Anne Frank's House

This was no doubt the single best museum I have ever been to. It is the house that Anne Frank and her family hid out in when German forces occupied Holland. So moving and just unbelievable what that family and all of the Jewish people went through. And told from an 11 year olds point of view. Completely sobering to stand in her bedroom after reading her diary and knowing her story as the whole world does.
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Zaanse Schans

This is a very pretty little town with lots of picturesque windmills. Too bad we couldn't get better pictures with the rain.
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Dutch Gouda Cheese-Yummy!!

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A traditional clog maker

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Thank goodness it comes in kid sizes!

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The streets of Volderdam

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Here I am eating cod from the village

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Dutch homes in the village of Merken

Touring the small dutch village of Merken. There are about 2000 residents (and we are told a lot of inbreeding) The homes are tiny-so you definitely know your neighbors!! This village has been here since the 13th century with homes built on stilts until the water was pumped out--by windmills, of course.
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Holland's Countryside

Today is our last day here and we are taking a countryside tour. We are heading to Volendam, Marken and the Windmills. We are going to a traditional cheese farm and of course a clog maker! I have to get some clogs, right??
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Hollands version of the SUV

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Da Cathedral

Built in the 15th century it took 170 years to complete. Done in Baroque and Gothic architecture
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Rubens Painting

Antwerp is the hometown of Peter Paul Rubens and several of his paintings hang in Da Cathedral
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Antwerp, Belgium

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Time for some Belgian waffles

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The Steen-A medieval castle in Antwerp

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On to Belgium

Today we took the train from Holland to Belgium, a town called Antwerp. A beautiful, gothic style city. It was only an hour and a half train ride, and very comfortable. This is a picture of the gorgeous train station.
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The flower market

Here is Doug at the flower market where the sell thousands of tulip bulbs. Sunday we took a canal cruise and spent time at the Van Gogh museum. Then we ate in Chinatown for dinner-great meal!!
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Its Gay Pride weekend in Amsterdam!

Wow--they are out there and proud! We watched the boat parade where they had 80 boats decorated going through the canals of Amsterdam
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On our way to Amsterdam-no kids this time!!

Here we are on our flight to Amsterdam. The kids are staying with my parents and here we are leaving on Friday and coming home on Wednesday.
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