A TRIP TO HOLLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 16 June 1924, Page 10

A TRIP TO HOLLAND.

A TIMARUVIAN’.S IMPRESSIONS

In a letter some friends in Timaru, Mr Nevin Snutn, wno is visiting xtugland, in order to continue fiio musical studios, describes an interesting trip to Holland. ivlnle crossing uie Atlantic from New lork to Southampton, Air Santii became acquainted witn some interesting JJuten people, wno insisted on ms paying a visit to Holland. Armed witn a, sheaf of introductions he setout for Holland.

“On awaking after a refreshing sleep, I went on ucck, and witnessed a sight, which i snail never iorget. .We were proceeding up the river towards Rotterdam, and on either side were myriads of ships, there being countless barges and tugs mingled with stately ocean liners. At 9 a.m. we berthed at Rotterdam. The city is a maze of canals and bridges, the canals being built higher than tiio surrounding land. The houses are below the level of the canals, and in the majority of cases ,the back yards face on to the canals. There arc numberless windmills, and all are beautifully thatched. The houses, which border the canals, have red tiled roofs, while the windows contain pot plants, bearing the most beautiful blooms. Tho girts are very good looking having tine skins, bine or grey eyes, and excellent teeth.

“On travelling by canal to Delft, one of the strangest sights was an enormous barge, used as a house boat, in which the weaving industry was carried out. From the windows of this boat, wonderful views of the fiat Dutch country, with its unrivalled green grass, can be obtained. In tho evening the green fields, studded with black and- wnite cows, together with stately windmills, and exquisite cloud effect’s, as a back ground, form a picture that cannot be forgotten. “The hotel at which I stayed in Rotterdam, charged me 6s 6d per day. A bath was 2s extra. Breakfast consisted of three slices of white bread, one roll, a boiled egg, one slice of ham, a sausage and smoked salmon (raw), a pot # or coffee. The Dutch people are passionately fond of bright colours, and always use bright paint, on their houses and barges. One can imagine the wonderful reflections these houses make in the still waters of tho canals.

“In Rotterdam the barge life takes the same position in the city life, as the road traffic does in New Zealand. Many of the barges are between 200 and 300 feet long, and have oilburning engines.. It is quite a common sight to see tugs towing as many as half-a-dozen barges along the waterways. Sailing barges with their beautifully coloured sails, make a wonderful sight, proceeding along the canals. The appointments on these craft are very up-to-date. The canals, stretching for miles and milOS, have thick reed beds at the sides which are a great protection to the banks. They also serve the people with material for basket making. Talking of basket making 1 must not omit to mention brickmaking, which is still one of the most important industries in Holland. All the churches, big buildings and houses, are constructed of bricks, and practically every road and footpath is made of small red bricks. “As an artist’s paradise, Holland has unlimited possibilities, for everywhere one goes scenes of exquisite beauty are presented. "When in I visited the Cathedral, the town nail, and the Weigh House.' It was remarkable that these buildings should be of such beautiful architecture, especially in such a small town. I then journeyed to. The .Hague, in order to see the pictures by Rembrandt and Van Steen. The Hague is a splendid up-to-date town, built mostly on sand hills, and in close proxinjity to Schovemng, which is on the sea coast and one of the most fashionable sea side resorts. “From The Hague one passes through miles and miles of beautiful Woods, reaching almost to the seashore. Returning to The Hague, 1 took the little motor boat for Delft, which is a fascinating little town, with its bridges, and ever-changing reflections. My next move was to the capital, Amsterdam, which is a glorious city with handsome buildings, and beautifully architecture. The canals there are on a big scale, and add much to the splendour and the beauty of the city. Amsterdam is not so picturesque, as many of the other towns, but is very alluring. There is much life, and the young people never seem to go to bed until about two o’clock in the morning. The life in many ways resembles Berlin in the prosperous days before the war. 1 found my knowledge of German invaluable, not being able to speak Dutch. A feature of Amsterdam, was the enormous number of bicycles in use, and the enormous speed at which they travel. No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to the cheese market at Alkmaar, held there every Friday morning, commencing at daybreak. It is a groat sight to see thousands upon thousands of cheeses lined up on the different tarpaulins. For centuries past Alkmaar has been. the centre of the Dutch cheese industry, and it is interesting to notice the old customs kept up today. The men wear straw turned-up hats, of the brightest colours, white shirts and white trousers. All the cheeses are carried on wooden sleighs —two men to each sleigh. “My next trip was to Volendaur and Murber, by boat from Amsterdam. It takes a whole clay. At these places one sees the Dutch fisher-folk in the simple costumes dating back centuries. The people here are all finely built, and the men all chess in black. Outside Volendaur, are hundreds of little farms, all situated below sea-level. A huge wall protects the people from the inroads of the sell. Returning to Amsterdam before I left for England, I took an interesting motor boat trip through the ennais and locks of tho city. 1 was amazed at the extraordinary waterways and old bridges. The trip is full of interest and took over three hours.