The Netherlands enter the Space Race 1974

August 30, 1974, the Netherlands launched their first satellite, Astronomical Netherlands Satellite or ANS (I know.  Kinda mundane).  The program was jointly funded by the Netherlands Institute for
Space Research and NASA and ran for 20 months, ending in June 1976.

Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, ANS carried an X-ray detector and an ultraviolet telescope.

Adonises in Amsterdam

At the port of Amsterdam mooring the Prinsendam.

Delivering Heineken.

Our sexy waiter Daniel.

Day 17 (cont.) - Oude Kirk, Amsterdam

The Oude Kirk is a medieval church in the heart of Amsterdam.

Many graves were beneath the floor dating from the sixteenth century. There is a movement to restore the church since the graves are in danger of being erased by centuries of people walking over them.

The grave of Rembrandt's wife Saskia in 1642.

This grave dates back to 1573.

For 6 Euros you could take a tour of the tower of Oude Kirk. This is a door in the tower where the bell ringers were. They could open it to hear the preacher or the organist so they would know when to ring the bells during church.

This bell has been here since 1659. It weighs 3700 kg, a little over 4 tons. The clacker is made of manganese, a soft metal so it won't damage the bell.

The view of Amsterdam from the tower.

The 'music box'. It played a short tune every hour. It's playing here.

Day 17 - Second Day in Amsterdam

It's interesting to see the Erotic Museum in a building where "God is my burgh"

Public outdoor urinals.

Everyone was getting excited about the World Cup Final.

I didn't realize that Amsterdam was on Route 66.

Quite an open society in Amsterdam.

This is the artwork on the outside wall of the hotel we stayed in.

This is a bar on wheels. Everyone pedals while drinking beer and seeing the city sights.