De Hooge Veluwe National Park/ Kroller Muller Museum

Netherlands 2013-Kroller Muller Museum

On Thursday we traveled to De Hoge Veluwe National Park, and the Kroller Muller Museum. De Hooge Veluwe National Park is the largest actively managed conservation area privately owned in the Netherlands. The park covers 5,400 hectares of woodland, heathland, peat bogs and drift sand. The Kroller-Muller Museum is an art museum and sculpture garden located in the Hoge Veluwe National park. The museum has a considerable collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh, such as "The Potato Eaters", and the "Cafe Terrace at Night." The American students had a guided tour of the sculpture garden at the Kroller-Muller Museum. Students will now spend the week-end with their Dutch families. We leave Doetinchem for The Hague on Monday morning. We will post photos again on Monday.

Twin Photos - Banquet

Netherlands 2013-Twin Photos

Also on Thursday, after visiting a castle, and playing sports, students gathered at Ulenhofcollege for the Chinese dinner/banquet. Before dinner, students posed for their official "twin photo."

Sports at Ulenhofcollege

Netherlands 2013-Sports

After we returned from Doornenburg Castle in the early afternoon on Thursday, American and Dutch students played sports in the school gymnasium. Athletic activities included soccer, dodge ball, gymnastics, unicycle riding, badminton, and wall climbing.

Doornenburg Castle

Netherlands 2013-Doornenburg Castle

Thursday was a busy day for the Ulenhofcollege/TC West exchange, so I will divide this in to several different posts. In the morning we traveled about 45 minutes via bus to Doornenburg Castle. The castle is first mentioned in 1295. The oldest parts of the present structure date back to the 14th century.

Ulenhofcollege Presentations

Netherlands 2013-Ulenhofcollege Presentations Day

American students observed Dutch classes today for several hours. In some classrooms the American students also presented to Dutch students a PowerPoint about Michigan, and the United States. Tomorrow we visit a castle!

Xanten, Germany

Netherlands 2013-Xanten

On Tuesday we left The Netherlands for a short 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Xanten, Germany, where we braved the cold temperatures to tour Roman ruins, explore the city, and visit the Roman antiquity museum. After returning to Doetinchem, all of the students enjoyed pancakes on the "pancake ship."

Ulenhofcollege & Windmill

Netherlands 2013 Ulenhofcollege & Windmill

Today, the Dutch and American students reported to school at 8:15 for lessons in photography, and Dutch history. Near the end of the morning, Dutch and American students created lessons designed to have the Dutch students teach the American students some of the basics of the Dutch language. After lunch we toured a windmill in Doetinchem - The "Benninkmolen"- that was originally designed to grind corn. Tomorrow we take a bus to the German town of Xanten, the site of some Roman ruins.

Doetinchem 2013 - Day 1

Doetinchem 2013-Day 1

We arrived safely in Doetinchem this afternoon. As you can see, the Dutch students kindly welcomed us with American flags, and home-made signs. The American students were tired, but very excited! TC West students will be with their Dutch families this week-end, and will report to Ulenhofcollege Monday morning for classes in photography, Dutch history, language, and geography. We will post photos again on Monday.