The Kilsdonkse Mill is a unique combination of water-flight-corn mill and water pushed oil mill. The corn- mill above it has a tapered base with a nearly cylindrical part, that the restoration has been restored with white Ijssel-stones. The mill has two underlay with contrasting facing water wheels, which can be linked to each other. The mill is located on the south-east of Kildonkseweg in Dinther to the former watercourse of the river Aa.

Known as the Venice of the North, Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

It was a justified motive that prompted UNESCO in 2000 to include the entire historical city centre on the World Heritage list. Walking along the maze of winding cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you imagine yourself to be in medieval times. The wealth of museums is a striking image of this city's stirring history.

Bruges is also home to contemporary culture, such as the new Concert Hall, which is one of the most prominent music complexes in Flanders.

The restaurants in Bruges which offer gastronomic cuisine and the exclusive hotels are a true feast for those who enjoy the good things in life.

Oude-Tonge is now a cozy and attractive village to visit. The small, rustic, port is also very popular with many boaters around Goeree-Overflakkee. Through the various routes on the island, based on the cycling network, touring the village and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

The striking colors of the flowering tulip bulbs are a typical sight in Holland during the spring. The bright red, pink and yellow colors are overwhelmingly beautiful and are a must see, or should we say, a must experience!

Kasteel Duivenvoorde (Castle Duivenvoorde) is in the town of Voorschoten, Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands. It was first mentioned in 1226, making it one of the older castles in Zuid-Holland

The castle is remarkable in that it was never sold; it was inherited by several different noble houses, sometimes through the matrilineal line, something that can be said of very few Dutch castles. For the first five centuries of its history, the castle was owned by one and the same family, namely the Van Duivenvoordes, who gave their name - at that time, van Duvenvoirde - to the castle. Though the castle was named thus, the van Duvenvoirdes properly formed part of the House of Wassenaer, an ancient noble family that has played an important role in Dutch history. Toward the end of the 17th century an owner of Kasteel Duivenvoorde, Johan, retook the name of van Wassenaar, upon which the House of Duivenvoorde became merely another name in the castle’s history.

This is a fantastic castle for photographers. I hope you like the shot I made here.

gr. jaap

Zuidzijde is a hamlet in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee. It lies south of the village of Den Bommel and has 180 inhabitants. The water tower is no longer in service but can still be seen from afar. Another landmark is farmhouse De Lage Werf, one of the oldest buildings on the island which dates back to around 1640, when it was originally build as a country house.

Goeree-Overflakkee is the southernmost delta island of the province of South Holland, Netherlands.

In the spring, the island is known for it's tulip-fields in the most amazing colours. Every year a lot of, mostly Japanese, tourist will visit the island just for the tulips.

The land between rivers Lek and Merwede is a fantastic area to discover by foot, bike, boat, skate or boat. The Alblasserwaard polders are filled with windmills in a characteristic Dutch landscape which reminds us to the fact that this land is below sea-level

In the Alblasserwaard polders there are many trails by foot, skate or bike. Many interesting places can be visited like pittoresque Nieuwpoort, local history museum 'de Koperen Knop', the many cheesefarms and offcourse the world famous Kinderdijk windmills.

Galloping on his nag Rocinante, Don Quixote tried to attack the windmills. With windmills as their only weapons, the Dutch are trying to push back the sea’s never-ending advance. According to some forecasts, in a few hundred years the Netherlands will no longer exist because of global warming. Water will take back from people what they have taken from her. Time will tell if they will have been as bold as the lord of La Mancha, Don Quixote.

What do the Kinderdijk windmills drain? They irrigate time

Known as the Venice of the North, Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

It was a justified motive that prompted UNESCO in 2000 to include the entire historical city centre on the World Heritage list. Walking along the maze of winding cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you imagine yourself to be in medieval times. The wealth of museums is a striking image of this city's stirring history.

Bruges is also home to contemporary culture, such as the new Concert Hall, which is one of the most prominent music complexes in Flanders.

The restaurants in Bruges which offer gastronomic cuisine and the exclusive hotels are a true feast for those who enjoy the good things in life.

Kasteel Duivenvoorde (Castle Duivenvoorde) is in the town of Voorschoten, Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands. It was first mentioned in 1226, making it one of the older castles in Zuid-Holland

The castle is remarkable in that it was never sold; it was inherited by several different noble houses, sometimes through the matrilineal line, something that can be said of very few Dutch castles. For the first five centuries of its history, the castle was owned by one and the same family, namely the Van Duivenvoordes, who gave their name - at that time, van Duvenvoirde - to the castle. Though the castle was named thus, the van Duvenvoirdes properly formed part of the House of Wassenaer, an ancient noble family that has played an important role in Dutch history. Toward the end of the 17th century an owner of Kasteel Duivenvoorde, Johan, retook the name of van Wassenaar, upon which the House of Duivenvoorde became merely another name in the castle’s history.

This is a fantastic castle for photographers. I hope you like the shot I made here.

gr. jaap

Modern mechanized hay production today is usually performed by a number of machines. While small operations use a tractor to pull various implements for mowing and raking, larger operations use specialized machines such as a mower or a swather, which are designed to cut the hay and arrange it into a windrow in one step. Balers are usually pulled by a tractor, with larger balers requiring more powerful tractors.

The land between rivers Lek and Merwede is a fantastic area to discover by foot, bike, boat, skate or boat. The Alblasserwaard polders are filled with windmills in a characteristic Dutch landscape which reminds us to the fact that this land is below sea-level

In the Alblasserwaard polders there are many trails by foot, skate or bike. Many interesting places can be visited like pittoresque Nieuwpoort, local history museum 'de Koperen Knop', the many cheesefarms and offcourse the world famous Kinderdijk windmills.

Another photo from the brouwersdam shoot a few weeks ago. Enjoy your weekend and many thanks for your visit

This picturesque little village was originally situated on an island. Floods were regular and often disastrous. To protect their belongings and themselves from the water, the inhabitants created artificial dwelling hills on which they build their houses. As fishery became the main economic activity, the population grew rapidly. When the Afsluitdijk was finished in 1932, and the Zuiderzee became the fresh water IJsselmeer with no access to the sea, fishery activities came to an end. When the dike between Marken and the mainland was closed in 1957, Marken wasn't even a real island anymore. Nevertheless, the village still has the looks and feel of a fishermen's town and an island. For over a century, it has drawn in visitors who wanted a glance at its traditional costumes and picturesque houses.

Cannenburgh Castle is generally well known because of one particularly famous historical figure, Maarten van Rossum. He built a country house on the remains of a medieval castle in 1543, and it remained in his family until the 1950s. It also remained true to its original blueprints. However, since then, the country estate has become the property of the Stichting Geldersch Landschap and Geldersche Kasteelen national heritage foundations, which have restored it and opened it to the public.

The Zeedijk is a beautiful 17th-century dyke that walks like a ribbon through the Dordrecht polder landscape. In the last century, the dike was planted with trees, mostly poplars, but also ash trees. That happened after the Second War. The poplars on the Zeedijk are now more than 60 years old. It is a beautiful sight, as the trees line the dike. But there is a downside. The trees are increasingly causing problems due to branch breakage. The municipality of Dordrecht has now decided to saw off the beautiful trees on this dike and to change the appearance of this beautiful dike. Work has now begun on cutting it down. I think it is a shame and many with me. Most of us will only remember the old dyke from a photo.

In the picturesque harbor area next to the Groothoofd, Kuipershaven, Wolwevershaven and the Merwekade, dozens of steam-powered ships, machines and vehicles will be on view.

Steamboats will be making round trips on the river. For children, miniature steam trains will be operating. Various (steam)ships will be open for visitors. Sidewalk cafes and live music will provide a sparkling atmosphere. In the Wolweversharborarea ships and facades will be magical highlighted.

Dordrecht has harbours, but no canals. The Voorstraats- harbour forms the backbone of the old city. Graceful bridges connect the Voorstraat and the Wijnstraat, streets that lie on either side of the water. To effectively handle trade, the Nieuwe Haven (1410) and the Wolwevers-harbour (1609) were created, followed later by the Maartensgat and the Kalk- harbour. The unchanged attractive harbour quarter with its warehouses, merchants' mansions, quays and - now - pleasure boats is found between the Grote Kerk and Groothoofd.

Goeree-Overflakkee is the southernmost delta island of the province of South Holland, Netherlands.

In the spring, the island is known for it's tulip-fields in the most amazing colours. Every year a lot of, mostly Japanese, tourist will visit the island just for the tulips.

The National Park also has an important recreational function. Certain creeks will stay navigable and recreational facilities have been created. Quiet forms of recreation that are nature-oriented will be

favored above others types of recreation.

Because the recreation had to make way for the development of nature zones, not open to the public, in the Biesbosch National Park, the Aakvlaai area was rearranged as compensation. It is a kind of Biesbosch on

a small scale. An active promotion of the Biesbosch as a recreation area is avoided to prevent a further increase of visitors to the Biesbosch.

The number of sightseeing boats is regulated by permits. Some of the shipping compagnies use environmentally friendly electric ‘whisper boats’ for their trips.

'Het Speulderbos' is called ' the forest of the dancing trees'. The forest is not just mysterious, it is also very rare. It's a paradise for birds (of prey), deer, badgers and wild boars. So there is enough choice to have a good time!

themselves :)

Mers-les-Bains is a seaside resort and of tourism of the Somme, located on the littoral of the Manche, located near the mouth of Bresle, i.e. just in extreme cases enters Picardy and Normandy. This seaside resort has a pebble beach (and sand with low tide) approximately a kilometer length as well as high chalk cliffs.

Top of these last, close to the statue of Notre-Dame, emerges a vast panorama (accessible to foot while passing in front of the church or conveys some by the plate while following the direction of Blengues) from where it is possible to see the sea, the city close to Tréport, its trade and marina, the city of Eu with in particular its castle and its collegial, then in north to see Ault and the hâble éponyme, in direction of Bay of Somme. In clear weather, the Picardy coast is revealed with the horizon until Marquenterre. Very close to Seas is the Bois de Cise, attached to the commune of Ault, superb residential glazing bar which gives on the sea.

Oude-Tonge is now a cozy and attractive village to visit. The small, rustic, port is also very popular with many boaters around Goeree-Overflakkee. Through the various routes on the island, based on the cycling network, touring the village and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

The striking colors of the flowering tulip bulbs are a typical sight in Holland during the spring. The bright red, pink and yellow colors are overwhelmingly beautiful and are a must see, or should we say, a must experience!

This castle houses a bed and breakfast,and only guests who stay there are allowed on this (private) property,as a staff member told me. They where anti photographer there, we had to go. But after I took a few photo's

The field has been already known since 1350 and has known a rich (construction) history. In the castle are also today a lot of paintings and images which refer among other things to the family history of the successive occupants. Its current view got the castle in 1875, when the couple of Caloen de Besseghem-de Neve de Rode both the exterior and the interior in the then prevalent neo-gothic style let rebuilt and embellishes by the well-known Antwerp architect Schadde. Most striking adaptation, however,was the rebuilding of the castle tower-donjon that during the middle ages stood there.

When I was there an angry man shouting, out the window that I may not make photo's from the castle.

Well I took some.

Brugge, French Bruges, city, Flanders Region, northwestern Belgium, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Zeebrugge, its port on the North Sea. Originally a landing place on the Zwijn estuary, into which the Reie River flowed, it was mentioned in the 7th century as the Municipium Brugense (a name derived from a Roman bridge over the Reie). Brugge’s intricate network of canals has led many to describe the city as the Venice of the North. After it was evangelized by St. Eloi, bishop of Noyon-Tournai, the first counts of Flanders built their castle there (9th century) against Norman invaders. By the 13th century the town held a monopoly on English wool, was a leading emporium for the Hanseatic League, and, with the other “members from Flanders” (Ghent and Ypres), virtually governed the entire province. After maintaining its independence despite an attack by France in 1302, it reached its commercial zenith in the 14th century. At that time it was one of the largest and most important cities in northern Europe. As the Zwijn estuary silted up in the 15th century, the city began to decline as a trade centre but remained brilliant and powerful as the court of the dukes of Burgundy (counts of Flanders from 1384) and as the artistic centre of the Flemish school of painting, until the religious and political struggles of the 16th century completed its eclipse.

Saar loop

Marvel at at the unique physical miracle, created by the strength of the water

The Saar has dug here about annual millions away her way in the stone and therefore has created a physical experience which searches his equals. The probably best known landmark of Saarland can be explored by wheel, by traveling boot, by holiday ship or by own boat. The vantage point 'Cloef' offers the nicest look at the Saar loop in Orscholz.

'Het Speulderbos' is called ' the forest of the dancing trees'. The forest is not just mysterious, it is also very rare. It's a paradise for birds (of prey), deer, badgers and wild boars. So there is enough choice to have a good time!

Ghent.

Proving that Belgians have a sense of both humour and irony, one of the best places to drink beer in Gent is the Waterhuis aan de Bierkant which translates as the Waterhouse on the Beerfront. It is of course the opposite, a beerhouse on the waterfront. It is perhaps both helped and hindered by being mentioned in all the tourist guides but it still attracts the serious drinking locals who tolerate the hoards of tourists with good humour.

A visit in Belgium without a Belgium beer is impossible. This beer house has an amazing beer menu with a lot of Belgium beers. The staff kindly advises you about the best option and the taste is simply amazing. Downstairs you can watch some games on the TV screens and upstairs the bar offers a nice living room style room. Absolute must have experience if you are into a good beer.

Ruurlo is a town and former municipality in the province of Gelderland in the eastern part of the Netherlands. In 2004 it had a population of 8,676.

The town has a station on the Zutphen to Winterswijk railway line, and is served by trains every half hour in both directions. In the evening there is an hourly service.

Ruurlo Castle lies just outside the town and is a popular place for weddings. It is an old castle from the thirteenth century. The castle was used as the town hall up until 1 January 2005, when the municipality Ruurlo merged with the municipalities of Borculo, Neede and Eibergen into the municipality of Berkelland.

Compiled by C.H.C.A. van Sypesteyn (1857 - 1937), a valuable art collection forms the foundation of the Castle-Museum Sypesteyn in Loosdrecht. In addition to the collection of portraits, furniture, silver and glass objects, clocks and sculptures, there is also a beautiful collection of porcelain. The Loosdrecht porcelain is particularly worth seeing.

The castle gardens

A garden with hedges, moats and decorative wrought-iron gates characterize Sypesteyn Castle. Via paths and bridges, you can walk around the maze and cross the canal and take a leisurely stroll through the orchards, the park and the castle garden. You will discover all sorts of indigenous and exotic trees during your stroll.

Tribute to Van Sypesteyn

The lord of the castle did not build it merely as a place to house his art collection. As the last descendant of the Van Sypesteyn line, he wanted to build the castle to pay tribute to his family. The stunning garden and park were built in the 17th-century style. Surrounded by the Loosdrecht lakes and the Vecht River, the area around the castle is also magnificent.

For further information, visit the website of Castle- Museum Sypesteyn.

'Het Speulderbos' is called ' the forest of the dancing trees'. The forest is not just mysterious, it is also very rare. It's a paradise for birds (of prey), deer, badgers and wild boars. So there is enough choice to have a good time!

Mers-les-Bains is a seaside resort and of tourism of the Somme, located on the littoral of the Manche, located near the mouth of Bresle, i.e. just in extreme cases enters Picardy and Normandy. This seaside resort has a pebble beach (and sand with low tide) approximately a kilometer length as well as high chalk cliffs.

Top of these last, close to the statue of Notre-Dame, emerges a vast panorama (accessible to foot while passing in front of the church or conveys some by the plate while following the direction of Blengues) from where it is possible to see the sea, the city close to Tréport, its trade and marina, the city of Eu with in particular its castle and its collegial, then in north to see Ault and the hâble éponyme, in direction of Bay of Somme. In clear weather, the Picardy coast is revealed with the horizon until Marquenterre. Very close to Seas is the Bois de Cise, attached to the commune of Ault, superb residential glazing bar which gives on the sea.

The city centre offers many possibilities for a real voyage of discovery. A city tour takes you along the harbours, the six highest mills in the world, and distilleries and malthouses. You can also follow the footsteps of Saint Liduina, one of the most famous Dutch saints, by admiring her beautiful relics, located in the Liduina Basiliek. The museums, galleries, workshops and specialty shops are definitely worth a visit.

Moreover, throughout the year, the city centre is the backdrop for a large number of public events and has wonderful parks to settle on. Schiedam can also be discovered from the water: from April till October you can take a tour on the Fluisterboot. There are also various mooring points for cruises in the city centre.

The story of the city

The museums of Schiedam tell the story of the city. Relive the olden days in the old grocer’s shop of the Nationaal Coöperatie Museum or in the Jenevermuseum Schiedam, where you can still have a sip of old genever or corn spirit. In the Windmill Museum De Nieuwe Palmboom you can see the miller at work and exhibitions showing the milling history of Schiedam.

In the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam you can enjoy Dutch modern and contemporary art, with Post War as the main exhibition theme. The museum is located in the restored Sint Jacobs Gasthuis and has a wonderful permanent collection of over 250 Cobra works.

Oude Loo Castle, locally known as Kasteel het Oude Loo, lies in the gardens behind the 17th century Royal Loo Palace, in Apeldoorn, in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands.

In the name Oude Loo Castle, Oude translates to 'old' and Loo meant 'forest on sandy soil'.

Oude Loo Castle started out as a farm in the early 15th century, probably built by an Udo Taholt. Later that century it was owned by a Gerrit van Rijswijk who probably fortified the farm.

Later it came into the possession of the Bentinck family. Johan Bentinck rebuilt the castle around 1538-40 into the moated castle we see today. It was rebuilt in an U-shape when residential wings were built against the older front with the round corner towers. In those days it was used as a hunting lodge by Karel, Duke of Gelre.

In 1684 Prince William III, Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland acquired the castle. He also used it as a hunting lodge. But because the castle soon became too small for his hunting parties he built the Loo Palace at a short distance in 1686-88.

In 1795, when the French occupied Holland, the castle was used as a military hospital and the castle fell into neglect.

In 1806 Napoleon Bonaparte appointed his brother Louis Napoleon as King of The Netherlands. Louis resided in the castle during summers. He filled up the moat around the castle because in his youth it was predicted that he would die by drowning.

In 1904 Queen Wilhelmina of Orange ordered the restoration of the castle. This was done by the famous Dutch architect dr. PJH. Cuypers who also built the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and rebuilt De Haar Castle. Also in the 1950's and 1960's restoration works were carried out. The castle is now the private property of the Dutch Royal family who use it at a regular basis. The castle itself is not accessible but the grounds surrounding it are, during April and May.

The National Park also has an important recreational function. Certain creeks will stay navigable and recreational facilities have been created. Quiet forms of recreation that are nature-oriented will be

favored above others types of recreation.

Because the recreation had to make way for the development of nature zones, not open to the public, in the Biesbosch National Park, the Aakvlaai area was rearranged as compensation. It is a kind of Biesbosch on

a small scale. An active promotion of the Biesbosch as a recreation area is avoided to prevent a further increase of visitors to the Biesbosch.

The number of sightseeing boats is regulated by permits. Some of the shipping compagnies use environmentally friendly electric ‘whisper boats’ for their trips.

Ruurlo is a town and former municipality in the province of Gelderland in the eastern part of the Netherlands. In 2004 it had a population of 8,676.

The town has a station on the Zutphen to Winterswijk railway line, and is served by trains every half hour in both directions. In the evening there is an hourly service.

Ruurlo Castle lies just outside the town and is a popular place for weddings. It is an old castle from the thirteenth century. The castle was used as the town hall up until 1 January 2005, when the municipality Ruurlo merged with the municipalities of Borculo, Neede and Eibergen into the municipality of Berkelland.

The Alblasserwaard is a polder in the province South Holland in the Netherlands. It is mainly known for the windmills of Kinderdijk, a village in the northwest of the Alblasserwaard.

The first human inhabitants of the Alblasserwaard settled there after the last Ice Age, around 10.000 years ago. The ice had not reached the area itself, but Eolian deposits created high points in the wet environment. These high points were places where hunter-gatherers settled, as archaeological investigations in the area have shown.

During the Middle Ages several canals and dikes were created to reclaim the land, with the last part being endiked in the second half of the 14th century. Yet numerous floods continued to happen throughout the history of the area, as it is bound by rivers on all sides.

Many farmers, particularly those who feed large herds, have moved to balers which produce much larger bales, maximizing the amount of hay which is protected from the elements. Large bales come in two types, round and square. "Large Square" bales, which can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb), can be stacked and are easier to transport on trucks. Round bales, which typically weigh 300 to 400 kilograms (660–880 lb), are more moisture-resistant, and pack the hay more densely (especially at the center). Round bales are quickly fed with the use of mechanized equipment.

The ratio of volume to surface area makes it possible for many dry-area farmers to leave large bales outside until they are consumed. Wet-area farmers and those in climates with heavy snowfall either stack round bales under a shed or tarp, but have also developed a light but durable plastic wrap that partially encloses bales left outside. The wrap repels moisture, but leaves the ends of the bale exposed so that the hay itself can "breathe" and does not begin to ferment. However, when possible to store round bales under a shed, they last longer and less hay is lost to rot and moisture.

The viewpoint is right on the Moselsteig, so you will pass the point during the walk. The Moselschleife is probably the most striking point of the Moselle region Traben-Trarbach Kröv, because here you can see the meanders of the Moselle in their full glory. From the Kröv side you can see Wolf and the ruins of the Wolfer Kloster as far as Traben-Trarbach and Kröv. Surrounded by vineyards and forests, the Moselle meanders through the Moselle Valley, forming a scenic loop.

In the land of Heusden and Altena a small village is located, called Meeuwen. There‘s a castle that dates back to around 1350. A church with a tower dating from the first half of the 14th century and the White Mill, a corn mill from 1740. In the last World War II years, Meeuwen has been destroyed largery, but was rebuilt after the war.

The Alblasserwaard is a polder in the province South Holland in the Netherlands. It is mainly known for the windmills of Kinderdijk, a village in the northwest of the Alblasserwaard.

The first human inhabitants of the Alblasserwaard settled there after the last Ice Age, around 10.000 years ago. The ice had not reached the area itself, but Eolian deposits created high points in the wet environment. These high points were places where hunter-gatherers settled, as archaeological investigations in the area have shown.

During the Middle Ages several canals and dikes were created to reclaim the land, with the last part being endiked in the second half of the 14th century. Yet numerous floods continued to happen throughout the history of the area, as it is bound by rivers on all sides.

Heath or heathland is a shrubland habitat found on mainly infertile acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. It is similar to moorland, but is generally warmer and drier.

Heaths are widespread worldwide. They form extensive and highly diverse communities across Australia in humid and sub-humid areas. Fire regimes with recurring burning are required for the maintenance of the heathlands. Even more diverse though less widespread heath communities occur in Southern Africa. Extensive heath communities can also be found in California, New Caledonia, central Chile and along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to these extensive heath areas, the vegetation type is also found in scattered locations across all continents, except Antarctica.

The first house was build in the thirteenth century as a hunting lodge used by the counts and dukes of Gelre. The house was named 'Pauwenburcht' (Peacock Castle) because of the white peacocks they kept there. The dukes of Gelre used to wear the feathers on their helmets.

The present house was build in 1905 on the foundations of a house dating from the seventeenth century.

Staverden Castle is build on the foundations of a seventeenth century house.

At the backside of the house lies a small island in a pond. On the the island you can find the tomb of Eleonora. This Eleonora lived at Wildenborgh Castle, one of the eight castles of Vorden. She had a lover, who went on a crusade in the Holy Land. When he was away, another man wanted to gain her by force. When her lover returned home, he was killed by his rival. Eleonora wanted to escape this evil man and fled to Staverden, where a mighty knight lived, who gave her protection. She stayed there for the rest of her unhappy life, always dressed in black.

After her death she was buried on the island in the pond. On moonlit nights, the black lady is seen there, walking to and fro on the island, wringing her hands and lamenting about her lost love.

Castle De Haar is one of the most famous and visited castles in all of Holland and was originally founded in the late 1300’s by the Van de Haar family, whose standing in society allowed them the comfort of building a fortified abode.

By 1449, the castle became the property of the Van Zuylen family thru marriage. In 1482, the castle was destroyed due to differences of opinion (quarrels) between the city of Utrecht and its bishop

By the 17th century, the Van Zuylen family line had become extinct and the castle was inherited by the Van Stembors, who originated from the south of Holland - present day Belgium. French soldiers attacked and damaged the castle during the years 1672 and 73.

In 1801, Castle De Haar passed to JJ.van Zuylen van Nijevelt, a distant cousin of the Zuylen family. JJ had inherited a castle that was in a poor state of repair due to 200 years of neglect. Upon his death, these magnificent ruins passed to his son Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt in 1890.

The rebuilding of the castle was started in 1892 under the guidance of one of Holland’s most famous architects Dr PHJ Cuypers. It is his influence on Castle De Haar that we see today. PHJ Cuypers rebuilt the castle as close as possible to the original outlines and were there was not sufficient material to work with he used his own ideas of what a medieval castle should look like. The interior was rebuilt to a luxurious standard with the inclusion of electricity. A new bailey with an entrance gate was built on its original foundations.

Today the castle is surrounded by parkland but this was not always the case. From the medieval period to the end of the 19th century, the village of Haarzuilens had been surrounded the castle. Haarzuilens was completely demolished and relocated some one and a half kilometres away to the west. The village chapel however was saved from this wilful destruction and incorporated into the new park.

Castle De Haar is now a museum and opens to the public except during the month of September when the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt family turn it back into a home for their month long stay.

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The adres for the car navigator, Kasteel de Haar,

Kasteellaan 1,3455 RR Haarzuilens.

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors, and can also assist in aerial navigation. Once widely used, the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and replacement by modern electronic navigational systems.

The former municipality of Dirksland consisted of Melissant, Herkingen, and Dirksland. The 1953 flood did not have such an enormous effect on these places, because the lands they are on lay generally higher than the rest of the island. Dirksland was the biggest of the three and also has the only hospital on the island. The Van Weel-Bethesda hospital is one of the smallest in the country, but has an excellent reputation, coming out very high in national hospital grade polls. Dirksland is recognizable from a distance by the biggest water tower of the country. The towns are agriculturally focused and have several camping grounds for people who prefer a quiet locality in contrast to the busy Ouddorp area, but who still want to be close to the shore. Dirksland has an inland harbor with a newly restored gate complex. Herkingen lies on the south side of the island and borders the Grevelingenmeer, a saltwater lake that has been disconnected directly from the North Sea by the Brouwersdam, but still connects to the Oosterschelde which is saltwater. The Grevelingenmeer is a large watersports area with the main recreational areas on Schouwen-Duiveland. Herkingen is trying to join in with the tourism industry and has quite a large yachting harbor. The town of Herkingen currently hosts several of the biggest modern windmills in the country.