Jeroen was to be hiring a sailboat and initiating us all to the sport. As the four of us (Jeroen, me, Tinka and Jelle) set out, Jeroen's glasses went flying off his head into the muddy-bottom water. I learned a valuable boating lesson today...if anything goes overboard (including people) one person should stand and point to the spot where the object landed. And stand there with finger pointed, Pap did...for 20 minutes and hey presto, glasses were very thankfully found, injury-free.
So, moral of the story is: Always Listen to The Man With the Pointing Finger. Aye Mam?

Glasses found

Jelle and Jeroen went out on this board to find the glasses.

And finally we set off

Jelle and Tinka, a happy crew

Quick learners

And another outing with Anouk and children

Tuna and potato salad

Back to Hengelo and one of the lovely Dutch meals made by Mam. We enjoy sharing cooking and having fun in the kitchen when we are together.

A family reunion

One night the two brothers and wives of Mam, came to visit and eat cake, nibbles, enjoy wine and coffee. This is a typical evening in Holland where guests (family or not) arrive around 8pm and stay until midnight. Lovely to see you Oom Jan and Tante Ina, also Oom Hans and Tante Ans. A gezellig evening.

Pap with the handmower for the back yard grass

A cheesey advertisement for van Dijk's roogebrood (dutch bread)

And a less happy advertisement for one of several destroyed teatowels

A visit to the carnival that came to Hengelo by Jeroen, Tinka, Jelle and me.

Jeroen, Tinka and Jelle walking on Walking Street

Off we go

I decided to follow Jelle onto the first ride that he wanted to ride. I didn't think about what it was until I had the seatbelt on...I will take a minute to consider next time! Crazy, shrieking time that seemed to drag on and on but super fun.

Hair flying and holding on tight

We survived, icecream still in stomach

Jeroen and Jelle's turn

Jelle-speed tester

And Tinka joins in for the highest ride of them all!

What is a Hengelo-er?

I don't think so, says Mam

Cute old caravan and equipment

Waiting on the men

After Liam and Shani, with Jack, took me through the streets of New Plymouth in their car on Skype, looking for Pokemons, this nearly-50 year old couple went searching for them in Holland.

Gotcha!

Got me

Jeroen's favourite music store from way back

A moody looking day in Enskede

A very rare opportunity for Jeroen with his parents and Anouk to look around the castle and gardens of Twikel.

Sculptured gardens

Twikel Castle

Majestic

My favourite pass-time in Holland

In case you didn't already hear it, I love cycling in Holland. Roads are well set up for cyclists and it is common for all sorts of combinations to be see on bikes. Dogs on bikes in baskets. Mum with three children on bike. Couples cycling, hoardes of schoolchildren cycling.

Whisking by on their bike

Waiting patiently

Back home to Luanda and our visitors return, quick smart to dive inside a duvet.

Cheeky Felix

Egyptian cat, Wilma

This little sweetie is one half of the Dynamic Duo, Fred and Wilma - sadly Fred died a couple of months ago. Wilma liked taunting Jeroen by perching on no-go areas....to be followed with him yelling...WILMAAAAA!