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Rory
Burney
I was several times in Holland in recent 20 years always by train. This year I had to give up this passion so I landed at Eindhoven Airport. But I couldn't deny myself: from here took a train to Naarden. Last year in the same time when I arrived to visit annual Leeuwarden Rory Gallagher tribute festival weather was unusual cold and snowy. This year weather was typical Dutch: rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine - changes in every half an hour.
It was the third time I visited my friend and his family who are living in Naarden - in this small lovely city. So far I had no enough time to look around but this time my friend and music soulmate proved to be a perfect guide. We had a long walk around the old fortress. I enjoyed it and got lots of interesting information from Burney. Here are the short version of the long history:
"First founded in 1350. People made it safe with walls surrounding and two gates, Amsterdam side and Utrecht side. First real fortress was made in 1560, with part of brick walls. Later The Dutch Fortress architect called Menno van Coehoorn made it to as it is still these day's. It was completed in 1730.
In 1572 there was a masacer by Spanish soldiers, the mayor gave them the key, and once they where inside, they called all Naarden people to the "Spanish House" and slaughterd them all, mostly man.
From 1575 people who lived in Naarden had to pay there taxes in bricks.
Naarden was called the "Key" to Amsterdam, because it was a swamt area, with only one good road on good sand ground, and for transportation of cannons and horses it was needed to go on that road, so, who had Naarden, had Amsterdam..."
I also like the legend of the statue of Jan Amos Comenius. The great Czech born writer and teacher - who wrote his main books between 1650 - 1654 at Sárospatak, in Hungary - died in Amsterdam. His statue was standing in front of the fortress's gate. Everyone who walked there welcomed him: "Hi Jan" and Jan was smiling constantly. Since the statue was removed to an other place - he won't smiling anymore...
Nowadays Naarden is an important touristic centre.
Back on my way I took a plane from Schiphol. I almost got lost in the maze of the huge airport. Reviews of my experiences of Dutch concert days can be read in the next chapters.
Photos: NAARDEN
