Assen Things to Do

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Until 09-06-2013 there's a exhibition about Soviet art from 1932 to the 1960's. Loved these paintings. Because of this exhibition a big (original) statue of comrad Lenin is standing in the city of Assen. Very impressive.

The farmers not long ago were always much more comfortable then the city folks! As they lived with the animals, also at night, the house would be much warmer then in the city! Although cooking inside wasn't so much fun, most of the houses would use a small stove, fired with peet, dug and dried locally!

It is somehow a small house, just a few windows in it, if you compare it with the houses we are used to nowadays you would run away quickly, as all seems to be smaller in size, more or less 36 square meters, that is all, maybe even less, the cows, wood, stove, kitchenware, bedroom, walls, two small wooden chairs, some oil-lamps, it is all the inventory of a house that would be situated along one of the long channels in Drenthe, a province in the Nort-East of the Netherlands, this is the place the 'peet' was dug up, dried under the sun and wind, then placed on barges and transported to Amsterdam to heat the houses in the city. Visiting Ellert & Brammert in Schoonoord gives you a clear idea what it must have been to live in that time, some 70 years ago.

Ok, I have to admit. I love hydrangea so much. They are so good looking and the colours are so amazing. I've never seen hydrangea as fresh and as healthy as this. The flowers are big and bushy. I found this somewhere in the city, during my walk to the flea market.

This shop is somewhere at my friend's home in Brunesltraat. I will have to check with her the exact name of this shop or street. It was a short walk, not more than 10 minutes from her home or it could be lesser than that.

The shop sells plants and nice pots. If I live nearby, I would have bought some of them. The gorgeous looking hydrangea was about 4 euro per pot. It's small and already have a bushy flowers.

I enjoy walking (no doubt you'll see me limping somewhere along the way, ha3). I don't necessarily need a definite destination. Wandering around, checking out the streets and lanes of another different city is a must do during any of my travel trips.

This was one of the street in Assen, not sure what's the name. There are many shops along the street. Since my walk was quite early and it was a Saturday, so either the shops are close on Saturdays or open a bit late.

Like other women, I go crazy every time seeing flowers. I'm not so sure what were these but I really hope I can plant them at my backyard, but that's impossible. Even my hydrangea said to be imported from Holland too is still struggling to survive after almost 1 year since I got it from the nursery.

I think its the cold weather that made the flowers and leaves so beautiful, healthy and fresh looking. The colours are vibrant too. Imagine having a garden with nice looking flowers just like this, wow, the neighbours surely won't take their eyes off ;)

If you're feeling cold and needed extra layer to keep warm, this stall might help! Plenty of leggings and socks sold at reasonable price. I saw some socks sold at 5 euro per bundle. Now thinking, why didn't I get one of those legging...they're really cool.

There are a variety of vegetables and fruits in my country too, but I've never seen them so fresh and so healthy like those sold here. The size, colours and even texture are a little different which made almost all vegetables and fruits seemed much prettier and yummy. Of course there were those that I've never seen before, I can't remember what they were and not so sure of their names either ;)

Can't remember what we bought, cherries and one that was really sweet and tasty was the kiwi and they were quite cheap too.

As I mentioned, it was just a short stay in Assen. Therefore, I didn't get to see much. My friend took my mum and me to the flea market somewhere in the city. According to her it's open every Wednesday and Saturday from 5.30 am - 3.30 pm and if the weather goes too cold, they'll close down.

They sell a lot of stuff here but those that really caught my attention was the stalls selling vegetables, fruits and flowers. I saw stalls selling socks and souvenirs too, but didn't get to browse too long since it was raining.