Trip along the Rhine
‘Ja, een reisje langs de Rijn, Rijn, Rijn’ ( ‘Yes, a trip along the Rhine, Rhine, Rhine…),  my father immediately started singing, when I told him I would be accompanying a river cruise on the Rhine.

A classic, both the Dutch song and the trip!

With all classics, they capture the imagination, excite and are timeless.

In this blog you’ll read about my experiences aboard the ship HS Advance. There are a lot of companies which offer a Rhine river cruise. At the bottom of my personal story you will find the information about the tour operator Friendship Cruises for which I have guided this specific trip. The trip lasted a total of two weeks. I accompanied the one week track from Basel Switzerland  back to the Netherlands.

Kampen and…Beyond
The philosophy of Kampen and Beyond: connection and boundless discovery. Exactly what this trip is all about! The Rhine river is the great binding force connecting Switzerland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. A journey with beautiful excursions along the waterways and over land, through mountains and valleys: the beautiful nature of Lake Lucerne, Monastery Maria Laach, cities like Mainz and regions like Alsace and the Eifel, to mention just a few of the highlights.

Jantje (John) of Leiden
I literally start in my hometown Kampen, where I get on the train to Basel to embark there the next day. What a mighty fine feeling to see the IJssel River still flowing in front of my doorstep in the morning and to get off at its source, the Rhine, in the evening (see photo 1). Talking about connection!
The train trip was very comfortable. By the time my kids start their first sandwiches at school, I am already in Germany! In Hanseatic city Münster, I have quite some time to visit the city and see the cages in the top of the Lambert Church. In one of these cages, the lifeless body of John of Leiden was once displayed. I made up my mind to put in a 100 percent effort on this trip and not to get away with any nonsense and misbehave like John of Leiden. Around the Münster Cathedral there is a lively market and I saw plenty of beautiful historic buildings. I will definitely come back one day!

From Münster directly to Basel in six hours where I arrive by early evening.

Just a hundred paces to the hotel and there we are: what a relaxing first day of traveling, with already many impressions of cities and landscapes along the way.

With my nose in the butter
The Netherlands is all about, windmills, tulips, cheese and butter. That’s why we have a lot of expressions connecting to them. For instance when we say: ‘met de neus in de boter’ (literally: ‘with your nose in the butter’) we mean that we arrived at just the right time. So I felt as if I dropped ‘with my nose in the butter’ when the next day a full-day excursion is immediately scheduled. And what an excursion it was! The photo gallery below gives an impression of Lucerne and the famous Kapellbrücke (2), the cruise on Lake Lucerne (3 and 4) and the steepest cogwheel railway in the world which, with a maximum gradient of 48%, takes us to the top of Mount Pilatus. In the photo (5) you can see that I may look a bit pale and am clutching rather convulsively at a little bag one of the participants gave me for safekeeping. What an experience! With my nose in the butter!

Involvement
The excursion in Switzerland is figuratively and literally one of the highlights of the trip. Most of the guests have also signed up for this day, which gives me a good opportunity to get to know them better.
During the week I was able to get a good picture of the way of traveling and the guests. Also a lot of thanks to my colleagues Ben and Jacqueline who accompanied the entire trip. Their involvement with the guests and thinking in terms of possibilities were very inspiring and educational!

Relaxation
This way of traveling gives you all the space you need to retreat alone on the sun deck (6) and enjoy the scenery that slowly passes by, as well as to find conviviality and connection in the cozy restaurant (7). You only have to unpack your suitcase once and your sailing hotel offers you a new panorama behind every bend. The most famous bend of our Rhine trip is, of course, that of the Loreley (8), the most romantic part of the river. In the morning I get up early to (usually) stand alone on the deck to awaken my romantic soul at sunrise (9)…and moving on….:)

Experience
This mode of travel allows guests to experience a great deal. What to think of, while you are having breakfast, your ship descending in a lock. You sink down as well and the room slowly becomes completely dark!
The excursions are a bonus. In the gallery I have included photos of a guided city walk in Basel along beautiful viewpoints and quaint stores (10), Bonn (11), drinking Rüdesheimer Kaffee together and walking through the Drossel alley (12 and 13), Mainz (14 and 15), Monastery Maria Laach (16 and 17) and a trip on the cable car in Koblenz with a beautiful view of the point where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet (18). In the photo you can see very nicely that the water of the Moselle is darker colored.

Setting the sailes!
The voyage is almost over. For the first time in my life I will be sailing into Holland (19). As a tour leader I hope to be able to set my sails soon! (20).

Text and photos: Reinier de Wit, founder of Kampen and Beyond. Photos of me were made by my colleagues.

I did this river cruise for Friendship Cruises. The full description of this trip can be found HERE (in Dutch)

Photo Gallery

1. Basel along the Rhine River

2. Lucerne and the famous Kapellbrücke

3. Boattrip Lake Lucerne

4. Boattrip Lake Lucerne

5. Getting on board on the steepest cable car in the world!

6. Panorama deck

7. Bon appetit!

8. The Loreley Passage

9. The early bird catches the worm!

10. Quaint shops in Basel

11. Bonn, historic centre

12. Drossel alley in Rüdesheim

13. Drinking Rüdesheimer Coffee. Coffee with brandy and sugarcubes

14. Mainz

15. Mainz Cathedral

16. Maria Laach Monastery

17. Detail of the Maria Laach Monastery. The devil is writing down the sins of mankind

View of Rhine and Moselle river

Sailing home into the Netherlands

What a journey it was. Highly recommended!

Dutch Design

Dutch Monochromes rebuilds disposed household materials, such as dishes, pots, and pans, as well as old-fashioned items such as lamps, tables, and other home accessories. The creative process is guided by both the functional and visual character of each piece. The design philosophy is loosely inspired by the visual language of Studio Job, and combines a feeling-at-home mentality with what is known as Dutch Design: experimental, innovative, and unconventional design with a sense of humor.

Monochrome light

Monochrome light is light of a single wavelength; something that is monochromatic has a single color. If all color has been removed, only form remains. Composition, structure, and rhythm are more than enough for an interesting image. Put in a little light, and it all comes to life.

Kamper history

For example, Model 019, the “Counselors cup,” visualizes objects from Kamper history. We see the skates of Avercamp, the cow, the royal portraits, and, inside the cup, the connection with God. When it’s dark, you see a light beam at the ceiling, making a connection with heaven. On top is a kind of observatory from which heaven is studied, another Kamper tradition.

So, the decorations that once stood at the heart of the rebuild have gradually shifted in emphasis. The decorative details invites the viewer to explore their deeper meaning. By playing with scale and context, the space between two skates for instance makes you wonder whether it is a barn door or a city gate. The lid of a cup is also an immense observatory.

Handmade

All pieces are handmade and unique. The components are separately sprayed, screwed, and can be disassembled if needed for repair. Dutch quality!

More information 

A number of models are still for sale. For more information mail : kampenandbeyond@gmail.com or call +31(0)618160410

Model 019 especially refers to various sections and aspects of The City Museum collection. Kampen and Beyond offer guided visits to The City Museum 

You can explore Kamper history and visit Nico’s studio during the Daytrip Kampen  as well

Nico van Maastricht is one of The Favorites of Kampen and Beyond

Model 019 : The Counselors Cup. Dutch Monochromes by Nico van Maastricht

Detail Model 019 : The Counselors Cup. Dutch Monochromes by Nico van Maastricht

Detail of The Cow Corridor. During the walking tour the story of the Kamper city farmers will be told and shown.

House of a former city farmer. Historic centre Kampen

Avercamp’s merry ice skaters and the skyline of Kampen. City Museum Kampen

Royal Family Gallery : Willem van Oranje, Founding Father of The Netherlands. City Museum Kampen

Religious life and light in Kampen

City Gate. Historic centre Kampen

The Ideal Trip for Tourists: Amsterdam, Kampen, Bruges and Paris.

Kampen: A lot of potential

Recently I had the pleasure to show Peter Laanen, his wife and their two American friends around in Kampen. Peter is a fan of Kampen and sees a lot of potential in this ancient old Hanseatic city. He persuaded his former neighbors from San Francisco to join him to this lovely city at the river IJssel.

Quality Time

Peter’s friends were on a journey in Europe – they visited Amsterdam and were going to Paris and Bruges (for the third time!). Part of this trip would now also be Kampen.

The sun was shining that day but also the first view of the cobble stone market and the characteristic bell tower immediately appealed to our visitors. From that point on everything went very smoothly.

What I like about American guests is that they, way more than us ‘objective’ Dutchman, value quality time so much. They don’t hesitate to tell whenever something is wonderful or amazing or when they have the feeling of genuine welcome.

Personally I feel attracted by this kind of enthusiasm and sense of awe. Therefore I try to do my utmost best to show my guests the most beautiful things, to tell them special stories and to be a good host.

Testimonial

During our day trip Peter and his wife were contemplating to stay longer the next time they would be in Kampen. The next day I received the following testimonial:

At 09.15 we were heading for Kampen. Kampen ?! Well sure, we wanted to prove our American friends that in Holland there is more than Amsterdam. After one hour and fifteen minutes we arrived in Kampen where our host, Mr. Kampen Reinier de Wit, was waiting for us with a wheelchair for Ann who had difficulties with walking. What a guy! Thanks to Kampen and Beyond – www.kampenandbeyond.com – and a personal visit I already learned quite a lot about Kampen’s history. 

First we visited ‘De Olifant’. De Olifant (literally means The Elephant) is one of two remaining cigar makers in The Netherlands. Production: 4.5 million a year, from cigarillo to ‘bolknak’. Very interesting tour, from tobacco leaves to quality assurance. Top-notch ! Reinier’s city tour was amazing and I can recommended it to everyone, but another highlight was the museum. The only museum in The Netherlands which holds a life size gallery of The Royal Family and a Courtroom with all the wisdom one can imagine. My wife cleverly pointed out that the bar at which the lawyers stood, was taken over by the Americans when they have to ‘pass the bar’ to be qualified as a lawyer.

Tomorrow we are saying goodbye to our former neighbors and remember: Visit Kampen and ask impassioned Reinier for a tour !

Our American friends also really enjoyed Kampen. They loved it!

I was wondering though if there would be any cigars left in De Olifant after they left Kampen 🙂

Sincerely yours,

Reinier de Wit

Kampen and Beyond: The Heart of Holland

De Olifant

Beyond Kampen

Royal Family Gallery : Willem van Oranje, Founding Father of The Netherlands. City Museum Kampen

Reinier de Wit

Before the rise of Amsterdam, Kampen ruled the waves. Kampen was the most powerful and prosperous town of the Netherlands and one of the leading cities of Northwest Europe. Kampen was part of an international trading alliance called De Hanze (The Group) which included cities such as Hamburg, Cologne, Bruges and Copenhagen.

The historic center is one of the country’s best preserved, boasting no fewer than 500 medieval monuments, including houses, gates, and towers.  Kampen won the Dutch Heritage Award in 2013, and in June 2017 Kampen has hosted The International Hanseatic Days.

In Kampen you have the chance to make an authentic connection with the Dutch people and their beautiful culture. Main themes and attractions include:

Water 

• The waterfront of the city is the most precious one of Holland
• The Kogge Shipyard. A Kogge was a kind of ship you could compare with the big containerships of our days. The Kogge’s made Kampen tremendously rich. Just recently a Kogge was discovered in the IJssel River. BBC, CNN and National Geographic were among the media who covered this event.

Music 

• The 17th century Bell Tower designed by the renowned architect Vingboons carries bells by Geert van Wou and the brothers Hemony. Carillon players from all over the world like the U.S.A. give special concerts in summertime.
• The church was built in 1369 by Rutger van Keulen, whose father was the master builder of the famous Cologne Cathedral. The church towers above the other churches also in a figurative sense, mainly because of the Hinsz organ. With its 3200 pipes and incredible sound, it is a major eye-catcher. Its tones do not simply descend downwards, but they rise up into the 27-metre-high vaults! This also explains why this church attracts people from all corners of the world.

Arts, Artisans and Crafts

• The Magistrates Court, the original 16th century hall where trials were held and from which Kampen was governed is now an integral part of The  City museum. The museum houses an exceptional collection and a number of treasures of national and international importance. For instance, the 17th century painting by Hendrick Avercamp, renowned for this winter landscapes with merry ice skaters and the elaborately decorated guild cup from the Rijnschippers Guild dating back to 1367, the oldest known silver guild piece in the Netherlands. And if that wasn’t enough, the museum boasts a unique Orange portrait gallery comprising 17 life-size portraits of the Dutch royal family, including the most recent addition: a portrait of king Willem-Alexander.
• The Olifant Cigar Factory: Kampen has a reputation as a city were once 3 out of 4 people worked in the cigar industry. The Olifant, in the historic center, is now the only surviving family business were high quality cigars, some made by hand, are manufactured. The Olifant cigars have a reputation matching the Cuban counterparts. The Olifant is connected with a shop and coffee bar, The Eenhoorn, were you can buy and drink superb tea and coffees.
• And there is The Guild-quarter: local specialist like for instance a chocolatier who makes their own bonbon,  a small brewery and cafe were you can drink authentic Kampen beer, and a gelatoria were artisan ice is made.

Polders, traditional (dairy) farmers and farmshops

The polders around Kampen, The Kampeiland (The Kamperisle), are one of the greenest and oldest polders of the Netherlands. A polder is land reclaimed from the sea. Especially the polders surrounding Kampen are very prosperous thanks to the sedimentation of fertile clay, being located in a unique and one of kind national landscape of the IJssel Delta.

Quality products like butter and hay are renowned in Kampen and beyond. For instance the hay was bought by the Royal Family for their horses. Of course only the best was good enough for them!

Kampen and Beyond: The Heart of Holland

Beyond Kampen

The Bell Tower

Detail from The Magistrate’s Court in The City Museum

The Polder Kampereiland

Local artisan products from The Kampereiland

Detail of The Hinsz Organ

The Kogge and The City Arms of Kampen

Skyline Kampen Sunset

Full Color Festival Kampen 2016

Celebrating Diversity & Unity of Kampen !

For the second time in a row Full Color Festival Kampen took place in the City Park at the petting zoo and in the natural playground.