Visit to Sneek

We went to Sneek in Friesland, for the day to visit cousins on the other side of Andrew's family.  Andrew's Tante Grietje, his mother's sister, lives in a very attractively laid out retirement home with self contained apartments.  She will be 90 next March and she is in good health, spirits and is active and still drives her car.  This is a view our of her lounge window of a grassy lawn where up to ten tame deer graze.  They add to a nice restful outlook.

Tante Grietje's two sons, Andrew's cousins came after work to join us and the day's visit ended with a lovely meal at the Sneek Hotel, in a classy restaurant with a delicious meal.  

Klaas and Bareld are at the front with Irma on the right, next to Sieska, then Tante Grietje and Andrew and Nikki.  Irma is Klaas' wife.  Bareld's wife was not able to join us.

During the day, we walked around Sneek to look at some of  the town's lovely buildings.  It seems that there is no town in Netherlands which does not have old and beautiful buildings - that is what thousands of years of settlement and civilisation does.

The water gate on the main canal in Sneek.  It the most well known entrance to the town and it was built in 1613.  The style is Renaissance and it was not used for defence but was as intended as a status symbol for the town of Sneek.  It has been restored many times, in spite of boating/shipping people wanting it pulled down as it impedes shipping.

Above is the Sint Martinuskirk.  On the left is another lovely but unidentified church.

It is hard to resist the temptation to keep taking photo after photo of churches, buildings and canals.

Stonework in front of the town hall.  I could not capture the building in its entirety and settled for the wall only.  It is a lovely elaborate stone structure, worthy of a photo.  It is Rococo style dating from the 15th century.