We had a lovely day of walking with our exchange partner, Suzanne and her two nearly grown up children, Bart and Amber. They took us first to this little hidden community-now open to the public. I would be more specific about lots about it, including it's name, but I don't have my guidebooks with me, so I have to wing it.
During the religious wars that tore Europe apart after the reformation and sent my ancestors to the New World of America, the Netherlands took a tolerant position. At the time, tolerance ment that Protestants were fairly openly accepted and Catholics were delt with in a kind of "Don't ask don't tell" policy. This little area has a hidden from view Catholic church. Everyone would have know it was here and what it was, but it wasn't sort of "in your face".
It also houses, to this day, a community of unmarried women. They are women of some means-not poor women and they are not nuns, but they live in community without men.
This is one of two wooden houses still standing in Amsterdam. In a city below sea level wood rots even faster than in dry areas. Add to that the fires that were a plague in all cities for quite some time-Chicago, for instance.
Here is the second wooden house. It is across town from the little secluded villiage of women. It is right next to the red light district. Suzanne remembers in her youth, which would have been my youth as well, that it was quite dangerous for anyone to come into this district as it was a place of drugs. Sort of a Tijuana where one might get caught in the crossfire.
Fairly new temple here.
Guess who? Hint: famous Dutch painter. Hint: Name begins with R.
Sitting on a canal near the flower markets is the mint. There was a time that ships unloaded nearby and cash was needed, so it was a good place for a mint.
KG
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