Tulip bulbs at the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) in Amsterdam
In 1578 a Calvinist uprising sent Catholics into hiding. They built many "secret" churches including the Amstelkring Museum, Our Lord in the Attic.
Daniel and Sebastiaan inside the main church, constructed in the top stories of three adjacent buildings.
View from the second floor and functional organ
Original tile work in the kitchen and living quarters
The Begijnhof, a quiet courtyard enclosed by gabled houses that protect it from the busy city traffic
A religious group of women, the beguines, lived here in a small community (with their own "secret" church)
Beautiful and slender homes overlooking one of Amsterdam's many canals
Houseboats along one of Amsterdam's canals
Brightly painted shutters adorn these highly decorated houses
Ahh...the red light disctrict...
Sebastiaan, Zookie, and Kim at Haarzuilens castle, which is the largest remaining castle in the country
The gardens and grounds were beautiful
Statues and turrets
Zookie posing in front of an interestingly angled door of a church on the castle property
Kimberly and Zookie in front of the main castle building
...of course the shutters were painted bright colors
The architecture was so quaint and cute in the nearby town of Haarzuilens
Sebastiann took us for pancakes at t' Wapen van Haarzuylen...one of his favorite places from his childhood
Sebastiaan's flat in Amsterdam on Wilhelminastraat
...
This is really a car!
Canal houses of Amsterdam
...more bicycles
Kimberly enjoying her lunch at Buffet van Odette & Yvette
An exposition on Istanbul...
...inside of De Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church)
Beautiful ceramic plates...
...and a fascinating juxtoposition of Islamic art and Christian architecture!
Yes, this is a "coffee shop"...the kind that sell more than coffee inside...
Canals of Amsterdam at night
