After some delays, I arrived at Schipol airport: Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands. A Kingdom immediately displaying the orange color of the royal house to entering visitors. Billboards displayed advertisements that only bilingual people could read, with exclamations in English and Dutch fine print. The conversations that surrounded me similarly easily switched between English and Dutch with twangs of French or German as well. After arriving in Utrecht by train, I started the registration process and moved into my room. To my University of California sensitivities this was a palatial space, complete with a duvet and full size kitchen. But after going out for drinks with the professors and students it immediately became clear that this program is well organized. The activity list was solid, and the two weeks of intensive Dutch culture and language, would turn out to be exactly that. After those two weeks I could order food, do some shopping and apologize in Dutch - all useful skills. The history and culture were also incredibly helpful to understand current Dutch affairs, politics, and relations to the EU and the United States. During those weeks, swung two trips to Amsterdam, a trip up the Dom tower (a huge church tower that dom[haha]inates the Utrecht skyline Pic 1), and numerous bike trips around Utrecht. Here are the snaps from the first 2 weeks!
Canals in Utrecht, with waterside dining - much more suited to the Summer and Spring, but still pretty cool. Had some pannenkoeken - huge "pancakes" with ham and cheese.
The Royal Palace which was a pretty wicked building to see. The monarchy is just really present, yet not political at all. This seemingly contradictory form of government separates the lawmakers from the representatives of the country.
Again another picture from a government seat. This time at the Binnenhof, the Dutch parliament. The whole security thing is way different from the states. Literally we were able to walk around inside here, and although eventually to get into the actual buildings we were searched airport style, it really is so much different from American politics.
The throne, used during Prince's Day where the King delivers the yearly "state of the union" type speech.
Outside the Binnenhof, The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands.
Sea dominance of the Dutch in both painting and real life. The history of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) is pretty intense and caused/represented the Dutch Golden Age.
The Amsterdam
Breathtaking canals.
Inside of the Dom tower pictured above.
View Westward from the Dom
The winding canals through the city.
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