Dutch treats

I interrupt family history for a minute to show you how we by our licorice and other assorted goodies. This is at the Rotterdam open market and everything is so fresh and pretty cheap.

There are a billion kinds of drop (licorice)

Are you drooling yet Nikki?

And this id Dad in front of an automatik about to get a greasy little bamihop. (sp?)

scheveningen museum

After Amsterdam, we drove down to Den Haag where dad was born. Grandma Boot's mother was raised in the seaside town of Scheveningen on the outskirts of Den Haag. Dad and his family played on the beach there many times before they emigrated to America and it was fun to imagine that as we strolled along the beach.  The museum here was fascinating. This photo is

of a mural painted on part of the museum exterior of Dutch life in this little town. 

Typical room and clothing from the late 1800's and early 1900's

Each region of Holland has it's own unique cap and this is one from this area.
Notice the silver collar like thing on the left. That was worn under the hat to keep the shape of the hat right and keep the hat on....it is a very windy little town!

This is your great great grandmother kids! Johanna Pronk Overduin. The woman on her left is a daughter Pieternella,  (grandma's favorite aunt) one of 16 or so!! Seriously! AND they lived in a one room house!! Dad and I went on a hunt for her house and I think we found it...more next blog.

Roots

This is the street where dad was born
In its day I guess it was a nice new housing development. It has always been well taken care of by its Dutch residents. Flower boxes hung from the balconies and the surrounding planting areas were tidy and colorful. A large park is nearby where the family would spend a lot of time and where "papa" would take a lot of photos.There is a canal across the street where there would have been ice skating when it froze over
Now the area is going downhill as immigrant communities encroach. Holland is less Dutch all the time. We were really dismayed over the amount of graffiti everywhere.
Back view of Dad's apartment complex where he no doubt played as a child.

Tante Annie

This is Dad with grandma's sister, Tante Annie. They are alike in so many ways. Tante Annie has the same kind face and smile as grandma but has the tall body of her father (whom dad takes after) She has lived in the same apartment her whole married life. Her place is  typical dutch -  clean, simple, old, cozy - actually kind of like dad!

european clothes

I love to people watch, especially in Europe. I don't know why we Americans don't do the sidewalk cafe thing and just stare at other people as they walk by as Europeans do. It's great entertainment. Europeans dress as individuals, not cookie cutters of their best friends (except for the 2 guys below). I did see a few trends though; really long chunky necklaces, leggings, and long tops, and knee length tight shorts on guys; here they would look gay...ok back in my US seat, they do seem a little femmy, but they didn't seem that way there. Well here are some of my people watching and store display photos. 

Amsterdam part 2

Our tax write off reason for the trip was to bring Knucklehead samples to a trade show there and meet the reps. I was having fun taking photos of the booths then I was told that it wasn't allowed. It's amazing how many photos you can take with the flash off. Here is the Knucklehead booth but quite frankly our REAL reason for the trip was the cheese and chocolate.

Amsterdam part 1

You're about to see a LOT of posts about our trip to Europe but its the best way for me to share all the stories and photos. First stop, AMSTERDAM. The photos are a crazy dutchman (there are a lot of those), view from our hotel room, view through 7 canal bridges and what ever else I can fit on one blog.






You're about to see a LOT of posts about our trip to Europe but its the best way for me to share all the stories and photos. First stop, AMSTERDAM. The photos are a crazy dutchman (there are a lot of those), view from our hotel room, view through 7 canal bridges and what ever else I can fit on one blog.