Strolling through town again
Sep. 19th, 2014 08:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejWhat's up with this weather? I was already looking forward to having hoody-temperatures again and then all of a sudden the sun is shining like it's freaking summertime. So I didn't really want to go into town yesterday, but I really needed to look for a new wintercoat before they were all sold out. To be able to stay indoors during my (LONG!) weekend, I figured I'd go into town on Thursday evening, the only night shops are open until 9 p.m.
I'm very happy to report I found a coat/jacket that fit and ticked off nearly all the boxes on my wish-list; it's wind- and waterproof, a light colour (so I'm visible on my bicycle - oooh, this one even comes with reflective stripes!) and has lots of (big) pockets inside and out.
Found it at the ANWB shop (that's our national traveler's service association, like the US's AAA, but for all forms of transport, including hiking;) My mom happens to have a membership card and I borrowed it to get a 30 euro discount. SORTED! (It's this one in light blue)
Before trying on coats, I had tried to find another store in town (to get myself an extra pair of yoga pants1), but apparently that didn't have a shop in the centre. But while I was walking around I did notice how the wonderful early evening light hit some of the old buildings and I made some photos.
Let me show off my home town a bit, mkay?
Photos as usual come with a short history lesson, courtesy of Wikipedia (I just get lost there trying to find information on the buildings;) Here's a map of the city centre:
Click to zoom. How cool is that star shape? I love it so. On the right an old map from 1652 (by Joan Blaeu) - notice how the North is in the left bottom corner. Huh.
Let's walk through the Diezerstraat.
De Witte Leeuw (The White Lion). Now houses a fancy perfume store (Ici Paris), was built as a brewery in 1666. Designed by Abraham de Cock (whom I only mention because of his name *g* - he was the city's building master). In 1900 the front was changed to suit Mr. Ad. Hendriksen, who turned the building into a fur- and hatshop. The weapon above his name is the Dutch royal warrant of appointment ("hofleverancier").
Still standing on the corner of the Brouwerstraat (Brewerystreet!) Check out at all those different fronts and gables in the Diezerstraat (the gable is the top part;). Looks a bit like Amsterdam, doesn't it?
FYI: the eldest written note about Zwolle is found on a certificate from 1040, the town received city rights in 1230. In comparision: the eldest mention of Amsterdam was found in a document from 1275; the exact date of Amsterdam getting city rights is not known, but is thought to be around 1300.
WE WIN :-p
Looking up at the corner of Diezerstraat en Rodehaanstraat. Left a shop with a typical crow-stepped gable on top. The neogothic red brick building on the right is the Statenzaal (1898). Originally used by the Provincial government for official meetings; the old administrative offices are right next to it. Now both buildings together house the city's main library. x.
Close up of the Statenzaal. lt has gorgeous stained glass windows. The white statue is Lady Justice. Above the door is The Netherlands' coat of arms with the climbing lions holding a shield with yet another lion (I don't know) plus our country's motto Je Maintendrai (French for "I will maintain")
Diezerstraat 126, build in 1764. On top a typical clock gable (Named because the top is shaped like a church bell:)
One of the many heritage sites in Zwolle; more than 400 buildings in the city are considered monuments that need protection and care. Over 50 of them are in the Diezerstraat! here's the complete list;)
The Pelserpoorttoren or Pelsertoren; part of the defence wall around the city. Tower was build between 1475-1500. View from the M. v. Coehoornsingel. (see if you can find that street on the map; the tower is near the tail of the big red arrow)
Cycling back home through the Rembrandtstraat; I just love how the stairs spiral at the side of this appartmentbuilding. Not old. Still cool;)
The end.
1More about that later...
I'm very happy to report I found a coat/jacket that fit and ticked off nearly all the boxes on my wish-list; it's wind- and waterproof, a light colour (so I'm visible on my bicycle - oooh, this one even comes with reflective stripes!) and has lots of (big) pockets inside and out.
Found it at the ANWB shop (that's our national traveler's service association, like the US's AAA, but for all forms of transport, including hiking;) My mom happens to have a membership card and I borrowed it to get a 30 euro discount. SORTED! (It's this one in light blue)
Before trying on coats, I had tried to find another store in town (to get myself an extra pair of yoga pants1), but apparently that didn't have a shop in the centre. But while I was walking around I did notice how the wonderful early evening light hit some of the old buildings and I made some photos.
Let me show off my home town a bit, mkay?
Photos as usual come with a short history lesson, courtesy of Wikipedia (I just get lost there trying to find information on the buildings;) Here's a map of the city centre:
Click to zoom. How cool is that star shape? I love it so. On the right an old map from 1652 (by Joan Blaeu) - notice how the North is in the left bottom corner. Huh.
Let's walk through the Diezerstraat.
De Witte Leeuw (The White Lion). Now houses a fancy perfume store (Ici Paris), was built as a brewery in 1666. Designed by Abraham de Cock (whom I only mention because of his name *g* - he was the city's building master). In 1900 the front was changed to suit Mr. Ad. Hendriksen, who turned the building into a fur- and hatshop. The weapon above his name is the Dutch royal warrant of appointment ("hofleverancier").
Still standing on the corner of the Brouwerstraat (Brewerystreet!) Check out at all those different fronts and gables in the Diezerstraat (the gable is the top part;). Looks a bit like Amsterdam, doesn't it?
FYI: the eldest written note about Zwolle is found on a certificate from 1040, the town received city rights in 1230. In comparision: the eldest mention of Amsterdam was found in a document from 1275; the exact date of Amsterdam getting city rights is not known, but is thought to be around 1300.
WE WIN :-p
Looking up at the corner of Diezerstraat en Rodehaanstraat. Left a shop with a typical crow-stepped gable on top. The neogothic red brick building on the right is the Statenzaal (1898). Originally used by the Provincial government for official meetings; the old administrative offices are right next to it. Now both buildings together house the city's main library. x.
Close up of the Statenzaal. lt has gorgeous stained glass windows. The white statue is Lady Justice. Above the door is The Netherlands' coat of arms with the climbing lions holding a shield with yet another lion (I don't know) plus our country's motto Je Maintendrai (French for "I will maintain")
Diezerstraat 126, build in 1764. On top a typical clock gable (Named because the top is shaped like a church bell:)
One of the many heritage sites in Zwolle; more than 400 buildings in the city are considered monuments that need protection and care. Over 50 of them are in the Diezerstraat! here's the complete list;)
The Pelserpoorttoren or Pelsertoren; part of the defence wall around the city. Tower was build between 1475-1500. View from the M. v. Coehoornsingel. (see if you can find that street on the map; the tower is near the tail of the big red arrow)
Cycling back home through the Rembrandtstraat; I just love how the stairs spiral at the side of this appartmentbuilding. Not old. Still cool;)
The end.
1More about that later...
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no subject
Date: 2014-09-20 07:16 pm (UTC)I love when you take photos of architecture and of course share the history, too. I could look at these forever!!! Such beauty! I do like the spiral staircase in the final photo, although my fear of heights would kick in hard and I'd never be able to use them. Visually stunning all the same.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 07:53 am (UTC)I love that I can show you around like this:) It also gives me a new appreciation of my town:) I'm pretty sure that staircase is just for emergencies, it doesn't look very practical, but I love the shape so much.