The Netherlands early Summer 2017 – Edam

From the campground to Edam or Amsterdam takes about the same time with the bicycle. And I was so many times in Amsterdam but only one time in Edam – so it was Edam today. You pedal in the general direction until you pass a signpost with the bike routes on it. Now you find your number and follow the route along flowery meadows, ponds and ditches, bridges, a lot of cows and sheep, winding dykes, waving reeds, old and new farmhouses and an old windmill if you lucky. The land is flat and as long as you do not face wind from the front it is super easy. I decided to bike over Volendam and along the water to get to Edam and circle back against the clock to the campground.

Volendam

View from Voloendam out on the sea

Snack time in Volendam – the birds liked me all of a sudden since I had Hummus with bread. Turns out they did not really care for Hummus after all.

Kathammer Molen Windmill

This mill was built around 1650. It burned down in 1896 and was rebuild. In 1911 the blades and the roof were removed and the mill became a pumping station. In 1986 the mill was finally restored and operates again

Team green

Edam

Edam! It is not allowed to ride from Volendam to Edam on the dam – you can only walk so I had a nice view of – nothing for a while but what to do? But I can assure you – there is water on the right! Behind the dyke!

Town hall Edam – it is still in use for marriage and other ceremonies.

Townhall Edam Detail

Lots of red brick buildings and narrow paths

The Carillon Tower from 1561. Next to it is the Church of Our Dear Lady (Kleine or Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kerk in Dutch) or what is left of it. The first church was built around 1350 and the last one was demolished in 1882. All that is left is the small part to support the tower. When I took this picture the tower had 37 bells. Now it has 5 more!

Shells on the church’s ground

Decoration over an entrance at Lingerzijde

Entrance with window

View from a bridge towards the Oorgat

Old watergate to regulate the water level

Edam Cheese market

At the Cheesemarket in Edam. This is what Edam is known for – the Edam Cheese!

Taking the boat to town

Sometimes you have to cross a town. There are bridges all over the place and nice people who make a living open and close those bridges.

Slowly the bridge opens

Half way up

There you go

Finally open water

The next bridge awaits

St. Nicolas Church

Various stages of the construction.
Grote Kerk or St. Nicholaaskerk as the church is known here was build at the beginning of the 15th Century. A few times lightning stroke the church and it burned down and was rebuilt. It is one of the largest 3 ridged churches in Europe. It is built on piles and the weight had to be kept to a minimum because the ground is not stable. The vaulted ceiling, for example, is made from wood instead of stone.

Like in other churches some people got buried right in the church

Stained glass windows

Most of the stained glass windows where donated as gifts from neighboring towns

The organ of St. Nicolas church

There was an Art Exhibition about the war in Syria

There was an old lady selling coffee in the church so I had one. Tried one of the local treats as well – quite eatable if you are hungry.
After the church it was time to pedal back and wait for the guys. It was a nice week and I love to bike in Waterland. Somehow you arrive in this part of Holland and calm down in an instant. The same goes for Friesland – where I was a few weeks later.