Nieuwjaarsborrel
New Year’s Get-Together, January
12, 2008
Dutch National Heritage Open
Air Museum at Arnheim
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We used the occasion for celebrating the traditional
Dutch New Year to meet with our Dutch friends from the Interbellum Club
and revisit the Open Air Museum at Arnheim in Holland, based on our pleasant
experience last year. This year there were twice as many participants,
marking an auspicious beginning for the upcoming year.
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| The museum had opened several different exhibition
areas for visitation since last time, which enabled us to view more of
their impressive collection. The museum’s rotating rearrangement of various
attractions combine to make each visit new and interesting. There’s still
much more to discover, and we’ll certainly return! |
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One of the highlights of our visit was again
taking a trip on the historic tram. However, this time our increased attendance
allowed us to fill one wagon of the electric trolley-car completely. |
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| In the restored Holland-style barn, where
diverse replica toys are made in strict accordance with old craftsmanship,
one must quickly grasp the natural instinct for play. This was especially
exciting because the function of each instrument or game had to be discovered
on the first attempt. |
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One could stock up on various household items,
small accessory goods and Dutch sweets in the furnished grocer's shop and
the candy store.
By the way, it should be noted that Dutchmen
clearly have a different concept of confectionery delectableness than we
do! |
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| After a long walk in rather cold and blustery
weather, we enjoyed the welcome chance “to warm up” with hot beverages
in the little antique tavern -- just like last year. |
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Naturally everyone later enjoyed a “Poffertjes”
(Dutch mini-pancake) dinner together. |
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It was thrilling to enliven the museum by
having such a large group of people dressed authentically in 40s fashion.
Our group attracted considerable interest from other visitors, and led
to many nice discussions with the museum staff and workers – many of whom
still recognized us from the last event.
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| Following the trip to the museum, we all made
a stop at the preserved farmstead of Aunt Janna and Hendrik. They have
created their own unique museum filled with centuries of representative
tools, handicrafts, implements, vehicles, bicycles and much more (far too
many to list here).
Our “Nieuwjaarsborrel” get-together ended on
a cozy note with pea-soup served with brown bread and ham, a traditional
Dutch dish for cold weather.
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At this point, we wish again to extend our
most cordial appreciation to Janna and Hendrik for their marvelous hospitality,
as well as the extremely interesting tour of their remarkable private museum. |
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A few more snapshots of our “Niewjaarsborrel”
event are here.
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Further information about the Dutch National Heritage Open Air Museum
at Arnheim can be found here:
www.openluchtmuseum.nl
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(Many thanks to Shelby L. Stanton for English
translation)
Copyright © 2008 LG3949.de
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