Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

Today we had a nice day as a family. We went to Amsterdam to visit Madame Tussauds. We sure weren't the only ones visiting this place - I recognized many famous people - even some ones that I didn't expect to be alive anymore. They did look a bit stiff, by the way. But I am happy to say that all these famous people are excellent posers for portrait pictures. Just have a look and let me know what you think of these pics. (Click pics to enlarge). More to follow...

Caught in the Act

I looked outside the window and saw this cat sitting in our tree... Looks like he has a bad conscience. This food in our tree - some little peanuts and netted fat balls - is intended for birds, but this cat had some other ideas...

Got Up Early

Have a look at my photo blog too...

Amazing Pics

Want to know what this is? Have a look here and be amazed...

Mushroom

Yes, this pic is very down-to-earth.

Impressions from Texel

Tomorrow we will be back home, but I am sure that I will come back to this beautiful island again! Texel is the largest Wadden isle and the only one belonging to the province North Holland (which is where we live). I have been here twice as a little boy, so it was about time for me to return. The only other Wadden isle that I know from personal experience is Ameland. I would like to visit all the Wadden isles (including the German ones!) to take some more photographs...

Sosha still has pain in her right leg and foot - she wasn't able to do as much as she wanted to, but all in all she had a good time here too. We do hope that she will soon recover completely so that she will be able to play soccer again and join us with all family activities.

I want to share these panorama pics with you - I took these photographs today during a long walk along the north side of the isle. The first pic has a strange bend in the horizon - it is hard to avoid this with an automated digital photomontage and such a wide angle! Please visit my photoblog if you want to see some more! (Click pics to enlarge)

For those of you who want to find out more about the Waddensea and Wadden isles (Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog) - please click here

Pics from Ecomare, Texel

Visit my photo blog for more pics...

Misguided Butterfly

This butterfly landed on the colourful logo on the front side of our office building in Amsterdam. This logo looks like a gigantic flower, the butterfly must have been thinking... This is why I am happy that I always carry my camera with me nowadays!

Click on the pics to enlarge and enjoy the details!

Panorama Pics II

Click pics to enlarge

These pics are all taken in and around Hoofddorp, Haarlemmermeer - the place where I live with my family, near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The panorama pics in the former entry are all taken during our holidays in France. Just let me know what you think!

Panorama Pics

Some pics I made during our holidays in France - using the panorama function of my digital camera Kodak EasyShare Z1012 IS. The camera stitches 3 pictures together. I did not use a tripod. More pics to follow. Click to enlarge!

My rain picture on website national TV!

It rained today. And it rained a lot! I took this picture out of my office window and uploaded it on a website of our national TV-station (NOS) where people from all over the country can place their weather pictures. Some time later I received an e-mail from an editor informing me that she had used my picture on the news front page and their weather report page. How cool is that? Ha, ha.
PS Update August 8 - The pictures are already gone... :-( That's what happens with yesterday's news. But I did make this screen dump...

Glasshopper

This 'little' guy landed on our Office Windows™ today so that makes him a glass-hopper. The things insects do, just to get some attention on my blog! Anyways, I'll bet you've never seen a close-up of a grasshopper's belly before. Click on the pic if you really want to get up close and personal with this interesting insect.

Bee-ing Busy Too

Picture taken during my lunch break, just in front of our office in Amsterdam, believe it or not!

Tired of tires?

Tired of your old tires?
I know where you can get rid of them easily...

You can leave them behind in the beautiful hills of the Dordogne area in France.

Where else?

Chartres by night

Chartres, France. June 27, 2008. More pics (to come) on my photo blog.

Ripples

"Don't break the silence unless you can improve it". Don't know who said that first, but I am glad somebody spoke these words (or maybe they were written down in complete silence somewhere in an isolated cell in a monastery). Picture taken in Hoofddorp, last night.

It's a Dog's Life

A busy day in Sarlat, France. The streets were crowded because of the local market. But not all streets. I went to the silent alleys, where all the loners go. This friend didn't even notice me - sighing, looking down, but slowly making progress. Anyway, I was happy to meet him. Check my photo blog for more pics.