Monday 29 June 2009

that's My World, 's Hertogenbosch, boat tour.






Another Dutch city is 's Hertogenbosch or Den Bosch. It's the capital of one of the 12 provinces, the province of Noord- Brabant and the city was built on the river Dieze. The Dieze is a modest stream that finishes its course just outside Den Bosch in the Maas river. Within the old city limits, many branches once formed a network of canals. A unique feature of Den Bosch is that the canals still exist, but lack of building space forced the old inhabitants to build their houses over the Binnendieze (as the canals are now called). You can now make a boat tour along the canals and this will lead you through many hidden (and atmospherically dark) corners of town!
The canals had been used as a waterway, a washing place, a sewer and a place for drinkwater, which was very unhealthy of course. Now the sewers are not any longer in the canals, but they were placed in a closed sewer system and connected to the buildings.
We did this trip on 11th June and I had no idea that it was so impressive. I enjoyed every minute of it and so did my South African relatives.


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35 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

Oh Wil.......this was just a stunning, breath taking ride you took us on! And I SAW RAIN!
Was that you under the unbrella?
Thank you for the ride!

Rune Eide said...

What is hidden is often more interesting than what is out in the open. In more ways than one.

Thank you for the tour!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Interesting readerwil. We tend to call your country Holland but I see that that is only one part of it - so henceforth I shall call it The Netherlands.

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Reader Wil, what an extraordinary trip down the canals in Den Bosch. I so enjoyed this peek into your world. Somehow it reminded me of the film, "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (based on the Tracy Chevalier book of the same name that is inspired by Vermeer's painting, "Girl with a Pearl Earring"). Beautiful atmosphere. I once stayed on a "flotilla" (?) a rough-ish boat-hotel on the canal. It was a bit of an adventure. Your trip sounds fun and includes a bit of the mysterious, ie, dark hidden views and all... Thanks for sharing.<3

Middle Ditch said...

That was a lovely side show. I thoroughly enjoyed it. had no idea about that side of Den Bosch. XX

Sylvia K said...

What a fantastic tour, Wil! What a beautiful place and oh, how I would love to take that boat tour! Your photos are fabulous as always and this was definitely the next best thing to being there in person. Thank you so much for such a lovely look at your world!

Erin said...

so many favorites in this wonderful post...the reflections, the hanging flowers over the brick walls, ... wonderful.
have a lovely evening.

Jeannette StG said...

Wil, you took some incredible pics of Den Bosch - I came there every few years (before we moved to the US), because some friends of us lived there. But I've never been on this boat tour, so it was really a treat for me to see the old city!
Still catching up with my emails- LOL

Carver said...

Great post and what a wonderful boat tour you shared with us.

??? said...

Lovely photos, what a unique place.

Barbara said...

I have just enjoyed the canal trip while drinking my tea! Fasinating to think the canals were once sewers.

Vicki Lane said...

Many thanks for the wonderful tour! Slide 19 with all the arches was breathtaking -- as were several that followed. What a charming, picturesque city!

SandyCarlson said...

That monument is really amazing. The town is interesting. I would like to see it sometime.

Let's hear it for closed sewers!

James said...

Wow, that looks like such a good time. I want to go there.

Guy D said...

Thanks for the tour, so much fun.

Have a fantastic week
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Brenda said...

The buildings and the brick streets were very stunning. The boat ride was fun also. Looks like you had fun.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I always enjoy my virtual trips here. You show so much in so little virtually and the writing always so engaging. A country I discover more of each week through your blog.

irene said...

Great tour, beautiful town.

Anonymous said...

Ah, that explains why I thought of Venice when I saw your photos.

Renie Burghardt said...

What an enchantingly beautiful place, Wil. Thank you for the tour! Your country has so much beauty!

Hugs,

Renie

Hazel said...

Love the slideshow. My favorite is the bike clinging to the wall near the window :-) I hope it doesn't fall into the canal. The boat ride must be fun. Cheers from Bangkok!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful world. Loved all the snaps. First two for marvelous architecture and rest for the route taken by the boat in the canal through the small tunnels.

Marja said...

Oh great pictures I went to Den Bosch when I was in Holland and walked alongside the canals What a great idea to go on the boat
We went clothes shopping Mayke with her cousin and me and my mum
It rained all day. I went there lots of times when I was young and several times we celebrated carnaval there

Arija said...

Great trip Wil and such lovely pictures.
I am so glad that the sewers were installed!

Marie Reed said...

I had no idea that you could enlarge the slideshows like that! What a delightful way to present this adventure!

Anya said...

Een prachtige stad,
ik ben er afgelopen zaterdag nog geweest.
Gezellig en mooi met veel oude historische gebouwen:)
Leuke post met die slide show !!
Fijne dag
Anya :)

Wolynski said...

What an incredible trip - it's like being transported back in time - beautiful. Here in Vegas, if it's 20 years old, we blow it up.

Michele said...

What a neat tour... how cool to float down into those tunnels and getting a view of all of those homes like that... I would of loved to that tour!
A great slide show!!

Anya said...

Natuurlijk,
neem maar over ik zoek er ook altijd naar ;)

groetjes ..

penny said...

Your tour was wonderful, Wil. What a beautiful world you live in. Thanks for directing and sharing such a delightful journey.

Unknown said...

Really great tour thanks, reminded me of parts of the UK alot.

Cloudia said...

Wonderful Watery Country!

Barbara Martin said...

A wonderful virtual trip into an area I knew little about. Thanks for the bit of history to accompany the photos.

Unknown said...

Lovely place, never been to that area. :) Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Love the scenery here. My kids are always insisting for us to go to a boat tour. They fell in love with it after our whale watching argyll tour and now they are asking for more. I want to bring them here!