Former Army Baracks Entry Gate

The gate of the former army barracks, with the waterpump in the middle. I guess the waterpump is only a monument.

The Ice Castle

This year there has been created an ice skating facility in the Castle of Woerden, for that reason it has been baptized the Ice Castle. It is great to skate so high above the ground floor, with an view on the town.

Monastry Beer

Around this time of the year great tasty beers are on the market. In summer you can buy fresh, lime and lemon flavorous beers, in winter there are spicy dark beers, those are the ones I like, so I always make a little stock to get me through the rest of the year.

The Frost is coming!

St. Bonaventura spires against a clear bleu cold morning sky.
A week of frost is coming! Bleu skies and freezing cold, maybe we can ice skate soon!

Merry X-Mas

This picture is not from Woerden but Gouda, its medieval city hall, but it is meant the same, Merry X-mas to you all!

Villa 3.

This is the villa called Omega, I think it houses an office, however it always looks very empty.

Villa 2

While all the villas are white, this one is brick, it isn't really a villa, but for some reason it is one of my favorite. It is now a pharmacy.

Villas

There is a street with real villas in Woerden. It is a row of villas build at the old entry road of Woerden. That would have been the 'East gate/ entry of the town, in those days they were the first houses you would see entering town, now they are in the middle of the centre. Some are very beautifull so here follows entries about the row of villas. The first house is called 'Alpha', the last 'Omega'.

A Canal View

Early this morning I took this picture at the canal. Though it doesn' look like it, it's in the centre oposite the castle. The litlle house on the water is an 'tea house' which used to be in fashion in the 1800's.

Christmas Stall

Last Saturday I have been playing Joseph at the Christmas stall my church puts up during the Christmas market. It is fun to do, the booth was equiped with a donkey, sheep, and goats and a camel..

Spanish Restaurant

One of the restaurants of the square inside the former army barracks is a Spanish restaurant. They mainly server tapas, and is so expensive that I have limited my visits by a 'one timer'.

Second Square (former army barracks)

A side from the central square there is a small square, inside the 'inner court' of the former army barracks (1700 army barracks). This square used to be hidden and not used until they reorganized the centre a few years ago. It's an intimate little square which is used by restaurants and an Italian delicacy shop.

Entry Gate of Former Army Barracks

The National Symbol of Holland, a lion. It is placed above the entry gates of the former army barracks. It is build in the time The Netherlands was a republic. The Netherlands was a European republic between 1581 and 1795. We funny enough prevered a to be a Kingdom.

Cheese

Woerden used to be a place big in cheese. There is stil a cheese factury and a cheese freezer? company. This picture is taken from a former cheese storage booth. A place to store cheese but also for the process of ripening. It is now an appartment block, with one appartment for sale..., the one on the top, so if you care to live in Woerden in a former cheese booth, now is your chance!

Another Beer Advertisment

Another pub in town has a big advertisment of Heineken beer on their wall. It says something like: 'You should also have Heineken beer at home'.

The message is "NO!"

I took this picture from the entry of a group of appartments. The message on the post boxes is indeed "NO", no un-addressed advertisement material, no local newspapers and above that no parking - private area.

Creative Anouncements

This is a creative way to announce the menu! The door of a pub in the centre is used as menu bord..

Backside of Old Cityhall

This is the backside of the old cityhall. I have learned that it just escaped the demolition hammer. At a certain point in time middle aged buildings were seen as unattractive landmarks. The city council hold a secret meeting where they voted it should be removed. However some history loving count or earl was tipped, he just arrived in time to prevent the decission... (this was arround the 1920's).

Centre Picture

Picture taken in the centre with in the back the tower of the Bonaventura Church lighted by the sun.

Sinterklaas in Stockholm

Sinterklaas Stockholm 2008 was quite a happening again! The Dutch community sponcered my coming to Sweden to play Sinterklaas. It was great fun to do and to see all the places and people again! Just as if I haven't left. Thanks to Lise van der Eijk we have a lot of action pictures!

Sinterklaas arrived at Slussen by ferry, from there in a great procession the crowd walked to the Dutch embassy, there the embassador hold a little speach and all the kids received their gifts for the holiday season...