19 March 2009

Anouk - Girl

My dance hit for the WASC-ASCA sailing event 2009
Dance the night away in Curaçao!!!


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08 March 2009

SPRINGTIME in HOLLAND in photos




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22 December 2008

Visit to Miami and Florida Keys Nov. / Dec. 2008








After a very busy period at work, time for a holiday and this time to the USA - Florida. Took a Martinair flight to Miami to meet up with Harm and we spent a week in Miami Beach area and the Florida Keys. We drove the scenic highway 1 to Key West with stops in Key Largo and stayed at the Manatee Bay Hotel and in Key West 2 days in the Southernmost Hotel.

Also time to take my avaition photos at Miami International and Opa-Locka Airport. It has been a long time, that i have visited these airports, but as usual still very interesting airplanes. Miami is the gateway to the Americas and many airlines from Mid and South America has scheduled services to Miami. Opa-Locka was great to see some old propliners, like Convairs, DC-3s, DC4s and DC6 and DC-7s.

Also met up with an aviation friend from Miami, Eddy Gual. Nice to see you again..Eddy!

Some photo impressions of our visit.



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Autumn time in the Netherlands





Took some pictures when the autumn started in my neighborhood. 
Looks like an Indian summertime.......in the park...


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22 November 2008

John Mayer - Say



Did not know this song by John Mayer, although i have his 2 latest albums in my collection, but this one is a beautiful one: Say what you have to say......
It is a song from the Movie: The Bucket list.

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08 October 2008

Sailing in Stockholm Sweden September 2008

A sailing competition organised by SAS Yachtclub and 8 members of the Watersportvereniging Schiphol (WVS) departed on Friday 12 September 2008 to Stockholm, Sweden to participate. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Peter Melander and he took us by car to the hostel in the middle of the city.

After the bags were dropped, we could use Peter's motorboat to sail around the city. Before that, we first visited the Vasa museum to see the world's only survived 17th-century ship.
After that visit, we made the boat tour around the city in beautiful sunny weather and finished it off with beers and snacks.

Saturday the day of sailing on the J92 and a competition is between SAS, Austrian Airlines and KLM.
In total 6 teams. After 7 races and a final race, on 1st place SAS, 2nd KLM, 3rd KLM, 4th, Austrian, 5th SAS, 6th SAS.

Good results for both KLM teams and an exellent weekend in Sweden and well organised and hosted by the SAS Yachtclub.

3rd spot for our team...Sailors: Arjen, Elske, Peter and Ger.

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01 October 2008

My Tripadvisor


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25 July 2008

Did you ever visited my Amsterdam Schiphol Airport weblog?

My weblog can be found at this URL:
http://schipholspotter.blogspot.com/

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Amsterdam a great place to be!

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Stéphanie on visit to Amsterdam

Right after the ASCA-WASC in Portugal, Stéphanie from Montreal - Canada made a visit to Amsterdam. After her flight from Lisbon, we have visited our sailing club and enjoyed some drinks at the clubhouse and met some familiar and new faces. Thursdayevening we have been to Haarlem to watch on a big screen in a café the friendly soccer match The Netherlands - Denmark with friends. On friday, Amsterdam and first a cruise through the canals. Great fun and we did some sightseeing and also having drinks on one of the many terraces in the city centre with Harm and Arjen and afterwards a nice dinner in the Beiaard. In the weekend she left again for Paris to meet up with family. Great to have you around, Steph!!
(photo taken with the mobile of Stéphanie)

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ASCA - WASC Lisbon, Portugal May 2008











 
The WASC sailing competition was organised and this time by TAP Air Portugal. 


From Lisbon Portela Airport we were brought by bus to the coastal city Costa Caparica, were our hotel for the event was located. I have been here before and it all looks like the same after so many years, but the beaches and surroundings will be upgraded soon. 


The sailing competition was held at the Portuguese Naval Base between 10 mayor airlines and after 16 races this competition was won by Finnair and the KLM team finished 5th spot. 

Good result for our team and we enjoyed very much the hospitality of TAP Air Portugal.

Next year in June the event will be held at Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles and hosted by the KLM sailing team. See you all in 2009!

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Curaçao The Dutch Antilles March/April 2008!




Not much time lately to post some news or blogs.
But......what happened lately.....End of March i have been to Curacao in the Dutch Caribbean for a week together with Lytsa, Rosanna, Sandra, Peter and Harm. Stayed in a villa with swimming pool and car porch. It was great fun to be back on this Caribbean island and we checked out the sites in Willemstad, the beaches and the Spanish Water. Also met some local guys, Casper and Roger. Have been spotting the local aviation scene a day in the weekend with them. Seen some nice Caribbean birds (planes) at the airport. Back home again after this week with Martinair to Amsterdam!
I'll be back in 2009!

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24 March 2008

Easter in the city of Amstelveen





Not typical springtime during the Easter weekend and on Easter monday-night it snowed and gave some nice pictures in the early morning. The sun came up in the east and the cars made already tracks in the snow. Today more heavy snowshowers expected from the Northwest.




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Amsterdam is ready for YOU!

At the Museumplein (square) opposite the Rijksmuseum the
I amsterdam sign is at it's place and the spring season starts.
Amsterdam is ready for YOU!

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04 February 2008

Vienna, Austria in Christmas spirit




To get the right Christmas spirit i have flown for the weekend before Chrismas 2007 to Vienna to visit Sandra. It is always the best thing to do to visit friends and Vienna is the place to be during this special period of the year. First we did some shopping and a long lunch together and in the afternoon a visit to the Christkindl market at the Radhausplatz....A long walk back to center of Vienna to see the special Christmas lights in the shopping streets. In the evening a Christmas get-together with close friends of Sandra and we drunk Punsch and eat fried potatoes and many more delicious food. Sunday morning a Champagne brunch and a visit to Schloss Schonbrunn and another nice traditional Christmas market. Some pictures to show the right Christmas spirit in Vienna....

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New York in November (2007)






























Mid November Harm and me flown to New York for a 5 day visit. Tickets arranged, hotel booked and friends informed. Early departure on the flight to Newark with an early arrival in downtown Manhattan. It started with rainy weather when we arrived, but the next day blue skies and the city awaits. 

We have been to all the sites, have done some Christmas shopping at Macy's, Barnes and Noble bookshops, dinners and beers with friends, museums, subway rides, walked on the Manhattan bridge (it is a must), done the ferry to Staten Island (it's free of charge) and downtown Manhattan like Wallstreet, New York stock exhange, Nassaustreet, Ground Zero, Broadway, 5th Avenue. Too much to name it all. The 5 days were over before we knew it. 

With good memories we flew back to Amsterdam.

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28 October 2007

Finnish guests in transit at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Nina and Maarit (Finnair sailing club) and friend in transit at Amsterdam Schiphol from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Helsinki, Finland on sunday Oct. 28. Because there was a gap of 4 hours in between the flights, we could meet and have a chat at the arrival hall and we enjoyed tea and coffee. It was nice to see you all and until we meet again!!!

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Sunny Sunday stroll through Surprising Amsterdam


Max Euweplein



A Sunday walk together with Harm through the centre of Amsterdam, via the Vondelpark, Max Euweplein, the Canals and on to the Montelbaans tower and Scheiers tower and onvia the Zeedijk to the Nieuwmarkt. On the way we stopped to enjoy a couple of beers on the terraces next to the famous canals and finishing off the day with a dinner at café De Bekeerde Suster. Amsterdam has so much to offer for everyone.



Dam square

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03 October 2007

Roll out of new South Korean Airline Yeongnam Air Fokker 100


It was not a bright sunny day, but today the roll out at Qaps Schiphol of a new user of Fokker aircraft.... Yeongnam Air, Fokker 100 HL7774 ex G-MAMH. For more info about this new airline check out there website: http://www.ynair.co.kr/. The new South Korean airline has the intention to start services in February 2008 with 2 or 3 Fokker 100's.

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29 September 2007

Sail to Marken 22nd and 23rd of September

On invitation by Harm, we sailed with the sailing ship Martha McGilda of Burnham, Saturday 22nd of September to Marken at the borders of the IJselmeer. We arrived before sunset and found an empty spot in the harbour for the night. That evening we enjoyed a couple of beers and a Skipperschnitzel at a local establishment. The next morning, we were accompanied by Han and Frits, for a sail back to Durgerdam. A very enjoyable weekend. Some photos........

Skipper Harm and "Het Paard" lighthouse near Marken

A beautiful sunset and Martha McGilda of Burnham

Kerkebuurt at Marken

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Dam to Dam walk Saturday 22nd of September

Start at the Dam square in Amsterdam. Left to right: Anneloes, Femke and Ger.

Together with Anneloes and Femke, we walked on 22nd of September the Dam (Amsterdam) to Dam (Zaandam) walk. Distances to walk, 18, 26 or 40 kilometer. We have decided to walk 18,7 kilometer. Start was at 09.00 hrs at the Dam in Amsterdam and via the "Jordaan" to the ferry, near the Central Station, which will brings us over "Het IJ" to the Northern part of the city and further on to the city of Zaandam. Some pictures of this walking event.


Buiksloterdijk and finish at the Dam square in Zaandam.

Sint Nicolaas church and walking through Amsterdam.

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21 September 2007

Hamburg Airport Classic days 15 and 16 september 2007


Ones a year the Airport Classic days are held at Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel aiport and this year the event was attended by many Classic airliners. Several DC-3/C-47 Dakotas, a Li-2, a Douglas DC-2, 2 Douglas DC-6's and Lockheed L-1049 Constellation and a Noratlas. Also many other classic airplanes could be seen and the German Air Force and Army and Navy. The event was held near the Lufthansa Technical area and free bustransport was available. On saturday around 11.00 hrs the Airbus A380 made it's apperance at Hamburg Airport with a fly by and later followed by a landing. It was the first time the A380 landed at this airport. Fantastic to see all these classic airplanes together and well organised.

Some impressions.....
Do i see this Connie smile?
Hungarian Li-2 of Sunflower
Fly by by the Airbus A-380
Nord N-2501 Noratlas

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17 September 2007

Giants of History Fly-in 1st and 2nd of September at Aviodrome, Lelystad

Aviodrome National Aviation and Theme park at Lelystad organised in the weekend of 1st and 2nd of September a Giants of History Fly in. Several classic airliners and aircraft could be spotted and photographed. Also it was possible to have a look inside these amazing airplanes. Among the visting airplanes are: G-APSA DC-6A Air Atlantique, F-AZTE DC3 in KLM/Air France colours, PH-PBY PBY5A, N167B A-26B, F-GIBN Broussard and many more. Also airplanes from there own collection where parked outside. And more airplanes can be seen inside the museum. Some photos.....More information about this museum, which can be found in the Provence of Flevoland at this URL: Aviodrome
It is a museum worthwhile to visit.


DC-6B Air Airlantique in KLM's 50's colours.
PBY5A in Dutch Navy colours



Douglas C-54 NL-316 in Netherlands Government Air Transport colours

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01 September 2007

Douglas DC-6A in KLM colours at Amsterdam Schiphol



After an excellent paintjob done by KLM E&M, today the Douglas DC-6A G-APSA (c/n 45497) (PH-TGA) in KLM 50's London - Christchurch colour scheme is ready for departure to Lelystad in Flevoland, where a Giants of History weekend is held. Lucky the sun came out for a while and this grand lady shines. In front of the plane is the Air Atlantique crew. The DC-6A will play it's part in the movie Bride flight. For more info and the story behind this movie check this URL: http://www.idtv.nl/film/development/brideflight.html

For photos of the DC6 in full flight check: Airliners.net
Simply stunning!!!





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16 August 2007

Classic Airliner lands at Amsterdam Schiphol


Tonight just after 6 o'clock DC6A G-APSA of Air Atlantique landed at runway 22 close to Schiphol East. After landing the airplane taxied to Hangar 14 named "Leonardo Da Vinci", where the DC6 was parked. It has been a long time ago, that i have seen a classic airliner and heared the sound of it's piston engines. Some photos taken at arrival.
More info on this DC6 see this URL
More photos of the DC6 G-APSA can be found at this URL


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10 August 2007

Catch a falling star......!


We all remember this song by Perry Como: "Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, Never let it fade away! Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket, Save it for a rainy day!"!......This weekend during the dark hours of the night "falling stars or shooting stars" can be seen in our part of the hemisphere, when the skies are clear. For an explanation i checked out the internet. See this site.... The best showers of meteors are named The Perseids and are falling mid August (12th) and are quit spectacular to watch. Nice song: "Waiting for a star to fall" can be watched at this URL....

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03 August 2007

Somewhere over the rainbow and after the rain is gone...

Seen from my balcony this week a beautiful rainbow moving away to the East... Strange light on the right of the rainbow, which i cannot explain.....or is it the light going through the rainbow. Maybe someone else has the answer? If so, please leave a note in my guestbook. More about rainbows on the site: About Rainbows.

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24 July 2007

Again new aviation pictures published



Check out my Myaviation pages on the internet for my newest aviation pictures. Enjoy!!! On the rightside of this blog are more links and websites with my published aviation pictures. More pictures follow soon.

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4 days marches in Nijmegen


Last week i attended the 91st edition of the 4 days marches in Nijmegen. Unfortunately i was not able to finish these marches due to a knee injury, but my walking mate Anneloes walked 4 x 40 kilometers and earned her first four days medal (vierdaagsekruis). This immense popular walking event, which is always held in the 3rd week of July, was attended by 42.000 walkers.

On the picture are on the left Debby, me and on the right Anneloes after the 3rd day of walking. This is the day of Groesbeek.

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Views from an airplane window

Westeinderplassen at Aalsmeer


Dutch polders


On my flight from Amsterdam Schiphol to Vienna Schwechat end of June, i was able to take some inflight pictures. After departure to the east of the airport the Westeinderplassen (lakes) near the flower city of Aalsmeer, this is one of the biggest lakes in the Netherlands and a view of a Dutch polder in which a river is meandering. Landmass and cloudmass. Landscapes along the way and the shadow of our plane short before landing.

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12 June 2007

New aviation pictures at my MyAviation.net pages




This week new aviation pictures are published on my MyAviation site.
Check out this URL: http://myaviation.net/search/search.php?uid=1921

Come back soon for more pictures...........and Enjoy!

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09 June 2007

Weatheralarm 8 June The Netherlands



What started as a very sunny day ended in the evening in a so called "Weatheralarm" in parts of The Netherlands. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were crossing over the country from Southeast to the Northwest. I took some pictures under the shelter of my apartment.
Later in the evening the weather eased down and the thunderstorms and rain disappeared to the Northsea.

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29 May 2007

Douglas DC2 visits Amsterdam Schiphol







Today the Douglas DC-2 NC39165/PH-AJU named Uiver landed at Amsterdam Schiphol for a special paint job. What a fabulous site and sound.....Enjoy......The history of this famous airplane is well known as it participated in the air race to Melbourne, Australia....

Walk trainings for those famous 4 day marches


Solex club passing by near the river Kromme Mijdrecht
Small houses beneath the levee
near the river.







Locks of the Tolhuissluis.

The road to Zevenhoven
Starting and finishingpoint at De Kwakel

The last couple months we have done walk trainings, so we are well prepared to attend in the 3rd week of July the 4 day marches which will be held in city of Nijmegen. In February/March it all started with walks of 20 to 25 km distance in a day and we have now done already a walk of 40 km distance in one day. This is also the distance in kilometers, we have to walk during the marches in July. To make these walks as interesting as possible, we make the walks in different parts of the Netherlands. Also through the famous Dutch polders and along lakes. And we are also lucky that special groups are passing by our walking tracks.....Some photos are shown......from a walk through Dutch polders near the cities De Kwakel, Vrouwenakker, De Hoef, Zevenhoven, Papenveer, Langeraar, Bilderdam and back to the De Kwakel. Mid June we will make 2 walks of each 40 km in 2 days and after that we have to keep up this training , but shorter walking distances are allowed.

09 February 2007

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!





Yesterday it was a day with snow and the weather service gave a "weather alarm". Heavy snowfall in the afternoon, but at the end of the day the snowing already stopped. After work took some pictures in the vicinity of my apartment. Today this white stuff is already gone.

An evening on the ice rink


Two weeks ago we have visited with many enthousiastic colleques the Jaap Eden ice-rink in Amsterdam, for a skate clinic and to improve our skills.....From left to right, Dirk, Bas and me. Ice skates on and ready to go on the ice. It was a beautiful evening and temperatures below zero.
Perfect for ice skating!

Sunset at Schiphol Airport 7th of Februari


This picture is taken on the day before we got a lot of snow in The Netherlands and i have seen a dramatic sunset at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Business jets arrive and depart or are waiting for there passengers at this part of the airport. On the right in the background the main control tower.

28 January 2007

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931)

The Spirit of Finland


I have visited today the Groninger Museum in the Northern province Groningen, where is held till 15-04-2007 the exhibition of the Finnish artist Akseli Gallen - Kallela. He lived from 1865 till 1931. Many paintings are brought together of this most famous and important artist from Finland. The exhibition shows the versatile of works of this artist, who lived around the change of the century and is accountable for changes in the Finnish art. From top to bottom: The Groninger Museum, Mary Gallen(1893) and Ad Astra (1893).

27 January 2007

Relic after a heavy winterstorm

Amsterdam Schiphol air traffic in real time


Since 16 January 2007, it is possible to check out the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport air traffic in real time via Google Earth. A little tool can be downloaded from the site of geluidsnet. The site has the following URL: http://www.geluidsnet.nl/en/geluidsnet/publications/read-more/artikel/152/ It will be all explained in English. The red lines are inbound flights and the green lines are outbound flights.

In the picture are the arrivals and departures of 27 January 2007 - 09.33 hrs l.t.
It is not possible to see flightnumbers, but the airplane type and height in meters and speed are visible.
And i can assure you from own experience, it is very accurated.

07 January 2007

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter 400 years

On 23 march 2007 theme year "Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter" will start in The Netherlands. From this date on, several activities will be organised to commemorate the 400th day of birth of de Ruyter on 24 March in the memory of the greatest admiral of the The Netherlands. Michiel de Ruyter lived from 24 March 1607 till 29 April 1676. The official portal site is: http://www.michielderuyter.nl/ (only in Dutch language)

15 November 2006

John Mayer and Rod Stewart concerts on MSN Video














Do you like live concerts and performances like i do? But you are not able to attend or tickets are quickly sold out or the venue is in another part of the world. Now available on MSN Video, live recordings of the New York concerts of John Mayer and Rob Stewart. Good sound!
John Mayer just released a new album "Continuum" and Rod Stewart newest album "Still the same"
Check out the following urls:
JohnMayer
RodStewart

Enjoy the music!

13 November 2006

Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet


Chocolate letters from A to Z
on sale in the shop






Mid november Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet will arrive by steamboat from Spain into the Netherlands. This arrival is always broadcasted by Dutch television. Saturday 18th of November the arrival is in Middelburg, a city in the Province of Zeeland. Many little children and parents and the mayor also are ready at the docks to greet the good holy man. On his white horse Amerigo, he rides into town to greet the inhabitants of the town. From this day on, it is the time of Sinterklaas in our country and Sinterklaas and his helpers are visiting children at schools, stores, offices etc. On the evening of 5th of december, Sinterklaas eve, there are family parties with surprises and gifts. Many stores are already dressing up there windows for this special time and also there are special food items on sale, like, Speculaas, Peper/Kruidnoten, Taai taai and Chocolate letters. Be good and who knows you can expect presents as well.....and enjoy this time of the year!


26 October 2006

26th of October 2006 in The Netherlands



It is autumn, but it felt like springtime. Today around midday it was 22 degrees centigrade and very warm and sunny weather...This is very unusual for this time of year. Tonight a beautiful sundown over a lake near my hometown. And in the evening a rainshower which brought Sahara sand, shown on my car. What a different day in weather. Effect of global warming?

23 October 2006

Very nice Vienna Visit!












End of september, it's time to visit Sandra in Vienna! Last time we met, was in July during the ASCA/WASC sailing competition in Hamburg, where our teams participated. Saturday, time now for a little celebration of our birthdays....and a get together.... After arrival from Amsterdam, a big breakfast first, prepared by Sandra and time for presents. We visited on bicycle a fleamarket at the Kettenbrückengasse in a beautiful part of the city and also seen the famous Austrian "Lilien porzellan" from the 60's. Very nice colours. All kinds of material are on offer on this fleamarket , which is held every saturday till 5 pm.








Because it was such nice sunny weather, we have made a very long bicycle ride through the city of Vienna and finally ended up on the Danube Island. Quit good place for bicyling and no cars and only hikers and bikers. Near the borders of the Danube drinks and a small dinner in the afternoon and evening sunlight.

Sunday a quit start of this day and departure in the afternoon back to Amsterdam. Excellent weekend with such good and longtime friends.

14 October 2006

Sailboat Spanker 522 in winterstorage at WV Schiphol















It's autumn and time again to take the boats out of the water and put into winterstorage. At the Watersportvereniging Schiphol this is done with a big crane, which can lift up boats up to 20 ton. (20.000 kg) The operator of this crane is Rob Douwes with help from the members of our sailing club. Also today my wooden Spanker sailboat, normally placed on the jetty, had to be lifted out of the water by this crane. Spanker 522, named Spirit of Ben B. weighs only 195 kg with an overall length of 5.75 meter. A small job for these guys! April 2007 is the start of the new sailing and watersport season.