The next Rembrandt? Dinner at the lock house
Trip Start
Apr 28, 2007
1
11
14
Trip End
Jun 01, 2007
Beets,
Netherlands
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Wil van Stralen prepared a great lunch for us in the sunshine of Waterland at her home in Beets. Following lunch, she set up some easels for us to start sketching. It was a thoroughly relaxing afternoon, with charcoal in one hand, other team members modelling, and cows and farmland completing the picturesque scene.
We were joined by RC Beets Edam Zeevang's President Edwin. Here we also progressed on from sketching to colour painting. In the homeland of Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Hals, this was an insight into the culture and artistry of the Dutch.
Thijs then met us around the corner from Wil's house in a small motorboat for five. Our task was for the five of us as a team to motor up the canals and end up at his fabulous new home at the end of the canal next to a dyke. It was a nice idea for us to travel together. We unfurled the Australian flag (all Dutch boats fly their national flag at the rear) and received some interesting glances from homeowners and sunbakers along the canal.
The house of Thijs and his partner Kees was a superb reconstruction/renovation of the old lock house. Henri Leloup, the architect we met earlier in the day, was the architect responsible for the transformation. (Click here for a website in Dutch about the building of the home)
Dinner by Kees was a modern twist on traditional Dutch food. We started off with Herring Terrine, followed by White Asparagus soup with egg, a main course of pork and roasted vegetables, and juicy strawberries for whipped cream for dessert.
We've been very spoilt with all the food from our hosts here in Holland. Coupled with the many Rotary meetings, we'll be ready to eat less upon our return to Melbourne.
One other thing - we were presented with a banner from RC BEZ, the first recipients of their club's banner. They have only existed a couple of years (a young club with an average age in low 40s) and they had just created their first ever banner. President Edwin made the swap with Adrian.
