well I did not go back to Harlingen today, but to Britsum.
It was very grey and overcastand what they call water cold (waterkoud) in Dutch.
Dutch Reformed Church.(Hervormde Kerk).
The Dutch Reformed church, (Hervormde Kerk) in Britsum , has figurative muraland vaultal paintings restored.These paintings were discovered in 1998-1999, they had been hidden under many layers ofwhite lime wash. These paintings I believe date from the sixties in the 13th century.They belong to the oldest medieval wall paintings known in the Netherlands.I Think this is a worthwhile visit to make and also visit the surrounding villagesJelsum, Cornjum as they have a lot of interests to visit as well, a worth while day out.It is very much a agricultural village. It does have a primary school (basis school).
One part of Britsum where I walked had some houses that were built in 1681, and closeby was a building that was once a church and the side stained windows are now bricked in and it is being used as a storage place (how sad), to think where people used to worship,was now used as a barn (so to speak).
Old church.(now a storage place).
Bird nests in tree.
The tree was baren with no leaves for the winter and you could see all the bird nests in the tree.
A farm.(boerderij).
Where thesehouses were built (1681), it felt quite closed in, and it had a sort ofstrange atmosphere but when we walked along a path we found and cameout on a new side of the village it had a very open feeling and theatmosphere became some what lighter.
After walking around a lot we came across some old farms. Also a farmwhich once hadstables I think, and they had made these individual stables intohouses, (lovely, but I reckon they must be really small inside).
The people we came across greeted us and then went along their business.
In 1988 the Queen of the Netherlands Queen Beatrix, planted a tree in Britsum.
old house.(I think a state house at one time).
There was a very old house that someone was living in and were renovating it, it also had a few boats in the garden, whether this house is private or for business, I do not know, I think it is very old and it may have been a state house at one time or other, I think,as there was a crest on the side with a inscription on but could not go and read it as therewas someone inside the house, and because of building material and the boats in the grounds we thought it better not to go in.
Nearby there was also a moat with jetty's and full of boats.There is no shops in Britsum, I was most surprised. I guess the habitants shop in the nearby villages Jelsum, Cornjum.
There was also a author born in Britsum in 1801, he was Roarda Taeo.
In 2004 census there were about 1085 inhabitants in Britsum. Do read about Jelsum and Cornjum in my other chapters.Have a enjoyable historical day out.As to when one may view the church do get in contact with the vicar or parson of the parish.
It is known as the Hervormde Kerk. Till next week.
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