Leaving our nice hotel in Delft on Sunday Aug. 15 to drive to Brussels
First stop, Kinderdijk windmills, dating to the 1700's and protected by UNESCO as a world historic site. Thanks to Steve Worth for telling us about this unique place!! (I went a little crazy with taking pictures here!)
Wildflowers along the canal
House in Kinderdijk, love the climbing roses over the door
Along the Kinderdijk canal
The gas stations in Netherlands have fresh flowers to buy!
Here we are in Schepdaal, Belgium with Steve's Lilly friend Hans, his wife Lis, and boys Renzo and Mauro and daughter Laura.
I have never seen Legos this big! Han's kids love them!
A local restaurant that we ate supper at - it was in an old mill building.
Local brew.
Hans was our guide for our trip to Ghent on Monday Aug.16. This is Jacob van Artevelde, the burgomaster of Ghent who implemented democracy in the city in the 1300's.
Along the main square.
Love the Belgian mailboxes!
Toreken, the guild hall (1400's) of the curriers. The "Maria" bell in the tower is rung at the opening of the markets.
Can't recall what this is, but it's very old!
Hans and Steve
Lots of vinyl record shops, Matthew!
Another door. (this is for you Kate)
The town hall "Stadhuis", 1302!
Statues like this one are all along the town hall building
An open window, with person inside :)
Next few pictures are all of the town hall
The Meat Hall (Vleeshalle) 1407
St. -Niklaaskerk, built in around 1050. Hans told us that during the French revolution, the church was used as a horse stable!
The "Belfort" , a special building where the city could keep charters and from where the city guard could be called out. Built in the 1200's
St. Baafskathedraal
The entry arch
Inside the church
Another door. (Kate!)
Hans, encouraging us on in the rain!
Love this house!
Gerard de Duivelsteen house, can't remember how old, but it's old!
Can't remember what this was all about - should have written down what Hans told us!
Hans said this is a famous music store for professionals
You can see the steeples of the three big churches in Ghent
Smallest house in Ghent (1600's)
Smallest restaurant in Ghent
Gravensteen Castle - dates back to the 1100's
Great hall
Old-style wall making!
Weapons display, lots of lances and such, and crossbows, suits of armour
Narrow streets!
Canals in Ghent
Steve and Hans
Cannon and ball from the 1500's
On to Bruges for our next tour! The rain didn't stop us.
De Markt - the gallows and guillotine were here! The building is The Post Office - very new by comparison, 1800's!
This is the Provincial Palace, also 1800's
PO roof detail
Palace
Along a canal in Bruges
The Church of Our Lady (Catholic, most churches are in Belgium)
Pulpit in the church
Chocolate shops everywhere!
Stopping for coffee and dessert! Hans and I had apple pancakes
Steve had a waffle with caramel sauce
The bakery case was nearly empty, but a few goodies still there!
Where we had coffee and dessert
Beautiful hydrangeas
Het Minnewater ("Love Lake"), according to old legend the swans have been given special powers since the 1400's
Archway with black-eyed susan vine, entrance to a shop
Farewell to Bruges!
A beautiful and very old city!!
