Delft

Netherlands 2014 - Delft

The morning began with a short train ride from The Hague to Delft, where we had a fascinating tour of the Royal Delft factory. We saw Royal Delft Blue pottery in the various stages of development, including the hand-painting of a plate. Students toured the New Church in Delft. New means 1300's, as the old church is from the 1200's. In the new church they saw the tomb of William of Orange, the "George Washington" of the Netherlands. Tomorrow the final city of our trip.... Leiden.

Keukenhof, The Hague and Scheveningen

Netherlands 2014-Keukenhof/The Hague/Schevinengen

Today we bid a teary and heartfelt goodbye to our Dutch friends in Doetinchem. We boarded a bus to the western part of the Netherlands for the final three days of our journey. We spent three hours walking through the beautiful grounds of the Keukenhof Gardens.... 79 acres of tulips, birds, ponds, and windmills. Our bus then deposited us off at our Hostel in The Hague. After a quick walk through the city center of The Hague, we took a tram to Scheveningen to walk the beaches of the North Sea. The evening concluded with a good dinner at the hostel. Tomorrow...... Delft, and a more thorough visit to parts of The Hague.

Kroller-Muller Museum in De Hoge Velluwe National Park

Netherlands 2014 Kroller-Muller Museum

After a fun but long day in Amsterdam yesterday, we all had a chance for a more leisurely pace at De Hoge Velluwe National Park today. Inside the 55 square kilometer park are miles of bike paths through heath lands, sand dunes, and wooded areas. Free white bikes are available for visitors to pick up and use all over the park. Also inside the park is the Kroller-Muller art museum, which includes the second largest collection of VanGogh paintings in the world, and a large sculpture garden. Students are with their Dutch families this week-end, and we leave Doetinchem for The Hague on Sunday. We will post again on Sunday night.

Amsterdam

Netherlands 2014-Amsterdam

After a painfully early start (at least for a vacation day!), we arrived in Amsterdam on the bus, beginning with a visit to the Anne Frank House. A moving visit to the museum was followed by a cross-Amsterdam walk along the Prinsengracht canal to the Rijksmuseum - following in our President's footsteps! (minus the security, of course) It was a quick buzz through the Honorary Gallery full of Rembrandts, like "The Night Watch", and then out into the Museumplein before whipping through the Van Gogh Museum. We ended the day with some free-time and shopping before an easy bus ride home. The beautiful weather is showing with all of the bicyclists and joggers out and about - our very own tropical holiday!

Ulenhofcollege-Physical Education Day, Presentations, Banquet & Twin Photos

Netherlands 2014-PhysEd Day & Twin Shots

This morning, students went to Ulenhofcollege, and created a presentation on various Dutch topics to present to their fellow students. They also took and printed photos of themselves to enter into our photo contest. Students voted for their favorite self portrait. In the afternoon, students were involved in physical education classes in the Ulenhofcollege gymnasium. We ended the day with a banquet of Chinese food and ice-cream at the school. Tomorrow....... Amsterdam!

Open Air Museum - Arnhem

Netherlands 2014-Tuesday April 1

Today students took a train from Doetinchem to Arnhem. We then took a short bus ride to the Open Air Museum (similar to Michigan's Greenfield Village). Students had the opportunity to visit several windmills, witness paper being made, and generally experience what life was like in the Netherlands 100 or more years ago. Tomorrow students will attend Ulenhofcollege again. There they will prepare some presentations on various Dutch topics. They will tour a local windmill, attend Dutch physical education classes, and have a Chinese dinner banquet at the school.

Ulenhofcollege

Netherlands 2014-Monday March 31

Today students biked to Ulenhofcollege and parked in the crowded bike parking lot. Once in school, students attended classes in Dutch history, and geography. TC West students also worked with their Dutch twins to present a short skit using only the Dutch language. Students are having a great time and learning a lot! Tomorrow students will take a train to Arnhem, where they will visit the Open Air Museum (similar to Michigan's Greenfield Village). We will post some photos again tomorrow. Weather the last several days has been dry, mostly sunny, and in the low 70's!