Lots of places we have visited have been much busier than we've seen on previous trips, but we've learned that there are advantages to being here during "high season" - like exhibits that we've never seen previously because they don't open everything during slower times of the year. This exhibit was new to us. It showed how the small Dutch transport firm of Van Gend & Loos grew to become the DHL that is known around the world.
The whole point of the Open Air Museum is to bring together historic buildings from around the country into one place where they can tell the Dutch story. Even if you aren't into that, it's just a pretty place - and they have poffertjes!
These things are much harder to ride than they look!
The big thing for me at the museum was to visit the weavers. I met a young man who was winding a 80cm x 50m warp on a warping mill and learned about the designs they were creating. In addition to some very old looms, they were using a version of the same loom which I have. Great fun!
The Kroller-Müller Museum has two main attractions for us. The first is the collection of artworks by Vincent Van Gogh. It was a little different this time from previous visits. Many of our favorite works were not on display, but the comparison of Vincent's work to his inspirations, and those inspired by him, meant that there were also some works that we had not seen before. I think his sketches may be some of my favorite images.
I think Linda's "Still Life with Pears" belongs in the collection as well. These were the pears that Linda purchased at the driveway produce stand in the Tiel area.
The other reason we like this place is that it is set in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, where they have great bicycling paths and free bicycles. You just pick out a bike, ride it where you want. Park it while you stop at the visitor center or museum, then find a new one when you come out.
What you probably can't make out is the look of terror on Linda's face because she's coming down hill on a bike with coaster brakes. Okay, not really terror, but she much prefers hand brakes ;-).
We stumbled across De Langenberg Pannenkoekenhuis for dinner, which was followed by dessert of Appeltaart met Slagroom (yum!).
On the way home we spotted something we've never seen in the Netherlands - hot air balloons!
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