The Netherlands - Amersfoort, Lange Jan

From: Anja - Postcrossing - NL-330941 , Thanks! :)

Location:   Amersfoort , The Netherlands 

Subject:  Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren - ('The Tower of Our Lady') is a church tower in Amersfoort. The Late Gothic building is 98,33 meter tall and reaches high above the inner city. It's one of the most eye-catching monuments in town and the third highest church tower in the Netherlands. The nickname of the tower is Lange Jan ('Long John'). The church that belonged to the tower was demolished in the 18th century.

The first chapel on site was constructed on this site in the 14th century. In the 15th century this chapel was replaced by new church with three aisles. When the tower was built is not exactly known. Construction started around 1444 and was finished around 1470. The official documents of the construction were destroyed by the Protestants in 1579 during the reformation and the ensuing iconoclasm. The church and tower where taken over by the Protestants and no longer belonged to the Catholics. The church also has been used for other purposes than worshiping. It was used as a storage place for ammunition and as laboratory for the manufacturing of shells. In 1986 some research was done into its history and in the current square one can see the original plan of the church. The spire of the church burned down in 1651 and also in 1804. The tower was restored in 1912–1932, in 1965–1970 and in 1993–1996.

The Netherlands

From: Eeke - Postcrossing - NL-325426, Very colorful card. Thanks! :)

Subject:   The cookies are called "Stroopwafels" 

Stamps: I will look into them. 

Netherlands - Alphen aan den Rijn - Castellum

From: Alex - Postcrossing 

Where: Castellum

Subject:  Castellum is a theater in Alpen aan de Ruin, Neatherlands.

Stamps:  I will look into the stamps. Thanks Alex!

Netherlands - Alphen aan den Rijn

From: Alex - Postcrossing - NL-296933

Where: Alphen aan den Rijn

Subject:  Alphen aan den Rijn is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, between Leiden and Utrecht. The town is situated on the banks of the river Oude Rijn (Old Rhine), where the river Gouwe branches off. The municipality had a population of 72,128 in 2008, and covers an area of 57.68 km² (22.27 mile²) of which 2.61 km² (1.01 mile²) is water. It also contains the remnants of a Roman castellum. The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn also includes the communities of Aarlanderveen and Zwammerdam. The town is located in what is called the 'Green Heart' of the Netherlands, which is a somewhat less densely populated center area of the Randstad. The name "Alphen" is probably derived from the name of the Roman castellum Albanianae, meaning "settlement at the white water".

Stamps:  I will look into the stamps. One looks like a Red Cross one.  :) Thanks Alex!

Netherlands - Heino Church

From: Lucie - Postcrossing - UL-294550

Where: Dalfsen, Netherlands

Built: 1867

Subject: This church is called "Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk". 

Stamp: The stamp is of a sport played in Brazil called Capoeira. It combines elements of martial arts, music, and dance. It was created in Brazil by slaves brought from Africa, especially from present day Angola, sometime after the sixteenth century.

The Netherlands - Winter in Holland

Marijke from The Netherlands sent me this snowy image called "Winter in Holland".  The colors in the image are great.  It does not say where these windmills are but they look old and a very fitting site for Holland. :)  Very lovely. Thanks! :)