A day at the Beach

The Dutch coastline is like a long sandy beach belt between the land and the Sea. There are many options near Amsterdam to spend a nice day by the sea. The holiday season just started and the first week out of the school is very warm and sunny in Holland. We decided yesterday to go to the beach near the village called "Wijk aan Zee". This was a perfect option with the children and especially if you go early, you do not have the traffic jams and you find a parking spot easily. The most well known beaches like Zandvoort are always very busy during the holidays and weekends. You can easily loose your nerves when just driving there in a long queue and in the end trying to find a parking spot. We prefer going to more peaceful beaches and mostly during the morning hours.

Beach Cabins at the beach! Some you can rent and some are private.

All the beaches in Holland are behind the dunes. The dunes are beautiful and perfect for hiking and cycling, but also protecting the country against the flooding. The parking areas are near the beach and you normally can directly just walk or cycle to the beach, but I often prefer taking a bit longer route and walk first through the dunes and admire the landscape there. That already gives me the holiday feeling and hearing the grasshoppers making their music is like a strong memory from the childhood. I love walking the small sandy paths between the dunes and to watch the small, curvy hills everywhere. When you finally are on top of the hill, you will see the endless looking blue Sea, which is melting to the sky at the horizon. The hot, summer days are a bit surreal. When you watch the boats and ships in the horizon of the Sea, it almost looks they are just appearing trough a foggy wall. Like the world would be ending at that spot and the scenery far away on front of us would be just a painting or a curtain. Behind that curtain would be the space and the universe...now I start to understand why our ancestors thought the earth is like a pancake:-).The best thing at the beach is how you sometimes sunk in a dreamy mood, when just watching the blue sky & water and listening to the sounds of the waves is the only entertainment you need.

A cute, little Hotel near the Beach.

After running, swimming and playing beach tennis everyone was hungry. We had already finished all our healthy snacks and the kids were suggesting that we should go and buy some portions of "Kibbeling" from the village on our way back to the car. The fish was fresh, even the way they make it deep fried and served with the mayonnaise means this is not the most healthy snack. But yes, it was good!

The sun is nice, but the sun protection is needed.  The Sun lotion, a hat, the sunglasses, a parasol and lot of water to drink. At least these things are needed at the beach. The hot weather type is continuing, but today I really stay in the shadows and enjoy the summer at the park. 

Countryside Dreams

My sunday was active in a very relaxing way. We were at the countryside of the East Holland and spent as much time outdoors as it was possible in the constantly changing weather conditions. For example our barbecue had to be cancelled, because of a thunderstorm and hill stones. After the loudly echoing sky Theatre the Sun was shining again and the Nature looked so fresh.

I borrowed the old, nostalgic "Gazelle" (what a lovely name) bike from the Carage and went for a nice cycling Tour. I was inspired of the green and surreal, peaceful living panorama that I had seen in my morning jog already. So this was a very sporty day for me. My intention was to take a lot of Photos, but after a one round in the peace of the silent country roads, the rain surprised me again and I cycled back, chased by the raindrops.

The Dutch people are cycling a lot. It is wonderful to make bike trips at the Countryside. There are many Bed and Breakfasts, Camping places or small Hotels in small Towns. The big Trees are growing beside the roads and you find nice shadowy spots even in the hot Summer days. I saw some big groups of people making a Tour with their sport bikes and outfits. Passing me and my old lady Gazelle with high speed ! It is really a National sport here and the flat landscape makes it easier to make bike tours also with the kids. 

Driving the old bike, which was still in an excellent condition, I suddenly felt a moment of timeless beauty. I felt like this could be any time, any decade...and the stories of these country views started to pop in my mind. Like I was being a part of the story in some book and seeing the scenes and doing my cycling round in the past. It was a wonderful moment! I had a vision of me having a picnic blanket, a bottle of wine, a book and something to eat with me. Finding a spot from the fields and enjoying the summer and watching at the sky. Next time I will definitely do this, now I would have got wet anyway! 

The contrast of the Countryside compared to Amsterdam was something I really needed. I did not realise that before going there, but after two days I noticed being away was like being in a paradise, giving me some inner peace and inspiration. 

Surrounded by the grass, the fields, the old trees and smelling the farms or the sweet perfume of the flowers. I did not need anything, I was part of everything and there was no pressure of the time passing, the symbols of time lost their meaning. The right time and the right moment was just there, like I had been there forever and still was...I still am.  

Walk with me

I love the dutch countryside and the green fields with the open view. On the second Christmas day I went for a walk in East Holland, in the province of Overijssel. It is a nice contrast to spent some time in a peaceful village compared to busy Amsterdam. I enjoy it a lot every time. It did not feel like winter. The grass was so green and the weather so mild. This time I let the pictures tell the story. I had a quiet walk and I just concentrated watching around, breathing, listening, moving and taking photos. The best way to relax after all the holiday action. So, let's walk.

Green holiday greetings, Erja