Yesterday felt like we were travelling by train all around Amsterdam but not exactly in it! We hit up the historic village of Zaanse Schans to the north and then finished off the day with a professional soccer game to the south.
Zaanse Schans boasts that it has eight windmills. Two sit in their original location. Six were relocated here for preservation. I imagine it was quite a site to see them arrive on lowboy trailers. Each windmill has a name. We climbed De Kat (the cat). De Kat is a working windmill. Using the power of the wind raw materials are ground to produce paint pigment. The gears inside are massive. Of course, they sell the pigments in the gift shop. Of course, I bought a couple of colours. You can never own too many watercolour paints, right? While at Zaanse Schans we were able to answer a couple more questions. First, how many cheese samples are too many? Second, how are wooden shoes made? Well, I ate 21 free cheese samples at Henri Willig before I stopped. Our favourite was the lavender goat cheese. It was the colour purple. The wooden shoe museum was fascinating. Their shoes are produced by machine. They are so strong that they have the same safety rating as work boots. They claim they are comfortable with heavy socks. I tried a pair on and I’m not sure I agree. Maybe you have to get used to them. Have any of you tried them? Then we headed south to the Johan Cruijff Stadium. This is home to Ajax Football (think soccer) of the Eredivisie (Premium League). The stadium holds 55,865. It was at almost full capacity. Ray is a huge football fan, so I’ll let him tell the story. Oh, did I mention we tried fries with mayonnaise from a food truck outside the stadium? Not a healthy choice, but SO yummy! You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom.
19 Comments
NPW Group C
4/16/2024 11:41:13 am
Are fries and mayonnaise a common food choice there?
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Tyler
4/16/2024 11:41:53 am
What type of wood is used for the shoes? Part of me wonders if the wood does mold a little to your feet. Do people really use them regular?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:31:43 am
They were using poplar, which they carve straight from rough split wood that is soft and still very wet. You don’t see people wearing them on the street but apparently people often wear them in the barn and gardening. They are waterproof and protect your toes should a cow step on your foot.. They are dried for four weeks with heat and so become hard, they recommend wearing them with thick wool socks.
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NPW D
4/16/2024 11:42:29 am
How did you guys feel when the fans were cheering?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:33:22 am
We were sitting with the Amsterdam fans and since we are staying in Amsterdam we cheered for Ajax. I was happy our team won.
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Npe D
4/16/2024 11:42:37 am
What is the name of the red cheese and what did it taste like?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:38:06 am
The red cheese is Gouda. (Spoiler alert those were just fake cheeses in the photo. We tried many different Gouda cheeses along with goat cheeses. I prefer an older Gouda and like some added flavors.
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BeBE
4/16/2024 11:54:11 am
Was the red on the cheese wax? If so, why do they do that?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:38:27 am
Gouda is almost instantly recognizable for its brightly colored waxed rind. The waxing of the rinds was a Dutch innovation that allowed the cheeses to age longer, made them more durable for transport, and made them more eye-catching and distinctive for consumers.
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WBaE
4/16/2024 11:55:25 am
Do they do a haka dance before the game like in New Zealand?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:40:11 am
Football (our soccer).is known for the club songs, these often include actions.
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NPW E
4/17/2024 08:04:12 am
What were the other types of cheese.
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:49:58 am
We tried many different types of Gouda. We also tried many goat cheeses with different flavors added to them. I liked the truffle flavor and the lavender flavor but was surprised that I did not like the cumin flavor cheese. In the markets and supermarkets there are more types of cheese than I have seen before.
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NPW A
4/17/2024 08:04:18 am
Do the windmills power anything?
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Ray
4/17/2024 11:46:21 am
Most just turn the gears inside and are kept for historic value. They used to be used to power water pumps, saw logs, grind grain and many other tasks.
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NPW B
4/18/2024 08:09:37 am
Are the shoes bad for your feet?
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Ray
4/18/2024 10:12:34 am
The biggest benefit is that they are waterproof and protect your toes. With thick woolen since they might feel more comfortable, I tried on a pair and don’t think I would enjoy walking around in them all day.
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EKe
4/18/2024 09:35:27 am
Do you know who won the game?
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Ray
4/18/2024 10:13:35 am
Ajax (Amsterdam). 2.:1.
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AuthorRay & Diane Homewood |