Of all the sights in the Netherlands, perhaps the one with which the greatest number of people are familiar is the Anne Frank House at Prisengracht 263 in Amsterdam, the location of the secret annex where the Frank family (Otto, Edith, Anne, and Margot), the van Pels family (Hermann, Auguste, and Peter), and Fritz Pfeffer hid from the Nazis. The building was nearly demolished after years of neglect, but with the pressure of public opinion and the help of Otto Frank’s friends, the building was saved. Today, the Anne Frank house and the two buildings adjacent to it serve as the Anne Frank Museum.

Just a few steps from the Anne Frank house is the Westerkerk. Anne Frank wrote of hearing the bells from Westerkerk while she was confined to the Secret Annex. Westerkerk, built in 1620-1631, has the distinction of having the highest church tower in Amsterdam, standing at 85 meters (279 feet) tall. Atop the steeple is the Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximilian I. Rembrandt van Rijn is buried in Westerkerk and, on 10 Mar 1969, Princess Beatrix married Prince Claus in Westerkerk.

The Anne Frank House

SOURCE: The Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

The Anne Frank Museum

SOURCE: The Anne Frank Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

Westerkerk

SOURCE: Westerkerk (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

Westerkerk from the North

SOURCE: Westerkerk from the North (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko

While in Amsterdam, I walked along Raadhuisstraat and took photos as I crossed each of the major canals of Amsterdam.  The first, the Singel was originally the moat around the medieval city of Amsterdam until 1585. The Herengracht (Patrician’s Canal) was named after the heren regeerders who governed the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Keizersgracht (Emperor’s Canal) is named after Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor. The Prinsengrach (Prince’s Canal) was named after the Prince of Orange. To the casual observer, one canal looks pretty much the same as another, although I’m sure a resident of Amsterdam could easily identify which is which from the photos. If I hadn’t known which was which, I could have identified only the photo of the Prinsengracht, since that photo shows a line of people on the right, waiting to get into the Anne Frank House.

The Singel, Amsterdam

SOURCE: The Singel, Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

The Herengracht, Amsterdam

SOURCE: The Herengracht, Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

The Keizersgracht, Amsterdam

SOURCE: The Keizersgracht, Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

The Prinsengracht, Amsterdam

SOURCE: The Prinsengracht, Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko

The Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden is located on part of the Saltsjön, a bay of the Baltic Sea. From the Grand Hotel one can see the Amiralitetshuset (Admiralty House) on the island of Skeppsholmen, one of the many islands that make up the Stockholm archipelago. The present design was rebuilt in 1844-1846 in a Neorenaissance style with turrets. The Amiralitetshuset has served various purposes in its lifetime, housing the Admiralty Board, serving as an archive, and acting as a corn stable. Today, it is the home of the Swedish Tourist Association.

Looking further across the waters of the Saltsjön, one can see far into the distance, even on a day when the clouds hover low and threaten to rain, providing the opportunity for a moody photograph with dark clouds and rough waters. The third photo shows such a scene with the yellow Katarina Church to the far left. In the opposite direction, the tower of the Church of St. Jacob can be seen with flags flying nearby. And, finally, one of the few photos I have of myself taken during my trip, saying farewell to Stockholm. Unfortunately, I seem to have lost the hoodie I’m wearing in this photo shortly after the photo was taken.

The Grand Hotel in Stockholm

SOURCE: The Grand Hotel in Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Amiralitetshuset

SOURCE: Amiralitetshuset (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

A View across the Saltsjön

SOURCE: A View across the Saltsjön (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Church of St. Jacob

SOURCE: Church of St. Jacob (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Steve Danko in Stockholm

SOURCE: Steve Danko in Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed for Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko

Not far from the main street of Sigtuna, Sweden lies St. Olov’s Kirkoruin, the ruins of a 13th Century Benedictine Monastery. A cemetery, including a mausoleum, lies adjacent to the ruins. Legend says that the mausoleum was built to inter an old woman who demanded that after she was interred there, the door should be locked and the key tossed through a hole in the structure so that visitors could not enter and she could rest in peace. The Mariakyrkan, or Maria Church, is also adjacent to the ruins, cemetery, and mausoleum. It is the oldest building in Sigtuna still in use, also dating from the 13th century. Inside the church is a beautiful painting entitled “Getsemane” by Bror Hjorth (1940).

St. Olov’s Kirkoruin

SOURCE: St. Olov’s Kirkoruin (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Exterior of the Mariakyrkan

SOURCE: Exterior of the Mariakyrkan (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Interior of the Mariakyrkan

SOURCE: Interior of the Mariakyrkan (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Getsemane by Bror Hjorth – 1940

SOURCE: Getsemane by Bror Hjorth – 1940 (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

The Mausoleum

SOURCE: The Mausoleum (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko

North of Stockholm lies the town of Sigtuna, the oldest medieval village in Sweden, founded around 790 AD.  The town hall dates from 1744. Visitors are told that, at one time, the residents of Sigtuna all knew that a key to the town hall was hidden behind one of the shutters. On occasion, if someone had too much to drink and was reluctant to deal with his wife’s scolding for getting drunk, he would let himself into the town hall to sleep it off and then face his wife in the morning.

Stora Gatan (High Street) is the main street though the town, lined with low wooden buildings and dotted with quaint shops. Notice the dragon guarding the Tourist Information Office.  Also on Stora Gatan is Tant Bruns Kaffestuga, a coffee house named after a character in the children’s book Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender by Elsa Beskow, who lived in Sigtuna.  More than 30 runic stones can be found in Sigtuna. The one shown here is located near Mariakyrkan, the Maria Church. The runic stone reads “The Guild-brethren of the Frisians had this stone set up in memory of their guild-brother. God help his soul. Torbjörn carved.”

Sigtuna Town Hall

SOURCE: Sigtuna Town Hall (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Dragon in Sigtuna

SOURCE: Dragon in Sigtuna (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Tant Bruns Kaffestuga

SOURCE: Tant Bruns Kaffestuga (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Runic Stone

SOURCE: Runic Stone (Sigtuna, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko

A block to the south of Slottsbaken is Trädgårdsgatan (Garden Street) named after the Royal Gardens that were formerly maintained there. A small public square called Bollhustäppan (Ball House Square) may be entered from Trädgårdsgatan where the diminutive statue of Järnpojke (“Iron Boy”) sits staring at the moon. Visitors leave coins and sweets for Järnpojke and rub his head in the belief that doing so will insure a return visit to Stockholm. A short distance away is Stortorget (The Big Square) with colorful buildings, the Stock Exchange Building, and a well. The Stock Exchange Building was built in 1773-1776 and now is home to the Swedish Academy, the Nobel Museum, and the Nobel Library.

Trädgårdsgatan

SOURCE: Trädgårdsgatan (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Järnpojke

SOURCE: Järnpojke (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Stortorget

SOURCE: Stortorget (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

The Stock Exchange Building

SOURCE: The Stock Exchange Building (Stockholm, Sweden), photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 Aug 2010.

Copyright © 2010 by Stephen J. Danko