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| The Netherlands Open Air Museum in Arnhem |
| visit to Burgers' Zoo, also located in Arnhem. |
| We drove about 90 miles east to the town of Arnhem to spend a few days there over spring break. The Netherlands Open Air Museum was our destination for day one. It was similar in many ways to living historical sites in the US such as Williamsburg, VA, Connor Prairie in Indiana or Carrillon Park in Dayton. We all enjoyed our time here. |
| Rachel and Noah took turns pumping water and hauling it the old fashioned way. This area of the park had lots of hands on activites for kids including washboards and an old wringer washer to put clothes thru and then hang on a line. There were baby animals to see and hand gardening tools to help complete the farming life. |
| Rachel took this picture of us on the draw bridge near the village center of the park. We had just finished having a snack of poffertjes, small pancakes covered in butter and powdered sugar, and warm drinks. In the village was an old style bakery, toy store, and a wealthy merchant's house. |
| Noah milks a cow (yes, he knows it's not a real cow!) in the kids' activity area. |
| Rachel stands among a collection of gnomes. The park also houses a museum of personal collections that was very interesting. The collections displayed indoors include piggy banks (not all pigs, just little money containers), pipes, crosses and Christian figurines, and even a collection of air sickness bags. Interesting...very interesting! |
| Pictured below is the entry hall to a 1750's fisherman's cottage. It was those working in/near water that really used (and some still do) wooden shoes. They stay dry quite well and keep the feet warm in this damp and not warm country. |
| At right - Ralph and the kids are overlooking the village area and a few more windmills. They are standing several flights up a 1685 windmill (a platform grain mill originally from Delft to be specific) for the photo op. Other highlights of the day included riding on old trams (5 stops along 2.1 km of track), having the kids play on 1930's playground equipment and participating in an egghunt as it was Easter Monday. We didn't get to see everything and hope to get back someday. |