Durgerdam

Durgerdam was our home base 3 days. We stayed in an adorable hotel called De Olde Tarveerne, which was built in the 1700's, and still stands as is. It's located on the Northern tip of the province of Holland, in the Netherlands. It's a healthy bike ride (about 5 miles) each way into Amsterdam, which we didn't know when we rented bikes as transportation. But we managed to make the trip into the city and back multiple times, and the bikes inabled us to take in the amazing scenery of what we think is "the cutest place in the world." On one of our bike rides, Jacob asked "I wonder if the Dutch know that they live the cutest lives ever?". Indeed, the pastoral landscape, abounding with ducks, geese and baby lambs, flanked by adorable canal houses that look the same as they did when the city was founded in 1200, look straight out of a fable book! 

The most incredible thing about Durgerdam and Amsterdam is that both cities are actually about 18ft. below sea level. The water line is practically at most front doorsteps. But thanks to inventive Dutch Engineering, the cities canal system, dams and drawbridges haver controlled water levels and kept the city above water for the past 800 years just fine.

The quality of life in the Durgerdamdijk seems to be quite good. Here everyone maintains both the inside and outside of their homes meticulously, paying close attention to good design, which the Dutch seem to have an upper hand at in general, from everything to architecture to city planning to art and home decor. Here, it seems quite possible to have a nice house, a farm, a boat, a bicycle and the best of country and city life combined, with Amsterdam so close. I could easily live here, and do well I think. The Dutch seem very happy with their lives. 

Entering Durgerdam, this is also the main street of the village. 

This is the beginning of the bike trail to the ferry to get to Amsterdam... it winds through farms and over canals to make a beautiful ride! 

Our room in the Durgerdamdijk, which is really old.... built in the 1700's. 

Baby lambs and sheep are everywhere... soooo cute! 
Cute old 1960's German cars are everywhere. 

A evening view of the central harbor of Durgerdam

This is an old levy thing that the Dutch use to pull up and maintain their boats close to their homes. 

The Dutch keep french lop-earred rabbits in cozy cages across the street from their homes. We couldn't decide if they were raising them as pets or for food?

Cute tiny Dutch cars. 

Incredible old sailboats line the harbor.