Holland 1970

When I was living in Germany back in 1970, I had an opportunity to take a break from my studies on a long weekend and take a trip to The Netherlands or Holland as we called it. When a group of us went to Kiel, Germany to study, the university assigned a professor to accompany the group, along with his wife and daughter, Professor Lowell Bennion, his wife Merle and daughter Ellen. They had something none of the students had...a car! They really wanted to go to Holland to see the tulips in bloom and invited a couple of us to ride along. Here are Ellen Bennion, Saundra Shurtleff, Merle Bennion and Lowell Bennion standing on top of one of the dikes next to the ocean. The dikes are even wide enough for vehicle traffic!




As you see, the flat fields of tulips reach about as far as the eye can see.



Sometimes the fields of tulips were broken up by fields of daffodils...and a picturesque windmill.



Since they don't really grow the tulips to impress the tourists in this field, but rather for the bulbs, this sad pile of petals is thrown away! They cut the flowers right off the tulips so that the strength will go to the bulb.





Not everyone traveled by car. The extensive canal system was quite noticeable, complete with bridges that lift to let boats go by, and stoplights on the canal. If you look carefully you can see the barge approaching the bridge.



This house is part of the town of Staphorst which holds with more traditional, conservative beliefs. Many of the folks there still wear traditional clothing such as the wooden shoes worn by the little girl in the picture. The houses have the old thatched roofs and green doors.






It was really early Spring, so the leaves were just beginning to bud on the trees. The morning mist had not yet burned off in this park.



Next we went to Madurodam which is a miniature city composed of famous buildings, old and new, from throughout the country. Tiny railroads and canals wind through the site. You can get an idea of the scale by noticing the people wandering around. It is like the ultimate model railroad!











Look! That large ship is on fire! No fear though, the smaller fire boat comes to put out the fire.






If you look carefully you can see the little cows grazing happily in the field in front of the windmills.



The edges of the city are all landscaped with beautiful tulips and daffodils.



Best of all, as we were leaving, we found a great European rarity...a water fountain!