GR5 in Holland (August 2016)

I returned to Hoek van Holland on 22 August 2016 to hike again on the GR5, an 8-day trek ending at the Grote Markt in Bergen op Zoom where I enjoyed one of my favorite Dutch meals: pannekoeken met spek en kaas.  I hiked this section of the GR5 again in order to gather information for another writing project.  The weather was good all the way, as the following photos show.

Quiet residential area in Hoek van Holland:

Greenhouses and canal beside the Oranjedijk:

Polder near Maasland:

Note the track for pushing bicycles up and down these steps:

Maasland:

18th century windmill in Maassluis:

Maassluis:

De Kolk inner harbour in Maassluis, with the Grote Kerk and Marnixkade drawbridge:

The Calandbrug, a vertical-lift bridge:
 

Brielse Meer:

Historical Museum and statue of Queen Wilhelmina in Brielle:

Geese near Brielle:

The trail crosses Voornes Duin:
 

Tenellaplas visitors’ centre in Voornes Duin:
 

A gate that cannot be left open:

A cow hogs the shade in Voornes Duin:

Beach near Rockanje, with Haringvlietsluizen in the distance:

One of the 17 sluice gates in the Haringvlietsluizen:

The path across the Haringvlietsluizen:

Approaching the center of Goedereede:

 Goedereede:

My hotel in Goedereede, de Gouden Leeuw:

Cyclists and cattle near Stellendam:

View from the dike that I walked upon for about 14 km:

Sugar beets ready to be picked up:

Sheep graze on the dike near Herkingen:

Wind turbines near Herkingen:

Silken van de Heen, near Sint Philipsland:

Slaakdam bridge across the Scheldt-Rhine Canal:
 

Approaching Nieuw-Vossemeer:

Drawing upon knowledge gained from an arbitration case that I worked on several years ago, I noticed that these supporting pillars have cables attached in a spiral.  This prevents vortex induced vibrations (VIV). 

Big sky with clouds -- the type of landscape that inspired Jacob van Ruisdael:

Stock car racing on a dirt track:

The moat around the ruins of Fort de Roovere (Bergen op Zoom): 
 

Grote Markt in Bergen op Zoom: