I knew nothing of this. My first visit to Antwerpen was in 1995, touring Europe interviewing employees and executives of disparate firms owned by a global conglomerate that was a client. Three days earlier the main train station in Brussels had burned and the country's control system for rail traffic was destroyed; there was no backup. I took the train from Brussels to Antwerpen, normally a 35 minute trip. It took three hours.
As I was waiting in the station that evening for my train to Amsterdam, I learned that trains were on whatever track was available at the time of their arrival, with no central information board for updates. Announcements were made from loudspeakers more than 35 meters overhead, and only in Flemish. As you know, Belgium is funny about language. It's the only country in Europe where announcements are made only in the local language, Flemish or French. I understand written and spoken French; I can read Flemish, but do not understand it when spoken.
I latched on to a lovely young lady from Croatia who understood spoken Flemish. She translated for me into German. We spent hours rushing from track to track hoping to catch the train to Amsterdam. It arrived hours late. We boarded, and took half of forever to reach the Netherlands border. About ten kilometers into the Netherlands, we stopped, were told - in Nederlands, French, English, German and Italian - to get on a Nederlands train, which delivered us to downtown Amsterdam just before sunrise.
Thank you for posting this, My awareness of my ignorance has grown yet again.
1. I wish I could tell you I knew these things but what I do is follow threads then use the library to make a little essay with footnotes. My only guide is about books, libraries or censorship. So, I had never really heard of "Beeldenstorm" tho I did know there was havoc...I guess I was thinking about all the Taliban did to destroy icons when they were last in power and that made me think about the Protestants doing much the same.
2. If nothing else this substack is a fine platform for your stories. I did realize when I was looking for more background on Beeldenstorm that little had been translated. I had a friend who was Frisian--but several generations back but he somehow thought that it was generally known the difference between Frisian and the West Frisian dialect which is why I know what you mean about languages in that region.
3.I have not traveled outside of this hemisphere except to Ireland so any stories about travels I am glad to read.
We’re living in these times again. Hence your Substack, serving as a reminder none of this is new.
I knew nothing of this. My first visit to Antwerpen was in 1995, touring Europe interviewing employees and executives of disparate firms owned by a global conglomerate that was a client. Three days earlier the main train station in Brussels had burned and the country's control system for rail traffic was destroyed; there was no backup. I took the train from Brussels to Antwerpen, normally a 35 minute trip. It took three hours.
As I was waiting in the station that evening for my train to Amsterdam, I learned that trains were on whatever track was available at the time of their arrival, with no central information board for updates. Announcements were made from loudspeakers more than 35 meters overhead, and only in Flemish. As you know, Belgium is funny about language. It's the only country in Europe where announcements are made only in the local language, Flemish or French. I understand written and spoken French; I can read Flemish, but do not understand it when spoken.
I latched on to a lovely young lady from Croatia who understood spoken Flemish. She translated for me into German. We spent hours rushing from track to track hoping to catch the train to Amsterdam. It arrived hours late. We boarded, and took half of forever to reach the Netherlands border. About ten kilometers into the Netherlands, we stopped, were told - in Nederlands, French, English, German and Italian - to get on a Nederlands train, which delivered us to downtown Amsterdam just before sunrise.
Thank you for posting this, My awareness of my ignorance has grown yet again.
1. I wish I could tell you I knew these things but what I do is follow threads then use the library to make a little essay with footnotes. My only guide is about books, libraries or censorship. So, I had never really heard of "Beeldenstorm" tho I did know there was havoc...I guess I was thinking about all the Taliban did to destroy icons when they were last in power and that made me think about the Protestants doing much the same.
2. If nothing else this substack is a fine platform for your stories. I did realize when I was looking for more background on Beeldenstorm that little had been translated. I had a friend who was Frisian--but several generations back but he somehow thought that it was generally known the difference between Frisian and the West Frisian dialect which is why I know what you mean about languages in that region.
3.I have not traveled outside of this hemisphere except to Ireland so any stories about travels I am glad to read.