Dutch Court

This week was Dutch Court in Arnhem, on Tuesday. An experience we never, in our wildest dreams, ever imagined happening to us.  Our lawyer, Joris, was superb, the judge sympathetic to our plight and the builder and his lawyer pugnacious and overbearing. Naturally, all was in Dutch so after 3.5 hours we were reeling from straining to understand the proceedings and language and where we were in the Call Notes, from which each lawyer speaks. Our story was short and factual, as presented by Joris. The builder had over 90 numbered points, many a paragraph in length and 80% a repeat of the first 5.  The quiet and soft spoken judge shushed the builder several times by simply holding up his hand, as I suppose he was exhausted too.  Prior to our hearing at 11AM, he heard a case where another customer of our builder had a similar situation to ours. Through delays and appeals the builder and his lawyer had held up the return of a substantive amount of money from escrow to the client (whom we now know) for 9 years. Yes, 9 years. Hence, the judge did not want that to happen to us, so another path has been advanced by him and we are hopefully going to be in possession of our boat very soon. We have stopped giving a date because delays do happen and with this pair opposing anything and everything rational, we never know.

We joined the Dutch Barge Association 2 years ago and the members have been a tremendous help to us through all this mess. Others have had similar situations with this builder but in Europe any negative Internet information can be appealed and removed. And it was.  Additionally, several court cases were ongoing against this guy and nothing could be posted or he threatened further action. So, we picked him and we are taking our lumps for doing so. We knew he had a difficult personality but never anticipated what he has done. That’s where we stand as of this week.

But, we are bicycling as we wait and the pictures below are of a trip we took today along the Linge River and through the Betuwe Fruit Region. A few of the pictures are from the trips we have taken along the dikes near our present home in Aalst, a pretty little community.

Maybe more good news next week?

Small trees blooming

Large trees blooming & every size in between

This little guy loved every cyclist

Lambs in Spring

Written on the house below...charmimg gentleman showed us the lock beneath his house with gates to the river.
Roughly translated  this inscription means : No matter how soft the bed and how enjoyable the wine the best place to be is House Boutesteijn

Loved the old Citroen and the Bernese Mountain Dog. House has been here for 450 years

Delightful Sights

 

They don't last too long, but beautiful right now. 

Wonderful Scent in the Air

Bicycle Trails with numbered routes take you anywhere. Bikes rule here.

Idyllic Outlook

Trees groomed and staked, grass trimmed...neat orchards that turn out fabulous pears, apples and cherries

Bicycle Attire

The Teed's Steeds.These fold and fit into the trunk of our tiny car.

Blossoms in Perspective

River Linge and we want to be on it!

50 KM Day Trip. . . Did I say it's the Blossom Route?

Dandelions Pure Sunshine..why do we call them weeds?

Town of Beesd...Best Gelato. . We deserved it!

Stork bringing her own Babies

The Dutch even have neat cows. 

 

Pollarded Trees Much Beloved not yet in leaf.

Heerlijkheid Marienwaerdt Estate has interesting History from 1129

At home Mustard is a weed. . . here a wildflower and pure golden beauty

 

Perfectly pruned and hectares in bloom

A Robot Lawnmower. . .Everyman's Dream

Views as we bicycle atop the Dike near Aalst, our present home. Fun to peer down to gardens and snug houses

Thatch Roofs, Decorated Shutters on a Spring Day

Graceful old Buildings Dating to 1600's in Woudrichem a city dating to the 1300's

 

1693. . . just look at the brickwork

1615 and still a home

The Lion of Woudrichem atop the stepped brick

Fishmonger overlooking his old harbour...note the highwater mark

 

Beautiful old historic tjalks, beurtschips, katwijkr to name a few

 

Some with masts some with leeboards

Working this spring day

A Sign of Spring. . .Boys Fishing 

Sightings of Bunnies are Increasing

A Wonderful Idea for Your Garden

 

Glorious Geraniums ready for Windowboxes 

Perfect Colour for Canada 150th

 

Wise Owl

Joke's Magnolia

The most beautiful pale green trees

There will be Vegetables!

Many windmills along our route today

 

Thatching a Roof

Material at the Ready. No Shingles Here!

True Craftsmen.... Will try and get back to see the finished job