Archive for March, 2010
The Duke Of Alba: Favorite April Fool Of The Dutch
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
third duke of Alba
Photograph Wikimedia Commons
Tomorrow, April 1, the Dutch celebrate Fools’ Day just as a lot of other countries worldwide. I personally enjoy this day very much, even though I usually fall prey to many pranks. This is no wonder since I’ve got three boys that love to poke mommy: one is 4 years old, the other almost 6 and the third is 40 ;o)). Last year they all had a great time planting a fake tarantula on my bedroom floor, which looked alarmingly real!
New Fascinating Exposition Of Early Amsterdam Photographs
Monday, March 29th, 2010Video courtesy of the Dutch news site www.nu.nl
If you happen to be in Amsterdam somewhere between April 2 and July 27 2010, you should certainly not miss the new exposition by the Amsterdam City Archives:”Amsterdam 1845–1875, The First Photographs”. The exposition brings together a unique collection of the earliest pictures of Amsterdam. As a bonus you also get an insight in the photographic techniques used at the time.
To promote the exposition, the archive has set out a city walk through the center of Amsterdam. Along the tour you can find fifteen big photographs by Benjamin Brecknell Turner from 1875 placed at the exact same spot as where the picture was taken. This gives you the rare opportunity to compare the past and present face of this fascinating city.
You do not even have to physically go to Amsterdam. You can also follow the virtual tour that includes both the old picture as a recent one for every spot along the tour. Unfortunately the comments are only available in Dutch, but actually you do not really need them to enjoy the tour (an image says more than a thousand words).
If you are planning on visiting the real thing, this exhibition program will come in handy.
Have fun!
Tracing Dutch WW2 victims
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Photograph Wikimedia Commons
When researching more recent generations, it is not unlikely to get confronted with ancestors that did not survive WW2. Some may have died on duty as a soldier, others may have found a sad ending in one of the concentration camps. Sometimes ancestors seem to simply “disappear”. To trace these ancestors can be hard, but the Dutch War Grave Foundation can sometimes shed some light on the case.
The Dutch War Grave Foundation
The organization was founded on September 13, 1946 by Dr. Van Anrooy. He was a physician and Lieutenant Colonel. He was the head of the Identification And Salvage Department of the Dutch Army. After a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he decided that the Netherlands had a need for a similar organization. He set about creating the Dutch War Grave Foundation with the help of the Dutch Royal Prince Bernard. Unfortunately he died in a car crash on December 24, 1946. However, his wife took over soon and made the organization to what it is today.
