Many of you are well acquainted with the Netherlands [Holland]
Weve have Dutch Members here on the Forum.....so I thought that you Might like to know a little more about my adopted Country I hope that some of you might find this of Interest:
THe Netherlands is divided into 12 Administrative Regions Called [PROVINCES] Each under a Govener who is called....COMMISSARIS VAN DE
KONING[IN] Commissioner of the King/Queen.
The Provinces are as Follows:
GRONINGEN: in the northeast: Capital: GRONINGEN
FRYSL: [ in Frisian Language] north better known as FRIESLAND: Capital
LEEUWARDEN
DRENTHE:northeast South of Groningen Capital: Assen
OVERIJSSEL: east South of Drenthe Capital ZWOLLE
FLEVOLAND: central in the [Ijsselmeer] Capital LELYSTAD
GELDERLAND:east central south of Overijssel Capital ARNHEM
UTRECHT central Capital UTRECHT
NORTH HOLLAND [NOORD HOLLAND ] northwest Capital HAARLEM
SOUTH HOLLAND [ZUID HOLLAND ] west central south of North Holland
Capital THE HAGUE [ s'-GRAVENHAGE ]
ZEELAND: southeast Capital MIDDENBURG
NORTH BRABANT [NOORD BRABANT ]south Capital 's-HERTOGENBOSCH
[ DEN BOSCH ]
LIMBURG: southeast Capital MAASTRICHT.
All PROVINCES are Divided into Municipalities [Gemeenten ] together there are 467.
The Country is also sub-divided into WATER DISTRICTS Governed by a WATERBOARD [Waterschap or Hoogheemraadschap ]
Each having Authority in Matters concerning Water Management.
As of 1 January 2004 there are 37......[ The creation of Water-Boards actually predates that of the NATION itself.......FIRST APPEARING IN 1196.
I hope you enjoyed this little insight to my Country: If you want to know Anything else I will do my best to Answer your Questions or Find the Answer to it for You....Any Questions Please ask !! Mike
Hi Mike. Who are the Governors of the 12 Administrative Regions answerable to ?
How long ago did you "go Dutch" Mike.?
Lorna
Hi Lorna ;) Good Morning to you from a Cold and Snowy Netherland
Netherland[ LOW LANDS]
Many thanks for your Two Questions:
Firstly The Commissaris = Govenor=Commissioner is Directly Responsible to Queen Beatrix but Only in Matters of State.....Normal the Commissaris is the Direct Go between the Burgermeester and the State.
A Good Example Every Year the Queen will visit a Different Town or Village in a Different Province....These arrangements are all done by the Commissaris or Commissioner.
I left my Home Cardiff South Wales Nearly Sixteen years ago....to make a better future for my Youngest Daughter who at the Time was 10 years old
That we have achieved ...She is 26 nearly as her own Flat/appartment...a good Job....A Car and a Motor-Bike...A Boyfriend who is a Motor Mechanic.
Would I come Back to the U.K....................!! not Really. I have my Citizenship and this is My Home...We have a Senior Persons Bungelow thats through the Gemeente [ Council ].........Hope that OK Lorna
Should you Like to know anything else please Ask......MIke
Hi Mike!
Enjoyed reading that.
What I would love to see the Netherlands again. One day I'll get on that ferry!
I'd love to see some photos if you have any. Really miss the houses and the cycle ways and the shops(flower shops were my fav) and the coffee shops (I don't smoke!!!)and the historical buildings,and the pubs...and the snow...and the mist lying in the fields...
;D
Hi Mike,
Yes please if you have any pictures. The last time I visited Holland it was 10 years ago. Mike do you own any sneerboer tools, if you haven't you must check it out. The best tool in the world in my opinion. I have qute a collection of them. They are very expensive but worth every penny. I believe these tools are much cheaper in Holland.
Mike. Many thanks for your answers. Please keep the snow ;D
Hi Heldi ;)
Thank you....so glad you enjoyed reading that little piece.
Ive Only just had my Dig Cam.....so I will take some Photo's and post them sometime in the Future.
But Im sure my other Dutch Friends Might be able to help in that Direction.
But I wont forget Honestly.
You jump on the Ferry .......If you need any info you,ve only to ask OK.
Mike
Arumlily
Firstly a very warm welcome to A4A.
Like I said I will try to take some Photo´s when Im out and about on my Motor.
Now its my turn to learn a little more.....Hav,nt got a clue what a Sneerboer Tools is!! Is that the Makersname...What are they Used For!!
Give me an insight please!!...........................Mike
Lorna ;D
THank you for taking the time to read it......OK i,ll keep the snow its going now but still very grey outside. ::)
Hai Mike, nog NET niet Nederlands genoeg ;D ;D
SNEEBOER is a family business in Noordnederland, in the village BOVENKARSPEL, They make the best tools you ever have seen. It is worthe to go there one day and look, Take a heavy purse, though ;D
Hoes, spades, everything. It is a very nice area as well, if you look at he history ...
Not long ago it was all sea, nu zijn het allemaal polders daar.Erg mooi in de lente, spring...
Met Noordnederland bedoel ik Noordholland, niet Friesland of Groningen, voor de duidelijkheid ;)
Hi LC ;D
Dat Klopt.....weet niet alles en 16 Jaar!!! ;D ;D
LC Hi Nice to hear from you......I know now!!! But My Tools come from the BoerenBond Hahahahaha.
Thanks for the Information...............Maybe you can Help....You have some great Photo's maybe you would like to POst some here for Me...PLaces and things if you can....Would be a Great Help...Mike
Bij Voorbaat Bedankt
Mike, I have never been to the Netherlands though I have met plenty of Dutch people whilst caravanning in France and they are always very sociable. The reason I have not visited is that I am under the impression that the Netherlands are very flat. Is this so everywhere or are there hilly areas too and if so, how high are the tallest hills please?
Paulines7 ;)
Hi Nice to speak to you.....To answer your Question the Netherlands
are relatively Flat....a Few Hills ...Unfortunately nothing like you have in the French Alps or Swiss Alps or in Austria.
A Nice Area to Tour with your Caravan if ever you decided to visit this Fabulous Country is Limburg..... also very Close to the Belguim Ardenne
which is Much Steeper than anything in Holland....also your Very Close then To Luxembourg...also very Beautiful with some Beautiful Scenery and Climbs
Hope thats a Help.....In General Please bear in Mind that Holland is Flat
You are absolutely correct the Dutch people the Majority are very very Friendly and Sociable......Come over and see!!
Mike
Anything else please dont Hestiate to contact me
About Sneeboer tools, very close to were I live.
http://www.sneeboer.com/index.cfm?act=Teksten.bedrijf
Will they sell single tools? The site looks as though it's designed with larger quantities in mind. Harrod Horticultural do them, but if they do sell singles, it might be worth comparing the prices.
Hi Mike. Got back from Holland, North, on Saturday. It was SO cold there but everyone was very friendly and sociable, as you say. Thoroughly enjoyed my little trip even though it was to sing at a funeral.
My wife is from Holland.
Very nice girl.
Talk's a lot of double dutch she does..
very nice though.
(http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/3619/talking9054sh.gif) (http://imageshack.us)
;D ;D ;D ;D
So is mine Glyn, does yours insist on putting ' carpet ' on the table?
Mike, Knowing only a little about the Netherlands, that was very interesting. I have only ever passed through Holland on the way to Germany. We went via the Hook of Holland by ferry and then by train to Germany. I liked what I saw of it though, and would love to visit one day.
Could you speak the language when you first went over or did you have to learn it from scratch? :) busy_lizzie
Hi mike,you are well and truely become dutch,you know things i never heard from thanks for the lexture.I will send you some pictures just have to find some nice ones,tot horens.
Quotedoes yours insist on putting ' carpet ' on the table?
When we first got married she did. But that sort of abruptly came to an end when she caught me standing on the table hoovering the thing. ;D
I'm sure she only married me cos I knew how to hoover and fit carpet?
(http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/372/windmill4ai.gif) (http://imageshack.us)
;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: TULIP-23 on February 01, 2006, 15:46:02
Paulines7 ;)
Hi Nice to speak to you.....To answer your Question the Netherlands
are relatively Flat....a Few Hills ...Unfortunately nothing like you have in the French Alps or Swiss Alps or in Austria.
A Nice Area to Tour with your Caravan if ever you decided to visit this Fabulous Country is Limburg..... also very Close to the Belguim Ardenne
which is Much Steeper than anything in Holland....also your Very Close then To Luxembourg...also very Beautiful with some Beautiful Scenery and Climbs...........
You are absolutely correct the Dutch people the Majority are very very Friendly and Sociable......Come over and see!! Mike
Anything else please dont Hestiate to contact me
Mike, thanks for your reply. We were thinking of going to Luxembourg and Belgium in September but we have now decided to go to France and head down towards the south west where hopefully it will be warmer. If we have a heatwave we may stay further north as we are taking our dog with us. I think I read too that different regulations applied if taking a dog into Luxembourg. Perhaps one day we may visit Holland, but not this year.
Ina ;)
Many Thanks for your Help .......Learned a little more today..
INa Im sure you Might Have some Foto,s for the Folks to Look at,can you Help!!
Bij Voorbaat bedankt Mike
Hello Jill ;).......Yes its Freezing cold over here at the Moment.
Sorry it was a Funeral......What part did you Visit!!
Mike.
Busy-Lizzie ;)
From the Hook of Holland to Germany I think you TRavelled through Utrecht.
Well we Live in a Senior Persons Bungalow with one Bed Room but
we do have a Large Summer-House in the Back......Your More than Welcome to the use of that on Put me up beds.......Just let us Know ok!!
No I went to Evening Classes and then my Company Paid for my Lessons
in the Day time.....its a Very Difficult Language....But I get By....to, start a New Life at 47!! its certainly a Challenge ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for your Questions.......
Ruud Hi Hartelijk Bedankt .........Im just very Interested in my Adopted Country and Proud to Be Dutch!!
Even though Im not a Voetbal Fan....... Sorry!!
Ruud if your could also Post some Picture that would be Fantastic
Thank You. Mike
Please if you have any Questions over The Netherlands Please let me Know
Via this Posting....I will do my best to Answer them or Find the Answer for you ;)
Incidently......Tulips!! Did not Originate in Holland...they came to us Via Turkey in the 16th Century.....but we adopted them and since Holland is World Famous for its Tulip Fields Tulip Bulbs and the Export of all things to do with Tulips :o
Introduced to the European Gardens by the Botanist Clusuis. He is credited
with First growing Tulips from seeds sent from Turkey.
In 1593 he became Professor of Botany at the University of Leiden and Planted Tulips in his Garden There.
They were soon widely distributed throughout Holland and began appearing elsewhere in Europe.
Foster Tulips are Native to Turkestan in an Area now known as Kazakhstan.
So popular did these bulbs become in Holland that [ TULIPOMANIA] developed early in the 17th Century.
People began speculating in Bulbs.....Bulbs of new colours and New Shapes
and paying extravagant prices for them.
Paulines7 ;)
So Sorry to hear that you are unable to pay us a visit here in the Netherlands........The Dog....if Covered by a Rabbi Injection...Blood Testand investigation and wityh an Animal Passport should Have No trouble in Entering Europe.
I can always Check with My Dierenarts [Vet] for you!! Its on his Internet Site......Please let me Know....I know that the procedure takes almost a Year to Complete!! Mike
Hi Mike. Took the ferry across from Dover to Dunkerque, then drove up through France and Belgium to Zandvoort. Fantastic cheese shop! Also felt very safe walking back to the b&b from a bar at 1am, although a few fewer beers might have improved the singing! The funeral was at Haarlem Crematorium and as crematoria go, it was quite attractive - much nicer than our local one anyway.
Hope to be back there next year - possible concert.
Hi Jill
Thanks for answering my Question.....So glad that you had a Nice time In Zandvoort......Pretty safe most of the times here in Holland not always.
Do hope you,ll come back and visit us again as you say next year.
If you come by Car Try Dover Calais...also a Nice Route into Holland and Straight Forward.........He enter via Eindehoven.
Quote from: TULIP-23 on February 02, 2006, 20:17:05
So popular did these bulbs become in Holland that [ TULIPOMANIA] developed early in the 17th Century.
People began speculating in Bulbs.....Bulbs of new colours and New Shapes
and paying extravagant prices for them.
Tulipomania even has a classic novel devoted to it; The Black Tulip, by Alexandre Dumas.
Hi Mike, many thanks for your warm welcome. Sorry I didn't post link for sneerboer tools. I'm not good at stuff like that. The time when I was in Eindhoven not sure of spelling. I remember something delicious I ate it is like a little puff up pancakes with lots of icing sugar.
Quote from: Glyn on February 02, 2006, 15:34:18
Quotedoes yours insist on putting ' carpet ' on the table?
When we first got married she did. But that sort of abruptly came to an end when she caught me standing on the table hoovering the thing. ;D
I'm sure she only married me cos I knew how to hoover and fit carpet?
(http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/372/windmill4ai.gif) (http://imageshack.us)
;D ;D ;D ;D
Nice one Glyn, but I guess you still have two of everything. One for show and one for use?
Rob ;)
Thank you for the Information......We learn something everyday...thats very true
Thanks again Mike
[ Robert] Found it by Research on a Dutch Site
Black Tulip [1850] Alexandra Dumas
Set in Holland in 1672.........A deceptively simple Story and the Shortest of Dumas's Most famous Novels.
Mike
Arumlily ;)
Many Thanks for your Reply......My Thanks to Ina for putting the Information here from Sneeboer.......Please dont worry Im the Same Techinically with the Puter Two Left Hands ;D ;D
I do believe you Mean= poffertje.......Mini Pancakes covered in Powder-Sugar!!
Really lovely....are,nt they!! :D :D
Quote from: TULIP-23 on February 02, 2006, 20:28:04
Paulines7 ;)
So Sorry to hear that you are unable to pay us a visit here in the Netherlands........The Dog....if Covered by a Rabbi Injection...Blood Testand investigation and wityh an Animal Passport should Have No trouble in Entering Europe.
I can always Check with My Dierenarts [Vet] for you!! Its on his Internet Site......Please let me Know....I know that the procedure takes almost a Year to Complete!! Mike
We are just waiting for the results of Meggie's blood test to complete her passport. ;D
I have just had another search of the web regarding going in and out of Luxembourg with a dog, but I cannot find anything now. I thought I had read that dogs need extra tick or worm treatment if going between Luxembourg and France. I must have dreamt it I think. ::)
Is it cold in the Netherlands today? It is freezing here on the edge of Salisbury Plain. Brrrrrrrrr
Here are some pics from my hometown and from the surrounding were i live in the netherlands.(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/Heemskerkse_duinen.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/duinen.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/img0439.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/DSCN1592.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/68785516zPPJUQ_ph.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/Afbeelding075.jpg)
Typical dutch
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/IMG_3282.jpg)
polstokspringen
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/IMG_3314.jpg)
Paulines7
I think when Maggies Test are complete that you,ll have no problems travelling with-ih the E.C.
The Local Paper as produced a Picture we had freezing Rain....turned everything into Cyrstal...after freezing...so BEAUTIFULLY....and yes its still Cold over here
Mike
Ruud ;)
Many Thanks with the Help of your Great Pictures.......Im sure they will be enjoyed.....Bedankt Ruud
Ruud perhaps you would like to tell our Friends where you live in Holland...
could you do that!!
mike
Around this Time of the Year.....Febuary.....Have we the Carnival here in Noord Brabant.....And also Around Maastricht [ Limburg ]
Annual Holiday for One week.....Fully of Floats [ Optocht]...Children Activities
Sing Dancing and Music.....Later in the Evenings for the Adults....this goes Official for Five Days.
I,ve done it Once....its Fantastic and very very Busy.
You book into your Favourite [Cafe] Like a Pub...you buy your pass before the Carnival begins....then you Purchase the Tokens..[ Munt] before the Carnival....this is to avoid any Robberies taking place....you use only a small amount of Money for the Purchasing of you food....This is always Outside your Local cafe......THe Adults go althrough the Night until the Morning
There are a... credit to everyone... a few Minor Incidents every year But [ Touch Wood ] nothing serious.
Its something Special to Brabant and Limburg only.
Mike you forget the hangover,but you can always start the next morning with the breath of the dog that bite you last night.
Ruud ;D ;D ;D
Absoluut zeker[ Absolute Certain ].........
Mike
Okee everybody i am living in heemskerk,that is a village of 40.000 people.Heemskerk is situated in the duns 3 kilometers of the coast in the provence noord-holland,haarlem is 20 kilometers away and amsterdam 30 kilometers,almost 50% of the working people is working at a big steelplant called corus,well known in britain,because it is now a part of british steel.There is also a lot of greenhouses in the neighbourhood were they grow vegetables and flowers.Ouwer village is about 1000 years old as far as there were people settled here.We have two castles in ouwer village and a very classic almost a cathedraal liked church.Two ameture soccer clubs who both are in the highest ameture division,till last year i was playing soccer for one of the soccerclub.People born and bread heemskerk have a nickname they are called donkeys and in the village center there is a statue of a donkey we are very proud to be donkeys.After this i will post some picture some are mine and some are from the net.
One of the Cities I,ve Visited is DELFT:
A little of the History of this Beautiful City....if you come to our Country
Well worth a visit:
Facts:
Before the seperation in 1585 of the Low Countries [or Netherlands ] in the Prostestant North now [ Holland ]................and a Catholic South now Belguim.
Delft was a Typical town of this Area of Europe. In the Middle-Ages, Delft was a City of weavers and brewers, with numerous convents and Monasteries.
During the religious troubles of the low countries in the Middle of the 16th Century, Delft became more important when [ William of Orange ]
who spearheaded the revolt against the Catholic Spanish Domination of the Netherlands....choose the City as his Military Headquarters.
He took up Residence in the PRINCEHOF, a former Monastry. It was here in the same building that he was killed in 1584 by ...BALTHASER GERARD, a Fanatical Catholic. William of Orange lies buried in the Splendid late-Renaissance mausleum in Delft,s "Nieuwe Kerk"[ New Church].
One third of this Beautiful City was destroyed in October 1654, when a Gunpower Store hidden in the Garden of a Convent Exploded....During
the catastrophy 200 people were killed.
The important medieval harbour [ Delftshaven ] lies close to Delft.
This is the reason why the City becomes...the Six seats of the "Oostindische Compagnie-VOC '' [ East India Company ] in 1631. This results in frequent contact with the orient, and the traders bring from their travels a "New Product": Chinese Porcelien.
Delft starts to copy this beaautifully decorative art form and is Now Famous for its own version:............Blue Delftware.
After the Goldenage of the 17th and the early 18th Centuries, Delft enters the 19th Century with much less prosperity,since the trade, the delft-ware potteries and weaveries have mostly diappeared.
In 1842, however, King William 1 Founded the "Royal Academy of Engineering of Delft" In 1876, the only remaining Delft Ware Factory "De Porcelyne Fles"[ THe Porcelien Bottle ] is Re-animated and remains, until today, the most important [ certainly the most oldest ] representative of this typical Delft Industry.
Should you Visit Delft....I hope that some day you may ...Take the Time to Explore this really Beautiful City.....With its Magnificent Plein [ Square] the
Shops surroundng it.......the Street Markets.....You will need Two/Three Days if you visit to See it in all its Glory.....I really hope you do I know you will enjoy it.
Mike.
Ruud ;)
Many Thanks Ruud Found that very Interesting....Incidentally
I dont know if its Still een Herberg But the Photo of the Castle Stayed there myself have visited Heemskerk......so we do have something in Common!!
I will have to look up ons Vakatie Foto,s [ Holiday Photo's ] of our time in Heemskerk.....Toured with my Motor.
Fantastic Ruud Many Thanks for Your Help. Mike
Here are some pictures of my village.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/heemskerk.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/heemsker.gif)ouwer flag
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/heemskerklaurentius02.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/Corusbynight.jpg)my job
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/assumburg1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/large_12545.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/large_12544.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/DSCF0790.jpg)the coast guard
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/large_12565.jpg)town hall
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/crazytomato/kimweissensee.jpg)famous pastime
Ruud ;)
That was Brilliant my Friend.....Thank you for helping make this Thread ....More Interesting....with your efforts....Hartelijk Bedankt [ Many Thanks]
Mike
mike,dy croeso and hir oes for the carnival.
Ruud ;)
Cheers ;D ;D ;D
Hey! I enjoyed that bit of Dutch history banter, and the Photos? ;D
The wife was born in the county/province of Hengelo, Drenthe.
She has hasn't been back in 40 yrs, but there's a chance she may be over this year with one of her sister's, as their auntie has just moved back there from Canada.
I shan't be going as it's mainly visiting relatives and not much touring which is what I would want to do.
But I shall get there one day soon I hope? ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D
HI Glyn..Good Morning to you and your Good Lady from a very Snowy
Noord Brabant this morning.
Many thanks for your Input....Hengelo....Drenthe....the list is Growing
with new Place Names and Provinces.
Hope your OH enjoy,s her Visit.....Hope that you,ll come over One Day Glyn.
IM sure your OH will give you all the Info you Require.
Incidently I hope there will be Lots more Snips of Dutch History and Informative to come if our friends would like that..............Mike
Well here we go as promised a little information over Leiden.
A short History over Leiden University:
Leidens Deliverance in the Year 1574 [ 3 October ]
Leiden university is the Oldest university in the Netherlands. [Oldest Technical University in the Netherlands is to be found in Delft ]
It was a gift from by thr Prince of Holland William of Orange to reward the citizens of Leiden for their courageous defense of the City during the Spanish occupation in the 16th century.
In the 16th Century the Dutch Rebelled against the Authority of Spain.
Most of the fighting took part if the South of the Neterlands; the northern part could consider itself liberated towards the end of the 16th Century.
Before that,though, battles took place and the [ Siege of Leiden ] was an important event. Leiden was beseiged for nearly a year in 1574. The Dutch Army, led by, William of Orange [ nicknamed the Silent ], deliberately flooded the fields around Leiden, breaking the Dikes, to force the Spanish Armies to raise their seige. The Spanish tried to lure the citizens into surrender with a promises, but the people of Leiden decided to stick it out in spite of terrible shortages of Food which brought the People of Leiden to virtual Starvation. Finally......the Spanish Armies withdrew and the Seige ended on OCTOBER THE 3rd, 1574.......The Dutch Army entered the City with food: Bread with Cheeese and HERRING. The date on which the seige ended, the third of October [ Leidens Ontzet or Leiden,s Deliverance ] is still celebrated every year with a Large scale festivities, and.....with bread and HERRINGS.
BIRTH OF LEIDEN UNIVERSITY, BASTION OF LIBERTY: FEBUARY 8
1575.
Leiden University was Founded in 1575, as an unexpected gift to the City.
In 1574, Prince William of Orange took the first steps to establishing the University, when he wrote a letter to the STATES OF HOLLND. In the letter he proposed that as a Reward for the Town,s brave resistance against the Spanish invaders a University be founded which would serve as a "staunch'support and maintenance of the freedom and good lawful goverment of the country". On Febuary 8, 1575 the University was FOUNDED, and was later granted the Motto:
PRAESIDIUM LIBERTATIS. or, BASTION OF LIBERTY.............................
so there you are a very short Piece on the Foundation of a Great Dutch Instituation Leiden University.....hope you enjoyed it as much as I did Researching and Posting Mike.
Found a few links you might like to explore yourselves....if your interested
Click on the Following:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nldnh/volendam_hist_nl.htm
http://www.archiefalkmaar.nl/engels.htm
The First link unfortunately is not translated into English...but Im sure you,ll find your way around
Go on take a look!! Mike