CONNECTING WITH DUTCH ROOTS

 

 

HELLO AMSTERDAM 750!

As a proud Dutch Canadian, this summer I plan to be in Amsterdam. The Capital of The Netherlands is celebrating its 750th birthday. This is a good time to see the city in ways I haven’t previously, as events and tours are planned with celebrations of history and accomplishments at the fore. Future planning and sustainability will also be key parts of the festivities. All in all, it will be a rich and proud experience — of that I feel sure.

I also plan to branch out into the countryside close to Amsterdam, during my free time, where I will find lovely walking and cycling routes amid a Dutch landscape of green fields, windmills and waterways. I plan to walk along the Amstel River, which flows north into Amsterdam. This will lead me to familiar landscapes and footsteps of Rembrandt van Rijn who lived for much of his life close to the river. He was fond of walking its banks and produced some beautiful canvasses there. It was he that said this: “Choose only one master - Nature.”

What I have not shared with many up to now is that my mother’s maiden name was van Rijn, and the possibility of a connection isn’t unrealistic. It’s a mystery I hope to solve.

I am a subscriber to an English language magazine called DUTCH. It features a number of interesting Dutch related things from personal stories, history lessons, legends, recipes, adventures, and travel tips not only specific to The Netherlands, but also related to Dutch communities within communities around the world. 

The feature that is particularly useful to my trip planning this time are small towns within The Netherlands that few outside of the country ever think about exploring. This  has inspired and motivated me to the point that whenever my magazine arrives in the mail, I immediately seek out the small town feature. Those stories are so intriguing and interesting, I have decided to make my 2025 adventure free time focus on small towns close to Amsterdam.

Every town in the world has a heart, has pride and has history.  I am in the right time in my life to do this type of exploratory travelling in my original homeland. The trip planning process  is exciting, but living it will be even more exciting. I will start each day with enjoying a cuppa strong Java and end with a lovely glass of bubbly — peacefully reflecting on the day that was, smiling and whispering the joyous sound of PROOST!, grateful for good health and opportunity.