The Rijksmuseum

 

Gode Dag,

Having obtained my Amsterdam Card making my reservation for my timed entrance was easy.  I'll be frank; the Rijksmuseum is a Project, and I'm not going to blame anyone for feeling overwhelmed or becoming bored with corporation portraits and seascapes, but there enough gems to make a visit very worthwhile.

The day being fine, I set out early and had a pleasant walk along a leafy canal and admired some fancy canal houses.

Then when I was waiting to cross the street--using the pedestrian crosswalk as was proper, I was cussed out in vulgar fashion and in English by a guy on a motorcycle, who decided I was not sufficiently near the curb. Welcome to Amsterdam. But on a serious note, be alert to the bicycle paths and do not walk in them. Always look around for riders. It's easier for you to stop than for them.

I strolled around some more and then got in line for the museum. I was early, but the nice young man said, "No problem." I had the ticket on my phone and the Amsterdam Card in my pocket. Both were scanned, and in I went.

Everyone (me, too) is here for Rembrandt and in my case also Vermeer, but there's a lot to see and enjoy. It's mostly paintings, but some beautiful furniture and objets d'arte are on display as well as some sculptures and tapestries, Because of the guided tour groups parking themselves in front of the masterpieces, you probably won't get a really good look at Rembrandt's more intimate and moving pieces, but there's always the Nightwatch under restoration but visible under glass. The Captain Frans Banninck Cocq looks completely out of his depth. Rembrandt could not help but paint the truth.

Given my taste for Late Medieval and Renaissance Art I also enjoyed these exhibits tremendously. The collection of Polychrome Statuary is outstanding. Here's a small sample.

I decided that to honor the Grand Depart of the Tour de France today, I'd have some fish and chips from the fish joint at Albert Cuyp Market. Here's the promised photo, but that's just the start. The stalls go on and on and on.  The food was really good. The Dutch like their fish in chunks unlike the English, but the principle is the same--batter and fry.

Uh, Pil, it's a Very Special Independence Day. It's OK that you're abroad, but don't you have anything to say on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence?

All right. I taught United States History for many years. I am deeply familiar with not only the Declaration, but our Constitution. As it happened, the colonies developed in such a way that we were no longer British and needed to be our own nation. And we are a nation founded upon ideals and principles rather than tribal or religious identity. We are founded both on individual liberty and civic duty. Those ideals and principles are sound, and my wish is that our country live up to them.

Tot Ziens