10/10/2019 Thursday, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

10/10/19  Thursday.  Nijmegen, the Netherlands • Ave. Temp. 59 high, 47 low.  Weather 42 cloudy, 27% rain.  Grand Circle Day 12, Total travel Day 45.     Phone says 17,443 steps or 6.9 miles with 10 floors climbed.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: River Ship

TOUR INFO "After breakfast, set off for a walking tour of 2,000-year-old Nijmegen—the Netherlands’ oldest city. Built on seven hills overlooking the Waal River, Nijmegen was heavily damaged during the Second World War. Remarkably, the historic town center emerged unscathed, and today provides a striking contrast to the newer architecture surrounding it.

Return to your ship for an onboard lunch, followed by an Exclusive Discovery Series discussion with local residents about the area’s involvement in the daring World War II military maneuver, Operation Market Garden."   I missed this discussion because the sun was shining and I just wanted to stay outside and walk.  

My info Operation Market Garden.  Market = an airborne assault to seize control of key bridges.  Garden = a ground attack with troops moving over the seized bridges creating a salient.  The plan had its problems and delays and failed to cross the Rhine.  The movie “A Bridge to Far’ was based on this event.  Robert Redford’s bridge was in Nijmegen.  

Nijmegen /Nimayken/, the oldest city in the Netherlands, is on the Waal River close to the German border in the province of Gelderland.  In 2005, it celebrated its 2000th birthday.   Nijmegen was the first city to fall into German hands in WWII.  It was badly damaged by American bombs by mistake.  Then the Germans bombed Nijmegen in February, 1944.  City planners in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s finished the job.  A few Roman remains are visible today.  A bit of the old city wall can be seen and the foundations of the amphitheater.

Today, Nijmegen is known as the “Havanna of the Waal”.   The Socialist Party, the Green Party and Labour have a two-thirds majority on the City Council.  

I did not find this town overly interesting, but was happy to walk around in the sun even though is was only in the low 50’s with a cold breeze blowing.  There is tons of shopping here.  Some stores are in historic buildings and some are not.  There were also carnival games and rides set up all through the downtown area and it seems that there was no school as there were lots of kids everywhere.  

This was the area of town closest to out ship.  It was bombed by Americans when the reconnaissance planes identified the wrong town.  Albany, New York is a sister city.  They sent many supplies to Nijmegen and Queen Wilhelmina sent Albany 2000 orange tulip bulbs as a thank you.  

  

This is the Weighing House on Grote Square.  Consistent standards for weights and measures began under Napolean. 

A fish vendor was set up on this square and Johannes bought us fresh fried fish.  It was good and I don’t normally eat fried fish.  .

This was also on Grote Square.  The archway leads to St. Stevens Church.  The story about the statue of the woman - the woman was of ill repute and she repented.  The nuns put a metal trap type thing on her hand.  When it was rusted off, she would be forgiven.  Then she led a clean, wholesome life. 

St. Stevens is very plain on the inside.

Johannes also got us cheese from the cheese shop.  It was great, just a bit sharp.  

Over 400 Jewish people from Nijmegen were killed in WWII.  A sign lists their names and in which Concentration Camp they died.  Many of them died in Auschwitz.

This is the entrance to the Stadhuis or Town Hall.  

I walked around on my own after the tour in Valkhofpark.

Saint Nicolaas Chapel/Valkhof Chapel was built around year 1000.  A wooden palace was built on the Valkhof so Charlemagne could rest here as he traveled around his vast empire.  Emperor Barbarossa had a stone wall added.  The stronghold was mostly demolished by the end of the 18th century.

The Belvedere and the Keupers Tower were in the Valkhof Park, too.  

Nijmegen is trying to renew nature near town.  They have wild horses and other animals living in this area.  I crossed over the free standing arch bridge to get there.  When I was on the top of the bridge it was a little shaky, I assume it has to do with the design.  I didn’t see any animals, but I did see some evidence that cows had been there.  There were many groups of high school? students with teachers circulating in the area.  

I did not find this town overly interesting, but was happy to walk around in the sun even though is was only in the low 50’s with a cold breeze blowing.  There is tons of shopping here.  Some stores are in historic buildings and some are not.  There were also carnival games and rides set up all through the downtown area and it seems that there was no school as there were lots of kids everywhere.