The summer’s weather has been pretty lousy here in Holland this year, but even the brooding skies couldn’t put a damper on this past weekend’s classic festivals.
We started on Thursday with the inaugural evening at Haarlem Jazz. They’ve swapped out the main tent for an open-air podium this year which we found much nicer, especially since the stage was transparent and you could see the historic city hall behind the performers.
Then on Saturday, we got up early to get Sage out into the woods so that we could leave her for the day while we joined our friends on their boat for SAIL Amsterdam. SAIL only happens every five years, but it is the largest festival in the country. To see it from a boat was really special - a once in a lifetime experience for us.
Boarding the boat in the quiet harbor at Penningsveer – the only calm waters of the day.
It was tough to find a mooring in the crowded waters and whipping wind as we waited for the sluice at Spaarndam.
In the sluice.
The boat traffic kept building on the North Sea Canal approach into Amsterdam….
…until it was a virtual traffic jam on the water. You could walk from boat-to-boat! Beth and I were stationed on the sides with grapple hooks to push boats away that might get too close. There were many shouts of "Full thrust reverse!!!"
This YouTube video shows a bit of the craziness of boats weaving in and out of the channel.
But seeing the tall ships against the backdrop of the city was spectacular.
Het Ij was filled with all kinds of boats…
…loaded with all kinds of passengers.
Then we did a daring dash across the Ij and made for the calmer waters of Amsterdam’s canal rings.
We found a great mooring by this old tower for lunch.
It was a great place to sit and watch the boats go by.
Beth and I hopped off the boat and said our goodbyes…
…then jumped on a train back to Haarlem where we got Sage out for another walk before heading back to the city center for an evening of funk at the music festival.
Now it’s time to recharge for next weekend – a proper sendoff for summer.
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