Santpoort, Netherlands

Mar 24, 2012

Dinner with many of the Koopen family was a whole lot of fun for everybody. Great food and great company, fortunately for us they make it easy for us as everyone can speak very good English including all the children.

Spaarndam, Netherlands

Mar 24, 2012

Ilse, Anna and Zoe at lunch in Haarlem after we visited the St Bavo church.

Spaarndam, Netherlands

Mar 24, 2012

A typical Dutch windmill built to pump out the water and reclaim the land for farming.

Spaarndam, Netherlands

Mar 24, 2012

Hans Brinker statue of the finger in the dike story symbolising Hollands ongoing efforts to manage the water. Much of the area inhabited is below sea level. Our expert tour guides were Nicolette, Maaike and Ilse.

Spaarndam, Netherlands

Mar 24, 2012

A view of the inlet area which is protected from the higher sea level of the ocean by a series of locks to maintain the different water levels but allow the shipping traffic to pass through.