My short summervacation in Zaandam (part 1/2)

[beelikej]

By way of summervacation I took 4 days off and arranged a short stay in a fancy hotel in an unknown town in the Netherlands: here's a picspam of my first day in Zaandam. This town is mostly used as a extension of Amsterdam for tourists and it shows; the whole decor is aimed at foreign visitors and oozes colourful kitsch. The village and its

Comments

[amberdreams]

That flower design totally looks like a dog (or a lion, maybe)!
Interesting about the green paint and the amount of pigment = wealth. I was talking to the bloke who came round to measure for a kitchen quote and we got onto old wallpaper and using arsenic for a particular shade of green. That too was a status symbol - only the rich could afford that particular shade and pigment.

[beelikej]

See, I knew it was not just me!

I love hearing this type of historic information: arsenic sounds rather dangerous too, must have added to the status of using it for wall decoration:)

[amberdreams]

Yep, it was quite poisonous, people died! Which is why it's not used any more. https://www.slam.org/blog/arsenic-in-victorian-wallpaper/

[beelikej]

Oh, wow, that The Peacock Garden design is gorgeous! <3

[galatera_grass]

Wonderful photos and wonderful relaxation

[beelikej]

Thank you:) I did indeed manage to completely relax, it may have been short, but it felt like a full vacation!

[tabaqui]

WOW, what an amazing, interesting city! The green color, first of all. And then all the little dormer-type windows all over the roofs of the buildings! Just sort of stacked and scattered all over, i love it.

Love the wee owl and the corner detail, love the whales, love the stained glass, especially in that ultra-modern looking building with the jackdaw!

Your view from your hotel is awesome, as is the historical scene. And the pierced-metal 'shroud' over the lock house! Just really amazing.

And, like every other time you've posted pictures - everything looks so *clean* and well tended and cared for. Lovely!
:D

[beelikej]

Zaandam is just the right size for a day of exploring with just the right amount of historic sights, it was fun to walk around:)

That stained glass building with the jackdaw was built in 1931 in the architectural style of the Amsterdam School, one of my favorite design styles, because it's so quirky! Wikipedia has a great page about the Amsterdam School with examples of even more awesome buildings here.

[tabaqui]

Oh, very cool! I love all the curves. :D

[dizzojay]

Looks like a great trip!
I love the photos and that hotel is spectacular!

[beelikej]

I had a lovely time:) Am still giddy about that funky hotel!