beelikej: (AmyAdamsHands)
BeeLikeJ ([personal profile] beelikej) wrote2014-05-28 11:46 pm

Get on your bike and follow me!

I know, I know, I still haven't posted the rest of my Australia photos, and yet again this is not that picspam, but I will eventually get there, promise. Last week I was cycling through town and figured I'd share some photos of the canal and its lovely surroundings;) I also included a short history lesson.


This is Zwolle
The modern city was founded around 800 A.D. by Frisian merchants and troops of Charlemagne. The name Zwolle is derived from the word Suolle, which means "hill" (cf. the English cognate verb "to swell"). This refers to an incline in the landscape between the four rivers surrounding the city: IJssel, Vecht, Aa and Zwarte Water. The hill was the only piece of land that would remain dry during the frequent floodings of the rivers. Zwolle was established on that incline. (Thank you, Wikipedia:)

All these photos were made around the Thorbeckegracht, that's the name of the canal and the street next to it:)
4402 Zwolle 17052014
Pelserbrugje (Little Pelserbridge) - for pedestrians only. (Pels=pelt or fur, a pelser = a furrier - One whose occupation is the dressing, designing, cleaning, or repairing of furs.. Bridge is based on the original design from 1686.

4403 Zwolle 17052014
Thorbeckegracht, named after J.R. Thorbecke (1798 - 1872) the politician who introduced the Parliamentary system in The Netherlands.

4404 Zwolle 17052014
Citywall with Pelserpoorttoren, one of three defense towers still standing, dating back to the 14th and 15th century. Originally there were 23 towers surrounding the city.

4407 Zwolle 17052014
Big building in front: Het Oversticht (an old warehouse), tower in the background is the Wijndragerstoren (Winecarriers tower). In the distance the Vispoortenbrug.

4411 Zwolle 17052014
Close up of facades, dating back to around 1740.

4412 Zwolle 17052014
Another one of the house next door:)

And thus endeth the tour. I was going to link to a previous picpost, but can't find it at the moment.


If you follow me on Twitter you've already read about the events of Saturdaynight, when I just got home from a family get together. I meant to go to bed right away when two firetrucks came blazing into my street, stopping right outside my apartment. Turns out there was a fire in the building right across the street. I took some pictures.

Tomorrow I'm traveling to London for a theatre-date with Kevin Spacey. There will no doubt be a picspam when I get back. Also: fic- and artrecs, because fandom has been pretty amazing lately.

<3

[identity profile] ar-richardson.livejournal.com 2014-05-29 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Neat! I would love to live someplace that has such history to it - or even just visit lol. Where I live (the Seattle/Tacoma area in Washington State, USA) you're lucky if you can find anything dating back even 150 years.
ext_63196: (To See The World...)

[identity profile] beelikej.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
:-) I grew up in a part of the Netherlands that was developed right after WWII, so that was brand new! (Dried land, that was originally part of the Northsea). I moved to Zwolle for college and truely love all the history <3

[identity profile] bflyw.livejournal.com 2014-05-29 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thanks for that picture tour! Looks wonderful!
It looks nicer than where I live - but I don't need to show you photos. You'll see for yourself pretty soon. But first - Kevin Spacey! Have fun!
ext_63196: (To See The World...)

[identity profile] beelikej.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome, thanks for joining the tour :-)

I'm gonna make so many photos when I come over! Now that I'm back from London, the countdown has begun \o/

[identity profile] bflyw.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
YAY!
I have started countdown as well :-)

[identity profile] tmn1966.livejournal.com 2014-05-29 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooooh hooray!!! I love when you let us come along. The buildings and history you show us is amazing! Thank you!

And \0/ Kevin Spacey... he is one of my favorite actors. I hope you have a wonderful time!! And I can't wait to see what all you have to share with us!!
ext_63196: (To See The World...)

[identity profile] beelikej.livejournal.com 2014-06-06 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
And I love it that you are willing to be dragged around;)

To see Kevin on stage is even more overwhelming than seeing him on the big screen. I hope to share photos of my London trip this weekend (but I also have to work on my SPNJ2BB, which has a terrifying early presentation date, eeep!)
ext_28210: (Default)

[identity profile] tanisafan.livejournal.com 2014-06-27 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't know any of those things about Zwolle! I leeearned stuff! I love learning *g*.

When I last visited, I made an instagram of your cityscape and my coworker STILL won't shut up about that. She says it looks like a painting, and I have to agree! <3
ext_63196: (To See The World...)

[identity profile] beelikej.livejournal.com 2014-06-30 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Next time you come over, we have to plan some walking in the city time (we'll combine it with getting food at the bookstore time;)

Yeah, I see what she means; the second and fourth pic of this mini-spam give that painty-vibe as well *chinhands*