Open Monument Weekend

This past weekend was Open Monument Weekend in the Netherlands. In this country-wide event historical buildings that are not normally open to the public, throw open their doors and invite any and all in to walk around free of charge. We tried our best to participate but were mostly thwarted in our efforts. Most of the monuments were only open from 12-5. Since Leif and Klaus's nap time is 1-4 we were hard pressed to make it to even the ones in town. We really wanted to see Heman Boerhaave's and Christiaan Huygens homes since we had just learned so much about them from the Boerhaave Museum but they were both too far away to make it work with naptime.
  After nap on Saturday we did make it to one of the homes on the Rapenburg, a beautiful street which follows one of the canals and boasts some of the grand old homes from the golden age. The house is a now an office building and very little of the original ornament remains. The facade was still impressive but the interior was a bit disappointing.
 On Sunday a few buildings opened at 10 which is how we got to see the Regentenkamer of the Merman Burg. This "courtyard" as it is called was a home for widows and single women beginning in the 1600s. Now it is all apartments but the governor's room still remains in tact and displays a fine collection of portraits of the former governors of the courtyard. The room is for rent for small parties and dinners. Any one want to go in on it with us? You might not be able to tell from the pictures but that is velvet damask on the walls. Velvet damask!!

 Also Klaus has almost join the ranks of the bipedal:
 

  On the whole he still prefers crawling but he is getting there. Should I buy him wellies for our England trip? or knee pads?