Photo Friday: Shop fronts

A photo impression of the shopping area in downtown Utrecht. A few of these shop fronts are set to disappear, others are selected because they are a bit different from the average high street store.

Logo of the Hoog Catharijne mall, above a side entrance. This logo will probably disappear soon, as part of a major renovation of both the mall and the surrounding area. The area and mall are changing beyond recognition.

Covers Couture Bridal Fashion, the place to go for your bridal gown and accessories.

L’Occitane en Provence, for the French “art de vivre” (art of living). A boutique with products from the Provence region in France.

Selexyz Broese, one of the largest bookshops in the country. The parent company, Selexyz, is bankrupt and their book shops are taken over. They will soon be merged with the De Slegte chain. This shop front will soon either disappear or look completely different.

The De Slegte book shop. The book shops of the De Slegte chain will soon merge with the book shops of Selexyz, and the shop on the photo will either disappear or change beyond recognition.

De Bijenkorf (litt. The Bee hive), an upmarket department store.

Photo Friday: Château Holtmühle

Château Holtmühle by night

Recently we had a chance to spend the night in Château Holtmühle in Tegelen, province Limburg, an old castle but now a hotel. I had little time for photography while I was there, but I did wake up early for a short photography shoot around dawn.

The castle was probably built in the late 14th century, and for many centuries played an important role in local history. In the 20th century the local government became the owner of the castle, and currently it houses a hotel.

Château Holtmühle by night

Château Holtmühle early in the morning

Entrance of Château Holtmühle

Château Holtmühle

Photo Friday: Renovations in Utrecht

Music Hall

Downtown Utrecht is currently a big mess, and it has been like that for several years. There are many large renovation and building projects going on: The train station and the bus and tram terminals are completely revamped, and so are the mall, the Vredenburg music hall and the Jaarbeurs exhibition halls and convention center. Utrecht will have a newly built town hall right next to the train station. Many new shops, offices and apartments are built around the mall. The Catharijnesingel, once a canal but a major road for as long as I can remember, is closed now and will soon be a canal again.

Passage from tram to train station

Future town hall

Closed for renovation

Closed for renovation

The Catharijnesingel was once a canal, but for most of the 20th century it was a street. It will soon be a canal again.

Train station. In the background the new town hall.

Train station. In the background the new town hall.

Train station

Bus and train stations

Photo Friday: Bridge

Bridge over the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

I was hiking early in the morning with my camera in the Utrecht region and had to cross the Amsterdam-Rhine canal, from the town Nieuwegein on the west bank into Utrecht on the east bank. Of course, I stopped for a moment to take some photos.

The bridge is the Jutphasebrug (Jutphaas Bridge) and was constructed in 1936.

Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

Bridge over the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

Bridge over the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal

Morning sky, as seen from the bridge

Photo Friday: Rietveld Schröder House

The Rietveld Schröder House

This house, nowadays known as the Rietveld Schröder House, is the masterpiece of Dutch designer and architect Gerrit Rietveld, and one of the highlights of Dutch art movement De Stijl. It is a UNESCO world heritage site since 2000.

The Rietveld Schröder House

The Rietveld Schröder House

The Rietveld Schröder House

The Rietveld Schröder House

Detail of the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht

Photo Friday: Waal

Autumn colors in the foreground

Nijmegen is built on the bank of the river Waal. Along the bank there are cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a meal, snack or drink while watching the river. You can even have a meal on the river, on a floating restaurant. And if you climb the hills outside the city center (like the Valkhof hill) you will be rewarded with beautiful river vistas.

Bridge over the river Waal

Ships passing under the bridge

A floating pancake restaurant

Detail of the bridge

Flower mosaic, with the river in the background

Photo Friday: Soestdijk Royal Palace

Soestdijk Royal Palace

A photo impression of Soestdijk Royal Palace, in the Dutch town Baarn. The palace was originally a hunting lodge. In the early 19th century, the lodge became the property of the Dutch royal family. They extended it into the palace that we can still see today.

The palace was used as a summer residence by several Dutch kings and queens. Its glory time started in 1937, when the newly-wed Princess Juliana chose Soestdijk as her residence. Juliana became Queen in 1948, and Soestdijk Palace became the royal residence.

Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980, but remained in Soestdijk, where she lived until her death in 2004. Since that time, the palace is vacant. For the time being, the palace is open to the public. Photography is not allowed inside, but I did take many photos around the building and in the palace gardens. For today’s Photo Friday I made this selection for you. Enjoy!

Head of a putto in the palace gardens

Backside of the palace

The pond in the palace gardens during autumn

The palace seen from the back

The palace seen from across the pond in the palace gardens

Elephant statues in the palace gardens

Backside of the palace

At the gate of the palace

Photo Friday: Kronenburger Park

Kronenburger Park

A photo impression of the Kronenburger Park, a city park in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Autumn colors

Roe deer

Former gun powder tower

Weather vane

Lion statue

Lion statue

Ruins of defensive wall and tower

Ruins of defensive wall and tower

Photo Friday: Grand Place

Grand Place, Brussels

The Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It is surrounded by historical, monumental buildings, many dating from the 17th century, some even older.

Town Hall of Brussels

Belfry of the Brussels Town Hall

Detail of the facade of the Brussels Town Hall

Former guild halls

Artist selling his work on the Grand Place

Photo Friday: Valkhof

St Martin Chapel

The Valkhof hill was once a Roman settlement, and later the home of Charlemagne. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa built his castle there as well, on the ruins of Charlemagne’s palace. All that is left of these illustrious residences is the ruins of two chapels: The St Nicholas Chapel and the St Martin’s Chapel (also known as the Barbarossa ruins). Both were once part of Barbarossa’s castle.

The hill is now a park. Highlights of the park are the chapel ruins of Barbarossa’s castle, and the spectacular views of the Waal river (photos will follow soon).

The nearby Valkhof museum has an archaeological section with a large collection of objects from prehistoric, roman and medieval times, many of which were found in or around the park.

Statue of a lion holding a coat of arms

Barbarossa ruins

St Nicholas Chapel

St Martin Chapel

Valkhof hill

Fortifications

Unity makes strength

Valkhof Museum