Nederland: diversen

The Belvedère is a watchtower in the forest area of Oranjewoud. Andreas Willem Tjaarda - owner of Logement Heidewoud, nowadays Golden Tulip Hotel Tjaarda - had a wooden watchtower built on the Berg van Brongerga , a small hill almost ten meters high, in 1917. The area was and is known as Tjaarda’s Bosch (Tjaarda´s Forest). In 1924 this wooden construction was replaced by a reinforced concrete tower due to dilapidation. The octagonal watchtower has nine stairs of twelve steps and a height of eighteen meters. When the height of the hill is added, the eye level of a person on the tower is almost thirty meters above ground level. This tower also fell into disrepair, but instead of being demolished, it was restored after seventy years. The observation tower is a special feature: it is one of the oldest concrete structures with such large dimensions. The Belvedère is a Dutch national monument.

Stevensweert is an old fortified town situated on an island between two branches of the river Maas. During the Eighty Years' War, this island was conquered by the Spaniards in 1633. They immediately built almost impregnable fortifications. Stevensweert was surrounded by a high earthen wall with seven bastions; around the wall a wide moat was dug out with five ravelins. The Spanish garrison stayed in specially built barracks. In 1702, after a two-day siege, the fortress fell to Dutch troops. Three years later, five additional bastions were constructed. In 1874 the fortifications were purchased by the municipality of Stevensweert. The land was parcelled out and the inhabitants were able to buy the available plots. In the 1980s, plans were made to reconstruct part of the fortifications. This plan was realised in 2010 and nowadays Stevensweert again partly resembles the impressive fortress it was in the past. (Due to bad rainy weather I only took one picture of the present fortifications.)

On the 17th of July 2014, the world was shocked by the devastating report that flight MH17, an international passenger flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on its way to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down as it flew over Eastern Ukraine. All innocent 15 crew members and 283 passengers died. The Nationaal Monument MH17 honours the victims of this disaster and keep the memory of them alive, as a symbol of hope, faith and reflection. In the park-like environment you will find 298 trees. Lime trees, ironwood, ash, hawthorns, pines and ornament. The monument consists of a tree ribbon and a memorial. The green ribbon rises from the landscape. On this 298 trees were planted: one for every victim. With each tree you will find the name, age and nationality of the victim. For passengers who travelled together, the same tree species were planted. These ones stand side by side. Ten different tree species have been planted for the passengers. The chosen species also emphasise the diversity of the deceased passengers. For the crew of flight MH17 a separate kind has been chosen: lime trees. These are in front, on the edge of the amphitheater. The heart of the tree ribbon is an amphitheater. Here you will find the memorial. This consists of a wall of rusted corten steel. A stainless steel sculpture has been placed for this purpose: the “iris”. The pupil of the iris is a high-gloss polished surface. Here are the names of the 298 victims engraved. The rust and the transience of the steel symbolize the grief, the iris the memory and the comfort. Seen from above the memorial has the shape of an eye that looks into the sky; a connection between victims and surviving relatives. War seems far away in the Netherlands. Nothing is less true. The knockdown of MH17 is considered an act of war in a conflict that leads back to the Cold War. Now as a violent offense from a hybrid war peace seems to be a plaything of power politics and arbitrariness. With unforgettable suffering as a result. The National Monument MH17 is a recognisable landscape element. The shape and design of the tree ribbon tattoos the surrounding land. A sculpture of 298 trees that demands permanent attention for peace and safety.

De Vuurduin is the landmark of the island of Vlieland. This lighthouse - also called the Rode Kabouter (Red Gnome) - is a monument. It is only 16.8 metres high, but thanks to its location on the 42-metre-high Vuurboetsduin , the light from the tower shines 55 metres above sea level. The lights and the glass are stationary; a sort of curtain rotates to screen the light every two seconds. The cast-iron red tower was originally the superstructure of a tower from IJmuiden and was transferred to Vlieland in 1909. In 1929, an observation post on stilts was built next to the lighthouse. In 1986, the dome of the lighthouse was completely renovated. De Vuurduin works completely automatically. The lighthouse keeper is still regularly present for visitors. The stairs to the panoramic roof have 49 steps; the lamp is 9 steps higher. From the lighthouse one has a unique view over two seas: the Wadden Sea and the North Sea.

The farmhouse Het Hemmink is mentioned as early as 1331. In the mid-19th century, the Esselink family lived at Het Hemmink , a larger farmhouse that took its current form in 1903. Due to an inheritance issue, the farm fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, the owner along with his wife died in a car accident. The heirs could not agree on inheritance rights for a long time. In the end, Het Hemmink went to a relative in Hilversum, who did not care for his possession. In the 1980s, the farm was occupied by squatters and decayed completely. During 1995-96, most of the ruin was dismantled, leaving only a few remnants of walls standing today.

The Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt Barrier) is the largest and best known of the Delta Works (a series of dams and storm surge barriers, designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea). The barrier is a 9 km long structure which seals off the Oosterschelde if there is a threat of flooding. The Oosterscheldekering Barrier connects the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland in the province of Zeeland and was built between 1976 and 1986. It is the largest storm surge barrier in the Netherlands. The Oosterscheldekering has 65 colossal pillars, separated by sluice gates that are roughly 42 meters wide and 6 to 12 meters high, each weighing between 260 and 480 tonnes. It is designed to withstand a flood that is statistically unlikely to occur more than once in 4,000 years. The barrier will be closed if the water level of the North Sea is predicted to rise to more than 3 meters above “Normal Amsterdam Level”. At the press of a button, all 62 sluice gates are lowered and it takes 82 minutes for them all to close completely.