Netherlands – Page 4 – Snapping The Globe

Divine De Haar

Located in the center of the Netherlands near Utrecht, De Haar Castle, is a medieval fortress complete with towers, ramparts, canals, gates and drawbridges. Entirely restored and partially rebuilt in the 19th century, it is a sight to behold and quite unlike anything you would expect from the less than flamboyant Dutch.

Getting to De Haar Castle was so much easier than I ever thought. Worried about changing trains in Utrecht and then to a bus in Vleuten, I had put off visiting De Haar Castle for quite some time. Laying in my bed the night before, trying to decide what to do the next day and knowing that the weather was not going to be optimum, I decided that in the very least, it was something to do that was indoors and probably worth the trip.

The agents in the Amsterdam train station were extremely helpful when purchasing our tickets. While checking train schedules, I knew that there were certain trains that provided a better connection in Utrecht, however, connect time was only about eleven minutes. The agent informed us which Utrecht train to take for the better connection, but gave us a choice…wait in Amsterdam Central a little longer for that train or go to Utrecht on a train leaving sooner and have more time for the connecting train in Utrecht. We decided on the first train, in the event that the other might be running behind…better to wait in Utrecht!

Travel to Utrecht is a quick twenty-six minutes. The station is not very large and finding the platform for the Vleuten train was brief and uncomplicated. The journey from Utrecht to Vleuten is only ten minutes. Walking down from the platform, take a left, under the tracks and you will see the bus stop straight ahead on the left. The #111 bus to De Haar Castle (on certain days) runs approximately every thirty minutes and drops off right in front of the castle.

The ride to the castle is quite short, through the beautiful countryside. Before we realized, the bus was coming to a stop and we had our first glimpse of the castle’s outer walls. A short walk led us to the gatehouse, the courtyard and the ticket office. Walking toward the impressive castle through the front gardens, one can imagine how lovely it would be during the spring and summer months when everything is in bloom.

Tours begin on the top of the hour so there was some time to walk around and take pictures of the beautiful grounds and the castle’s exterior. After finally entering the castle, we found a coat check room and lockers for our belongings. We also found a sign stating that no pictures are allowed…very disappointing for this photography lover!

The hour long tour take you through different parts of the grand home, from the kitchen to the guestrooms and touches on the history of the castle. In 1890, De Haar was inherited by Baron Etienne van Zuylen who was wed to Baroness Helene de Rothschild. Plans were made to rebuild the castle which was in disrepair, with architect Pierre Cuypers in 1892, a project that took 20 years to complete. The castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, of which only about 10 are shown on the tour.

Interior photos (of course, we sneaked a few)

Surrounding the castle are magnificent gardens designed by Hendrik Copijn. Many waterworks can be found throughout as well as a formal garden modeled after those of Versailles. The village of Haarzuilens, formerly located where the park was to be built, was demolished for construction of the gardens, with the exception of the town church, and moved further up the valley, where it can be visited today. Most of the buildings were designed by Pierre Cuypers and his son Joseph. The coat of arms does not only live on in the colors of the castle, but also in nearly all of the houses in Haarzuilens.

Upon completion of our tour, we once again returned to the grounds, fighting the wind and drizzle, finding the chapel, which we had hoped to visit, closed. It was easy to imagine how returning during the warmer months would be extremely enjoyable, venturing out into the sunshine to encounter the Rose Garden, the Roman Garden, ponds, canals, bridges, vistas and impressive avenues. Reading somewhere that each season at the castle has its own charm, I can promise you that due to the ornery weather, winter’s charm was not going to be experienced during our visit…only winter’s misery!

Catching the bus at the same location, we returned to the Vleuten train station for the brief journey to Utrecht and Amsterdam.

One would expect a castle of this caliber to be found throughout other parts of Europe, not the Netherlands. Thanks to the Van Zuylen family, however, it is one that you can experience on a trip to the country most known for its windmills and cheese. If you are in search of history and architecture, then, De Haar Castle is worth the effort.

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De Haar Castle

http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/english-version/
Opening Hours: January 4-March 13, daily, 11:00-17:00. March 14-June 30, daily, 10:00-17:00. Tours depart on the hour, last tour 16:00.
Admission: Castle entrance and all day park access, Adults, 14,00€, Children (ages 4-12), 9,00€, Children (under 4), free
Admission: Park entrance only, Adults 4,00€, Children (ages 4-12), 3€, Children (under 4), free
Getting there: Trains depart for Utrecht from Amsterdam Central station regularly. From Utrecht Central Station take the train to Vleuten (train destination: Den Haag Centraal, not the intercity, but the sprinter). At Vleuten station, go down the stairs and turn left to the bus station. Take bus #111 on Wednesday, weekends and special holidays. Bus will drop you right next to the castle. For other days, take bus #127 to Breukelen and get off at the “Kasteel” bus stop at Haarzuilens. From here, it’s a 15 minute walk to the castle.
Additional option: On a nice day, rent a bike in Utrecht and ride to the castle, about one hour and 15 minutes.

The Bronze Breast

Outside the Oude Kerk (Old Church), near the Red Light District, a bronze sculpture embedded in the cobblestones, appeared one night in 1993.

It was the fourth statue or sculpture to appear in a random spot in the city. The City Council had no idea who was behind the appearance of these statues and sculptures and had it removed. After extending an invitation to the anonymous maker to come to City Hall, the City Council finally discovered his identity. Shortly thereafter, they announced that he was a medical doctor who in his free time made sculptures and wanted to remain anonymous.

The sculpture was returned to its original location and can be seen there today.

You can read more about it at http://whatsupwithamsterdam.com/the-mystery-of-the-sculptures/

How-duh You Say Gouda?

For a couple of years, I have been wanting to make a trip to Gouda, the historic city known for its cheese, candles and delicious stroopwafels. Not wanting to make a connection in Utrecht, I had shied away from it until last weekend when I found out that there were two Sprinter trains per hour that run direct from Amsterdam Central Station to Gouda.

Knowing that it was winter and expecting some things to be closed, we assumed that there would be plenty to see nonetheless. Arriving in Gouda, we went to the information counter at the train station and inquired as to the location of the Tourist Information Office. The gentleman behind the desk gave us a map and instructed us on how to get into the center of town. We were then on our way.

It was a little early as we crossed the bridge and began walking toward the center of town. All stores were closed and the city seemed to still be asleep. The occasional family rode by on bikes but all was quiet as it was Sunday. Finally, we made our way into the main square, the Markt, and laid our eyes upon the impressive Stadhuis (Town Hall) which has stood on this site since 1450. The 17th and 18th century interior can be viewed in the oldest Gothic City Hall in the Netherlands on weekdays. Since visiting the interior was impossible and the misty rain made taking pictures a little difficult, so we decided to head over to someplace where we could go inside, St. John’s Church (St. Janskerk).

Sint-Janskerk, known for its stained glass windows, that are sometimes described as the most significant in the Netherlands, was a place that I had most wanted to visit. Realizing that it was Sunday, and hearing the singing inside, we assumed that we could tour the church once mass had ended.

Venturing over to the Gouda museum, we spoke with the lady behind the counter. There, we were given very disappointing news. There was not much to do or see on Sundays in Gouda…everything is closed. She suggested that maybe we could sneak into the church after services were complete, however, the only institutions that would be open was the Gouda museum and the Verzetsmuseum.

We paid our entry for the Gouda museum and began our tour. As we passed near a window on the second floor, I glanced out to the church and noticed that the service-goers were leaving the building. Sadly, I knew that by the time I made it outside of the building and to the church, it would probably be locked.

The Gouda museum, located on the little street, Achter de Kerk, which means “Behind the Church”, was where Erasmus, the theologian and scholar, played hoops as a child. The museum features the life of Erasmus, who grew up in Gouda as well as religious art of the 16th century, the “Haagse school” of the 19th century and pottery of the 20th century. The museum interestingly showcases many objects that have been unearthed during excavations and many items from when the buildings served as Catharina Gasthuis, a home for the homeless and sick, a chapel and at one time, a pharmacy. A walled garden with fine statues and a large terrace is also part of the museum.

Statue in the walled garden of the Gouda Museum

After our departure from the warmth of this educational gallery, we ventured out in to the wet afternoon, which had now changed…to a bone-chilling mix of ice and snow. Yes, well, it is winter. Yes, winter in the Netherlands. So, you have to expect this kind of thing, but boy does it make seeing a city difficult!

We followed our map to the location of the Molen De Roode Leeuw or the Red Lion windmill. The windmill is only open on Thursdays and Saturdays so we knew that our visit was one of observation. The impressive structure was quiet as we laid eyes on it, but at one time was a mass producer of flour.

Continuing our walk, we headed down Vest Street, along the canal, and passed near the Harbour Museum on our way to the city’s other windmill, Molen “t Slot”. You can visit this windmill when the sails are turning. Guess what? They were not, so, on we went, back to the center of town, shivering in our boots and fervently trying to keep dry.

As it was now after two o’clock, it was time to move indoors, warm up and get some much needed lunch. There are many restaurants surrounding the Markt and finding a cozy one was not a problem. My sandwich and beer was very good and well appreciated after the foul weather conditions that we had been experiencing as well as the disappointments of the day.

Looking through the Gouda tourist booklet and map, it was apparent that there were many things to do and see here…on days other than Sunday…and looking at all of the pictures in the booklet, when there are bright, blue, sunny skies, which probably means that you can experience these things during the warmer months. Sadly, as we looked out the window onto the square, we realized that the weather was only getting worse. At this point, we decided to call it a day and venture back to the train station and Amsterdam.

There were two things that I learned on this trip. The first was that when visiting smaller cities, attention should be paid to what exactly is open on certain days of the week. If I had been alone, I may have braved the weather for a bit longer and walked around the town, attempting to capture, while constantly wiping my camera lens, the charm of the historic buildings and canals. However brief and unsuccessful this visit was, it showed me what is in store for a future trip…Sint-Janskerk, canal tours, bike riding, the Verzetsmuseum, De Vrouwetoren Studio and in the spring and summer, the Gouda Cheese Market. The other thing I learned was that while I know that English speakers pronounce the name Gouda incorrectly…Goo-da…I thought that I was pronouncing it correctly in the Dutch way…How-duh. After listening to the locals, however, I learned that the Dutch pronunciation is more like Gow-da. Go figure!

So, now, I have earmarked the final page of the tourist booklet to remind me of all the dates of the wonderful things that I have to look forward to on a future trip…and I will be back to Gow-da!

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Gouda Museum

http://www.museumgouda.nl
Address: Achter de kerk 14, 2801 JX Gouda, Oosthaven 9
Admission: Adults, 9€, Children (5-7), 2€
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-17:00

Sint Janskerk

http://www.sintjan.com
Address: Achter de Kerk 16
Admission: Adults, 4,50€, Children (0-12), 1€, Students, 2,50€, Seniors, 3,90€
Hours: March through October, Monday-Saturday, 9:00-17:00, November through February, Monday-Saturday, 10:00-16:00

De Roode Leeuw (The Red Lion) Flourmill

Address: Vest 65/67
Hours: Thursday, 9:00-14:00, Saturday, 9:00-16:00

Molen “t Slot (Mill on the Castle)

Address: Punt 17
Hours: When the sails are turning

Dutch Resistance

Most visitors to Amsterdam make their way to the famous Anne Frank House, on Prinsengracht, to learn of the young girl and her family that hid from the Nazis during WWII. After leaving this wonderful museum, time should be taken to visit the Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum) to gain more insight into the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands.

Because this museum was included with my Museumkaart, I decided to take some time to visit one afternoon. Not sure what kind of museum it would be, I was surprised to find how interesting and informative I found all of the stories depicted here.

On May 14, 1940, the Nazis bombed Rotterdam and threatened other Dutch cities. The Dutch forces surrounded and the Dutch government and the royal family escaped and went into exile into Canada. German troops occupied Amsterdam and remained in charge for five long years.

The Verzetsmuseum explains how the Dutch residents were forced to accept soldiers marching the streets, the black-out rules, press censorship and finally cold and hunger. Jewish residents were persecuted and deported to concentration camps. The country lost almost seventy-five percent of it’s Jewish population.

Many stories are detailed in the museum of individuals who adapted, collaborated with or resisted the Nazi regime and there are authentic objects, photos, documents, film and sound fragments telling the history of the people who lived through that period. There are many fascinating stories about the exceptional as well as the everyday.

The story that stood out and amused me was that of Jacoba Maria Blom-Schuh of the Hague. In 1941, she refused to assist the cause until the queen returned to the Netherlands. Blom-Schuh was imprisoned for three months. The Nazi guards gave her their socks to darn and acting in defiance, she sewed them shut repeatedly, supposedly out of ignorance. Later, her outstanding sewing skills were showcased on beautiful embroidery samples of her prison experiences, which are on display in the museum.

Jacoba Maria Blom-Schuh and one of her embroidery samples

A separate section also tells the story of the former colony the Dutch East Indies.

If you are visiting the museum with children, they will love the Resistance Museum Junior which is aimed at children from the age of nine, visiting with or without their parents and containing true stories and authentic items that were part of children’s lives during the occupation by Nazi Germany. Young visitors can experience the Nazi occupation through the eyes of four children who lived during the era, Eva, Jan, Nelly and Henk. Once the visit is complete, a trip to the zoo can be combined with this museum as it is located across the street.

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Verzetsmuseum

https://www.verzetsmuseum.org
Plantage Kerklaan 61, 1018 CX Amsterdam
Hours: Monday, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00-17:00, Tuesday-Friday, 10:00-17:00
Admission: Adults, 10€, Children, 5€, Museumkaart, Amsterdam Card, free
Free Audio Guide
Getting There: From Amsterdam Central Station take trams 9 or 14. Stop ‘Plantage Kerklaan’, stop ‘Plantage Middenlaan/Kerklaan’ or stop ‘Artis Zoo’. You can take subway 51, 53, 54; exit Waterlooplein/uitgang Hortus is walking distance from the museum,

For Piet’s Sake!

In Amsterdam, many years ago, on December 5, the hotel staff advised my crew to leave our shoes in the hall that night.

“Why?” we asked. “Because Sinterklaas is coming tonight and he will leave treats in your shoes,” they replied.

I learned two lessons that night. First, leaving your shoes in the hall can result in one or both missing in the morning…probably another spiteful flight attendant…definitely not Sinterklaas. The other, is that some of the Netherlands’ Christmas traditions are a bit different than ours.

Over the years, I acquired much knowledge on Dutch traditions while visiting Amsterdam during the Christmas holidays. Children leave out their shoes on December 5, the night before the feast of Saint Nicholas, in anticipation of Sinterklaas’ arrival. He rides on the roofs of their houses on his horse and his helper, Black Peter, shimmies down the chimney, leaving presents and candy in their shoes.

On one of my first trips, while shopping for a unique piece to add to my Santa Claus collection, I was introduced to Black Peter, by a Christmas Shop owner in the Flower Market. Black Peter, or Zwarte Piet, is the companion of Saint Nicholas. He is attired in colorful Renaissance attire and is portrayed as a blackamoor, a Moor from Spain. He is the helper of Sinterklaas and children are told that he keeps a book of all of the things that the children have done all year, good and bad. Good children receive presents from Sinterklaas. Bad children are put into Black Peter’s sack and taken back to Spain in order to be taught lessons on how to behave.

I loved the idea of adding something different to my collection and purchased him immediately. This has become one of my favorite pieces…one that I share the story of with my children each year. Additionally, I have visited de Bijenkorf’s department store many times to see the mechanical Zwarte Piets climb festive ropes up and down in the main hall and to take pictures with Zwarte Piet!

Dutch tradition dictates, I later learned, that Sinterklaas arrives on the second Saturday of November. Hailing from Madrid, Spain, every year he chooses a different harbor to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him. He arrives on a steam boat with many Zwarte Piet and dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding his white horse, Amerigo.

In Amsterdam, which hosts one of the largest parades in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas’ entrance into the city is by sailing down the Amstel River. The route through the city is past the Nieuwe Amstelbrug, Torontobrug, the Hoge Sluis by the Royal Theatre Carré and the Magere Brug. The waterborne parade ends at the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) where he is welcomed by the Mayor of Amsterdam. Here, his boat is traded for his white horse, Amerigo and the parade continues through the streets. After arriving at Dam Square, a special musical program is kicked off for kids of all ages. When the musical progam is complete, he continues on through the Rokin, Muntplein, Rembrandtplein, Utrechtsestraat and Weteringcircuit until he reaches the last stop on his tour, the Leidseplein. Here, Sinterklaas delivers a special message to his smallest fans from the balcony of the Stadsschouwburg.

Last year, I was present for Turn on the Lights in Dam Square…the lighting of the facade of de Bijenkorf, followed by a magical theatrical show, but somehow, for all the time I have spent in Amsterdam, I had never managed to be there for Sinterklaas’ arrival.

For the first two weekends of November, this year, I was happily in Amsterdam. I always prepare, beforehand, what I will do on my layovers. None of the activities I had researched alluded to anything special occurring in Amsterdam on the second weekend, although I had realized that I was going to miss the Turn on the Lights celebration after seeing workers set up some of the equipment in Dam Square.

On our first day, we had ventured into the city, but we had set aside our second day for plans to introduce our newest co-pilot to a good old fashioned bike ride into the countryside, followed by lunch. The wind and blowing rain that morning dictated otherwise.

Grabbing our umbrellas and abandoning our bikes, we decided to try and salvage the day. My friend, Jeana, and I jumped on the hotel van to head into the city. Our tentative plan was to head to the train station and see if any trains were heading to cities that we may have been interested in visiting.

While traveling to the city center, the van driver suddenly made an announcement that the streets were being closed and it was now not possible to make it to our drop off point. After turning around, he began heading back towards our hotel and the nearby ferry so that we could cross over to the train station.

Before exiting the van, we asked the driver why the roads were closed and we were informed that Sinterklaas was arriving!

Making our way from the ferry, through the train station to the main road, we headed down the barricaded avenue of Damrak. Not knowing when the parade would begin, we decided to have a quick lunch. Here, the owners of the restaurant, informed us that Sinterklaas usually arrived, at this location, just after one o’clock. After our lunch, we ventured over to the avenue and staked our claim against the barricade. It was raining and windy and we began questioning if it was worth braving the abhorrent weather. We decided “yes”, each time the rain tapered off, only to have it start again with huge wind gusts that flipped our umbrellas inside out!

Eventually, we noticed a few of the locals pointing down the street toward Dam Square. From the nearby clock tower, four Zwarte Pieten were rappeling down the side, just over Damrak. We left our prime spots and luckily found positions that were equal in ease of viewing the parade. Watching the Zwarte Pieten jump around on the walls of the tower mitigated the misery of the steady drizzle that continued to fall. Finally, two Black Peters rollerbladed on by! We knew the parade was going to begin soon!

The parade, like many others, consisted of many floats, marching bands and dancers. This one, however, contained many Black Peters! Black Peters riding on and driving the floats. Black Peters marching and playing in the band. Black Peters dancing, rollerblading and riding bikes. Black Peters handing out flags and kruidnoten, gingersnap-like cookies. I have never seen so many Black Peters!

OK, I admit…I was so elated that I pretty much reverted to being a hyperactive, enthusiastic child, all but demanding that one kindly Black Peter give me a flag…which they were mainly handing out to children. I accepted lots of kruidnoten…and ate every last bit. And, I coerced more than one Black Peter to take a picture with me!

When Sinterklaas was spotted coming down the street, I was excited and eager to wave and take his picture, but his appearance was so fleeting, that I was once again distracted by my favorites, the Zwarte Pieten.

Sadly, the parade was over as quickly as it had begun. Officials promptly removed the barricades and people, cars, bicycles and trams, once again, filled the streets. Spilled kruidnoten and a few discarded “Welkom Sinterklaas” littered the sidewalks until city workers shuffled in cleaning behind the procession. The most important thing that was left, however, was excitement! Sinterklaas had arrived! He had been greeted by the mayor of Amsterdam and officially been welcomed into the city by the Dutch and the many visitors to the city. The Christmas season had begun!

Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.

VaVa Van Loon

Recently, I praised the value of possessing the Museumkaart if you are a frequent visitor of the Netherlands. Once again, it proved its worthiness when looking to fill my afternoon with culture!

Using the card to visit a museum that I may have not chosen while just out touring on my own, the Museum Van Loon was not only a welcome respite to the cold, drizzly afternoon but a place that transported me back many centuries. Beautifully decorated, the many visitors that walk thru its doors are taken back to a time of untold grandeur.

Built in 1672 by architect Adriaen Dortsman, the Museum Van Loon lies in the heart of Amsterdam’s canal district. It’s first resident, Ferdinand Bol, was a pupil of Rembrandt and the home was later owned by Willem Van Loon, a co-founder of the Dutch East-India Company and founder of the museum.

A magnificent private residence, it houses a large collection of paintings, some dating back to the 16th century, fine furniture, precious silvery and porcelain from different centuries.

Behind the house, stepping onto a parcel of land, hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city, one could be envious of the life that the Van Loon’s led in this beautiful oasis. The formal-styled garden, is bordered to one side by the coach house which regularly displays historic coaches, sledges and harnesses once owned by the Van Loon family. The coach house now also provides room for the museum’s educational programs, exhibitions and events.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm daily and is located at Keizersgracht 672. The museum can be reached by foot, bicycle, car or tram (16 and 24 Stop at Keizersgracht).

Adults: € 9
Students: € 7
Groups of 10 persons and more: € 7 pp
Children 6 to 18 years: € 5
Children under 6 years: free
Museumkaart, Stadspas, IAmsterdam City Card, ICOM: free

http://www.museumvanloon.nl

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He Hua Buddhist Temple

Smack dab in the middle of Amsterdam’s Chinatown is the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Buddhist temple.

Many times, I have walked past this temple, however, as I returned from Muiderslot castle, I noticed for the first time, that the temple was open.

He Hua Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Built in the traditional Chinese style, the entrance has a large central opening usually reserved for monks and nuns. There are two side entrances for laymen.

Once inside, the temple is an open-plan room with a central shrine to Avalokitesvara, a female deity know as Kwan Yin in the Chinese tradition. Visitors can purchase and offer incense or a piece of fruit at the shrine.

A small museum of Buddha images and other artifacts line the right side wall, while the walls are covered in plaques with reliefs of Kwan Yin and inscriptions naming the donors who funded the construction of the temple.

A level below, houses a Jade Buddha Shrine. Also within the complex, there is a meditation hall, a hall for honoring ancestors, a meeting room, classrooms, a library, a dining room and bedrooms.

If you, like me, love temples…take the time to stop and see He Hua Temple in Amsterdam. You can check the box off of seeing the largest Buddhist temple in Europe and then grab some dim sum for dinner!

He Hua Temple

http://ibps.nl/home-2/
Tue- Sat 12.00-17.00
Sun 10.00-17.00
Closed on Mondays and January 1

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Magnificent Muiderslot

Visiting Muiderslot Castle has been on my “Things To Do in Amsterdam” list for quite some time.

Unfortunately, visiting Muiderslot Castle during the late fall and winter, when I have had extra time on my trips, was never possible as the castle is only open on weekends and I had only been there on weekdays. Two weeks ago, however, I finally got my chance!

Waking up on Sunday morning, I ventured over to the Amsterdam Central Station and hopped on the subway line to Amstel Station (direction Westwijk). Exiting the rear of the station to the bus stops, I waited for bus 322 (direction Almere Parkwijk via Muiden P&R). Bus 320 can also be taken from this location depending on your arrival time at Amstel Station and both are about a 20 minute ride to the bus stop P+R Terrein.

Arriving in Muiden, take your time during the 10-15 minute picturesque walk thru the town towards the castle. Admire the locks and boats parked in the River Vecht and the typical Dutch homes that line the route. The course is well marked, however, if you find yourself distracted and make a wrong turn, the Dutch locals will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Once you have arrived at Muiderslot and purchased your ticket to the castle, first take in the stronghold’s beauty and then proceed to the booking terminal near the bridge. Scanning your ticket, you will receive a coupon with an admittance time for the next guided tour.

Walk across the bridge, taking time for a few selfies (of course) and proceed through the entryway into the courtyard. Here, you will meet your guide for the tour, which lasts approximately one hour. If you have time before the tour begins, you can visit the dungeon, walk along the ramparts or grab a snack in the tavern.

Disappointingly, tours are conducted in Dutch only, although our tour guide also spoke English. We were given printed guides with which we were instructed to follow along as we entered each room. Most information was very straightforward, however, there were some things that we did not understand and had to wait until the tour guide had a minute to answer our questions. That being said, the main benefit of taking the tour is that you are allowed in parts of the castle, only accessible while on the tour.

After, the tour is complete, there are many parts of the castle that you can visit as well as many static and interactive displays. Especially entertaining are the displays that you can stand behind with only your face showing. Ever wanted to be a jester? Here’s your chance!

Most impressive was the multitude of things that are strictly for children’s enjoyment. If you’ve ever hauled your children somewhere on vacation, thinking the history would be good for them, only to have them tell you that “this is boring!”, this will not be the case here! With all of the fun activities available, your children will be begging you not to leave!

Surrounding the castle are beautiful gardens and views. Time should be set aside to walk around and enjoy the outside of the castle after your exit.

For your return to Amsterdam, return to the area in which you were dropped off and backtrack one block. Here, you can catch one of the buses on their return to Amstel Station.

Muiderslot Castle

Adults € 13,50
Children 4-11 € 9,00
Children under 4 Free
Museumkaart Free
http://www.muiderslot.nl

Note: When purchasing an OV chip card (€ 7,50+additional cash loaded onto the card), and using this card for travel, the fares will be lower than mentioned above.

Travel

Subway fare (one way) € 2,90
Bus fare (one way) € 5,00

Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.

Handbags Galore!

Anyone who has traveled to Amsterdam with me, knows what an avid fan I am of the Museumkaart or Museum Card.

Valid for one year and costing about €59,90 for adults and €32,45 for children up to 18 years of age, the Museumkaart is the cheap way to explore Dutch museums throughout the Netherlands. There are 32 museums in Amsterdam and 400 throughout the Netherlands, that accept the card, giving you countless hours of entertainment and culture.

Currently, on my third card and having used it extensively throughout Amsterdam and other parts of the Netherlands, it gives the flexibility to see many museums on my own schedule, since I travel to this area frequently. An example of the Museumkaart’s usefulness is visiting the Rjiksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum is a wonderful museum and should most definitely be added to your “must see” list while in Amsterdam. To see the Rijksmuseum, however, in its entirety, one would need many hours and €17,50 for admission, almost one third of the card’s purchase price. Since I don’t have the attention span to devote more than one or one and a half hours here, I have had the ability to visit the Rijksmuseum many times using my Museumkaart!

There have also been many museums that I would not have taken the time to see, from not knowing of their existence or from just thinking they would not be of the kind I would be interested in.

One particular museum, that I did not know of, is the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje or the Museum of Handbags and Purses. Not listed on the Museumkaart website was this particular museum, however, I was informed of this institution by a coworker and decided to check it out for myself.

Located on Herengracht 573, near Rembrandtplein, it is easy to reach from all parts of the city, by foot, bike, car or tram. Situated in a lovely canal house, the largest museum of bags and purses in the world showcases over 5,000 bags and purses (from 1600 A.D. to the present).

Starting with one single handbag, two passionate collectors, Hendrikje and Heinz Ivo, began gathering a private collection of exceptional quality. Receiving over 85,000 visitors per year, the former 17th century mayor’s residence was renovated and furnished exclusively for the museum in 2007. Wandering from room to room, it is intriguing to see the vast array of designers represented and the wide variety of styles on display.

Today, in addition to perusing the vast collection, one can book a reservation for high tea or lunch or reserve a rich and elegant Period Room for all sorts of events and occasions. Visiting on a Saturday, it was evident that it is a popular venue for women attendees, who tour the facility and finish their day with lunch or tea.

Tannenmuseum Hendrikje

Adults €12,50
65+ €9,50
Youth (13-18 yrs) €7,50
Youth (Under 12) €3,50
Student €9,50
Museumkaart Free
http://www.tassenmuseum.nl

Museumkaart

Adult €59,90
Children €32.45
The price include one time starting fee of €4,95 which has to be paid only at the first purchase of the Museum Card.
http://www.museumkaart.nl

Amsterdam museums accepting Museumkaart

Allard Pierson Museum
Amsterdam Museum
Anne Frank House
Bijbels Museum-Bible Museum
De Nieuwe Kerk-New Church
Diamond Museum Amsterdam
Dutch Funeral Museum
Film Museum-EYE Film Instituut Nederland
FOAM Photography Amsterdam
Hermitage Amsterdam
Huis Marseille, Stichting voor Fotografie
Jewish Historical Museum
JHM Kindermuseum
Max Euwe Centrum-Chess Museum
Museum Our Lord in the Attic
Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis
Museum Het Schip/Amsterdam School of Architecture
Museum Van Loon
Museum Willet-Holthuysen
NEMO Science Center
Oude Kerk-The Old Church
Olympic Experience
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Press Museum
Rijksmuseum
Scheepvaartmuseum-Maritime Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Tassenmuseum Hendrijke
Tropenmuseum-Tropical Museum
Tropenmuseum Junior
Van Gogh Museum
Verzetsmuseum-Resistance Museum
Discount for Rembrandt’s House

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