Saturday, August 02, 2014

LAREN, Netherlands, and the Singer Museum


This happens to be the third post of a one-day trip Astrid and I took back on May 31st to her old stomping grounds, 55 km away from where we live here in Gorinchem.  When I look back on it, I'm amazed by all that we saw that day!

First we went to Lage Vuursche, where Astrid's mom's summer cabin was, then to Hilversum, where Astrid was born and raised, and now to Laren, right next door.

Right next door means about 5 km or less.  Astrid has memories of walking or riding her bike 
with the family on Sundays from Hilversum to Laren because they didn't have a car.

It's the oldest town (c. 11K pop.) in 't Gooi region of North Holland and one of the most affluent.

In this statue you can see the old costumes of the region
(with Astrid standing in to show scale).

The Basilica of St. John is a major landmark of Laren, from 1924.
That seems almost brand-new, doesn't it!

There was a service in progress when we arrived that Saturday late afternoon...

...so we didn't enter the nave but only looked from afar.
We still saw a lot.

Earlier we had eaten lunch at Café t'Bonte Paard (The Spotted Horse).

See how we love trying out new beers, especially abbey/trappist beers from 1062! 

  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Remember that we have our annual museum cards which we're trying to use!  So, in between the café lunch and the basilica, we visited the Singer Laren Museum (which also happens to be a concert hall).

Guess what!
"The museum is devoted to presenting and preserving the collection of the American artist
William Henry Singer (1868–1943) and his wife Anna."  

 While some sculptures and artifacts are present...

...it''s mostly a museum of paintings.

Remember, it's a collection from an American artist and his wife.

How about a sampling?

Hmmm....

How's that for eclectic!

Something for everyone, I think.

Add to all that the outside courtyard, full of more artifacts...

...saying good-bye to us as the late afternoon came to a close.

It had been a long day, from Lage Vuursche to Hilversum to Laren.  
We were short of eyes...and ready to go home to reflect on everything stored up inside us.

20 comments:

  1. these small towns are full of charm and big city attractions. i would guess many tourists find their way here as well.

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    1. Yes, Maria, I'm sure of it. To be honest, the smaller towns are the ones we most gravitate to. They have so much to offer in a walking space!

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  2. I can't tell you how much I enjoy seeing these small towns in The Netherlands. Gorgeous pictures Ginnie. It's really an armchair vacation.

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  3. An enjoyable travelogue Ginnie. As always :)

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    1. You know me, Bill. Gotta keep the journal as current as possible. :) Thanks.

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  4. It was great to be back in Laren. As a family we would often walk to Laren to the deer-park and feed the deer. At Christmas we would go to the Singer Museum, there would be wonderful Christmas decorations and a nice fire in the fireplace.
    You made a wonderful overview from that day.
    It was a great day out.

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    1. I'm still pinching myself, MLMA! To think this was all part of your early life...so long ago! I am so lucky to have seen it like this with you at my side!

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  5. I spotted an Edvard Munch painting, like an old friend, in one of your museum shots. How I’d love to finally see it in life! Then I’d settle down for an hour or two with that Tristan and Isolde. Only a day?

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    1. I took a pic of that Tristan & Isolde poster, Ted, because it's one of my favorite movies. I never saw the play but my English friend, Chad, has seen it several times. Don't we love all these connections!

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  6. Your photos are so wonderful, you bring out the best in everyplace you visit! You know we love the weathervanes :-) And there was a lot of exceptional art to enjoy there as well!

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    1. Awwww. Thank you, Diane, for commenting here. I have so many more weathervanes to show, which I plan to keep doing. Every time I go into my files, I keep finding them! HA!

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  7. Another wonderful tour and more pretty flowers! thanks so much.

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    1. Thank YOU, Susan. You knowing this is my accounting of what´s happening here where I love to live!

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  8. I cannot get over what you can see in a day and you stop and rest even...my husband would be with you trying all the beers...interesting sandwich

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    1. We have to take several stops for rests, Donna, now that I have a bum left knee that will be replaced in Januaruy. But it doesn't keep us from seeing a lot, that's for sure. And we LOVE trying the different beers we find. There are so many good ones, especially from Belgium!

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  9. So much!! My brain would be on overload!!! Knee replacement in January???

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    1. It was definitely a full day, Robin, but when I look back over the last 3 posts, even I can't believe we did it all in the same day!

      And yes, my left knee is totally giving out on me. I'd already have the knee replacement if it weren't for our trip to Atlanta in October. Once we get back, we'll wait till January so as to get the full year's use of my deductible. (sigh)

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  10. What an extraordinary collection! I really like many of the pieces, and you are right, the range is amazing.

    I confess when I first saw "Singer" museum I thought it was about sewing machines. :)

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    1. LOL about the Singer sewing machines, Ruth. But of course you'd think that. Even though he was from America, apparently he was "only" an artist, not a sewer. HA! He did know his art.

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