339. Netherlands #22

338. Netherlands #21

Most beautiful postcard with Jetoy (so far). From Menke through direct swap on Facebook.
Thank you so much :)

337. Netherlands #20

Beautiful Jetoy among beautiful jewelry. Thank you, Menke. :)

336. Netherlands #19

Another beautiful postcard for my Jetoy collection. I got this from Menke through direct swap on Facebook. I really like the stamps, they are lovely. Thank you, Menke!

331. Netherlands #19

Really beautiful view of Netherlands. I love it! Thank you, Silvia :)

A windmill is a machine that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails. Originally, windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history, the windmill machinery was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important non-milling use is to pump water, either for land drainage or to extract groundwater.

Of the 10,000 windmills in use in the Netherlands around 1850, about 1000 are still standing. Most of these are being run by volunteers, though some grist mills are still operating commercially. Many of the drainage mills have been appointed as backup to the modern pumping stations. The Zaan district has been said to have been the first industrialized region of the world with around 600 operating wind-powered industries by the end of the 18th century. Economic fluctuations and the industrial revolution had a much greater impact on these industries than on grain and drainage mills so only very few are left.

330. Netherlands #18

Card from Silvia showing most typical things for The Netherlands. My favourites are the waffles. I got the once from my friends living in Groningen. They are delicious!! :)

A stroopwafel (English translation: syrup waffle, treacle waffle or caramel waffle) is a waffle made from two thin layers of baked batter with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle. They were first made in Gouda in the Netherlands, in 1784. Large versions are sold in the streets as a snack.

The stiff batter for the waffles is made from flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs. Medium sized balls of batter are put on a waffle iron. After the waffle has been baked, and while it's still warm, it's cut into halves. The warm filling, made from syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, is spread between the waffle halves, gluing them together.

The stroopwafel originates from Gouda in the Netherlands. It was first made during the late 18th century or early 19th century by a baker using leftovers from the bakery, such as breadcrumbs, which were sweetened with syrup. One story describes the invention of the stroopwafel to the baker Gerard Kamphuisen, which would date the first stroopwafels somewhere between 1810, the year when he opened his bakery, and 1840, the year of the oldest known recipe for syrup waffles. In the 19th century, there were around 100 syrup waffle bakers in Gouda, which was the only city in which they were made until 1870. After 1870 they were also made at parties and in markets outside the city of Gouda. In the 20th century, factories started to make stroopwafels. In 1960 there were 17 factories in Gouda alone, of which four are currently still open. The traditional way to eat the stroopwafel is to place it atop of a drinking vessel with a hot beverage inside that fits the diameter of the waffle. The heat from the rising steam warms the waffle and slightly softens the inside and makes the waffle soft on one side while still crispy on the other.

329. Netherlands #17

Thank you, Silvia! :))

Groningen (Gronings: Grunnen; West Frisian: Grins) is the main municipality as well as the capital city of the eponymous province in the Netherlands.

With a population of around 190,000, it is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands. Groningen is a university city: the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences each have about 25,000 students.

328. Netherlands #16

Card from Silvia showing diversity of  Dutch stamps. I love it, especially the one with the rabiit and dog. :)))
Thank you, Silvia! :)

327. Netherlands #15

Another Jetoy card from Silvia.It's inspired by painting of Sandro Boticelli.

The Birth of Venus (Italian: Nascita di Venere) is a 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli. Botticelli was commissioned to paint the work by the Medici family of Florence, specifically Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici under the influence of his cousin Lorenzo de' Medici, close friend to Botticelli . It depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully grown woman, arriving at the sea-shore (which is related to the Venus Anadyomene motif).The painting is on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

326. Netherlands #14

I arranged few wonderful swaps lately as I wanted to expand my Jetoy Cat collection. :) This card came to me from Sylvia.
I love these cards not only because of cute-looking kitty. Listen to the concept of the illustrations.

Lovely cat Choo choo who likes to dream and enjoy the adventure lives in Jetoy
which is the planet existing on the opposite space far from earth.
(The cats who live in Jetoy are called Choo choo.)
Choo choo has a distinctive scent attracting birds and butterflies.
They are always protecting Choo choo.
Choo choo lives like us in their world where we can't see.
Oneday Choo choo has gone a long journey
from their everyday life by shopping, baking cookies and reading books
and has stayed for a long time in the planet Earth.
Choo choo lives together with us as the appearance of our pet.*

How do you like this idea? ;)

*description from site www.jetoy.com

310. Netherlands #13

Card which I got through official Postcrossing site. It shows dress designed by Azzedine Alaia from couture winter 2011 collection. Dress is property of museum of Groningen.
Thank you so much, Nanda!

305. Netherlands #12

274. Netherlands #11

202. Netherlands #10

176. Netherlands #9

166. Netherlands #8

165. Netherlands #7

88. The Netherlands #6

ID: NL-1323547
Z: Neder-Weert
Data wysłania: 13.07.2012
Data otrzymania: 19.07.2012
Czas podróży: 6 dni
Dystans: 646km


Kartka od Marka i Marye przedstawiająca dom w ich miasteczku.

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Postcard from Mark and Marye showing nice farmhouse in their village.

63. Holandia / The Netherlands #5

Z: Leverkusen, Niemcy, przedstawia obiekt holenderski
Data: 10.07.2012
Dystans: 660km

I druga kartka od Silke. Przedstawia bardzo ciekawie wyglądającą kamienicę na rogu Brouwersgracht i Prinsengracht.

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And the second card from Silke. It shows very interesting building on the corner of Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht.

62. Holandia / The Netherlands #4

Z: Leverkusen, Niemcy, przedstawia obiekt holenderski
Data: 10.07.2012
Dystans: 660km

Pierwsza z dwóch kartek z wymiany facebookowej z Silke. Przedstawia piękne pole tulipanów i wiatrak na horyzoncie. Śliczna.

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First from two card from Facebook swap with Silke. It shows beautiful field of tulips and windmill on the horizon. Cute.