Z - Zuiderkerk Church Tower, Amsterdam

The Zuiderkerk Church was built between 1603 and 1611 and was the first Protestant church of Amsterdam. The tower was completed in 1614.  French Impressionist painter Claude Monet painted the church during a visit to the Netherlands.  The church is near Rembrandt's home, seen in the photo near the bottom, along with his statue in the Rembrandtplein.

The date of 1614 can be seen on the tower above the clock.

Statue with a recreation of The Night Watch.

So you have seen the Night Watch in oil, Delft pottery, and bronze.  Which do you prefer?

Thanks for traveling with me through A to Z in Benelux.  I hope you enjoyed the tour.  Come back tomorrow for a look at another UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bonus:  Zinnia - A flower I plan to grow this year: (and one the critters don't like)


By Muhammad Mahdi Karim (Own work) [GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

Y - Ypres, Belgium

I have already mentioned the Yser River and so did not want to repeat it.  Instead I am making a brief mention of Ypres, which I did not visit.

Ypres is the French name for Ieper, a town in the Belgian province of West Flanders. It's surrounded by the Ypres Salient battlefields, where many cemeteries, memorials and war museums honor the battles that unfolded in this area during World War I. After being destroyed in the war, many important buildings were carefully reconstructed, including Gothic-style St. Martin's Cathedral and its soaring spire.

Most people know of this area because of World War I, so here is a link to more information. Here is also a link to a blogger I follow in Australia.  She posted this entry about Ypres just this past week.

I have read many books about the two world wars.  There is one book dealing with the First World War that I found particularly interesting.  It is Adam Hochschild's "To End All Wars", which is told from the British point of view.  I reviewed this book in 2013 and that post can be found here.

We have one letter left to go.  Have you survived the challenge?

Bonus:  Yarrow

X - X-rated Red Light District

You cannot talk about a visit to Amsterdam without mentioning the red-light district.  I really had no desire to visit, but my friend did and there were other stops on the way.  I saw more than my share of street walkers in Detroit when I had a weekend job at a hospital in an area notorious for prossies.  I'd be on my way to work and they would be on their way home.

So, here it is.  Besides, what else could I do for the letter 'X' except 'x-rated'?  Prostitution has been legal in Amsterdam since 1811.  I think I should be congratulated for managing to get a shot without the crowds of strolling tourists.  Not easy.  And pictures into the windows themselves are not allowed.

You were expecting something else?

Bonus:  X does not mark the spot - as seen in Germany:

W - Windmills in Kinderdijk, Netherlands

Ah, windmills.  Last year I mentioned Holland, Michigan which has a windmill brought over from the Netherlands before the practice was stopped.  Of course I had to visit windmills in the Netherlands.

The Kinderdijk Mill Network is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Enjoy the video and my photos.

Living quarters

Have you ever been inside a windmill?  Have you ever visited tulip time in Holland, Michigan?

Bonus:  Daylily 'Wilson Spider'

V - Venice of the North, Brugge, Belgium

I will be completely honest and say that I don't believe I had ever heard of Bruges, until I saw the movie 'In Bruges'.  I was hooked and knew that someday I had to visit.

The historic center of Brugge is another UNESCO World Heritage site.  I spent two days here.  This first was dreary and devoid of tourists.  The second day was sunny, crowded, and difficult to get around as the King and Queen of Belgium were entertaining the King and Queen of Jordan and doing those 'touristy' things I was doing.  Here is the UNESCO video followed by lots of photos.

 City Hall on May 18.  Built in 1376 A.D.

Market Square

Canal view with swans and Church of Our Lady in the background.  

Jan Van Eyckplein church

Belfry of Bruges

Market Square

St. John of Nepomuk

Church of Our Lady, 13th - 15th Century

Statue of Jan Van Eyck

Michelangelo, the Bruges Madonna.  This is found in the Church of Our Lady.  If you saw the movie, Monuments Men, then you surely remember them finding this statue in a salt mine in Austria.

City Hall on May 19 with people awaiting the arrival of the royals.  

The Queens and their entourage.  If you enlarge the photo, you can see a pink hat under the lavender awning, one of the Queens so I was told.

BTW, this is where I had the waffles with ice cream.  Yum!!!  Such a cozy little place.

Have you ever been inspired to visit someplace after seeing a movie?  Which movie and what place?  

Bonus:  Hosta ventricosa

U - Utrecht, Netherlands

When one is traveling with the A to Z Challenge in mind, one sometimes has to be creative.  I knew that I would not get to Utrecht, but thought I could blog about it anyway.  Imagine my surprise when I was strolling through the Rijksmuseum and saw this painting.

The Nave and  Choir of the Mariakerk, Utrecht, Pieter Saenredam  (click the link for a larger view)

The Church dates from the 11th century.  The picture was painted in 1641.  The City of Utrecht was established by the Romans in 47 A.D.  It certainly sounds like an interesting place to visit.

We are nearly at the end.  Can you guess what lies ahead?

Bonus:  Hosta 'Blue Umbrellas'

T - Trier, Germany

We are in the home stretch.  This is the first of seven remaining posts.

Trier lies in the Moselle wine region along the banks of the Moselle River and is the oldest city in Germany.  Founded by the Romans, it contains several well-preserved Roman structures like the Porta Nigra gate, the ruins of Roman baths, an amphitheater just outside the center and a stone bridge over the Moselle River.  Among Trier’s many Catholic churches is Trier Cathedral of St. Peter.  The UNESCO information can be read here.

Interior of Constantine I's throne room above, the largest single standing structure from the 4th Century.   

The amphitheater, above and below ground, dating to the 2nd Century.

The Porta Nigra gates, 180 A. D. look to be in pretty good shape, all things considered.  

Trier is full of UNESCO World Heritage sites.  You can see them all here.












Cathedral of St. Peter with the entrance seen below

 St. Peter's Fountain

The Hauptmarkt area with homes dating to medieval times.

House of the Three Magi, 1230

Roman Bridge over the Moselle

The palace with the Basilica behind it.  Date: 1615

Part of the Imperial Baths

There is really a lot to see in Trier and you can easily spend more than one day here.  We ended our stay with dinner up on a hill and I will leave you with this view.  The photo is not great but you can see the old ruins in the center.

What is the oldest ruin you have ever visited?

Bonus:  Hosta 'Tokudama'