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."
"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.
