Ode to Holland

Following the epic weekend of running with the bulls, not long after that, MH17 happened.  Now that it's mid August, the world media (read: UK and US) have generally stopped talking about the tragedy, which to the Dutch was of epic proportions.  The news here is published almost exclusively in Dutch, so it's really hard to get a read on what was being reported, the mood, etc, but in general, stifled outrage and public morning was what I saw, which I respect.  A friend of mine from Texas, K, wrote it best, which I shared with some of my Dutch friends: (written on the Thursday that bodies finally started to arrive in the NL)

"For nearly a week we have watched the turning of events after the horrible Malaysia Airline MH17 tragedy.  We have been shown the wheat fields and sunflower fields of Ukraine, knowing that scattered in those fields was an airplane that was blown to bits in the sky.  And we have known that 295 people - moms, dads, kids, diplomats, doctors, students, pilots, flight attendants, grandparents - lost their lives that day, and their bodies were exposed, untended, and treated without respect.  And we all grieved, not just for the loss of lives, but for the negligent treatment given to those bodies who housed the lives.
 But today - today, at last - Holland showed us how it should have been done.  The military honor guards, the respectful integrity, and the love of the Dutch people came to the forefront and made us all human again.  As we watched the procession on our newscasts, we saw the Dutch people stand together along the roadsides, in the towns and cities; we saw entire highways absolutely still, except for the convey carrying the bodies.  We saw what we needed to see - and I thank you for caring, Good People.  Today I was Dutch, today most of the world was Dutch, because the people of the Netherlands showed the respect, integrity, and compassion we have all been longing to show." 

What happened to those people is unimaginable.  I flew that same route in March, opposite direction, on Malaysian Air, with probably just as much conflict going on then in eastern Ukraine.  Here by the grace of God go I.  It seems like everyone here knew someone who knew someone on the flight.  With only 16 million people and 200 dead, you are bound to know someone.  The pictures of children's toys and passports strewn in fields are heart wrenching.  And it felt like a nightmare you couldn't wake up from - it just kept getting worse.  Not only were these people shot out of the air, they were then looted, left to lie in the open and not properly taken care of.  Pure evil reigned.  Why we have stopped talking about this is a mystery to me - the public perception should continue to be one of outrage.  Sanctions are one thing; tangible action to prevent weapons of war from reaching untrained rebels is another.  It must stop in all parts of the world or no one will ever feel safe flying long haul again.

 

That weekend after the bodies started to come back, I spent it celebrating what it means to be Dutch (in my mind at least), which means bicycles, windmills and boats.  A friend invited me on a boat to see Leiden and out to the surrounding lakes.  Strangely enough, I'd never been to Leiden even though only 20 minutes from the Hague.  Highly recommend it.

 

Beautiful windmill and bicycles in town:

Centre of town, boats, canals and buildings:

 

 Out on the boat, with the other boats' masts towering over us:

Beautiful buildings in Leiden:

Dutch flags all over the water and sail boats on the lake:

Best sailboat shot:

Artsy windmill shot through the farms around the lake:

Of course, celebrating being Dutch means a tall boy Heineken.