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| My collage of images shows some of the wonderful architectural features of Sheepvaarthuis |
Toot and I and our good friends Jude and Jonathon had a great 'City Break in Amsterdam'.
We enjoyed sunshine snow and a biting easterly wind all in four action packed days.
Amsterdam is a vibrant city with excellent museums, beautiful architecture and a network of canals.
I last visited Amsterdam in 1969. I was a long-haired student in those far off days. Now I am a bald-headed pensioner!
My memory hasn't yet failed! Many places were familiar to me, although many new buildings have been constructed and many old ones have been refurbished.
In 2013, Sheepvaarthuis is a very smart hotel located close to the Maritime Museum. In 1969 it provided offices for a number of shipping companies.
The building is a magnificent melange of art-nouveau, art-deco and moderne features.
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| Replica Ship at the Maritime Museum |
The Maritime Museum is well worth a visit and entrance includes access to the replica ship moored close by.
It is quite sobering to consider the challenges faced by Dutch Mariners sailing such a small timber ship from Amsterdam around the Cape of Good Hope to India, Indonesia and Japan.
The Museum has wonderful collections of navigational instruments, model ships and maritime paintings.
I was particularly impressed by the mechanical solar system or 'Orrery'.
Whilst Jon and I were at the Maritime Museum, Toot and Jude visited the Anne Frank House and Museum in Prinsengracht.
It should be inconceivable that individuals, agencies or governments might discriminate and condemn on the basis of nationality, religious or political views, age or sexual orientation. It should be unthinkable that children should be denied our universal protection and love. Sadly such terrible and terrifying inhumanities have been and continue to occur.
This little girl, her diary and her home will, no doubt, continue to remind succeeding generations that hatred, discrimination and totalitarianism should have no place in a civilized society.
Whilst we were in Amsterdam, both the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum were closed for renovation. Fortunately we were able to see a number of Van Gogh's paintings in a temporary exhibition at the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum. The Rijksmuseum's Rembrandts and Vermeers will have to await a future visit.
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| Wheat-field with Crows Van Gogh |
We also visited the Peter the Great exhibition which was fascinating in its eccentricity. The exhibition included a number of fine paintings including one stunning Rembrandt.
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| Peter the Great Tsar, man of science and amateur dentist |
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