Yesterday was truly a beautiful day in Amsterdam

 

 I had to stop by my old workplace and thought I’d walk from Central Station to work. I came across this welcome sign for visitors featuring an alternative to the St. Andrew’s crosses in the Amsterdam coat of arms. Unfortunately, very few visitors come to this spot and I haven't seen elsewhere.

Very sunny

and very inviting with all those spring green.

Mouse guard

 This is a real problem in downtown Amsterdam, especially when there's plenty of food around.  This really works best. A point for Signs2 here.

Today in Almere

Preparations for King's Day tomorrow are in full swing. Some children have already gotten their hands on some goodies or are bringing them in for sale.

And to think that someone has to stay up all night to watch over the stuff at a temperature of 5°C.

Header the old canal Utrecht from the archive.

Dutch Mountains

 One for Skywatch Friday here.

The frustration of street photography

 Photos taken at waist height. I didn’t look through the viewfinder and just snapped the shot with a standard-sized DSLR. Well, the focus ended up a bit off—something you don’t have to worry about with a cell phone, but I still haven’t gotten used to it. I like it so much anyway that I’m posting it.

Martin Parr

 

Following the death of Martin Parr (1952–2025), a Magnum photographer, the Amsterdam photography museum Foam has curated a small photo exhibition titled *Very Modern and Rather Ugly*. His photos have always offered a somewhat sarcastic and humorous perspective on our society, and it is truly a shame that we have now lost this perspective. ( Header entrance of the Hart museum Amsterdam)

The Amstel

 It looks like boating season is here again. (Last Thursday)

There has to be something to laugh about.

 From the archive. The Cat Café. One for Signs2 here.

Amsterdam bikes

 Its colorful

From the archive

 Street photography from the flea market. (Header tunnel under the railroad tracks near Central Station.)

At least there's still something to laugh about.

 So you definitely don’t make a mistake. One for Signs2 here.

Biking in the rain.

 I still love those rain photos. Header: Light Party on Dam Square.

In the Polder

 Old archive shot from 2014. One for Skywatch Friday here.

Erwin Olaf

His last photo.

A few impressions from the retrospective exhibition of photographer Erwin Olaf, who passed away suddenly two years ago at far too young an age (1959–2023). This is the exhibition’s final week, and last week I had a chance to visit. A truly beautiful exhibition. (Header the cycle path near the Frederiks square at 14:32)

Nice weather yesterday in Weesp

 One for Skywatch Friday here.

Still strange

 The fact that we have bookstores in Amsterdam that sell exclusively English-language books. One for Signs2 here.

The daily grind, even on Sundays

 Header In December, the city often illuminates the canals in a creative way.

A soothing view

 Some nesting poles for storks have been set up in our local park, but I can’t remember ever seeing one there. On the other hand, they do perch on power poles here and there. Yes, man plans, but nature decides. Here’s one for Skywatch Friday.

Dirty hands

 Droppoint for used baking oil at our local supermarket. One for Signs2 here.

Mirror dance

 Last week, I saw this group standing in front of City Hall, which also houses the opera house. It turned out to be a dance troupe that will be performing there next month, incorporating these mirrors into their routine, and the choreographer (the person on the left) wanted to see how they would look outdoors in Amsterdam. (Header: an atmospheric corner in our neighborhood from the day before yesterday) One for Weekend Street/Reflections here.

Sunset above the Maas

 Another archief found from a visit to Rotterdam. One for Skywatch Friday here.

The daily routine

Found while browsing through my photo archive, and fitting for the Netherlands.

Witch House

 You gotta love it. One for Signs 2 here.

It hurt the eyes.

 This is really just more pollution. It's a shame about the architecture. One for Monday Murals here.

The joy of street photography

 Caught on the fly market ( header look into the "Nieuwe Hoogstraat")

Beautiful weather today.

 

It had been a very long time since I had last seen this in Amsterdam.

Street Signs

 Everyone understands this one.

But what to think of these. One for Signs2 here.

Despite the weather

That's just how we grew up. (Header the bridge behind our house a view years back  with a lively flock of birds.)

In need of a TV.

 Nowadays, you are everywhere being watched by electronics, visual or not. One for Signs2 here

That's not going to happen today, Sofie.

 Half an hour ago. ( Header photo from 2009 out of my former office and now washed in some automatics from Adobe and DxO.)

Fun such a reflection.

 One for Weekend Street/Reflections here.

Amsterdam skyline

View from the 5th floor of Scheltema bookstore looking towards the Zuiderkerk. One for Skywatch Friday here. 

Gouda from the archive

 

Petrified playground

Would spring finally arrive?

For this shot and that on the header.

 

Unusual garden guests

 Lately, our garden has also been visited by a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves. They are very elegant pigeons. One for Saturday Critters here.

16 years ago

 We're diving into the archives again due to limited freedom of movement. But the sky is a good subject for Skywatch Friday here.

Sunset in Gouda

 Both the header and the photo are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Gouda a few years ago.

Better stay indoors

 Slippery as hell.

Grimburgwal

 This one was from the same series as yesterday,