18 September 2015 - Arnhem: Open Air Museum

A fine day was worth the hour's drive to see Arnhem Open Air Museum so with that motivation, the kids agreed to do school until midday or so and then we took off for Arnhem.  We could have spent longer there, but 4 hours was enough and we enjoyed the time there. 

The drive to Arnhem was on good roads and I am constantly surprised and had forgotten how rural Holland is with animals grazing in the lush fields on either side of the motorways pretty much all the way. 

Small farmhouse from Veluwe, Gelderland, 1850

This open air museum was different but equally well organised as the Zuiderzee Museum we saw last week.  The culture, architecture and building styles of the Dutch houses and farms does vary in different provinces.  There were lots of thatched roofs today, several working windmills, lovely farm animals and the village of shops.

Day labourer's cottage from Nunspect, Gelderland, 19th Century

Pig barn with movable roof!

 Karl remembers visiting this museum years ago.  It was opened in 1912 and evacuees from Arnhem in WWII were housed there in 1944 after the Battle of Arnhem. ( The Battle of Arnhem was a failed attempt by allied forces to defeat Germany which lead to Germany blocking food supplies to Holland which caused the "Hunger Winter" during which many Dutch starved to death).  The museum was almost closed in 1987 but hearing of its potential demise, crowds flocked to see the museum and it won European Museum of the Year in 2005.

Annika demonstrating how low the roof was!

 The various windmills had differing roles: a flour mill, a paper making mill, a water mill.  They were still all in working order and have been re-built after being transported from various locations in this general region, Gelderland.

How very Dutch!

 The kids quickly discovered a "pull the rope yourself" punt on the water which they had a bit of fun with and didn't fall in!  The setting, by the rotating windmill, reflected in the canal, was lovely.  It was one of those scenes that you want to remain at the forefront of your mind: so picturesque, so Dutch. Oh to be an artist (or have time to be an artist!) as I could sit for hours and draw the scenes before us!

Annika pulling in the punt

Fodder for an artist!

Tim punting

Tim and Annika on the punt

As we wandered through the exhibits and displays we chatted to the various tradespeople and farmers.  We particularly liked a dear old chap who looked after the sheep.  They were so tame, in such a way that they approached you for a pat and positively loved their shepherd.  Luke wanted to spend hours there!

Luke loved this sheep

Shepherd and sheep

Ladybird on sheep!

Wheelwright at work

Village square

Village hoons!

The Sweet Shop!! Irresistible!

 What struck me most about the designs of these houses is that it seemed that there were rarely bedrooms as separate rooms but rather a series of bedstays, cupboard like beds in the walls.  People lived mainly in one room, saving the lounge room for Sundays, and slept in the bedstays, often with their livestock not too far from them with the barn right next to the living area!

The wool spinner lived close to her sheep!

Hanging around!

Wind flour mill, Delft, 1696 - It was great fun climbing up this on narrow ladders.

At one stage the rain started but we were just near to the historic tram which goes around the park so we hopped on board until the weather fined up!  We chanced upon an archival store which basically seems to house furniture and goods of various eras that locals have donated and also had some informative video coverage.

 

Water mill

We happened to hop on the last tram to the exit and being  5PM closing, means 5PM closing and all of the buildings were locked up for the day.  The re-enacters who are in the houses or workshops all take their roles seriously and really add to the whole experience.

Paper mill, mixing the pulp and making paper - see sheets hanging over to dry

A gathering of gnomes at the archival storage.

Formal garden 1860

Summer house, Dr Meppel, 1860 - there are some of these over the river from us!

City buildings

 Our drive home in the peak traffic was not too bad as we followed Tom Tom who somehow had us driving alongside rather than in the midst of the traffic jams all the way to Amsterdam.  We seemed to drift by  the thousands of stationary cars after agreeing to "an alternative route". No complaints!!  Time and time again we sing the praises of our TomTom who/which finds us the best way to negotiate the many roads we've driven down which a simple old fashioned map just could not do! 

The Amstel on our evening bike ride

Out with my girl for an evening shop.

On my bike!

 

Hark, I hear rain again which is surprising after the most delightfully still experience of our little road by the river, devoid of street lights, which Annika and I cycled on an hour or so ago on our post prandial ride to  Lidl.  Our local shops close at 8 PM but Lidl was open until 9 PM.  It was so quiet on the roads, the footpaths and bike tracks and in the shops.  What do the locals do on Friday nights?