Netherlands May 11 2017 Blog
May 12, 2017 at 2:03 AM
Arrived in Amsterdam - Windmill & Cheese Factory
The group arrived into Amsterdam, Netherlands just shortly after 10 am local time. Great flight and we arrived to 20C weather with beautiful blue skies. We spent a little time visiting a canal on the outer region of Amsterdam. Later in the afternoon we visited a working dairy and cheese farm. The farmer took us on a short tour of his facility including the milking barns, cheese factory and his wooden shoe wood working shop. He was telling us that there are only 3 working shops in all of the Netherlands that make wooden shoes. He demonstrated his 80 year only shoe copy carving machine and within 3 minuets he had made a shoe. Interesting to also learn the shoes are made from Canadian poplar wood. We then continued on to Armersfoort and checked into our hotel we will be staying here during our entire tour.
Tomorrow we head to Alkmaar to visit the famous cheese market. Cheese has been traded here since 1593. Very traditional and interesting region. Enjoy a few photos from our journey and more updates and pics tomorrow evening.
Toronto by iPhone as we departed last night.
Arriving Netherlands this morning, notice all the windmills in the ocean. iPhone shot.
Amsterdam airport is a huge hub within this part of the world and heavy air traffic at all times. The airport is designed that a major freeway runs through the centre of the airfield. It looks like the 747 is racing the cars. Another iPhone shot.
Welcome to Holland, a three century old windmill and still a private residence today.
The owner has the gardens done up very creatively.
This heron was nesting close to the windmill.
Next to the windmill is student garden plots, where the children plant their own gardens and tend to their crops.
This boat captain looks very comfortable traveling up the near by canal. It's interesting to note that this part of the countryside is 3 meters below sea level.
Michelle Rondeau taking a photo of a near by memorial. Happy Birthday Michelle and thank you to Sue Smith for the photo.
The start of our visit to the Dairy and Cheese operation.
Gina makes a friend. It was a moo-ving experience.
The cheese ...
The owner had Gina hold out her hand as he shred some of the cheese for the group to try.
It's pretty heavy ... Thanks Sue Smith for the photo.
Gina letting Brian taste the cheese.
On to the wood working shop where the owner makes the wooden shoes. This is becoming a lost art. Only three companies in all of the Netherlands now make shoes.
After the shoes are cut they have to hang and dry out before applying the finish. All his shoes are made from Canadian poplar wood.
Many children's shoes drying.
A great B&W of the owner making shoes shot by Sue Smith. Thanks Sue.
Time to head out.
Heading down the treed lane enroute to our hotel.
That's a wrap for this evening. It's 12:30 a.m. here and time to head to bed as we have an early start as we head out to the cheese market. Good night from the Trekkers in the Netherlands.