Proost

What’s better than a day with friends? How about.. a day with friends and a day of wine tasting? With the holiday’s fast approaching and our schedules about to get busy, some friends of mine and I all decided to spend the day together in Eersel, The Netherlands. We started with lunch at Café Vierteen on the square in Eersel. After lunch it was just a stroll across the street to Ad Kuyten Specialiteiten.

This beautiful little specialty shop is nestled into the charming Eersel village square. The owners this past weekend were celebrating 30 years of success and what better to way celebrate than hosting a wine tasting.

 With wines lined up from France, Italy, Spain and more, my friends and I strolled, sipped and laughed our way through the many different delights. Some of us enjoyed the whites and some of us enjoyed the reds. I got stuck on #42. Yes, I realize that is a very large number for a wine tasting but I didn’t try ALL of the wines before this one. We did have one kind woman come up to us and ask who our BOB was. For my American friends, Bob is the designated driver of the group. So the Dutch always ask “Who’s your Bob?”.  Yes, we would all be safe.

Munching on crackers and making our selections we all carried out our goodies. Happy with our day, happy with our purchases, happy to be with friends.

To making each day count!

And to Ad Kuyten Specialiteiten, congratulations on your thirty years, may you have many more.

Proost!

Berlin ~ The Capital of Cool

On a recent break from school our family decided to go to Germany to visit Berlin. Many of my friends had been there and couldn’t say enough positive things about the city.

On the way we stopped at the concentration camp, Bergen Belsen. This would be our first trip to a concentration camp. As we wound our way through the German country side, we enjoyed the beautiful little villages dotted into the landscape that still show signs of yesterday. We came upon the camp site knowing that there would be a museum, memorials, and very little else.

Leading into Bergen Belsen

 The camp had been burned to the ground to get rid of diseases that ran rampid during the war. Bergen Belsen was first a prisoner of war camp and then a concentration camp. It is estimated that around 50,000 people died at Bergen Belsen.

Inside one of the women's barracks. No where to move the dead they were usually just right there among them.



 We walked through the museum silent, stunned and horrified as we watched film documents, read letters, and looked at artifacts left or donated to the museum. Outside we walked along the barren area of what remained of the camp. New trees and signs of life were among the memorials.

Walking out in the barren camp. Signs of new life.

 

 Bergen Belsen... life is destroyed

Massive mounds like small hills scattered throughout the camp. Upon closer inspection~ mass graves each holding thousands and thousands of innocent people. Among them somewhere.. Anne Frank.

 Just a marker... She's sadly buried in mass grave with close to 5,000 other people.

We then drove on to Berlin, the capital of Germany or as our walking guide called it “The Capital of Cool”. And cool it was! Our hotel was located right by tons of shopping and restaurants. Our first stop…

Hard Rock ~ Berlin Style!

 Hard Rock Café~ Berlin! I’ve made it my goal to visit these restaurants when traveling because I enjoy an American tasting hamburger (not meatloaf style) and I love picking up a new t shirt from their store.

 Shopping at my favorite Christmas store

We spent a few days just shopping and enjoying the city. But our real joy came on a recommended walking tour of Berlin.

Taking the U2 at Zoo Station

 Catching the U2 train at Zoo Station (yes.. loving the connection of the train station and the band U2) we took the train from the west to the east. This formally was not possible to do as it was blocked by the Berlin Wall. The barrier of the Berlin Wall was thrown up overnight but the complexity of a barren death zone grew over time.

Looking through The Wall

Graffiti on The Wall

Part of the Berlin Wall that remains 

Our tour guide gave a wonderful view of the history of the city of Berlin from the beginning, through the mess of World War II, The Berlin Wall and up to today. We stood over the ruins of Hitler’s bunker, and even against the warning of our tour guide as being an absolute tourist trap, we had our picture taken at Checkpoint Charlie.

Checkpoint Charlie 

Heading to the East side 

Checkpoint Charlie
(Hey.. I am a tourist!)  

We read heart wrenching stories of people trapped on one side or the other of the wall, away from family and loved ones and the attempts that were made to get through to see each other. We walked along the streets of Berlin that wound around historical buildings and eventually through the Brandenburg Gate.

Brandenburg Gate
 After the war and the separation of East and West Berlin, the gate was right at the border just inside the Russian side. After the wall came down, the people of Berlin flocked to the gate to celebrate.

The Brandenburg Gate lit up during a light show



Later, as I stood in the dark in the center of the Jewish Holocaust Memorial lost in thought, lost from our group and lost from my family; I couldn’t help but think of the 6,000,000 Jewish people murdered. Disoriented and feeling a bit helpless I felt a small sense of the turmoil that has divided this city in the past.   

In the Jewish memorial

I really enjoyed my visit to Berlin even with  the wide range of emotions that I experienced.

Berlin…. You’ve come a long way baby!

The Men in Black

On a brisk, day in October, two families came together to meet each other for the first time. What started out as an inquirer to a photo, has led to a new friendship. Two brothers who were born in Holland during the war, and me, born in the United States many years later came together to meet and share not only an experience but an amazing first-hand account of what life was like to be trapped in an occupied country during WWII.

As a continuation of a story Ren’e and Erik van Slooten had shared with me about their mother and her bravery of hiding a Jewish friend in their home during the war, their mother’s imprisonment and eventual liberation by the United States 101^st airborne division, we came together that autumn day to meet and celebrate their mother’s life.

Erik with his mother on the day of Eindhoven's liberation

To read this story please go to... http://americangirlinholland.blogspot.nl/2012/09/lichjesroute.html

Ren’e had asked if I would like to meet and visit some of the areas in and around Eindhoven that played a role in Operation Market Garden. We decided we would start our day at The Wings of Liberation Museum in Best. He said I would be able to find him because he would be wearing an Ohio State cap. This made me smile. I am from Michigan and grew up only a few minutes from the University of Michigan. Michigan and Ohio State have always been big time rivals. I told Ren’e I would be the one in the Michigan sweatshirt and explained only a little bit of the rivalry of the two schools.  I should have explained a bit more as he looked a little nervous holding his cap as I approached his family. But in my heart I knew, the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State is like the rivalry of two brothers. Who’s taller, who’s faster and who will make it to the top of that hill first. A love and devotion to continue a game for a lifetime. Ren’e had received his Ohio State cap from the family of Rodney Renfrew from Coshocton, Ohio.

Rodney Renfrew's grave in Belgium with the Ohio State cap for Ren'e

Rodney had been killed in Germany February 10, 1945. Ren’e has adopted his grave in Belgium at the American Henri Chapelle Cemetery. He was able to meet Rodney’s family last year and they brought him the cap. I love that! I was not only there to meet Ren’e and his brother Erik, we were there to celebrate the bond, the band of brothers (yes, one of our favorite shows) that came together from all over the United States to help others in need.

We walked around the many buildings at the Wings of Liberation Museum looking at the different memories from the war. Ren’e and Erik had brought along their wives and also a friend who works at the museum to help guide us around. I had brought my husband, daughter and her friend.  Reading letters, documents, looking at tanks, guns, artillery, uniforms and other memories donated to the museum so that no one will forget the sacrifice these people made to save others.

Destruction in and around Eindhoven

We sat and had drinks and a small lunch before our next stop, our families mingling, chatting and sharing stories of our lives. Ren’e had brought letters from Rodney Renfrew’s family, letters that had been passed back and forth before he was killed. René and Erik shared more on the details surrounding the Allies liberation of Eindhoven and what it meant to their family. The Allies liberated Eindhoven on September 18, 1944. And as the Allies moved on to fight more of the war; the Nazis began bombing Eindhoven on September 19, 1944. Most of the city was destroyed. At home was their mother, pregnant with René and little Erik to tend to. As she and neighbors discussed what to do, it was time for little Erik’s nap. The neighbors told her to come over to their house to hide from the bombing. But she insisted on taking him back home to sleep. So they hid out in their home with Erik using a cooking pan over his head to shield him from injury. When the bombing stopped, Mrs. van Slooten and Erik came out of their home to find that their neighbors house had been bombed and they had all been killed. His nap had saved not only the lives of his mother and himself but his little brother that would be born two months later. I asked… Where was your father? Oh, said Erik, He was at work… for Phillips.

Sweet Amy and her new friend

Our next stop…..on to the drop zone sight of the 101^st airborne in Son. We pulled our cars into a beautiful farm in the country side. As we climbed out of the car, my daughter ran over to a fence to pet and chat with a horse. She had the most precious look on her face.

Landing Zone in Son

We only stayed a few minutes. The owner of the house actually lives in the house. He was a little boy when the 101^st airborne division landed in his back yard. They are gracious enough to allow anyone to come over and see where the men landed.  Erik said.. as a little boy he would call them , the men in black. Falling from the sky by the thousands were men in black. Their mother called them, Angels from Heaven. The name of the farmhouse is Paulus Hoeve. They had painted a huge red cross on the roof so the paratroopers were able to see where they were supposed to land.

The Men in Black

Our day ended way too quickly.  We drove past a few more memorials and bridges that were key to Operation Market Garden. We left each other with a promise to get together again soon.

As we drove away, I couldn’t help but smile. Me with my Michigan sweatshirt on and Ren’e with his Ohio State cap. Two brothers from Holland coming together to meet an American girl to share a story and a moment in time so that we never forget.

To my friends in Michigan and Ohio or where ever you live… Each year, when Michigan and Ohio State play their big football game, cheer for who you want to win. But after the game, let’s raise a glass and say a toast to our fallen brother from Ohio, Rodney Renfrew. It will be a great tradition for us to start together and such an important way for us to say thank you to a young man who gave his life so that others could live. God Bless The Netherlands and may God Bless the United States of America.

Ren'e, me and Erik

Ren’e and Erik… we won’t forget.

My Beautiful English day in the Dutch Countryside

A while back I had asked my friends if they thought I should be doing a giveaway on my blog. Lots of blogs seem to do them and I thought.. why not? Well, so many questions started swimming through my mind. Of course the first was, what should I give away? It needed to be something inexpensive since I’d be the one paying for it. I thought it would be nice to give something from The Netherlands.  My friend Helen, suggested I come over and make handmade soap to give away. She has her own company called Soap Matters and I thought, this is perfect! I love being creative and I’ve always wanted to learn how to make soap.

 Beautiful Dutch homes

So yesterday I made the short drive to her home. Wandering through Leende and then onto the small village of Strijp. Past fields, past beautiful old Dutch homes and through an amazing display of the leaves just starting to turn their autumn colors.

Helen making her grandmother's scones.



Our amazing day began as I came through her welcoming door to find her making scones. How delightful. Tea and coffee served and onto our little science experiement of making soap.

 Ingredients ready

With a clip clip here and a tap tap there and a couple of tra la la’s, we were on our way to the merry ole land of … soap. She has every little ingredient that makes soap just right. Flowers, herbs, scents, even the secret ingredient to make it to the soapification process. Ok, maybe not a secret but I never knew.

Soap trays ready to set for 6 weeks



As my trays of soap were put aside to set, she threw together the most delightful lunch followed by the scones for dessert.

 Goat cheese sandwich

Scones~Devonshire way

We walked around her beautiful home that used to be a milking parlor for cows and had then become a butter factory and then later a school before finally becoming a family home.

The milking Parlor

The house was several hundred years old but oh so beautiful and so full of character.



Helen's barn door. My love affair with doors continue.





Our day lasted well into the afternoon and as I drove home so tickled with our day, I thought to myself.. Making soap is like making a friend. Put all the right ingredients into a pot, add a touch of English style and a pinch of American charm, mix well and you’ve got yourself one beautiful friendship. Thank you Helen, for a lovely day!

Dutch wooden shoes representing family members

6 weeks to set... then we'll have a little giveaway for one lucky winner:)

Lichtjesroute

Last year as we adjusted to life in a new country we were amazed at all the different celebrations that went on in and around our city of Eindhoven. Nothing was mentioned about Halloween except from the American friends I have. For some reason there seemed to be two Christmas celebrations, one at the beginning of December and one at the end. There was a Valentine’s Day. But don’t even get me started about not having Ground Hogs Day. I really like having Punxsutawney Phil to tell me what the weather will be like between winter and spring. I remember driving around in the fall and seeing lights displayed here in Eindhoven but not really understanding the meaning of what was happening. But this year with my head a little more clear, my ability to read a few signs and the graciousness of good friends to enlighten me and others to different events around Eindhoven, I was ready to celebrate the Lichtjesroute.

The Lichtjesroute is a festival held every year to celebrate the liberation of Eindhoven during World War II. The celebration begins on the date the city was liberated, September 18th and ends this year on October 14th. 

During World War II, Operation Market Garden was an effort when the Allies tried to capture three bridges that would help them break into Germany. The plan did not work and as the route from Eindhoven to Arnhem was known as The Corridor, the paratroopers renamed it Hell’s Highway.

The plan may have been a failure but for so many grateful Dutch people, the gift of their life or the lives of their loved ones will never be forgotten. In my search of the history of this festival I came across a name and some pictures. What I discovered has moved me beyond words.

In 1944, in Eindhoven, there was a beautiful young family by the name of van Slooten who took into their home a Jewish friend to hide from the Nazi’s, a crime punishable by death. They were betrayed but Mrs. Van Slooten sensed that something was wrong and that the house was being watched. With the help of the resistance they were able to move the friend to another safe house. One or two days later, the van Slooten house was raided by the Nazi’s. They found nothing but took Mrs. Van Slooten to prison and kept her there for ten days interrogating her every day. She was seven months pregnant at the time with her second child and was terrified. She had heard rumors of the terrible things the Nazi’s had done to pregnant women in the concentration camps.  She had no idea what had happened to her husband or two year old son, Erik. Then suddenly she was released, but a sympathetic Dutch policeman told her that she should go into hiding herself, because she would be arrested again the next day. The Nazi’s did that to break your resistance. So she could not go home and stayed with friends, not knowing what to do or where to go, and without medical help for the last months of her pregnancy. And then suddenly Eindhoven was liberated by the Americans, so you can imagine how happy she was! 

From Ren’e :

This is my mother with my brother Erik (born in 1942). My mother was
expecting me for 7 months at that time. I was born on 20 November,
and she often told me that she could hear the guns during the Battle
of the Bulge when she had to get up at night to feed me. In the back
you see an American and a British soldier having a relaxed conver-
sation leaning against a scout car. At this time the Americans were
already getting worried about the slow British advance.

She always called them ‘the angels who came from heaven’.

From René van Slooten:
The little boy in front is my brother, 2 years old at that time. When
I showed the picture to some veterans on the 60th anniversary of
the liberation (in 2004), one of them recognized the officer on the
right as 1LT Herbert Viertel, B Company, 1st BN, 506 PIR.

This story was shared with me by the son who would be born two months later, Ren’e. His father took pictures during the liberation and he is sharing them with us. Ren’e spent years to try to identify the American soldiers in those pictures by showing them to American veterans who came to Eindhoven every year during the celebration festivities around September 18th. And six years ago one veteran recognized Lt. Herbert Viertel on one picture, after which the veterans organization told him that he was still alive and lived in Florida with his wife Peggy who had been an Army nurse during the war. When he finally got him on the phone, it was very emotional for him and his mother. His mother died in 2008 and Herbert Viertel died in 2009. Ren’e wrote an obituary for him that was read at his funeral. 

Ren’e van Slooten also wanted to convey this message as well:

I wanted to express my gratitude, so in 2008 I have adopted a grave on the American cemetery ‘Henri Chapelle’ in Belgium and a name on the ‘Wall of the Missing’ at the American cemetery ‘Margraten’ in Holland. The grave in Belgium is from Lt. Rodney Renfrew from Coshocton in Ohio, killed on 10 February 1945 in Germany. And the name on the ‘Wall of the Missing’ is Capt. John Doherty from Buffalo, NY, missing in action in Holland on 18 September 1944 (the same day my parents were liberated!). I was so lucky to find both families and they are very happy that people in Holland still remember and care. Doherty’s wife was still alive in 2008 and after 64 years she still had no idea what had happened to her husband, so I was able to find out for her where her husband was killed and why his remains were never found. She was very happy to know that at last, and she died in peace last year, but I am still in regular contact with Doherty’s granddaughters who live in Los Angeles. And last May I went to the Henri Chapelle cemetery to celebrate Memorial Day with two members of the Renfrew family. It was very impressive. If you get a chance, you should go to ‘Margraten’ cemetery next year on Memorial Day. It is only an hour drive from Eindhoven. Memorial Day there is very impressive, because all 8.300 graves have been adopted by Dutch families and they come to bring flowers. Last May I took a picture of a Dutch father and his young daughter, who bring flowers to ‘their’ grave at Margraten.

We will never forget what the United States of America did for us.

As I look back to that night I drove around looking in awe of the beautiful lights that lit up the streets in Eindhoven, I’m now in awe of a story of a beautiful, courageous, young mother who was brave beyond belief. To the young men that came to her rescue so that she and her family could live a life of freedom, thank you. And to Ren’e… Thank you so very kindly for sharing your story with this American Girl.

Light up Eindhoven and celebrate life.