Day 12
Explore the Arnhem Airborne Museum and learn about the Battle of Arnhem. The Airborne Experience allows you to follow in the footsteps of the British parachutists who made their way across dangerous terrain to Arnhem in September 1944. Alternatively, visit the Netherlands Open Air Museum and discover historic houses, farms and windmills. The museum portrays the impression of daily life for the average Dutchman over the past few centuries. Or, if you’re feeling more energetic, take a guided bicycle tour to the neighboring town of Nijmegen.
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OMG – POURING RAIN – will it never STOP! Deep breathing… Okay…after lunch Karen and I were two of the bravely foolish ones who went to visit the Open Air Museum. Kevin, Diana and Kim decided to stay on board in the dry warmth no doubt sipping hot toddies or beer! Can I say it again – OMG – even with an umbrella I have never been so cold or damp on a tour. Still – the historical buildings from various parts of the Netherlands were very different than ours in the ‘new world’; we stopped at the bakery to pick up a couple of treats. We then took the time to wander around the visitor center’s store and stop for a coffee and cookie before, of course, a dash through the rain to the bus. Unfortunately we didn’t see a fraction of what was there.
We left for Veere around the time of our port talk with Simon. Our after dinner entertainment in the lounge was supplied by our on board musician – David.
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The Open Air Museum near Arnhem features eighty historic houses, farms and windmills. The museum has been designed to create a highly realistic impression of daily life for the average Dutchman over the past few centuries.
1. Small Farm house from Harreveld, 1700-1750
Flax Kiln from Vragender, 1800-1825
2. Fortuyn Tower Mill from Delft, 1696
3. De Caterstee farm from Kadoelen, circa 1800
4. to 8. Staphorst Farm, 1850-1900
9. View of Manor house
10. to 13. Farm house from Zuid-Scharwoude, 1745 – The Farm house has a square base and a pyramid shaped roof with a hay storage in the middle. Living quarters as well as box beds for the livestock were situated around the central haymow ensuring it was very warm in the winter.
14. Double Drawbridge from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, 1880-1900
15. Bakery where we bought some treats!
16. Old cigarette machine in the Chinese Restaurant
17. Ship Maker’s
18. to 19. Fisherman’s Cottage from Markham 1807 – known as a smoke house because it had no chimney, only a fire in the middle of the room and a hatch that could be opened in the roof. Fish could be smoked in the rafters above the fire and nets hung there to dry. The cubby behind the curtains is the bed and the band boxes were used as storage for belongings.
20.to 24. Laundry – originally an 18th century Flemish – yarn bleaching house, it was converted to a laundry in 1856. The laundry was collected every 3 to 6 months and could be returned dry, damp or ready to put away in the wardrobe, however requested. First, it was sorted (a dirty and unhygienic task) then washed in pounding vats which were driven by a horse in the horse mill. After this, the washing was taken on large barrows to the bleaching fields, where it was laid out in the sun to bleach. Next, it was rinsed clean again in ice-cold water. Finally, the washing was dried, put through a mangle, ironed and folded if full service was required.
25. Forge
26. Antique Delivery Truck
27. Fare well to the drenched Park!!
