There are several pieces of infrastructure that bridge water in this post from the Vaartse Rijn train station in Utrecht, where I happened to be a few weeks ago while visiting some friends recently out of hospital in various parts of NL. None of these various forms of “bridge” are for cars. Just above, you see the Vaartse Rijn going generally left to right, and a side canal heads up to the top and left, bridged by a bike and foot bride into the station area. The trains themselves cross on the elevator tracks in the top right corner, and passengers get to and from those tracks on stairs, some of which also cross the water itself. I do so love living in a country that spends money on non-automotive infrastructure!
When my train arrived in Vlissingen back in late May, I was struck by the frankly rather grandiose station building. Given that it’s quite literally the end of the (train) line in Zeeland, I guess the city felt a grand statement was important. Middelburg, very slightly more populous and the ‘capital’ of Zeeland (least populous of NL’s 12 provinces), went with a more utilitarian building below.
Amstelstation in A’dam. Point of departure for the ride to my 24 hours in Maastricht. I’ve not yet done research on this mural, but I hope to at some point.
Occasionally I manage to spend a few days with old family friend in northern Germany, before or after visits to our office in Amsterdam. When the weather permits, we always try to get out on our bikes. I love urban planning that leaves room for agriculture in between towns and villages. This region I visit, in Schlewig-Holstein, is similar to my own home in Sonoma County, in that the towns are reasonably contained, and the farms begin just outside town. (None of that classic southern-California or Florida sprawl for us.) I love bicycling through both for very similar reasons. Main difference: it’s really flat and far more green in northern Germany. Also: more cows, no grape vines in site :-). Enjoy the pastoral pleasures and the German-flagged cattle…
…and these last two are just to confuse you a bit: above, the Dutch city of Deventer as seen from the train; and below, a shot of an Autobahn underpass on our bicycle tour, which somehow went very artistic without my consciously doing anything. Serendipity, or ugliness?
Occasionally I manage to spend a few days with old family friend in northern Germany, before or after visits to our office in Amsterdam. When the weather permits, we always try to get out on our bikes. I love urban planning that leaves room for agriculture in between towns and villages. This region I visit, in Schlewig-Holstein, is similar to my own home in Sonoma County, in that the towns are reasonably contained, and the farms begin just outside town. (None of that classic southern-California or Florida sprawl for us.) I love bicycling through both for very similar reasons. Main difference: it’s really flat and far more green in northern Germany. Also: more cows, no grape vines in site :-). Enjoy the pastoral pleasures and the German-flagged cattle…
…and these last two are just to confuse you a bit: above, the Dutch city of Deventer as seen from the train; and below, a shot of an Autobahn underpass on our bicycle tour, which somehow went very artistic without my consciously doing anything. Serendipity, or ugliness?
(so much world, so little time....) 