Dokkum

Dokkum is a fortified town in the municipalilty of Dongeradeel, in the province of Friesland.

It is a lovely town and has alot of history, it is very well known for Saint Bonififace, who was Martyred there.

A old cannon next to the old customs house.An old building just renovated.An old house.

The very well known skating race "eleven city skating tour",(Elfstedentocht) skates here.  Dokkum is the turning point, (keerpunt),for the skaters to take the same route back to Leeuwarden.

When Marja, Annie,a friend of Annie and myself went to Dokkum it wasa lovely day, sunny a slight breeze and not to hot, absolutly perfect.

A windmill selling pets Accessories.A windmill still used as a corn mill.

We came across a windmill which today is used as a pets shop and petaccessories, very quaint indeed,and we came across another windmillwhich is still used today for grinding wheat, you can go there and buygrounded wheat from them direct, and see how they mill the corn,extremely interesting, not to mention the boats, I could simply sitthere all day and watch them, I just love boats of all shapes and sizes.

A Boat.

The people in Dokkum are very friendly, the town has a lovely atmosphere.

Entrance to Saint Bonifice Chapel. Spring Waters from water pump. One of the monuments of the Stations of the cross.

We found the water pump where Saint Bonifice was killed along withhis followers and then went to the Catholic church which was namedafter him, the grounds were beautiful but the church itself I did notlike, built very modern in today standards. In the grounds is thespring water that still flows today from where Saint Bonifice wasstruck down by the water pump, there is a spring well built in thechurch grounds where you may sit on a bench and sit with your feet inthe water for healing purposes, or wash your hands if you would prefer,or sit there with your feet in the water and meditate and pray.

Saint Bonifice. The back of Saint Bonifice Chapel. The inside of Saint Bonifice Chapel.

The statue of saint Bonifice is outside the church grounds and he holds his book above his head.

Municipality Building/Gemeentehuis.

We then proceeded to walk back to the car through Dokkum and cameacross the Municipality building, (Gemeentehuis), down a quaint sidestreet which still had an old building with its original sign up stillcalled the coffee roast house, (koffiebranderij).

Quaint side street;Coffee Roast House.(KoffieBranderij)

The flowers were absolutely wonderful, the rose trees full in bloom, heavy with scent and of course some unusual plants again.

Flower ClosedFlower Open

Well Dokkum I will come again perhaps on a  pilgrimage on the 5th June for Saint Bonifice and all his follwers who were killed there.

I find one thing that should have kept going between Dokkum andLeeuwarden and that is the rail Line between the two towns, I thinkthat it should never have been stopped.

Bye for now Dokkum, I will be back in the near future.

Tot kijk (till soon).