Last Sights And The Journey Home…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Before we left Fort Kijkduin in 2016, the three families in our party regrouped in the car park before we headed back home.

Each of us had a different favourite moment or exhibit here, the rest of our party of course having managed to visit the tunnels under the fort.

Even though this was out of bounds for me, I still had a great time here.

Once in the car I took a few photographs of the journey home.

The effort of the day, large doses of pain relief caught up with me however, and after just a little while the camera was put away and I slept the rest of the journey home.

The following days were painful and difficult as I recovered from the weekends excursions but our family were all happier for having a breath of fresh air.

The task of resuming care for my mother in law was at hand.. my weekend visits were back on, Himself juggled daily visits with work and my medical appointments. “Chaotic life” was back, but we were all better for having had a well earned break.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

 

Some Of The Inhabitants Are Grinning At Me…

During the 2016 Easter Weekend, Family Kiwidutch and two other families visited Fort Kijkduin near Den Helder and discovered that it also housed an aquarium. Some of the fish in the tanks appear to like coming right up to the glass whenever visitors are close by. Several even had a “grin” for me, so I smiled and gave them a little wave back. Right at the very end of the aquarium, close to the exit is a little boat, the motorised toy sort that you put a coin into to give a small child a ride.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

Hiding In The Corners And In Plain Sight…

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Exiting the “fish tunnel” at the Fort Kijkduin aquarium, the first thing I see is an open tank that might be described as a “petting zoo with fish”.

The tank is long and it’s possible for children to put their hands inside the water.

There are small crabs that can be picked up, it’s possible to watch flat fish hiding themselves in the sand, achieving an amazingly camouflaged state and the creatures prompt a lot of excitement as they kids discover that they dare to stroke a crab shell back, …or that they don’t at the last moment.

Other tanks line the walls in the same room, and the more you look the more fish and crustations you see.

I looked for a while in one tank for a while whilst I had a rest and was constantly surprised when all of a sudden something near some seemingly plain rocks would suddenly move.

After a while I saw more and more, but am well aware that not every occupant of a tank is active at the same time of day so there were definitely many more that I missed. The colourings and camouflage of the fish speaks to how their lives depend on how well their ability to hide works. Another tank catches attention for another reason: it’s bright pink. Closer inspection reveals that it’s full of seahorses. Several, male ones are visibly pregnant, their little “bumps” clear to see. Like the tanks before now, once my eyes ajust to what I am looking for, I see more and more of them in amongst the leaves and photograph them there.

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Information about the various fish in the tanks is displayed on the wall…

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

There’s Nothing Fishy About This Next Exhibition… Or Is There?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Somehow when we arrived at Fort Kijkduin I had a few preconceived ideas about what we would see.

History? Check? Exhibits? Check. An Aquarium?… Ch…

Wait, What!?

The wonderful surprise that I discovered in Fort Kijkduin is that it houses a massive aquarium, and all sorts of fish.

First on display is a walk through tunnel where, separated by a thick perspex wall, fish swim over our heads, and to our left and right.

I have no idea exactly how intelligent fish are but there are some fish here that appear to have a “personality”, because they are right up against the perspex, following us as we move, seemingly keeping eye contact.

Are they waiting for a selfie? Trying to strike up a conversation? Who knows? It’s a wonderful surprise and completely unexpected since I had not read any brochures or known about this place in advance. I have special thanks for our friends who found this attraction, this activity is spot on for everybody!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We can see through the tank to the Fort’s walls on the other side. Viewed through the water, it makes an interesting pattern…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The fish in the right hand corner seemed unusually attentive…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

I Am In For An Unexpected Surprise…

The exhibits continue one after another at Fort Kijkduin. I am taking up the rear of our group, enjoying it all at a leisurely pace. (“Fast” is a setting I no longer have after my accident anyway). There is however something very very different just around the corner… Looks like I am in for an unexpcted surprise…

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

Strange Bottles And A Mystery Box…

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

“History” appears to suit me. Not only do I adore old things, I also find them aesthetically pleasing and a delight to my artistic eye.

I only wish that my photography skills could do these pieces justice.

Needless to say these are going into my arty archive  reference files so that if ever I want to draw these, I can find them back amongst the tens of thousands of photographs that have now accumulated on this blog.

Fort Kijkduin has so many artifacts, amazing historical exhibits that a bit of blog post photography can not nearly do them justice. A visit would be highly recommended.

Even  four of the five kids in our group gave this activity a five star rating.The other kid was roughly one year old at the time and gives the same grin and giggles to everything here as he does to playing with shiny crinkly wrapping paper.  Put it this way, he didn’t cry and for most of the time he wasn’t asleep. I suppose that counts as a tiny thumbs up from the smallest member of our group. Finding and activity that equally pleases a 1,4,5,11 and 15 year old is a tough task, the Fort does a good job of keeping them happy.

I love these quirkier items: a bottle labeled ” azijn essence” ? (vinegar essence) … ok, what on earth did they do with that? Drink it? Horrors.A green box with a handle on the side to turn… a pump handle perhaps? Two taps are located on the front, one of them very large, the other small. Both have fancy decorative shapes.Might this have been used for water? booze rations for the troops? Who knows.. it’s an interesting item that may well have had a label (obviously I missed it). I love weird stuff like this. Old suitcases, rusty keys, bottles and lamps round out the collection for this post.

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

Tiny Works Of Art In Their Own Right…

The history continues in the next rooms of Fort Kijkduin near Den Helder.  This time the focus is on militeria: medals, awards and coins. These are just a few examples of the many here. I am also saving these as reference material for my drawing files.  I find that many of the patterns in these pieces are tiny works of art in their own right.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands
 

Buttoning Down On My Button Knowledge…

One of the things that I see in the Fort Kijkduin exhibitions is how buttons are made from bone. I had a rough idea before but have never seen any actual illustrations of it until now. It’s obviously a more percision task than I ever imagined… Cool!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

Fort Kijkduin: War And Peace…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The museum and exhibits at Fort Kijkduin near Den Helder show us many of the aspects that the fort has to offer.

One information board about World War II told us:

“When the general mobilisation was announced in 1939, the fortifications here in Den Helder were reinforced up to war (strength) standards.

Extra soldiers were housed in Fort Kijkduin. However, after the surrender of May 1940 the Germans took control.

The German navy used the fort for artillery training also because they wanted to used the fort as a bomb shelter. T

he topside of the reduit (Kiwi’s Note: FR for a fortified structure) was given a thick capping of reinforced concrete of about 60 cm thick.

Under this cap was an additional meter thick layer of sand.

The Germans used the fire control post as lookout post.” It’s natural that one army (or navy) or another has used this fortification to their advantage over the past centuries. It’s easier however to think of these places being places of the “distant past” rather than of the “recent past”. One can only hope that it is never ever needed again in warfare. The exhibits continue: this is an amazing place, so much to see and thought provoking too.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands

Fort Kijkduin, The Tour Continues…

My tour of Fort Kijkduin continues, there is plenty to see…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch

Den Helder: Fort Kijkduin / The Netherlands