A Journey of Postcards: The Netherlands

Showing posts with label The Netherlands. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2016

Van Nellefabriek Rotterdam | Netherlands

4:51 PM The Netherlands, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

Van Nellefabriek was designed and built in the 1920s on the banks of a canal in an industrial zone in Rotterdam.

The site is one of the icons of 20th-century industrial architecture, comprising a complex of factories, with façades consisting essentially of steel and glass. It was conceived as an ‘ideal factory’, open to the outside world, whose interior working spaces evolved according to need, and in which daylight was used to provide pleasant working conditions.

Stamp

The stamp is part of a set of 10 stamps about UNESCO sites from Netherlands. This one show’s Fort Spijkerboor, inscribed as “Defence Line of Amsterdam”.

Hanseatic League member Kampen | Netherlands

9:08 PM Hanseatic City, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Kampen is a Dutch city, located at the lower reaches of the river IJssel. In the Middle Ages Kampen became an important member of the Hanseatic League.

The Hanseatic League (also known as the Hansa) was an alliance of trading guilds that established and maintained a trade monopoly along the coast of Northern Europe.

Former island of Schokland | Netherlands

8:57 PM Red Tiled Roof, The Netherlands, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

Schokland is a former island in the Dutch Zuiderzee. The island was an attractive settlement area in the Middle Ages, but by the 19th century it was under continuous threat of flooding due to the rise in sea level. A major flood in 1825 brought massive destruction, and in 1859 the government decided to end permanent settlement on Schokland.

Schokland and surroundings is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995.

Stamp

Classic cars from the Louwman museum: Spyker. The Louwman Museum in The Hague exhibits one of the oldest private collections in the world.

t Huys Optenoord in Hanseatic City Doesburg | Netherlands

11:41 PM Hanseatic City, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Doesburg is a small city in the eastern part of The Netherlands, situated on the right bank of the river IJssel. Doesburg was granted city rights in 1237. Even today the medieval street-pattern is still completely intact.

The city center has 150 listed monuments, reflecting Doesburg’s rich history. One of these monuments is t Huys Optenoord. Doesburg is one of the seven Dutch ‘Hanzesteden’ (Hanseatic Towns) situated along the river ‘IJssel’.

Stamp

Part of a large series of stamps with flowers and butterflies.

Hanseatic League member Groningen | Netherlands

8:56 PM Hanseatic City, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

In the fourteenth century the Dutch city of Groningen became a member of the Hanseatic League.

The league was a collaboration of merchants primarily from Germany, Scandinavia, England, Poland, the Baltic States, Russia and the Netherlands.

Canal ring of Amsterdam | Netherlands

6:00 PM Butterfly-stamp, The Netherlands, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

Amsterdam is the most watery city in the world. Its canals and harbours fill a quarter of the city’s surface. The city has more than hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. A great way to discover the “Venice of the North" is floating down the canals by boat.

In 2010 the canal ring area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Breskens Lighthouse | The Netherlands

6:00 PM Lighthouse, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

The lighthouse of Breskens is the oldest remaining cast-iron lighthouse in the Netherlands. It was built in 1867 and became a monument in 1982. Breskens is a harbour town in the Dutch province of Zeeland.

Stamps

The guilder denominated stamps were declared invalid in 2013 because of a large stamp fraud case. But they still do the job.

Dutch hanseatic city Zutphen

10:24 PM Hanseatic City, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Zutphen is a Dutch city with approximately 40,000 inhabitants. Zutphen was a member of the Hanseatic League as far back as the 13th century.

The medieval city centre, with a skyline featuring several towers, is extremely well preserved and houses numerous historical buildings, including the Drogenapstoren (a city gate) you see on the left.

~~Stamp~~

A machine label.

Dutch hanzestad Deventer | Netherlands

5:51 PM Hanseatic City, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Founded in the late 8^th century, Deventer is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. The city developed into a flourishing trade city with its harbour on the river IJssel. Deventer was a prominent member of the Hanseatic League.

Texel Island and Lighthouse | Netherlands

11:29 PM Animal, Butterfly-stamp, Island, Lighthouse, Map, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Texel is the largest Wadden Island in The Netherlands. It is also the most populated with a population of about 13,500. The neighboring island in the archipelago is Vlieland.

Stamps

In 2014 Dutch Post issued a set of 8 sheetlets with butterflies and flowers.

Vlieland Island and Lighthouse | Netherlands

12:17 PM Island, Lighthouse, Sunset, The Netherlands, UNESCO 1 comment

Postcard

Vlieland is one of the five Wadden Islands. Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling and Texel are the other four. Vlieland is about 12 km in length and no more than 2 km in width. The number of inhabitants is 1,100.

Stamps

Part of a sheet of 10 stamps to celebrate 175 years of railways in Netherlands.

Terschelling Island and Lighthouse | The Netherlands

9:54 PM Harbour, Island, Lighthouse, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Terschelling is one of the Netherlands' five Waddenzee islands. The island is only about 32km long and almost 5km wide. About 80 per cent of the island is national park, the remainder is taken up by small villages, roads and fields.

Brandaris, the islands lighthouse built in the 16^thcentury, is the oldest still operating lighthouse in The Netherlands, and a landmark that can't be missed.

Stamp

Part of a sheet of 10 stamps to celebrate 175 years of railways in Netherlands

The Island of Ameland and Lighthouse

12:30 PM Island, Lighthouse, The Netherlands, UNESCO No comments

Postcard

Ameland is one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. The island has a population of 3,500.

The 55 metres high lighthouse on the island was built in 1880 but since 2005 the lighthouse is not in use anymore.

Stamp

The stamp is part of a souvenir sheet about having fun on the beach (issued 2007).

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

5:46 PM Birdstamp, Capital City, Church, The Netherlands No comments

Postcard

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, although Amsterdam is not the seat of the Dutch government which is The Hague.

The city has the highest museum density in the world and is home to cultural highlights, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s world-famous Nightwatch. Other well known places of interest in Amsterdam are the Palace on the Dam, the Artis Zoo, Jewish Historical Museum and the Rembrandt House.