Categories for Rotterdam

It was a warm day this monday. The sun was shining, a light breeze. So i went out for a walk. Not too long, around the Kralingse Bos, again. A slightly different route this time. I took the tram and got out closer to the forest.

It was wonderful. Birds were singing, usually there was a great smell of green and flowers. Sometimes it was a shitty smell, but hey! that’s also part of it. It was adorable.

The leaves all felt so delicate, so fragile. I took some pictures of them. It was simply amazing.

Some pictures after the break. Enjoy!

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It was King’s Day yesterday, Monday April 27, in the Netherlands. I did watch the start of the official celebrations in the morning, but turned it of after an hour and decided to go for a walk. It was not warm, quite chilly really, around 12 degrees Celsius, but the sun was shining. I did wear a woolen sweater, which made it good to go for me.

A walk i wanted to make for some time was a walk to the Rottemeren. I actually live besides the Rotte, so it was easy, simply walk past the small river out of the city towards the country. In the beginning i was in the city mostly, with many houses around. Towards the Rottemeren they did disappear, but i was two hours walking by that time. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the Netherlands, so it’s hard to be all alone with a clean view of the land.

I did meet a nice woman halfway, Nelleke. We walked up for an hour or so, talking about plants, birds, the royal family, and lots of other things. I did ask her if she would mind if i mentioned her in this post. As you can read, she didn’t! I also took a picture. I gave her the address of this blog, so hopefully she reads this post.

When we reached the Rottemeren, she turned back and walked back home. I went further along. I had decided to take a bus back to Rotterdam from Bleiswijk. There was a restaurant at the corner, Meerenbos. I had two croquettes with brown bread and sat there for a bit. I then walked to the center of Bleiswijk and, after around 15 minutes of waiting, the bus came. I had asked in the restaurant how to get back to Rotterdam, so i knew i had to take the bus to the RailstadRail metro from Rodenrijs and travel from there to Rotterdam. By the time i got the bus, it was almost half past five. I had left home half past one, so it was quite a walk i had made. I’m guessing it was around 18-20 kilometers.

Right now i’m still tired. I’ll be off to bed soon. Hopefully for a good nights sleep.

Good night lovelies, don’t let the bed bugs bite!

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Wednesday it was gorgeous weather. A blue sky, a bit of wind, around 19 Celsius in Rotterdam. I went out for a walk around the Kralingse Plas, a lake in Rotterdam with a large park around it. It was busy in the park, especially at the water. People were lying in the grass in swimwear, standing at the water and playing. I walked through them and went for a path going around the water. It got quieter.

I did notice the work of the forest managers. They left the remains of the chopped off trees lying around all over the place. Moss grew on it, i even saw some mushrooms. When i got at the water again, i saw a pier stretching out into the water. I walked on it and sat for a while at the front, looking out over the water, the sailing boats and the view of the Rotterdam skyline.

I went further along, saw the many people with dogs walking about. Then i walked back over the the Oudedijk and got home. It was around 10 kilometers, took me around three hours, with me sitting for a bit and taking the photos. Loved it!

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Friday i walked from Scheveningen to Hoek van Holland. The train brought me to Den Haag. There i got on tram 12. The old tram was still running to Duindorp as i remember from when i was a child. My parents are from Scheveningen. My grandparents used to live there, on the Wieringsestraat at the end of Duindorp, looking out over the dunes.

In Scheveningen the sun was shining, but the moment i got on the beach it was misty. I saw the wet clouds driving in from the sea. I loved the look of it.

I don’t remember when i was on the beach the last time. It could be ten years ago, fifteen even. I do remember walking this same walk in the 90s. It did make me feel very happy to be there again. When i used to visit my grandparents, i usually did make a walk over the beach. Sometimes with my nieces and nephews, other times alone. Some of these walks i still remember. It is a part in the Netherlands where you can feel nature a bit. Even though it’s all man made. The sea and the sand and the dunes make a lovely area to be in.

After Kijkduin i saw a high mast standing on the beach. It was a special observant tower The Sand Motor to watch a man made peninsula.

At ‘s Gravenzande i sat in a beach pavilion and ate a plate of chips with mayo. I did have a banana, an apple and water with me. But something savory was too good to let go. I also was a bit tired at that time. To be honest, i thought that maybe i was already at the Hook.

After around 30 minutes i continued and made it! I sat on a bench for a bit at the way in and looked at the sea and the people. The mist had slowly vanished while i was walking south.

I got the train back to Rotterdam. When i got home and looked in the mirror i got a shock. I was actually a bit burned! My face, the lower part of my arms, a spot on my neck and two small bits on my legs were red. The next day i bought a sun protection cream for my face, for the next walk. Not gonna go all red once more.

My new shoes held out great! This was the longest walk i made this year, and i did feel it. Next week i will make a few shorter walks. Not sure i will make posts about them, but i will post something on facebook.

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Yesterday morning it was misty when i got out of bed. When i checked the predictions i read that it would get sunny in the afternoon. So I could keep my plan to walk from Rotterdam centre to Delft Central Station.

When i checked what would be the best way to walk, i knew i would go past the Schie past the village Zweth. In Rotterdam i went through the neighborhood Blijdorp. After the big freeway junction Kleinpolderplein i would enter Overschie. Walking through the centre i would get at the Schie at the end of it and enter the countryside. Sort of. There is a freeway at the horizon, a train at the other side. But it was quiet, i could hear the birds sing.

In Delft i walked past some old Technical University buildings. Many were still the same as thirty years ago, when i studied there. But there were also many new areas. The centre i did recognize though. The Brabantse Turfmarkt, the Breestraat and de Oude Delft.

The new railway station is underground. It opened March 1 this year. I ate my apple and waited for the train to arrive.

To be honest, i felt my legs. I was able to walk, but I was tired! I had left my house at 11:25, i got back at 16:10. Glad i got home in one piece. A day rest and then i will go for another walk!

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This Monday i went to Vlaardingen, a small town near Rotterdam. The town where i was born and spend the first 21 years of my life. I do go there occasionally, to visit my sister who lives there. But that’s a quick hop in and out.

It does make me a bit sad walking in that familiar but strange town. So many things have changed. My old nursery school in the Emmastraat isn’t there anymore. My old lower school the J.P. van der Schaar school on the Wilhelminastraat isn’t there anymore either. The town centre is covered now. The park has changed with a lot less green. It still looks nice. It’s a typical small Dutch town with some old streets, some new streets. It’s just not my town.

This isn’t any news to me of course. Years ago i spend a little time in Vlaardingen. I even made a few presents, title and home. It’s all part of my history. Done and dealt with.

The walk lasted for an hour. Than i took the train back home.

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A quiet walk on the Island of Brienenoord. There were only a couple of other people. One was at work on the allotments in the middle of the island. I saw two cars passing by. At the east part i sat on my coat for a while, in a mossy green patch. I ate an apple. I watched over the river. I stared at the boats passing by. At the end of the walk the sun came through a bit more.

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A walk to the Van Brienenoordbrug in the east of Rotterdam. A bit longer than i thought! My idea was to walk to the island which lies below the bridge, but i didn’t manage that. I saw a McDonalds and i couldn’t resist. I got me a Big Mac menu and took the tram home.

This was after a two and three quarter hour walk, so i gotta give myself a bit a leeway here.

I’m still tired. Yes, this post is gonna be a short one. The pictures with a caption. Enjoy sweeties!

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It is the first spring day of the year. I walk out the door around half past one. I go over the bridge and start to walk to the Noordsingel. Looking through the houses i change my mind and walk past Gare du Nord, a lovely vegan restaurant in an old train. Then i walk to the Noordsingel.

It is so lovely. The trees start to show buds, a first cherry blossom is visible. Birds are flying through the air. Two gooses sit along the water with their five hatchlings. There is only the quiet sounds of sunday traffic buzzing around.

I walk to the Gandhigarden at the end of the Noordsingel. A year and a half ago i went to the garden a few times and helped out with weeding and binding up the tomato plants. It is a communal allotment garden with several other functions. I walked around the whole garden, through the forest edge and through the other individual gardens. I drank a cup of tea, enjoyed the sunshine.

I say goodbye to everyone there and start walking back. This time i walk along the old unused traintracks to the old Hofplein station. I go up the stairs to the luchtsingel and then head back home.

A lovely day.

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