Walking Around Schiedam...

Veronica made a new friend in the center of Schiedam. She also spotted some cute and shockingly cheap old copper measuring cups for Jimmy, who is just crazy about copper pots.

We walked along the main canal to see the historic buildings...

...and old bridges.

We were pleased to see cheerful colors interjected here and there...

...on an otherwise drab day. 

No trip to Schiedam can be complete without a stop in the library. Opened in 2015 in the Korenbeurs, a historical building built in 1792, it has a beautiful atrium and indoor garden.

It also has some intriguing spots to read or listen to books.

I especially liked the light fixture made of dozens of glasses.

A Floating Farm...

When I read that the world’s first floating dairy farm was opening in Rotterdam in May 2019, I knew that I had to take Veronica. The weather wasn’t great that December afternoon, but we stayed dry during the 20-minute walk from Schiedam Centraal. 

Veronica loves cows! She’s also very interested in sustainable agriculture. We were lucky to end up on a private tour of this very unique farm with a strong education component. As you can see, it is powered by solar energy.

When the weather is good, the cows are free to walk across to the small plot of land for grazing in the sun.

While most of the cows were busy eating, it was nice to learn that these ladies are free to walk to the automated milking station when they feel the need. 

Automated vacuums collect urine and manure for recycling into compost.

I don’t drink plain milk, but enjoyed having a hot chocolate made with fresh milk.

Check out that tongue!

The worst of the rain passed while we were inside and we were rewarded with a double rainbow upon our exit.

Veronica’s Back in Holland...

Kati was very happy when Veronica arrived home on December 19 for Christmas.

 

Veronica was excited to fly her drone for the first time in Holland, first in our neighborhood park...

...and then a bit further afield at Vlietland. 

I enjoyed spotting a few Santa hats in our neighborhood.

The Hague Highlights...

Once again, The Hague hosted The Hague Highlights, a free light show that was expanded to be shown on two monumental buildings.

The first was Old Masters, New Heroes shown on the 13th century Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights).

On one side of the Mauritshuis, my favorite museum, was this Christmas tree...

...while on the other was an interactive light projection featuring the Masters of the Golden Age. My camera battery only survived long enough to capture Paulus Potter’s The Young Bull...

...and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp.

Christmas in The Hague...

Gillian and I took the train from Leiden into The Hague to meet up with Jimmy. It was very windy. Along the way to his office, we came across these fallen bikes...

...and this fallen tree.

I was very underwhelmed by The Hague’s Christmas Market, but enjoyed seeing the giant tree just outside the market in front of the Escher Museum...

...and another within the market.

We then walked through the empty city center to eat dinner at the new FoodHallen.

Leiden with Gillian...

On December 14, I was thrilled to spend the day with Gillian, who was in town for the weekend for a retirement celebration. After our usual walk with Kati, we headed to Leiden, where we encountered a huge rainstorm which we sat out in the train station for over 30 minutes. 

Eventually, the bad weather cleared and we were able to head to the Floating Christmas Market...

...which was set up on the main canal...

...and featured this reindeer and giant wreath.

It was getting dark by the time we were leaving Leiden, so the gold and silver balls hanging over Haarlemmerstraat, the shopping street, were lit up...

...as well as the giant Christmas tree in the square on the way to the train station. 

Ironically, while my dear friend from Edinburgh was visiting, Veronica was visiting Sam, her former roommate in Norwich, who was living in Edinburgh.

Christmas Tree at City Hall...

In early December, I ended up wandering through the Den Haag Stadhuis (The Hague City Hall), where I came across this giant Christmas tree.

Lucky for me, I happened to have my camera along on a beautiful clear day with blue sky shining through the ceiling.

I couldn’t resist taking some ornament selfies.