The Night Watch by Rembrandt being cleaned, love the t-shirts
Miniature kitchen in one of the dolls’ houses
I Love this jacket!
Taken from the Eurostar on the way home after a brilliant holiday with our very good friends.
The Stedelijk Museum was fascinating, I’d been looking forward to seeing the Karel Appel works, 
We later found a wonderful painting bursting with joy, Bal Tabarin by Jan Sluijters.
and discovered a room full of protest art work.
When in the gift shop, I found the perfect gift for Sue-next-door who looked after our place while we were away. I bought us a miniature egg box full of seed bombs too. Today, I have followed instructions and ‘planted’ them. We’ll look forward to seeing what comes up!
Wisteria in our garden
Wisteria in Amsterdam
There were shops all over Amsterdam selling plastic ducks. After passing several , I went in to one to ask ‘Why?” It seems they are simply a retail opportunity to attract tourists!
One of the Duck shops
Information re ducks
I loved the decoration outside a shop selling children’s clothes, the decoration comprising of painted bicycle parts and enormous knitted strawberries! 
On the corner of the street near our hotel, Roemers Hotel, was a house beautifully decorated with blue and white tiles near the top of the building. Lower down was a plaque to Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher. She is described by her friends mentioned below as “attractive, musically talented, and a skilled translator and commentator from French and Italian.They also praised her skill at singing, painting, carving, glass engraving and tapestry work.” From Wikipedia. 
Here’s a translation for you:
If Tesselschade is unfamiliar to you, then you may know
That she was a friend of Roemer Visscher,That she sat in the circle of singers
And with her stylus wrote wittily on the glass
And if you wish to find more merit and gifts
Speak to Huygens, Hooft and Vondel, her friendsPIETER HUISINGA BAKKER
Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher 1594 – 1649 poet
We came across lots of interesting structures around Amsterdam.
Against the Tide by Rini Hurkmans is a memorial sculpture honouring murdered Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries who was shot on July 6, 2021, and died on July 15, 2021.
It’s worth reading this, if a bit of a struggle.
Gerardus Vossius and Caspar Barlaeus were pioneering Dutch scholars and the founding fathers of the University of Amsterdam. In 1632, they opened the Athenaeum Illustre, a city-sponsored academy that challenged Leiden’s academic monopoly and eventually evolved into the modern university I found this in a hidded garden off the book alley I told you about a couple of days ago.
We went to Amsterdam with our friends A&K and just had to find A’s Great Grandfather, Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, 31 December 1846 – 18 November 1919) who was a Dutch socialist politician and later a social anarchist and anti-militarist. Just learned that we share a birthday!
A translation of the plaque: Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis sculpture represents the rise of the labor movement in the 19th century. Prometheus is depicted in the relief. This Greek hero stole fire from heaven and gave it to mankind. In earlier designs, Polet had placed the Greek myth at the center, with a subordinate position for Domela. Only in a third design did Polet allow himself to be guided by the form of a statue on a pedestal. In his time, Polet was an important exponent of Expressionism within Dutch sculpture. Artist Johan Polet 1931
Having missed Community Roots for two weeks while we were on holiday, the growth of everything in the poly-tunnels was wonderful to see.
I spotted a little pollinator where I was working today.
We visited many galleries when in Amsterdam and here are a few of my favourite paintings.
I loved this one as it reminded me of my lovely Dad’s beautiful beard.
Isaac Blessing Jacob by Govert Flink 1615-1660
There’ll be more.
We had some delicious courgette soup in the sunshine before going into the very interesting H’Art Museum in Amsterdam.
That evening, wanting to eat Dutch food, I had Boerenkool Stamppot and being a big fan of mash and gravy, absolutely loved this meal.
Tonight we have been to the Hall for Cornwall for a talk I really wasn’t interested in, A Gun Through Time by the historian David Olusoga. However, the subject was made quite fascinating by him concentrating on the social history rather than the military history of guns. 
On one of our walks around Amsterdam we came across an alley lined with arches and in each a book store. They were so tall, a very long ladder was needed to reach the higher shelves. 
As you will probably know, bikes are an important mode of transport in Amsterdam. Pedestrians really need to keep themselves very aware of the silent speeding velocipedes, bells being very few and far between! It was lovely to see whole families riding, the baby in a baby cart, the toddler on a frame in the front and children of all ages cycling along. There were also flower decorated bikes.
Parking for many bikes
WEdding bike
I really wanted to try Dutch Apple Cake and succeeded – one more a pie and one with a crumble topping – both absolutely delicious. We also shared a scrumptious tiramisu after an excellent Italian meal in Antonio’s.
On our first day we had a canal cruise which gave us a good idea of the architecture of Amsterdam and a bit of a feel for the layout of the city and later we visited the old church, Oude Kerk which dates back to 1306, with its countless tombstones set in the floor, its wonderful windows, a beautiful organ and some delightful carvings in the 15th century choir stalls. Enjoy the gallery and click on a photo for the explanatory caption.
The city’s oldest bell 1450
A new iris has appeared in the garden. We didn’t plant it but love its delicate colouring. 
Click on any photo to see the bigger version.
Commentator Award
