Jaap van 't Veen's photos

The first construction of the town hall in Delft dates back to 1200. In 1400, it was rebuilt or remodelled. In 1618 the town hall burned down. It was then rebuilt to a design by Hendrick de Keyser - a famous Dutch architect - in 1618-1620. Over the centuries the town hall was modified several times. In the process, the double staircase to the main entrance had to give way, the main entrance was widened at the cost of two windows, and the shutters and stained-glass windows disappeared. In the 20th century, the town hall was restored under the direction of architect Jo Kruger, and is now back to the state of Hendrick de Keyser's design in the Dutch Renaissance style. The town hall was the former seat of the city council; nowadays it is still used for wedding ceremonies. The building is an important landmark of Delft.

The Collegiata di Sant'Orso (Collegiate church of Saint Ursus) is dedicated to Saint Ursus of Aosta. The original church - dating back to the 5th century - had a single hall. It was entirely rebuilt in the 11th century, during the Carolingian age. Later the church was further renovated into a basilica plan with three naves with wooden trusses. These were replaced by Gothic cross vaults in the 15th century. The church has a quite simple interior with 11th century Ottonial frescoes and a wooden choir. It is also home to numerous missals and reliquaries, including the relics of Saint Ursus, which rest in the crypt. The Romanesque cloister (PiP3) is another religious building in the Saint Ursus complex. Its construction dates back to the 12th century. The cloister has historiated capitals (PiP4), decorated with fantastic beasts, biblical events and scenes from the life of Saint Ursus himself. 37 of the 42 original capital remains: they were originally in white marble, though now they mostly appear in dark gray color after being washed with ash paint. Opposite the entrance of the collegiate church stands the imposing bell tower (PiP5), 46 meters tall. Originally it was a defense tower dating back to the end of the 10th century. The present structure, in Romanesque style, dates to the 12th century

The H.H. Simon en Judaskerk (H.H. Simon and Jude Church) is a Roman Catholic, dedicated to the Apostles Simon and Jude Thaddaeus. The church is the only example in Westphalian Romanogothic style in The Netherlands. Although already mentioned in 1162, it largely dates from the 13th century. During my visits to Ootmarsum, I had seen the church several times. This time I was also able to take a look at the interior. It made an overwhelming impression from the moment I stepped inside. Due to a concert about to start, it was very busy with people in the church and taking (good) photos was almost impossible. Hence just a few pictures of the interior/the beautiful main altar in the choir.

The 18th century was Schiedam's Golden Age: the cessation of liquor imports from France made possible the emergence of the Schiedam gin distillery. Jenever from Schiedam was exported all over the world from dozens of distilleries and distilleries. The jenever industry gave Schiedam the nickname 'Black Nazareth', because the soot from the distilleries and glass factories colored the city black. The Schiedammer Korenbeurs (Corn Exchange) or Koopmansbeurs is a Dutch national monument, which was built between 1786- 1792. Malt wine, grains and alcohol were traded in the Korenbeurs . This trade was directly related to the Schiedam distilleries for jenever. The building has been repaired and renovated several times over the years. Since 2015 the building houses the public library of Schiedam. The covered courtyard has become a courtyard garden, a green atrium with tall trees and plants. The library has a reading table with a remarkable chandelier, made of dozens of gin glasses

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta e San Giovanni Battista (Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and Saint John the Baptist) is the most important and oldest religious building in Aosta. The church was founded at the end of the 4th century, when a Roman complex was converted into a Christian place of worship. At the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, a series of works on the body of the building gave it the appearance it still has today, such as the Renaissance-style façade built between 1522 and 1526, decorated with frescoes and terracotta sculptures. The ïmpressive original structure of the cathedral was modified in the 11th century. The cathedral is rich in art and religious treasures: a precious cycle of 11th-century frescoes that decorate the vault was discovered in 1979, while the interior of the cathedral houses, among other things, a wooden crucifix from 1397, valuable artistic stained glass windows made between 1400 and 1500. The high choir, dominated by a crucifix of the fourteenth century, has thirty wooden stalls dating from 1469. The building dominates the city thanks to its two bell towers, which with 60 meters in height are the tallest buildings in the entire Aosta Valley.

The H.H. Simon en Judaskerk (H.H. Simon and Jude Church) is a Roman Catholic, dedicated to the Apostles Simon and Jude Thaddaeus. The church is the only example in Westphalian Romanogothic style in The Netherlands. Although already mentioned in 1162, it largely dates from the 13th century. In 1491-1492 a new late-Gothic choir was added, followed by a second transept east of the old one. Except for one window above the south portal, all windows have been enlarged. The entire church is built of Bentheimer stone. From 1626 until 1809 the church was used by the Protestants. In that year King Lodewijk assigned the church building to Roman Catholics, as the Protestant congregation was much smaller. When it was returned to the Catholics, it was in a bad state. The original Romanesque tower was replaced by a new facade and a small wooden tower in 1842.

The Oostpoort (Eastern Gate) is an example of Brick Gothic architecture. Its twin towers flank an entrance moat and bridge. The gate was built around 1400. In the 16th century they were raised with hexagonal floors and high pointed spires. The gate is located in perhaps one of the most enchanting corners of Delft. The Oostpoort was once known as “Saint Catherine’s Gate” and is the eldest medieval entranceway to Delft. Originally there were nine gates to Delft. Eight were demolished by 1847. The Oostpoort is the last remaining gate in the city. The gate consists of a land-gate and a water-gate that are connected by the remains of the city wall. The Oostpoort was last restored in 1962-1964. Nowadays it serves as an art gallery and private residence.

The Arco di Augusto (Arch of Augustus) was erected in 25 BC on the occasion of the victory of Rome over the Gallic tribe, calles the Salassi and founding the new colony. The arch has a single vault, with a height to the keystone of 11,4 meters. Its span is a barrel vault, constituting an extension in width of a round arch, measuring 8,3 meters. The monument, which changed during centuries, consists of a single round arch framed by half-columns and surmounted by Corinthian capitals and crowned by a Doric trabeation. The arch's modern appearance is the result of a final intervention for restoration and consolidation which occurred in 1912. The wooden crucifix displayed below the vault is a copy of the one which was placed there in 1449 as a votive offering against the flooding of the river Buthier, which flows a little to the east. Emperor Augustus name adorns not just the arch, but also the region itself: "Aosta" is a derivative of Augustus.

The Helpoort (Hell’s Gate) - also known as Jekerpoort, Hoogbruggepoort, Alde Poort op den Ancker, Kruittorenpoort or De Twee Towers - is part of the original medieval city wall. Hendrik I, Duke of Brabant - gave permission for its construction in 1229. For about two centuries, the gate was part of the city's actual fortifications. It lost this function when the Nieuwstad (New City), the area south of the gate, was surrounded by a wall in the second half of the 15th century. The Helpoort - a Dutch national monument - is the only remaining city gate in Maastricht and the oldest city gate in the Netherlands. The sandstone towers are more than 14 meters high (when included with the towers the height rises above 20 meters). Through the gate one reaches the Sint Bernardusstraat, lined with many monumental buildings (PiP2).

Stedelijk Museum Schiedam (Municipal Museum Schiedam) was founded in 1899 and has been located in the Dutch national monument Sint Jacobsgasthuis since 1940. (A gasthuis is a combination of retirement home and hospital, a place one can visit from the age of 40.) This hospital was built in 1787 in a symmetrical, neo-classical style after a design by architect Italian Jan Guidici. It was built on the site of an even older hospice which was founded around 1547. The property housed poor elderly people until 1934 and that function is apparent from its floor plan: in the centre of the building there is a large chapel with a wing on either side. The left wing was used as a men's wing and the right as a women's wing. After a renovation (2013) the former neoclassical chapel (PiP) has been transformed into the main entrance for the museum. It also houses a café and a museum shop.

The Appelmarktbrug is one of Schiedam's three cast-iron drawbridges, built around 1860. When a boat passes through the harbour, this bridge is pulled up by hand by two bridge keepers. The cast-iron drawbridges are the oldest examples in the Netherlands of double (cast-iron) drawbridges. From the Appelmarktbrug , one has a great view of the Lange Haven and the Havenkerk (PiP1 and 2); originally a Roman Catholic parish church.

Aosta is the capital of the Aosta Valley, located at the confluence of the rivers Buthier and Dora Baltea. It was a stronghold of the Salassi, a Celtic tribe that was subdued by the Romans in 25 BC. Augusta Praetoria - a Roman town - was founded there by Emperor Augustus. Aosta was always the most important centre of the Valle d’Aosta and became the regional capital in 1945. Aosta retains the walls, two gates, and the street plan of its Roman predecessor, as well as a triumphal arch in honour of Augustus and remains of the theatre and the amphitheatre. The rectangular street plan, laid out in equal blocks, is an outstanding example of Roman formal city planning. Of later monuments, the cathedral is notable for its treasury and 12th-century floor mosaics, and the collegiate church of S. Orso for its Romanesque cloisters and Gothic choir stalls.

Oudewater originated around 1100 in a meander bend where the Lange Linschoten rivulet meets the Hollandse IJssel river. The origin of the name Oudewater is not known. Most likely, it is a corruption of oude (uiter)waarden (old water-meadows). It became city rights in 1265. given by the bishop of Utrecht. Oudewater suffered immensely during the Eighty-years war in the hands of the Spanish due to its recognition of William van Oranje as their rightful governor. The siege resulted in the murder of nearly the entire town’s population and the destruction of most of the medieval city. After that war - during the 16th and 17th century -Oudewater rebuilt itself and prospered. Cheese and ropes were a major industry, which cultivated hemp to create high-quality ropes used for the boats sailing to Indonesia and beyond. Cheese has remained a major industry to this day, which is why the Waag (Weigh House) in Oudewater was built at the end of the 15th century. Oudewater is well known for its Heksenwaag (Witches' scales). This Weighing house, an official town building, became famous at the height of the European witch trials of the 16th century because people accused of witchcraft were offered a fair chance to prove their innocence as opposed to many other places where the scales were rigged. Today De Waag - with a small museum - is the main attraction of Oudewater, next to other attractive monumental buildings in its historic center.

Schiedam is home to the seven largest windmills in the world. Once there were more than 30 mills in the city. The majority of the so called ‘brandersmolens’ (malt mills) ground grain for the distilleries. To catch enough wind within the built-up area, and for greater storage and production capacity, the mills grew to be the tallest in the world. They have been joined in this century by two new mills, bringing the total number of malt mills to seven. These remaining ‘Giants of Schiedam’ are still characteristic of the city. De Walvisch (The Whale) is one of the ‘Giants of Schiedam’. The mill was built in 1794 and the foundation stone-layer was distiller A. Nolet. The mill was named after the Greenland whaling industry that flourished in the late 18th century. Around 1900, the mill lost a piece of inner rod during a storm; it took eight months before it had four sails again. In 1928, it was sold to the then young association De Hollandsche Molen from Amsterdam. In December 1938, there was a fire in De Walvisch. In 1996 De Walvisch burned down due to a short circuit. Only the rump of the mill remained standing. Thanks to many actions by Schiedam companies, institutions and citizens, the restoration of De Walvisch had been made possible. In 2002 it was grinding agin. De Walvisch nowadays is owned biy the foundation Stichting De Schiedamse Molens . This foundation started a major renovation in 2017. A year later the mill became a museum, where one get to know the malt and roasting mills of the city. Fromf the stage - 17,5 meters high - there is a beautiful view over Schiedam. There is also a mill shop where one can buy flour and other baking products for instance.

The Cathedral of Saint Martin ( Duomo di San Martino ) is the city’s most important religious building. The current building dates back to 1764 and stands along the main square of the town - Piazza XX Settembre - on the site of the ancient church of San Martino, which was demolished to make way for the new church designed by Domenico Schiavi from Tolmezzo. The facade was completed only in 1931. The interior of the cathedral is well-proportioned with side chapels and a high altar of white marble . The ceiling has three frescoes, dating back to 1764. The side altars are adorned with beautiful 18th century paintings. On the main picture you see the tomb of Saint Hilary (Sant’Ilario), patron Saint of Carnia (a mountain area in Friuli-Venezia Giulia). Every year in August (usually the first Sunday after 15th August the mortal remains of the Saint, will be moved to the little chapel of "Sant'Ilario and Madonna della Strada" outside the center of Tolmezzo. For the entire period in which it remains, usually three days, every evening the holy rosary is recited. After that period, the mortal remains will be move again at the Cathedral with a religious procession and remain exposed for a few days. So we were quite lucky to come across this tomb.

The Oude Kerk (Old Church) - the oldest parish church and oldest building in Delft - was officially founded in 1246 (the same year in which Delft received city rights by count Willem II), even though it is generally assumed that there had been a wooden church on this site as early as 1050.This church was originally known as Sint Bartholomeuskerk . In the middle of the 13th century, the earlier building had been rebuilt and extended by “Bartholomeus van der Marde”. The gothic tower, with its brick spire and four angle towers, was added between 1325 and 1350. Throughout the ages, the leaning tower, probably built on an early filled-up canal, has been the cause of considerable alarm to many inhabitants. In 1843, the City Council of Delft, fearing the collapse of the tower, decided that it had to be pulled down to the level of the church roof. Local contractors were able to prevent this decision from actually being carried out. Nowadays, the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk is a prominent landmark of Delft, fondly called by the citizens the Scheve Jan (Leaning Jan). The precious interior including the elaborately crafted stained-glass windows had been completely destroyed by the iconoclasts of 1566 and 1572. Only the beautifully carved pulpit from 1548 has survived. Approximately 400 people are entombed in the Oude Kerk; among them a lot of wellknown Dutch historical figures, like the painter Johannes Vermeer, naval heroes Piet Hein and Maarten Tromp and scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek (PiP5).

Schiedam is home to the seven largest windmills in the world. Once there were more than 30 mills in the city. The majority of the so called ‘brandersmolens’ (malt mills) ground grain for the distilleries. To catch enough wind within the built-up area, and for greater storage and production capacity, the mills grew to be the tallest in the world. They have been joined in this century by two new mills, bringing the total number of malt mills to seven. These remaining ‘Giants of Schiedam’ are still characteristic of the city. De Drie Koornbloemen (The Three Corn Flowers) is a stone windmill, which was built in 1770. It is the eldest of the original malt mills in Schiedam and is the only one with a miller’s house, dating back to 1832. In the early 19th century, the mill was used for sawing mahogany and a few years later for peeling rice. In 1857, the grinding tax was lifted. The owner then decides to start grinding for bakers again. Later millers started grinding peas, maize and beans for processing into cattle feed. The municipality of Schiedam bought the mill in 1976. After a substantial clean-up, carried out by Schiedam mill volunteers, restoration could begin. In 1999, the miller house was completely restored.

The historically most important church in the area is the parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pontebba. The little chapel - most probably from the 12th century – was rebuilt in gothic styli in 1504 by architect Johann Komauer. A number of changes and additions had been made over the years. The present church - originally San Antonio Chapel - was built in 1697. The highlight of the church is its famous ‘Flügelaltar’ (winged altarpiece). This wonderful wooden altar dates back till 1517, with carved, painted and gilded parts. The altar reproduces the incoronation of the Virgin Mary in the central scene and on the side doors at the front, evangelic scenes. The winged altarpiece has a height of 7,50 meters.