Holland Part 1 - 't Harde, Elburg and Mum and Dad's friends

Holland – Part 1

Today was our longest drive from Germany to Holland. Dad said we drove nearly 600kms!! It took seven and a half hours and we came into Holland near Arnhem where Grandpa was born. We kept driving to Margot's house where we were staying in 't Harde. Mum and Dad said we wouldn't be doing much tripping around but more visiting people that were friends of mum and dad's from ages ago.

As I said, we were staying in Margot's house and this is a description of how it looked: when you first walk through the door there is a staircase that is steep. Then there is a study to the right. If you go up the stairs then there is Margot's bedroom – but that was where Mum, Dad and Bridget slept. Then there was a tiny bathroom with a door into the stairs and also to Margot's bedroom. Also on that level is Marijke's bedroom. Marijke is Margot's youngest daughter and that is where Paddy and I slept. It was really cosy!! Downstairs was the spare room (where Margot stayed) and the living room and lounge room. That's the space where we spent most of our time as it was comfortable and even sunny!! There was also a kitchen and a door going out to the back yard.

Margot's house

Mum and Dad had told me about some of the people who lived there in Holland. I also remember that Dad went to visit one of the ladies (Marijke) when she was sick. I think that is also the person who my second name is for. For that reason, I was really excited to come to Holland and meet all of those people!

The first people we met were Derk Jan and Brigitte. They also had two boys called Joris and Reinoud who were 11 and 9. The first thing I noticed was that Derk Jan was so tall!! Also, Brigitte was like a movie star because she was so beautiful!!! They had a crazy dog and also a big back yard that was incredible because: 1. it had a swing and ring set 2. it had a tree house and 3. it had a trampoline! I did heaps of gymnastic tricks on the trampoline and it was great fun. Mum and Dad went to their house a couple of times at night time to talk to them and to drink beer. I think Dad is really good friends with Derk Jan! We also went to a party at their house on Saturday night because it was their twelve and a half year wedding anniversary. There were heaps of kids at the party and we played some crazy games. I made a friend who was Dutch (she spoke no English!!) and we helped mum and dad cook fish to help Derk Jan and Brigitte. I really liked them because they could speak really good English and they were really kind to me.

Mum and Dad with Brigitte and Derk Jan

We visited some more of mum and dad's friends called Peter and Coby. They were also really nice and they had heaps of toys because they have six grandchildren. We ate lunch there and had goulash soup and yummy bread rolls. Dad said we were going to meet one of their daughters called Beatrijs later on in Holland. Then we went to the farm where dad used to live. The farm was built on the polder and that used to be the sea until they built some dykes and took all the water away. It was sooooo flat!! I learnt how to say farm in Dutch – boerderij! The owners of the farm were Ard and Sascha. They also had a trampoline and we walked around the farm and saw heaps of cows. Paddy got to drive the tractor which he thought was awesome.

Peter and Coby

Paddy driving the tractor with Ard

Ard on the boerderij

We went and visited Bert and Marijke and their dog Fedde. Bert and Marijke are super lovely people and even though Marijke is really sick she was happy to see us! Fedde is their dog and he is seven and humungous but very beautiful and also gentle!! Marijke gave us heaps of stroopwafels and she gave all the children lots of kisses. We visited with them twice but the second time Bert was in the hospital with a sore head but Marijke said he was OK. I really liked meeting Marijke because I had seen photos of here from when I was born and I know my second name is after her so now I know who she is and I feel lucky to know her.

Marijke, Bert and Fedde

We made a trip to Elburg which dad said was a really old city. It had cool city walls and we saw a place where lots of Jewish people were taken away in the war. We stopped for an ice cream (it was really hot) and then we walked out to the harbour to see some interesting boats.

De Vischpoort in Elburg

Standing near the harbour in Elburg

Last of all, we stayed the whole time with Margot. Margot was a really lovely lady who kept giving us food. She also fixed Bridget's teddy and she loved to give us cuddles. We met her sister, Tante Miep, who was also a nice lady. Margot is Derk Jan and Marijke's mum and they all had lots of funny stories about when daddy used to live with them ages ago. I really liked Margot because she was super friendly and always funny.

Margot

Walking with Noushka (Margot's dog) in the woods

It is really good that I got to meet all of these people. I have heard mum and dad talk about them and seen photos of them and now I got to meet them. My first time in Holland is really fun!

Love

Clare

xxoo