Jaap van 't Veen's photos

The history of Arboretum Kalmthout goes back as far as 1856, when the Antwerp dendrologist Charles Van Geert started a proving ground in Kalmthout for his nursery in Antwerp. It remained a nursery until 1952, when the brothers Georges and Robert de Belder bought the site to create their private botanical garden there. Under their leadership Arboretum Kalmthout grew into one of the world's most prestigious botanic collections. They introduced hundreds of new plants, which came from friends and growers all over the world. They collected seeds in the wild, and also selected a number of new cultivars. In addition to collecting new plants, increasing importance was given to scientific and educational aspects. The garden grew into one of the most valuable collections of woody plants in Europe. In 1986 Antwerp Provincial Authority purchased the site and the property has been expanded and now measures over 33 acres The independent non-profit organisation “Arboretum Kalmthout” retained full responsibility for management, upkeep, and operation. Jelena de Belder – the wife of Robert - was a big fan of Cyclamen, the tuberous plant from the forests of her homeland Slovenia. She planted very many of them in the garden since the 1980s. During our visit in September, we took a walk along the Cyclamen-trail with many so-called autumn cyclamen; sometimes a few together and in other places whole carpets of flowers.

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel!".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The Kerzenkapelle (Candle Chapel) is the oldest pilgrimage church in Kevelaer, which is why most processions still take place here today. The number of coats of arms, the abundance of candle offerings, windows and signs of thanks document the old tradition of many processions and the liveliness of the pilgrimage. More than 300 candles from the various pilgrim groups are placed here during the pilgrimage season, showing the connection with Mary of those who have long since returned home. More than 100 candles burn every day during the Marian Praise.

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel!".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The shrine, later Chapel of Mercy , became a very popular pilgrimage site. When it couldn’t any longer accommodate the numerous pilgrims the Marienbasilika (Basilica of Mary) was built. The neo-Gothic church building was built between 1858 and 1864, whre the larger holy masses are celebrated. In 1923, the pilgrimage church was elevated to the status of a Papal Basilica. Around the turn of the century, the exceptionally colorful painting of the transept and the choir followed. The organ of the Marienbasilika , with its 135 registers, is the largest German-Romantic organ in the world. The 90 meter high tower of the church dates from 1884.

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The chapel was consecrated and on 1 June 1642, the Sunday after Assumption of Mary, the print was displayed in it, and the chapel became such a popular destination for pilgrims that a church was built for them between 1643 and 1645. The little chapel was replaced in 1654 with a larger one, the current Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Mercy or Chapel of Grace), which still houses the miraculous image “Consolatrix Afflictorum”. The hexagonal domed building is one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in north-western Europe and has drawn pilgrims to Kevealer from all over the world for more than 360 years.

A “hofje” is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages. Dordrecht has several “hofjes”. Arend Maartenshof was founded in 1625 by Arend Maartenszoon in an attempt to shake off his bad reputation in the city. The entrance is through a lavishly decorated renaissance gate. Atround a courtyard with centuries old trees and a well are 38 houses built, which were destined for poverty-stricken women and widows of soldiers. Since the 1980s, admission rules for the cottages have been relaxed. But two rules of the old founder stand: residents must be of impeccable conduct and they must lovingly care for the living environment. The municipality of Dordrecht bought the Arend Maartenshof at the end of the 20th century and carried out a complete renovation.

Huis Van Gijn was the residence - built in 1729 - of the banker and avid collector Simon van Gijn, who lived here from 1864 until his death in 1922. He left the house and most of his collections to the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht (Old Dordrecht Society). His wanted to make his collections publicly accessible and for his home to be converted into a museum, maintaining the interior in its original state as much as possible. Since 1925 Huis Van Gijn has been open to the public, allowing visitors to experience upper class living during the nineteenth-century. Nowadays the museum offers a wide variety of exhibits, ranging from paintings and prints, arms and ships to furniture, silverware and ceramics. The attic holds a unique collection of 19th-century toys. His collection was merged with the collection of the Vereniging Oud-Dordrecht and is constantly being expanded.

Windmill De Prins van Oranje (The Prince of Orange) is named after prins Willem van Oranje - Father of the Nation - who married Anna van Buren. The Counts of Buren were the owners of this mill from 1716 to 1795. The current tower mill had at least two predecessora on the city walls of Buren; the first of which was destroyed by fire in 1575. A new mill was built in 1577, which was replaced by the current stone mill in 1716 due to its dilapidatedness. In 1911 these mill also burned down ans was rebuilt and heightened. In 1974, the five-storey tower mill was fully restored, with new internal machinery. It has a stage, which is almost nine meters above ground level. De Prins van Oranje is still working as a flour mill and is listed as a Dutch national heritage site.

The kubuswoningen (cube house), also called stilt or tree houses, are a design of architect Piet Blom. He wanted to create a kind of village in the city of Rotterdam, where he saw the houses as trees and the entire complex as a forest. This principle also explains the name Blaakse Bos . The cubes are tilted, so that three sides face the ground and three face the sky. The cube houses were built between 1982 and 1984. The complex consists of 38 residential and 13 commercial properties. On the promenade between the cube houses there are small-scale businesses, shops, a school and a play area for children.

Jachtslot Mookerheide (Hunting lodge Mookerheide) was commissioned by the wealthy Nijmegen banker Jan J. Luden van Heumen and designed on the highest point of the Mookerheide estate. The lodge was designed by two architects from Nijmegen in a very richly and exuberantly decorated Jugendstil style. In June 1940, the Germans seized this beautiful hunting lodge and turned it into the country retreat for the feared Waffen SS. Himmler himself is said to have visited on a couple of occasions. In September 1944, the hunting lodge and its estate were taken over by the Americans as a temporary prisoner-of-war camp. For 30 years, the main building was a hotel-restaurant. In 1985 Jachtslot Mookerheide and the estate are owned by Natuurmonumenten (a society for preservation of nature monuments in the Netherlands) and recently have been restored. Since 2001 it is designated a protected national Dutch monument.

Kasteeltuinen Arcen (Arcen Castle Gardens) is considered being one of the most varied flower and plant parks in Europe: 32 hectares full of scents and colours, unique gardens, historical parks and the 17th century Arcen Castle. Kasteeltuinen Arcen has more than 15 unique gardens, situated around a historic country house, with a 17th century castle. Among them are the large rosarium with its rose gardens, the shady Lommerrijk , the mountain garden with its unique stone formations and waterfalls, the Italian garden, the Mediterenean garden with its typical olive trees and the oldest olive tree in the Netherlands, the Asian gardens with a Thai fishing hut, the rhododendron garden and a begonia peacock.

The double moated Kasteel Arcen Arcen Castle was built in the 17th century by order of the Dukes of Gelre. The current castle was built on the remains of a previous castle, which in turn was built on the remains of the very first castle ‘Huys den Kamp’. The current castle was built in the baroque period. Baroque features include lavish forms and expressions of power and the pursuit of grandeur. The building lost its symmetry due to a fire in the 19th century, in which the left wing was lost. This part of the building was never rebuilt. The castle's last occupant, Professor Deusser left the castle in 1931. The rooms of the ground floor are furnished in historical style and give an impression to earlier times when the castle was still inhabited. The current castle is in good condition since it is part of the Kasteeltuinen Arcen (Castle Gardens of Arcen).

Windmill ‘Rijn en Lek’ is dating back to 1659, when it was built on top of the - only remaining - medieval city gate of the town, the Leuterpoort. In the beginning it was used as a bark mill, but around 1820 it became a flourmill, which it still is. The mill stands proudly above the gate on the dike and is the only mill in the Netherlands on top of a city gate. The ‘Rijn en Lek’ is often confused with the windmill painted by Ruisdael, called ‘The windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede’, which stood a few blocks away. The mill got its name ‘Rijn en Lek’ due to the fact that the river Rhine changes it name into Lek River downstream from Wijk bij Duurstede.

Kasteel Duurstede (Duurstede Castle) is dating back to the 13th century and is one of the oldest medieval castles in the Netherlands. Around 1270 Zweder I van Zuylen van Abcoude built a freestanding keep on a raised and moated site nearby the (lost) city Dorestad. This building was about 11 meters high and had 2.5 meter thick walls. Later on an extra floor and a residential wing with a great hall were added. Until the beginning of the 15th century the castle was possessed by the Van Zuylen van Abcoude family, when they were forced to sell it to the bishops of Utrecht who kept it until 1580. After that year Kasteel Duurstede fell to the States of Utrecht. They had no money to maintain the castle, so it slowly fell into decay. And after the French troops had devastated the town of Wijk bij Duurstede in 1672 the locals repaired their houses and the town walls with stones from the castle. In 1852 the town council became owner of the castle and turned the fortifications around the castle into a park. Until around 1925 the castle could only be reached with a little ferry; nowadays there is a little drawbridge. Today only the two towers and some of the walls remain, but the castle has been renovated to include a terrace cafe, gazebo in the garden and rooms inside which are used for events or weddings.

Kasteel Amerongen (Amerongen Castle) was built between 1670 and 1684 on the site of a medieval castle, that had been burned down by French troops. The great Dutch house, garden and furnishings form a unit seldom seen in the Netherlands. The castle has a rich family-history, going back 700 years. The owners played an important part in the Dutch and European history. Godard Adriaan van Reede (1621-1691) held a key-position in the insurrection against the French supremacy. As a retribution the house was burnt down by the French in 1673, but rebuilt by his wife Margaretha Turnor in Dutch classicist style. After World War I the German Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) lived at the castle for 18 months and signed his abdication here in 1918. Kasteel Amerongen is surrounded by historical gardens. The castle itself can be visited (quite limited opening hours) only by a guided tour.

The Blauwe Kamer is a nature reserve created in 1992 after a dike along the river Rhine was dug away. Since then the water of the river has free rein in the new nature reserve. As a result, nature is constantly in motion. The dynamics of the river create height differences and attract special plants and animals. Flowery vegetations give color to the landscape. In several places willow forest grows and marshes are created. Nowadays it is a paradise for birds - among them spoonbills, egrets and comarants - and bird lovers. The flora in the area is rich and sometimes consists of species that were previously unknown in the river area. The Blauwe Kamer is home of semi-wild Galloways and Konik horses. The beaver also feels at home. The name of the Blauwe Kamer comes from a manor house from the year 1636. In addition, a brick factory later stood in the nature reserve, until 1975, which bore this name; remnants of this factory can still be seen.

Kasteel Cannenburch (Cannenburch Castle) was built in 1543 by a well known Dutch field marshal, Maarten van Rossum (also Marten van Rossem). He constructed a country house - in the style of the Dutch Renaissance - on the spot of a medieval castle. Van Rossum died in 1555 and his nephew, Hendrik van Isendoorn, inherited the castle and it remained in the family for more than 300 years. In 1882, however, it was acquired by Eduard Baron van Lynden by purchase. In 1905, it came into the possession of Mrs. Frida Cleve-Mollard from Berlin, whose husband Richard Cleve was the last private resident of the castle. Over the years, the castle has been altered and extended many times and it became also a stone entrance bridge. Since the 1950’s Kasteel Cannenburch and surrounding park are owned and managed by the ‘Stichting Geldersch Landschap en Geldersche Kasteelen’, a Dutch heritage foundation. The castle has been restored and the interior has been returned to how it would have been when it was still inhabited by nobility. Nowadays the castle is is a Dutch national monument.

Het Aardhuis was commissioned by King Willem III and designed by court architect Henri Camp in 1861. Originally, the chalet-like building was mainly used as a military meeting centre and as a place to rest after a hunt. Prince Hendrik also liked to stay in Het Aardhuis which he used while hunting. That is why it is mainly known as a hunting chalet. In 1972, Queen Juliana decided to give the impressive black wooden building a different purpose. From a hunting chalet, it became an information centre about nature and wildlife. Today, the ground floor of Het Aardhuis houses a café. On the first floor, one of the rooms is still furnished as it was in the days of King Willem III and Prince Hendrik. Another larger room serves as an information centre for Kroondomein Het Loo (Het Loo Royal Estate). Het Aardhuis is located in the Aardhuispark ; a fenced-off part of Kroondomein Het Loo . The park offers a mixture of open landscape with a wildlife meadow, lanes with old beech and oak trees and water pools. A three-kilometre walking route has been marked out in the park. This route also leads to a hideout for (semi)wildlife spotting.

The Romanesque Magnuskerk (Magnus Church) - named after the bishop of Trani (Italy) - dates from around 1100 and was a replacement of a number of wooden church. It was extended several times during its history. The church tower is a gabled roof tower and dates from the 12th century. The interior of the chuch offers wall paintings from the 13th century. During the Middle Ages, the church also served as court house. Up until the Reformation, which took hold in the province of Drenthe in 1598, the church in Anloo was Roman Catholic. The church was restored between 1941 and 1944 and nowadays is still used for services.