Brielle Favorites

Favorite thing: Everywhere in Brielle you find gable stones. Sometimes they depict the craft of the owner of the house, sometimes it depicts something completely different. There are many very old ones everywhere in Brielle. But there are also very recent ones.

I for one, like it very much. It adds to the charm of the town.

The gable stone in the picture depicts a classroom whit a teacher and his pupils. It used to be in the gate that gave entrance to the orphanage. Now it is embedded in the wall of the orphanage building (which is now an office space)

Favorite thing: 17 June 2004: According to recent research by weekmagazine Elsevier, Brielle is 7th on the list of Dutch towns where the living is good. The list, with 50 top places, scored highest on housing, schools, tourism and recreation, safety, medical care, recreation and the average income of the population.

Fondest memory: For Dutch readers more here:

http://www.zibb.nl/overheid/nieuwsbericht.asp?artnr=777594&versie=1

Favorite thing: Since Brielle is an old fortified town, it has water all around it. And then a wall. So you can easily defend yourself when need be.. In between the town wall and the opposite wall you can find kazematten. A kazemat is a pointely stretch of land with the point directing away from the town. Kazematten were build for defense purposes..

The ironic part is that nowadays kazematten look mostly very peacefull since no one is allowed on them..

Favorite thing: I went to this museum because i already knew a little bit about Brielle and that it had something to do with the Geuzen. But that was the extend of my knowledge... Now, after having visited this museum, my knowledge is much better. It is fun to know that Brielle was the first place liberated of the Spanish in 1572.

But the museum shows much more than that. It gives you an impression of Brielle through the centuries. With all kinds of things. Paintings, diaries, objects and multimedia...

Fondest memory: The museum is opened from april the 1st till the 31st of october:
tuesday -friday 10.00 till 17.00
saturdays 10.00 till 16.00
sundays 12.00 till 16.00

From the 1st of november till 31st of march:
tuesday-friday 10.00 till 16.00
saturdays 10.00 till 16.00
closed on sundays

And then it is closed on the following days: 31st of december, January the 1st, 30th of april, the first and second easter days, 25th and 26th of december,.

Admission fee: 2 euro per adult. 1 euro for children (info 2003)

Favorite thing: His name is Copplestock . he was the man who alerted de '' Watergeuzen '' ,they were Sea Beggars, like Pirates , they freed
Brielle'' from the Spanish occupation on April 1 1572.
Still today this day is celebrated in Brielle by an re enactment of this event.

Favorite thing: '' Watergeuzen '' were Sea Beggars but they
came and layed Anchor at the Maas in Brielle and were told that the town was ready to take ,they stormed the gate and drove out the Spaniard from Brielle ,this ship is a replica and it is used in the celebrations of the event on the first of April each year where a re enactment takes place in the town of Brielle.The ship is not that big
It is called '' Prince Admirael ''.

Favorite thing: This is a close up of the Town Hall in Brielle .
This now Town Hall dates back to 1623 .and over the years this building was used as a Jail and as a ''Waag ''which means a Weighhouse. Many Towns in the Netherlands had a Weighouse.

Favorite thing: Since i didn't want to miss a thing i took the town walk. Got the info at the desk of the tourist information agency (1,50 euro) and equiped with that brochure i spend a better part of the afternoon taking pictures of these old buildings, reading up on background information and had a very good time in general..

Since it was november already, i didn't meet any other people doing the same route.. And some people even looked at me when i was trying to get the best possible picture.. But i thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Fondest memory: I know it sound as a cliche but i have to admit i enjoyed everything.