Trip to The Netherlands--Part One

Our long-awaited trip to The Netherlands finally arrived on May 28, 2013.  Dick and I and Jenny and Ryan left Salt Lake, flew to Chicago, Dublin and finally Amsterdam.  Ton Hanse (Dick's second cousin) and his son, Michal, were at the airport to meet us with cars to transport us to Duinoord Aan Zee, Ton's beach camping resort.  Amy and Scott Kimball flew in around the same time as we did, so we all got to drive with Ton (in one car) and Michal (in another car).

Time for a snapshot at the Dublin Airport.  We arrived in Dublin at 5:15 a.m. and flew out at 9:30 a,m.  LONG LAYOVER.

When we arrived in Dublin, Ryan was wearing his BYU Accounting shirt, and Jenny was wearing her "Y" sweatshirt.  A couple with a baby, who were coming off our flight, had attended BYU in the Accounting program.  We chatted with them for a few minutes.  They were on their way to Birmingham, England, as he had accepted a job there.

That evening, the six of us went to a Pizzaria in the little village where we stayed.  The pizza was great, and the gelato was even greater.

The next day, Ton took us to Rotterdam, where we saw the dock from which the three Dalebout brothers (in 1900) left to travel to the United States.  They were converted to the church and left Holland to go settle in Utah.  Above is a picture of Ton Hanse and Jenny.  Ton and Jenny have a very special relationship, as they have been communicating (via email) for about five years.

Here is a random picture of one of the houses in the village, Westenschowen. 

Billy and Amy had previously been in Germany and Austria, and Matt and Stacie had been in Paris and Bruge, Belgium.  They took the train and joined us in Rotterdam. 

That evening in the village of Westenschowen, Billy and Amy were having some fun. 

The next day, we went to Amsterdam.  We went to the Reich's Museum, where we saw some beautiful paitings.  I particularly like the above painting. 

Here is the famous "Night Watch."

The Reich's Museum

Jet lag is still hanging on.  Scott was sleeping.  Ryan was horsing around.

A picture I took of Scott and Amy in front of one of the houses in the village.  Aren't the hour-glass shutters cute.

These were the only tulips left, unfortunately.  They were at the museum.

Picture in front of the AMSTERDAM sign in front of Reich's Museum.

Amy, talking to Otto, who gave us a tour through the museum.  His wife is related to the Dalebouts.  I'm not sure how.

We went to the Ann Frank Museum--I didn't get pictures.  Then, we walked around Amsterdam.  Pretty canals.

Tons of people ride bikes all over Holland and Belgium, old, young, teenagers.  It's really fun to watch them ride all over.  We'd certainly be better off if we rode bikes instead of driving cars so much.  It was a fun day in Amsterdam.