God, I hate Schipol Airport!
         

No, really, I do.

It's a hateful place. It is so B-I-G. Your plane lands at a gate somewhere in Belgium, then you march across Europe to Passport Control!

It's just wrong on so many different levels.

Gone walkabout in the locale to snap some pictures that show the essence of Dutchness. I make no apology for the gratuitous windmill shot!
 

Anyway, I happened to be required in Dutchland on business for a few days in May .

Not for me the debauchery and depravity of the capital city. No, not for I the drugs, the women and the loud rock and roll music. Oh, no. I get the tranquil, sedate, relaxed town of Oss, some one hour drive from Amsterdam.

         
These pictures were all taken during a weekday afternoon...
         

 

Nice. Very clean and friendly locals, but not the liveliest place I've ever been.

         

Holland is so clean and neat and tidy, it's a little bit of a culture shock, especially considering their predilection for the legal aforementioned debauchery and depravity.

Another nice thing about the Dutch, is that most Hollandish people speak English better than most English! Given that their own language is impenetrable by anyone with a throat, this is a nice gesture of friendship.

         
         

OK. This place deserves a special mention. I ate here two nights out of the four I was in Oss. Mmmmm! Fantastic italian food, in portions that will not leave you wanting more. Click on the menu on the right to see what was on offer.

Although, it has to be said, I speak no Dutch and they spoke no English, so ordering from a menu written in Italian (which I also do not understand) with Dutch descriptions, was interesting.

         
Oh, I just love their language and that funny way they have with spelling!
Parking for wheelchairs?

DREMPELS!

He he he!

This man has no feet!
         
The Police...
... the Post Office...
... and my hotel.
   
   
   
No idea what the hell this is, or why I took a picture of it!
   
     

I'd be the first to admit that I'm not a doggy person. But come on, be reasonable!

The picture on the right is at doggy height. Dutch dogs are obviously smart enough to be able to read the bloody sign, are they?

As for the picture on the right? This is attached to a pole about 8ft off the ground! What sort of dog are they breeding for their debauched and depraved peccadilloes?

         

Nah, only kidding. Love the Dutch people, their country, their strange desire to eat raw fish on Friday, their drugs, their women, and most importantly, their rock and roll. Yes, my name is Mark and I am a Golden Earring fan.

I have been a fan of the Dutch masters since 1974. Never seen them live though.

I should have originally gone to Oss a few months earlier, but I was in the US at the time. Bugger of it all is, that night I should have been there, Golden Earring played a gig in the town. Of course, this time they were as far away as possible from Oss, yet still in the country. I would like to see them before one of them pops his clogs though*.

 

*I know, it was unworthy. But, you can't let those ones get away!

 

USA 2004 - Philadelphia