12Jun16-SAT-To Friesland...

Today (Saturday) we are going to the North, to Freisland, to search for my (ij) mother's birth place.  Our friends Arjen and Yvonne drove us in their car...
What a great day!
We started out in Nijverdal, Overijsel, drove to Ommen, to Staphorst, to Meppel and stopped in Giethoorn "The Venice of Holland",

then Steenwijk.  Just before Heerenveen, we found Uitwellingerga (Thialf Speed Skating Arena), 

We were looking for Uitwellingerga, the birth place of my Mom (ij), we found it on our way to Sneek).  Uitwellingerga ended up being a very nice village.  Yvonne seached out the village and she even knocked on a door and asked if they had heard of the family Feike Dijkstra history.  They knew the family!!!  We were led to a farm that may have been related to "Pake" Dykstra.  On the way to Lemmer, we stopped at the Afsluitdijk (where it was WINDY) and people were wind-surfing FAST!!)... saw sheep grazing on the banks, where we took some photos... then to Lemmer to meet Ingrid's twin cousins, Jantina and Johan. 

then stopped at a nice place (Cafe De held van '63) on the water, and had a Duvel beer (Yvonnes brother sells it around Holland), 

then drove back via Kampen (where Yvonnes parents were), and the church (De Bovenkerk Kampen http://www.debovenkerk.nl/ ) famous for its pipe organ (just missed a performance, but could hear the pipe organ from outside).  We went and ate ice cream near the church...

Here's a concert link where you can hear the organ... (thanks Arjen!)...