At The Old Harbor, Vlaardingen

I do not know the technique or how I exactly shoot this photo that it turned out like a painting.
Old Harbor or Oude Haven in Dutch. Vlaardingen

Vlaardingen is a small city in South Holland. The small city with nearly 74,000 populations. One of the attractions in the city is the Oude Haven or in English is Old Harbor.  This Oude Haven is close to our home, I can go here anytime I want. Oude Haven has many boats and sailboats that anchored. When I sit at one of the benches, I feel like I was in the movie. The view for me is always special.
I checked on the internet if there is a tally of how many boats are there in Vlaardingen, but I found now. Instead, I found a website (Gabinohome) where you can rent a boat or a sailboat in Vlaardingen. Yesterday, I went to the harbor. The day was very cold, gray, but I made a few good photos. I have seen from where I was sitting, the setting of the sun in a fantastic cloud formation. The sight was dramatic, but calming.

De Weerribben-De Wieden, Netherlands: A National Park

The sign board of Weerribben-Wieden National Park. I am so confuse of this double ee, double rr, and double b. Hahahaha!

I already wrote about our holiday in Gierhoorn, the small village in The Netherlands, where the streets are made of water. During our vacation, we spent our time in sight seeing around the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, riding in the boat. It's been an awesome experience. On this blog, I would like to show selected photos that I made at that place.

road sign.

wooden bridge

a house that sitting in the water.

The Weerribben-Wieden National Park is a national park in the Steenwijkerland, municipality of the province of Overijssel. Honestly, while I am writing this, I always check my spelling of the places. I think, aside from the Dutch language, the spelling of the places in The Netherlands is also one of the things that takes time before one can master. I am so confused of Weerribben, with this double ee, double rr, and double bb.

tree, grass, and lilies.

windmill

cows.

can't get close enough :)

sight seeing.

According to Wikipedia, De Weerribben and De Wieden has an area of roughly 100 square kilometers (39 sq mi). The park was founded in 1982, but the De Wieden was added only in 2009.

Every afternoon, we glide in the swamp riding in the boat that Vakantiepark Giethoorn provided to all their guests. The boat is included in the package if you will stay at their cabin. So many things to see around the park. The park that full of peat and water.

cotton field.

the border.

The Weerribben-Wieden National Park is managed by Natuurmonumenten and by Staatsbosbeheer. I have read that the area is still used for cane production. Me and my family enjoyed our time there and I hope you will also enjoy viewing some of the photos that I want to share with all my blog readers.

Have a happy and restful weekend!

Thousand of Boats And Ships At Sail Amsterdam

Sail Amsterdam 2010 (photo credit: AmsterdamTourism)

I first came in the Netherlands year 2010, the same year of the Sail Amsterdam quinquennial celebration. A big event in The Netherlands every after five years. Sail Amsterdam is a maritime event where tall ships from all over the world visit this famous old city, to moor and many people can visit these visiting ships. You can actually step inside whichever ships you will like.

one of the historical ships

very Amsterdam

a first timer in Amsterdam

It was the year 1975 when the first event of Sail Amsterdam was organized, to celebrate the 700 anniversary of Amsterdam. The event was a big success. From that event, it led to the establishment of the Sail Amsterdam Foundation. Last year, it was a big success again.

all about ships 

tall and big ships from all over the world

enjoying  Amsterdam:)

From what I have read, Sail Amsterdam is one of the largest marine manifestation in the world, and the largest event of any kind in the Netherlands. That is absolutely true. In Sail Amsterdam, I have seen tens or even hundreds of boats and ship. Me and my husband, sit on the upper deck of one of the big boats with café and a restaurant and I was fascinated by the view.

parade in the water

If they are people, they are marching. But they are ships and boats. It was so beautiful to see parade of many ships and boats, and you are in the middle of old buildings, in an old city that sitting in the water.
Perhaps you also wish to visit Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. The city that has so much to offer. Arts, elaborate canals, narrow Dutch houses with gabled façades. You will definitely get inspired by the 17th century ambiance. The next Sail Amsterdam will be in 2020. You can mark that year. Perhaps you would like to see this fascinating event. Who knows? Maybe there, you will encounter a pirate. A pirate who will catch your heart.