Well you can’t go to the Netherlands and not go on a canal trip, so here we are at the beginning of it (I think) I took loads of photos from the boat, just because the buildings all look so different.
I have to say that the water is really murky brown but I did actually see a man dangling a fishing rod into it. I wouldn’t fancy eating anything which was swimming around in it, mind you I think he was being optimistic because I can’t imagine that fish would survive in it!
I find it difficult to tell how old some Dutch buildings are, places which seemed very well preserved and youngish to me were actually about 400 years old, I have no idea about the ones above but I suspect they are quite historic.
The photo above features a houseboat, I don’t think it will be a very quiet or comfy existence because they are sandwiched between a busyish road and on the edge of a busy waterway with tourist boats constantly going past, they must be able to hear the tour guides’ spiel, in several languages! The large wooden wing shaped thing on the left of the boat is actually a stabiliser which is used when the houseboats take part in races!
A lot of the old buildings were originally warehouses for gin, tobacco or whatever, and they have been converted into living accomodation.
So that’s a few of the views which I got of Groningen from the canal, which hopefully will give you some kind of idea of what the place is like.
It looks like a lovely place. In The Spell of Holland, the author and his wife skipped Groningen because it was too modern, even admitting that it was, I think, about 900 years old! I love the old brick buildings and the converted warehouses. You just can’t build character into a new house. That takes age.
I was wondering what that flat thing next to (on) the houseboat was. I can’t imagine what a houseboat race looks like! Especially in a canal!
Joan,
I know, the mind boggles at something so unwieldy in a race – on a canal! I know what you mean about old buildings, I also prefer all those echoes of layers of people who have inhabited places, it’s what gives a place atmosphere!
So exotic looking to me. I love old too, just for the same reason you said, layers of people that walked there, loved there and even read when it’s books.
Peggy Ann,
It looks quite exotic to me too, their roofs always seem steeper than ours.