10/10/11 It's a 4 C day

C #1 It's Columbus Day, so thank you lost sea faring wanderer that people credit with finding America...ok, you weren't the first and you didn't really find America, but hey it made for a day off which lead to the next C.


C #2 Cave...Valkenburg Cave to be exact. AKA Velvet Cave...really it's not a cave at all. It was formed by mining for marlstone. The underground quarrying of the stone has left a series of caves - the Gementegrot (Municipal Cave), which was used as a bomb shelter during World War II, the Fluweelen Caves (Velvet Caves), and the Panorama Cave, with an exhibition illustrating the origins and development of man. The Velvet Cave got its name from the Martins (I can't remember which kind of Martin) that live in the cave often. They are velvety soft, and thus Velvet Cave.


The art in the Fluweelengrot is a bit different than the other caves, and goes back just over two centuries. During the French occupation at the end of the 18th century, Napoleon closed down all the churches and forced Roman Catholic priests to swear allegiance to France. Those who refused were exiled. During this time, secret chapels sprung up throughout the area —  one of which is inside the Fluweelengrot. Founded by Father Widdershoven in 1797, this tiny chapel was the site of many secret masses, and can still be seen today.

Another highlight in Fluweelengrot is the names carved into the walls by U.S. soldiers when they came to liberate Valkenburg from the Germans toward the end of World War II. When they arrived in the town, it was practically deserted. Eventually, they discovered that the locals, as well as some Jewish people, had been hiding in the caves. After the war ended, an artist painted the soldiers' silhouettes on the cave walls as a way of honoring them. Seeing these names and paintings is a sobering experience.

Other art works, such as Dutch royal portraits and carvings of prehistoric animals, reveal other pieces of Valkenburg's past. What is remarkable about much of this art is that it was done with very little light, yet reveals incredible detail. The paintings’ preservation is due to the damp, cool climate inside the caves, with a constant temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) and 90 percent humidity.

So these are my pictures from the Velvet Cave. The artwork is charcoal and quite amazing.

This is how dark it is in the cave when the lights are out. I found it peaceful, but I don't suppose I would feel that way if I was in there and scared and had no clue how to get out.

The Americans who helped the village wrote their names on the walls...these names have been preserved!

the silhouettes of American's who had helped liberate the town.

Ok, the cool thing about this particular etching...the pearl necklace on Wilhemina  look as though they are rounded out, when in reality, they are carved into the wall.

Our USO tour guide, Bob

C #3 Valkenburg Castle Ruins

Above the Velvet Cave is the ruins of the Valkenburg Castle. It was the only elevated castle in the Netherlands (its the only one on a hill). The first fortifications at this site were probably built around 1115 by Gesewijn I, Lord of Valkenburg. They consisted of a rectangular keep surrounded by wooden structures. After a few years, in 1122, the castle was pretty well destroyed after a siege by Emperor Hendrik V.

In the following centuries the castle was rebuilt and once again destroyed, and rebuilt again and destroyed again. After its being destroyed in 1672 the people of the town started to quarry marlstone under the castle ruins.

In 1937, during restorations, workers discovered secret underground passages created in the rock beneath the castle. The medieval knights used these passages as escape routes and for breakouts during sieges. 

These are some pictures from the Valkenburg Castle Ruins and the outlying town of Valkenburg:

This is a part of the original tile used on the roof of the castle.

These are pictures from the town of Valkenburg, while I strolled around.

When I stopped at a cheese stand (OMG it was heaven on earth...so many yummy cheeses...I ended up with some cheese with italian spice in it for my lunch)...anyway, next to the cheese stand was another stand (which was actually closed) but the side was still opened up and I saw these eggs...they were beautifully marbled.

This is where I stopped to eat my lunch...such a nice little area.

This is a tree growing up along a house...it is stuck to the house.

I saw this hotel and thought of Heather...a pretty hotel with Heineken prominently advertised.

The newer below the older

Such a beautiful old church...and what is it now...no, not a church, it is a Greek restaurant.

Silly picture I know, but I loved the simple beauty of this door step.

The next few pictures are of the Lourdesgrot...an outdoor chapel

This was on someones porch...I just thought it was cool.

C #4 Chocolate...we weren't allowed to take pictures in the store...but oh my gosh, so much chocolate (actually there was a 5th C...across the street was the cookie outlet too)

You think some people in the states will be happy? Some I can't mail out though...it's illegal to mail the candy with alcohol, so will have to take it back with me at Christmas time.

As a last note, there is actually an American Memorial Cemetery not far from Valkenburg. As the story goes when the Americans were looking for a spot for the cemetery, and they chose the spot it is located on the Dutch were really mad because the spot chosen was some of the best and most fertile land in the country. The man (I didn't get his name) that was in charge of the location finding team told the Dutch people that complained that All of Holland wasn't worth one American life. They stopped complaining. I guess the relatives of one of the soldiers buried there had asked a local family if they could please put flowers on the grave of their relative...the family agreed. But the next Veterans day, the one grave was not the only one taken care of. The people in the area worked together to make sure there were flowers on every grave. It became a big deal to adopt a grave and take care of it...the honor being passed down from generation to generation.