At Zaanse Schans: a historic Dutch village with traditional Dutch Mennonite houses and working windmills
Our group on the canal boat in Amsterdam
Note the houseboats. Most are permanent homes. Elm trees line the canal. The elm is the signature tree of Amsterdam. With more than 75.000 elm trees throughout the city, Amsterdam could be called the elm capital of the world.
The Pingjum Mennonite church. It was called “hidden” since it looks like a regular house.
The followers of Menno Simons often had to flee from areas where they were not welcome. Some of those who fled smuggled out various seeds to take with them. They knew the ground well, and respect for the ground began because of a necessity, but it is now rooted and grounded in the Mennonite faith. They made us biscuits out of the Red Wheat that is very old variety. They were delicious!
1680 built as a Catholic church where Menno Simons was the priest. The church is currently protestant. Inside is a new exposition to explain the basic values of the anabaptists.
Daryl, the farmer in our group, checks out the wheat
On the left are wooden shoes warm comfortable dry but last less than a year. Brother on the right wears another more modern type of slip-on shoes
Loren, Lorraine, Rachel and our hosts Sipco and Jetti Dijkstra.
