Wandering Willemstad - 26 April

Tuesday morning,

Bob walked down the stairs and I took the elevator

we had breakfast.

green tea

Belgian waffles

Our room was on the water side, so we could see the ducks swimming around the edges of the marshland. We saw ducks, and a swan and also some birds I have tentatively identified as coots. It was very cold and somewhat windy, but the birds seemed to be going about their business as usual.

We were docked right in town

Town from the dock

Town from the ship dock

and were scheduled to hear an organ recital but Bob was needing to stay close to the bathroom so I decided to go to Willemstad on my own. I just wanted to take some pictures. I could see a windmill from our cabin,

Windmill from the ship (over the marina)

and it appeared to be a sunny day (although it was cold)

Sign at the entrance to the port

There was a Belgian Cemetery listed on the map and since that was close to the ship, Bob went and took pictures there,

Gate Belgian War Cemetery

The Belgian tribute cemetery in Willemstad (Moerdijk) contains the graves of 159 Belgian soldiers. There is a concrete memorial which is 1 meter high, 3 meter wide and 3 meter deep with the names of 159 Belgian soldiers. The cemetery was dedicated on the 14th of April 1950 and officially opened on the 29th of May 1950.

On the sign which was placed next to the fence is a sign which says (loosely translated)

BELGIAN MILITARY CEMETERY 1940

On this spot is the common grave of the 159 Belgian soldiers who died in the Netherlands during World War Two. Most of them were captured near Gent on the 28th of May 1940 by the German army. They were transported in four ships to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. The ships followed the route from the Westerschelde via the channel through Zuid - Beveland and the Oosterschelde to the Hollands Diep. Close to Willemstad on the 30th of May 1940, one of the ships, the "Rhenus 127" sailed over a German magnetic mine, which made the overloaded ship with 1,200 prisoners explode in the middle. It broke in two and sank. Most of the prisoners were rescued and were cared for by the citizens of Willemstad. But almost 200 Belgian soldiers drowned. Most of them found their last resting place in this cemetery. Later on a few other Belgian soldiers who died elsewhere in the Netherlands were also laid to rest here

Sign in two languages

The side with the inscription in French

The side with the inscription in Dutch which says HERE LIES 134 BELGIANS fallen for their fatherland and ours 30 may 1940

In 1963 they added two memorial stones to the monument.

One of the two extra grave markers

I went on a more wide ranging safari. First I had to get off the ship but there was sand at the bottom of the ramp which of course meant that I got stuck there.

Next to the dock

A very brief setback and soon overcome.

Windmill from the ship

I went and took photos of the lighthouse and what I thought was the fire station next to it. (It turned out to be a lifeboat station)

Willemstad Light from the water side

Willemstad Light and rescue building

This is a currently inactive (since 1989) lighthouse located on the Lantaarndijk on the waterfront of Willemstad, overlooking the Hollands Diep, a segment of the lower Maas east of the junction of the Haringvliet and Brouwershaven, the estuaries north and south of Goeree-Overflakkee. The station was established in 1820, but the old tower was destroyed in WWII. So the current 33 ft square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, unpainted; lantern painted yellow with a red conical roof only dates back to 1947. The original lighthouse was an interesting pentagonal cast iron skeletal tower. There may be a small museum in the lighthouse, but I did not investigate this. The lighthouse is located next to what I thought was a firehouse - the sign on it translates as Rescue. But pieter_jan_v 5 of VirtualTourist explained that Reddingsbrigade = LIFEBOAT brigade so it isn't a firehouse. And that makes sense as it is right next to a lighthouse which is for sailors. There was a marina past the lighthouse

View of the river with the marina

Battery Marina

The marina on the other side near the lighthouse is called Battery Marina (Jachthaven De Batterij). It is where the Dutch came ashore in 1793 and overpowered the French (Napoleon). Google translation of this event:
Carel van Boetzelaer decided, the then governor, that attack was the best defense. In a battalion in the inner gathered early morning of March 15 to 58 volunteers from the State troops. By ship they were brought up just outside the Water. In silence they went ashore and got on their hands and feet on the Lantern Dijkje direction Westdijk. Once at the French battery, the assailants were unexpectedly and brutally overpowered. Shortly after this attack the enemy's drums were stirred and wisely blown retreat ..

Then I went out into the town (which is inside a perfect star shaped fort). If you look at a map of Willemstad you will see that the original small town is inside of a star shaped fort (seven points) with a moat around the fort. The fort walls, covered with grass are all around the small town.

water entrance - gap in the moat

This is an old map which shows the sea gate -right - Willemstad

Jeroen van der Werf describes the area (and I don't understand the description because I'm not familiar with the Old Dutch System) so I am quoting him here: The fortifications were designed according to the Old Dutch System, only here the flanks of the bastions' are not perpendicular to the curtain walls but have a retreated curved shape .. and are quite short. In later years some of these flanks were modified to make them perpendicular to the curtain wall. Apart from the walls facing the sea, which were revetted in brick, all the ramparts were unrevetted earthworks. The seaward front of the town consists of two bastions with water in front of them. Between this water and the river (which in the past was part of the sea) there is a glacis, which prevented ships from coming too close to the walls and gave extra protection against enemy fire......the overall form of the current fortress dates from the 1680's

Fort wall near the lighthouse

Fuel barge in front of AmaViola

In addition to marinas for yachts, Willemstad is also regularly visited by river cruise ships, and has a dock and facilities for these ships. There is a fuel provider there (Olie-Benzine) which appears to be a barge which also has gasoline. It says bunkering is available.

Fuel barge

Sign and stop light at entrance

Sign about the 2014 winner

The Entente Floral competition of Europe (Willemstat was the 2014 winner) is a civil initiative involving 55 million Residents living in 25,000 towns and cities that aims to make areas more beautiful and livable. The competition wants the streets to be tidy, the front gardens neat, and the balconies are decorated with flowers. It is run by the AEFP (The European Association for Flowers and Landscape) stands for:
•Awareness among those in charge of our towns and villages, elected or others, of respect for the landscape and of the requirement of an environmental /ecological approach.
•A planned approach to the improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants of towns and villages.
•Convincing people to become active participants.
•Awareness and educational initiatives which will increase respect for quality actions
•The vital role played by education, training and proper information flows.
•The importance of a well structured communication policy

Pansies

More flowers

Clair de Lune - the bike barge

Sign about Bike Barge holidays

I saw a boat advertising the boat-bike tours from a company called Hat-Tours. Two of the tours are:

Highlights of Holland (HOH)
Beach, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Towns (historic), Travel guidance, City walk, Museum, Windmill, IJssel Lake, Hoorn, Bathing resort, Holland, Barge, Flower Park Keukenhof, Fishing village, Zaanse Schans, Sea

Castles & Walled Towns (KVP)
Hanseatic town, Amsterdam, Castle, City walk, Museum, Nature, Barge, River, Fishing village, National Park, Harderwijk, Holland, Netherlands, Travel guidance, Towns (historic)

Clair de Lune - the bike barge

Old Dutch Boat

Guardhouse at the entrance from the port

Wall opposite the guardhouse

The fort was built with two entrances - one if by land and one if by sea. The land entrance has a gatehouse where the gate keeper lived and that still survives. I did not get out to the gatehouse, but this was the sea entrance

The Arsenal

I took some photos of the Arsenal (which is right inside the sea gate) but found it confusing to identify it, because during the Napoleonic Wars there was another armory which is where there is a warehouse now, and that photo kept coming up.

Possible warehouse location of the first arsenal

I was only able to identify it positively after I saw an article which said that a subsequent owner of the building put bells on the front.

Carillon Bells

In 1791 Prince William V told the State Council that he was willing to contribute to the reconstruction of the armory at Willemstad. The new one would have the same length, but they would widen the shore side so the total width of the new building would be about 44 feet. The new arsenal alsol needed a cistern with a capacity of four hundred tons of water for the garrison. The Arsenal was designed by the architect Philip William of Orange Schonck. It was originally divided into three naves with the corresponding three-part facade. However, its design has since been adapted. This is described (as translated from the Dutch) as: The tripodal ground floor with two rows of thick wooden poles, for practical reasons has been changed to a naves, whereby there were also needed instead of three, but two ports. Those gates were provided with a hard stone classicist frame in which black ornament painting. The keystones show to deter a Medusa head with snakes and two swords surrounded by two eagles.
After 1926, the arsenal remained in use for storage of military equipment. In the late sixties, the building was sold to Mr F. van Welzenes, who applied to a carillon bells. On January 19, 1973 the completely restored Arsenal was officially opened and is now used for cultural events like concerts and exhibitions as well as for receptions.

The Arsenal from near Anno 1610

Hotel and restaurant

Near the Arsenal was a hotel, Het Wapen van Willemstad: The Weapon of Willemstad This is the oldest hotel-restaurant of Willemstad. It underwent a thorough renovation in February 2013.

Menu board outside

Water pump opposite the hotel

Trash can

Tourist information board

There is a bulletin board with Tourist Information by the Old Town Hall.

Handicapped parking

Old Town Hall and cannon

Old Town Hall from the side

Our information from the ship said In front of the harbor, the 16th century former Stadhuis is distinguished by it's octagonal tower, double curved gable and black and white shutters.

Top of the tower

Town hall mermaid wind vane

In the Napoleons time the tower top was replaced by a semaphore, but after the fall of Napoleonn in 1815 the top was reconstructed.

Old Town Hall

Tower from below

The Old Town Hall was build on order of Prince Maurits in 1587. The building was was designed in such a way, that on Sundays church services could be held (there was no funding to build two buildings at that time).

Detail of the arches on the ground floor

It now houses the Ceramic Museum (Ceramisch Museum), with pottery and other wares (17th-20th centuries) recovered by excavation

Old Town Hall Tower

Town crest over the Old Town Hall door

Bellevuw Restaurant and Wine Bar

This is right on the harbor, According to the website, there is the Merlot Winebar adjacent to the terrace along the inner harbor of Willemstad and the Salon Liem Sian &; Salon Wigant upstairs. The Traces of War website says: Willemstad was right in the mobilization for a location that was occupied by quartermasters and the staff of the Inundation Station Willemstad. On 24 august 1939 were first mobilized soldiers already arrived in Willemstad and they were housed in Hotel Bellevue and Het Wapen van Willemstad

alley beside the Bellevue

Past the Old Town Hall were several restaurants which were not open at the early hour I was there.

Bora Bora

City Cafe

Facade of a building near the town hall

Listed Buildings

Listed Building

Pretty old building

Roof top detail

As I was going down the center of the main street,

Main street

ATM?

Tree buds against the sky

Street lamp

Gecko logo seats and table

Gecko

Texaco station on the main street

Close-up of the Texaco station

Truck getting gas

I was taking notice of the various shopping places,

Postcards and souvenir shop with no ramp

and I saw Het Rozemarijntje with a ramp. So when it started to rain, I turned around and went in with my scooter.

Front of the shop

The shop keeper was very friendly and we had a nice chat. She showed me a paper with a photo which showed that it snowed in Amsterdam the previous day. This is mostly a book store, but they do have some other items.

Cards and books

I got a tin of Dutch cookies, some coasters in the shape of house facades, a cute child's book about a cow, and a small tin of candy for 21 €

tin of Dutch cookies

Coasters

Stroopwafel (Dutch waffle cookie)

The Cow who Fell in the Canal book

Page in the Cow Who Fell in the Canal book

Candy tin

Two gifts

There were also some nice wooden wine containers in the shape of Dutch row houses, but I was afraid they would be crushed in my suitcase

Wine containers upper left and foods

Flowers in the sidewalk outside the shop

When the rain/sleet stopped, I left and went over and took photos of the windmill and some of the fort walls, and the marina. Unfortunately, I this meant that missed going to the Dome Church

Dome Church

The Dome church was heavily damaged during the artillery shellings of the Allies between 30-10-1944 and 06-11-1944. The church was restored in 1959.

Trees and houses

Street and front gardens

Path around the walls

Another view of the path

There is a path along the fort walls, which I did not take. I did see it, or part of it when I went up to the windmill.

Stream and bridge

Wheels to control water?

There are also some big wheels which I think must be some kind of sluice gate which regulates water flow, although I don't know exactly how they work. I saw one right up next to the windmill and another one down by the stream
Jeroen van der Werf in Fortified Places says"
To regulate the water level in front of the two seaward bastions there are sluices in the western dam and near the harbour on the eastern side. On the harbour side a second sluice is made to flood the ditch inside the town. To regulate the water level in the ditch surrounding the town and the covered way'as well as a means to flood the polder a third sluice was made near the only landward gate to the town. Protecting this gate is the only demi-lune'in the fortress* But he has no photos of the sluices so I don't know whether these are what he was talking about or not

Earthworks from behind the lighthouse

Fort wall near the windmill

Another view from near

There are good views of the fort walls below the windmill

Windmill

Windmill - closer

Windmill

d'Orangemolen

The town also has a windmill high up above the town. In the 1500's the land was a muddy marshland, used by shepherds. A Dutch marquis turned the area into a polder. This polder (called originally Ruigenhil) was in a very strategic position between the south and north parts of the Netherlands and on an important Dutch river, the Maas. William of Orange (aka William the Silent) caused the fort with a moat 125 feet wide to be built to protect against the Spanish, and after he died his son the town went to his son Maurits. The windmill which was originally a flour mill is called d'Orangemolen. The windmill is up high on the moat wall and is visible from just about everywhere in town. It is very old, having been built in 1734 as a corn mill. It has been decommissioned, but visits are possible by appointment. This windmill was the one that I saw up close on this trip. One side of the windmill is white and the other side is brown (described in a datebase as a round stone mill partly plastered and whitewashed. The hood is covered with roofing felt.

Next to the windmill

Close to the windmill looking up

Windmill from Marina

Road past the marina near the windmill

Marina from the base of the windmill

Ramp to the docks with fort wall in back

This is one of the two marinas in Willemstad. It is below the windmill on the same side as where AmaViola docked. Most of the boats appeared to be sailboats - there was a forest of masts. Sailing is big in the Netherlands. There is a nearby chandler (a store to buy boat stuff) called Yacht Willemstad.

Yacht Willemstad

Pub Anno 1610

Anno 1610 is the oldest Pub in Willemstad.

't Pumpke

't Pumpke has a covered and heated terrace so that you can enjoy the view but be out of the weather. Back to the AmaViola

AmaViola

AmaViola at the dock

Vista

There was a restaurant out on the end of the dock past where the AmaViola was docked. Their website says that VISTA stands for vastness by which I think they mean that all the way out there you have good views all around you.

We had lunch (I had pumpkin soup and spare ribs)

Flowers on the ship

and then we decided not to take the excursion to Kinderkdjilk because Bob was still sticking close to the bathroom and I had already been there with our granddaughter in 2009. Our ship had to leave the dock a bit early - there were white caps on the larger body of water beyond us.

View from our cabin near Dortdrect

We rode the ship around to Dortdrect. The people who went to Kinderdjilk had a very cold, windy and wet trip. That evening, we had the talk about disembarkation, and met the crew.

Meeting the crew - Chefs

Our cabin steward

Wine glasses and tulips

Appetizer

For dinner there was a

California Sushi Roll

Salmon, scallops, shirmp appetizer

Crayfish Bisque and Puff Pastry Strip

Sorbet(which had alcohol in the bottom)

Bob's Sea bass and saffron rice

my Roast Beef Tenderloin

Stracciatella Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce

Petit Fours

Tomorrow we will be in Amsterdam and will go see Tulips