Looks like a nice place for a walk.

Looks quiet. 

Cool picture, David

Warm and dry ...

Wood stove warmth hits differently.   

It's that time of the year again.

Nice photos. David and Adrian, it is that time of year!

Adriaan, what is the literal translation of the sign in front of the bicycles there? I'm puzzled by it... I took it to mean "bicycles are not allowed here". Or maybe 'no bicycle riding in this place"? I don't understand how to differentiate the noun from the verb.

*I also hadn't realized barber poles were international! 😄

Quote from: edwardofhuncote on December 01, 2025, 04:16:41 AM
Adriaan, what is the literal translation of the sign in front of the bicycles there? I'm puzzled by it... I took it to mean "bicycles are not allowed here". Or maybe 'no bicycle riding in this place"? I don't understand how to differentiate the noun from the verb.

*I also hadn't realized barber poles were international! 😄

I thought it meant No Vehicles In The Plaza

It very well might. 😄

In English, "place" can be both a noun and a verb, right? Nothing special here - in Dutch, the noun for it is "plaats", and like with lots of nouns you turn it into a verb by adding "en", which also happens to be the plural form for the noun. So "fietsen" is the noun, "plaatsen" is preceded by "te" so it is the verb in the infinitive, and you can probably guess what "verboden" means. Dead easy. (Here endeth today's lesson.)

Thanks Adriaan. 😊


Most of the words are not as difficult to figure out as the grammar rules. I may eventually learn to read some, but my only hope of speaking any Dutch I'm afraid, is to actually have to.


It's been a long time ago now, but I first grew interested in the language when FC translated a label from an old Dutch cello for me.

Beautiful picture Adriaan!

Label from the aforementioned Dutch cello says, "from the collection of Johann Stuber, Violin Builder. I was never certain if Stuber was the builder, or if he simply repaired this 1/2-size cello in his shop there at that address in 1962, but it was clearly a quality instrument. I found it in a tobacco barn in pieces, put it back together and used it to learn on for a while. Eventually I upgraded to a 4/4 instrument and gave this one to some friends where it still resides. I played on it last month. Has it really been since 2002... no way!


*Flip did say the name was likely German, not Dutch. Entirely possible the instrument is too. Definitely European.  And the address was an antique shop or something else now.

And first snowfall happened last night. Reckon I'll stay in the shop and whittle.

Noordeinde 150 is a short walk from Panorama Mesdag that I posted about in 2023. Stūber did have a shop at the address, he had learned the craft in Markneukirchen. He signed his builds, so yours only passed through his shop.