6 October 2015 - Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

I was so pleased the predicted rain was just a sprinkle as I really didn't want to get wet on my bike again!  We did the morning ride to Plus for groceries before school so we'd all had a bit of exercise before knuckling down to work.  Today was a better school day which meant we had more time for afternoon adventures!

Dam Square and Madame Tussauds

I had promised Tim and Annika that I would take them to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum especially as we had a "two for one" discount voucher!  I had seen Madame Tussaud's years ago in both Amsterdam and London and whilst it was fun for me today, it was probably more fun for me when I was younger and I thought it was something that would be a fun Amsterdam memory for Tim and Annika.  They need a few travel stories to compare and share with their friends who have travelled!

Royal Palace - unfortunately not open until 10 October for visiting.

I felt a bit nostalgic cycling into Amsterdam today, drinking in the lovely old buildings and the sense of freedom one gets on a bike.  The grey skies today were reminiscent of the Holland I had visited before, always in cool seasons.  Grey skies set a good backdrop for nostalgic thoughts!  Of course I hope I might get another chance to visit Amsterdam on a bike but I may not!

Johnny Depp's hand compared to Annika's - very well done.

Now that we know the geography of the city so well, we cycled to Dam Square and locked our bikes up with our extra locks and joined the short queue at Madame Tussauds with a weedy looking Johnny Depp staring at us through the window!

Tim and Johnny

Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama and Ghandi

Chatting with Barry

Anne Frank

Apart from the fun of posing with various famous people, the actual history of Madame Tussauds and how the models are made was interesting.

Tim translating for Angela Merkel

Marie Grosholtz was born in France in 1761.  From humble beginnings as the daughter of the housekeeper for a physician, Dr Philippe Curtius, Marie was taught the art of wax modelling by the doctor.  She made death masks from severed heads during the French Revolution which were then on public display and paraded through the streets of Paris!  When the doctor died, she inherited his wax model collection.

In 1795, she married Francois Tussaud and called her show: "Madame Tussaud's".  She travelled to London with her show and although not particularly financially rewarding, she did eventually establish herself there and in 1835 she opened her museum.  She died in 1850. Her grandson opened a new museum in 1884.  Now there are Madame Tussauds in many cities.  Amsterdam's Madame Tussauds had a Dutch flavour which was nice as we are in Holland!

Contender for the Dutch throne!

Another interloper...

...and another!! Beatrix didn't mind! She even abdicated so her son could be king!

 The wax models, some of which are better than others, are extremely detailed and take quite some time to make.  Firstly, the person to be "waxed" is measured by calipers and then molds are taken.  The wax models on display are life sized so I was quite surprised to see how puny Johnny Depp and a few others are and how tall Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan are!  Marilyn Monroe and Elle McPherson were also tall and Jennifer Lopez was much more petit than I recall her in the movie "Shall we dance?"  The skin was amazing with tiny freckles and spots and each hair is inserted separately.  Eye colour is matched exactly.  They really are works of art.

Annika getting to know Sean over a drink.

Nick and Tim

George was too distracted to notice his coffee companion.

The new James Bond forgets his suit trousers.

Over the moon

Good disguise, Tim!

I didn't mean to distract him, but he is rather handsome.

Framed

Hannibal - hope he isn't hungry.

The two Marilyns

Hello Possums

The new DJ at Radio Nerherlands

Gorgeous redhead featured on cover.

Looking out to Dam Square

Through the round window...

Salvador Dali

Einstein

"So tell me, Annika, what do you think of Madame Tussauds?"

Rembrandt

Polishing Pablo Picasso's pate

First aid to ear injury - van Gogh

Mona and Annika

Piet Mondrian

On the streets of Amsterdam

At the front of the pellaton.

First prize for Annika!

Tennis champions

Spiderpeople1

Spiderpeople2

Spider people 3

After buying some new pyjamas for Annika and a jacket for Tim, we cycled home.  I really wanted to cycle over the Magere Brug which had been closed for the King's celebration and was now open, so we did!  Just one of those things I wanted to do in Amsterdam!

Magere Brug

While we were enjoying posing with the stars, Karl and Luke were back at NEMO enjoying some more science.  Luke can never tire of science museums!

Bart, Karl and Anneke in our kitchen

After dinner, Anneke and Bart came over armed with delicious cake and we had another very lovely time with them.  No wonder Holland feels at home  when we have friends who can come for coffee!