Downtown

Sint Jacobskapel, Nijmegen

In the old town of Nijmegen a little chapel from the 15th century. The chapel (a national heritage site) functions as a place to meet for pilgrims, especially for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims come together in the monthly ecumenical service (2nd Sunday of the month) and they can get a stamp in their credential here. In the past it has also been used as the workspace of a glass blower and people used to live here. Nowadays you can also get married here and it's attic is used for expositions.

This building used to be an orphanage and was built in the 16th century.

Just one of the little streets, flowers everywhere.

A windmill and a bridge

A couple of weeks ago I went on a little trip with a friend.

This windmill is build in 1772 and was renovated in 1983.

The name of the mill is De Haas, (The Hare)

The vertical lift bridge at Boskoop is one of three similar bridges over the river Gouwe. Because of its central location, the bridge characterizes the village skyline. A new bicycle path was added to the bridge during its renovation at the beginning of the nineties.

A new Bridge

In 1944 soldiers (for instance American, Canadian, British, Australian) 

crossed the river the Waal in little canvas boats to liberate Nijmegen.

48 of them died.

Yesterday a new bridge was opened on the same spot.

To remember those who died, every evening when it gets dark 

48 lampposts on the bridge light one by one.

Some of those veterans are guest of honour at the openingsceremony.

There was a big firework and lots of music.

Photographs: De Gelderlander

A short video about building the bridge, from start to finish

A Walk in the park, part 3

In july I made a blogpost named 'a walk in the park'. Last week,
at one of the last sunny days of the year we went again.

 Gaius Julius Civilis, an ancient hero who led the Batavians to revolt against the Romans
 during the 1st-century lived here.

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The Belvedere was built in the 15 century as a watchtower.

Nowadays it functions as a fancy restaurant. The view over the river is magnificent

 Shield at the front of the tower

De Waalbrug (bridge over the river Waal)

In 1944 over this river and bridge the liberators came to free Nijmegen.