Coolsingel. Last day of the year, Oudjaar (old year) as we call it and everyone hyped because of the big party tonight near the Erasmusbridge. Aboutaleb, our mayor, cannot afford another mistake when it comes to security and big parties (at a beach party near Rotterdam, someone was shot by the police a couple of months ago) so the whole town is looking at what is going to happen tonight.
We are going to eat oliebollen till we're stuffed and light fireworks. Thank you all for commenting my photos the last year, be carefull tonight and I will see you tomorrow!

Van Vollenhovenstraat. We had our annual Christmas dinner with co workers yesterday and this magnificent deer watched and saw that all was good.

Essenburgsingel, Health riscs because of radiaton of electrical poles have been an issue for long. The government stated that this tower had to be placed in order to broadcast the new communication system C2000 for police, fire brigades and other services. Despite court cases and overall protests from the neighborhood,the final court made its decision recently: placing the tower is legal and the said riscs are not scientifically proven.

Stadhoudersweg. I thought I'd make it home, but with this cold, my bladder cannot take another 2 miles.

Blijdorp Zoo, I know the eye of the tiger rocks better, but the eye of this snake is more evil.

Admiraal de Ruyterweg, This game and poultry supplier has been extremely busy before Christmas. Despite their prices I would almost say. My husband once bought a chicken here (almost the size of a turkey I admit, but still) for 35 euro! Yes, that shut me up for a second too.

My place right after the unwrapping. Merry Christmas everyone!

Burg. Meinezsplein. Most of it is melted by now, but a couple of days ago I caught this family trying to get a huge snowball home. Every other minute they had to catch their breath and I have no idea whether they made it.

Bergweg. The doll is holding a sign saying (Ice) Skates. With the current low temperatures and the fact that all school ages children have their Christmas holiday, there is a run on skates. Everyone tries the frozen waters (someone asked me the other day how you know the ice is thick enough. The answer is trial and error) and to show that this is an event dating back till way back when, the Rijksmuseum has dedicated one of its exhibitions to Hendrick Avercamp a Dutch painter known for his winter sceneries from the 17th century.

Westzeedijk. The Norske Sjomanskirken (Norwegian sailors church) is a Governmental monument and a copy of a 16th Norwegian village church. I'll go back one day in summer.

Beukelsdijk. This is Ally. Ally is from California and usually wears flipflops this time of year. As you can see from the delight on her face, she now definitely prefers biking in the snow.

Zwartjanstraat. These girls were advertising for Specsavers while I caught them in front of the competitor.

Calandstraat, a couple of days ago I was eating at Restaurant Zinc and had a wonderful piece of game (deer), on the plate here with a pear and cabbage.

Beukelsdijk, the first snow of the season! Kids and cats were thrilled. Everybody else, less thrilled.

Stationsplein, view on Delfste Poort. The building of insurance company NN is decorated with thousands of LED lights that are charged with the daily sunlight (which is not that easy in the Netherlands in december) and shine at night.

Burg. Meineszlaan. Mercedes Benz by Janis Jopling was written as something of a negative commentary about materialistic individuals who place too much value on items like a Mercedes-Benz. The song heavily reflects Joplin's view of what she saw as a materialistic world.
The song was recorded in one take and one of her last songs ever, as she died a couple of days later.

Capelse weg. Driving home for Christmas :) What does a tree costs in your place? Mine (about 1,75m tall) costed 45 euro, say 65 dollars.

Eendrachtssingel, catching the tram on the way home from work.

Pieter de Hooghweg, Misty morning and a slighly visible Euromast.

Lloyd Multiplein. Till January 17, the indoor ice rink is open again. You can rent skates if you don't have any!

Coolsingel, World Trade Center with the statue of Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp, a conservative Dutch statesman that headed the commission that wrote the Constitution of the Netherlands in 1814 (and the paper he is in his right hand refers to that).

Haringvliet, view on the old harbor and the White House being eaten up by the surrounding sky scrapers.

Lijnbaan. Warehouse 'De Bijenkorf' gave the famous dutch (fashion) designers couple Viktor & Rolf carte blanche to create the special Christmas atmosphere the shop was looking for. Their fairytale book was the source of inspiration and if you want to see what items (shoes, parfum, bags, clothes, glasses you name it) they are selling,click here.

The mantelpiece at my place. Ceci n'est pas du poop.
Today my youngest son Timo turns 9. And this turd was one of his biggest wishes, so what does one do as loving parents? Right.

Beukelsdijk. I passed this happy 'bakfiets' as a ray of light in the pouring rain and found out it is the so called green parcel delivery service from singer/songwriter Snowball Johnny.

Yesterday evening my daughter received a phone call from the HoofdPiet who conveniently knew where she was celebrating Sinterklaas. He told her that unfortunately he was very busy yesterday evening and therefor couldn't come by himself BUT he also told her where he hid the presents! Today is Sinterklaas' official birthday, but also the day he returns to Spain where he lives. Till next year Sinterklaas!

Kruiskade. Cold and dark with a view on music hall Watt (previously known as Rotown). I wish you all a very good Sinterklaas today!

Heemraadssingel. O yes, the oliebollen are back in town!

Koopgoot, 2 Pieten meet up with a little kid and hand it some candy. Only 2 more days and it is Sinterklaas!!

Grintweg. This time of year is no fun for bikers. I remember arriving at school, taking of your protective pants and rain coat and still have wet trousers till the first break. Yuk!
Nowadays I sell that as character building to my children.

My place. It's the first of the month and todays theme in the City Daily Photo community is Waiting.
These shoes are waiting for Sinterklaas to come by. They are standing in front of the chimney where the Zwarte Pieten enter our house.
The carrot is for Sinterklaas' horse and my kids hope that tomorrow it will be exchanged for a present. If you want to read the whole Sinterklaas (not to be confused by Santa Claus, coz we call him the Kerstman) story, click here.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants worldwide in this theme