This weekend I visited my aunt, who lives in a small village called Wahlwiller, which is nestled in between the green hills of Southern Limburg, close to the German and Belgian border. It's one of those places where time stood still. Where everyone knows each other by name and where people still go to Sunday mass, before heading to the café. I love it there. It brings back lots of childhood memories of a time when my grandparents were still alive and my parents, brother and I used to go to Limburg for the weekend every other week.
It's not only the childhood memories and the beauty of the place that attract me, but the far reaching views, the stillness and the starry skies on a clear night as well. For a city girl like me, living in a small village like that feels like a dream. I don't think I could settle there, missing the hustle and bustle of my home town Rotterdam too much, but I am really happy that I still have family living there and a bed to sleep in whenever I like.
The photo's in today's post where taken this weekend and last August when I visited Limburg with my parents. They were mostly taken in Maastricht, the town where my mother grew up and in Wahlwiller and the surrounding countryside. The last couple of photo's show the church in Wahlwiller, which is really special and well worth a visit. It has amazing paintings by Rotterdam painter Aad de Haas, which are being restored at the moment.
Wishing you a happy week!
Love,
Madelief x
Ik dacht even dat je weer naar Engeland was geweest.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMaar Limburg is ook zo enorm mooi met die glooiingen. Ik ga dit even onthouden hoor.
En je had natuurlijk ook topweer....
Lieve Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWij komen er zelden, maar elke keer wanneer ik er foto's van zie, ben ik onder de indruk van het mooie landschap. Wat heerlijk dat je daar een adres hebt waar je elke keer weer terecht kunt. Familiebezoek in combinatie met mooi weer en een prachtige omgeving geven je dan wel een vakantiegevoel. Fijn dat je zo genoten hebt!
Veel liefs, Ingrid
De foto's deden me even denken aan Dartmoor en Exmoor maar toen las ik dat het Limburg was...heel verrassend dat het landschap zoveel overeenkomsten vertoond....toch snel maar weer eens die kant op om van de mooie uitzichten te genieten.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWat heb je mooie herinneringen aan Limburg, heerlijk om daar weer even te zijn!
Fijne week en liefs, Eefie
Was wunderschöne Einblicke! Könnte sofort meine Koffer packen, ich liebe solche Städtchen.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLG
Tinka
Wonderschone foto's van Zuid Limburg. Was er vorig jaar enkele dagen met onze tuinclub, echt genieten, niet alleen van de tuinen maar ook van het landschap. Dat kerkje is inderdaad de moeite waard om even binnen te bekijken, heel bijzonder en lekker kleurig.
BeantwoordenVerwijderengroet, Janneke
Wat mooi daar madeliefffff...hele fijne week liefs Ria...x!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAls het aan mij lag, Madelief, dan ging ik er wonen.Ik hou van dat soort dorpen en de ruimte erom heen. Het wordt alleen erg ver reizen naar mijn familie.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBen wel eens op vakantie geweest in Zuid-Limburg en ik vond het erg mooi!
Dat zie ik ook weer bevestigd in de fantastische foto's die je gemaakt hebt!
Liefs, Gerry
Childhood memories can be so precious .....
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLovely pictures, thank you for sharing.
All the best Jan
It is such a beautiful place!!! I think the buildings are so pretty, and how great there are so many places to sit outside and enjoy a drink - and that the weather is good enough too! Glad that you enjoyed it so much. xx
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWhat a beautiful place for a childhood, Madelief! Every photo is absolutely picturesque, town and countryside. The church is indeed very special; I really like the paintings around the altar. Pretty pansies and pastries - how do you stay so slim? xx
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGreat pics! I live only some kilometers away from Wahlwiller : )
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWe love the region!
It all looks idyllic Madelief - a calm and restful place to enjoy time with your family.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt looks like a lovely place to visit and so nice that you have family there.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHave a good week,
Carolyn
Dearest Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLovely post about some childhood sentiment. Fond memories that you will carry inside your heart forever. Love the fact that they still go to Sunday mass, before heading to the café. That is such a cozy way of celebrating the end of a week of hard work! Thanking your heavenly Father and than kind of relax and celebrate right before the big Sunday meal...
You are a very good writer and this is so important for being preserved for your daughters as well.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wonderful photos ! I love your country, Madelief , it is full of poetry and beauty, really.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI wish you a nice day
Hugs
Dear Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSuch beautiful childhood memories you must have here of the charming, tranquil place. I loved seeing your photos and know how happy you must be getting away from the bustling City into the quiet countryside.
Wishing you a great week
hugs
Carolyn
Such beautiful scenery Madelief, can understand you wanting to visit there often. Much of the landscape reminds me of England with fields and winding country lanes.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenJust realized looking at the itinerary for our river trip in May, we will be close to you when we stop at Kinderdijk to view the windmills etc. It's our last stop on the Budapest to Amsterdam journey - wish we were ending in Rotterdam and could have had a coffee with you - and some cake, such as those beauties in your photo above! We are planning to meet up with Jane and Lance at the start of the cruise in Budapest!
I hope your weather is good for gardening. We were so busy this weekend doing a lot of pruning and clean up of the many shrubs and trees damaged in the recent ice storm - everywhere is a mess and looks very sad BUT the daffodils are peeking out now so Spring IS on the way.
Have a happy weekend dear friend.
Hugs - Mary
My goodness, what a wonderful enchanting place! I'm happy for you that you have such wonderful memories of there and that you still have a relative to visit and a bed to sleep in. Lucky you! Your photos are magical.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHoi Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWat is Zuid-Limburg toch mooi hè? Echt fantastisch. En wat fijn dat je je daar zo welkom voelt, bij je tante...
Je hebt duidelijk een paar heerlijke dagen gehad. En super mooie foto's gemaakt. Dankjewel voor het delen daarvan... Ik heb er weer van genoten...
Fijne dag,
Liefs, Mirjam
Hi Madelief, I want to go now!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenZiet er heel erg terug in de tijd uit!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenEn wat een lekker weer was het om zomaar even lekker te slenteren en te genieten van al het moois.
En dat hebben jullie ook gedaan.
Liefs van mij
…just wonderful!!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenxxxxx Ale
That's a world of beauty right there.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenXo J
How beautiful it is and what wonderful childhood memories. The paintings in the church are incredible, I would love to see them for real. Have a lovely week.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenJane xx
Beautiful and glorious Madelief....I can't tell you enough (without repeating myself) how much your photos SPEAK to me...I have no idea what The Netherlands are like, but somehow, your photos make me feel at home. Maybe it's the sentiment of childhood that we both seem to hold in the memories of details. Each field, each brick and mortar structure, each flower, speaks to you, as to me, though I grew up in a completely different area and cityscape. You lived this out, I dreamt it all....reality and dreams find one another, and with you, I found a link to my childhood dreams.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSO GOOD to see your post, so full of this Dutch beauty I ADORE! Anita
Wonderful photos and memories, Madelief. I always enjoy seeing images of your country.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI must say the meringue on those pies in the bakery window is spectacular! Lol
Hugs,
Linda at Beautiful Ideas
What a pretty area, your photos are beautiful Madelief. It's always nice to take a walk down memory lane.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenV x
Ik woon hier in het platte Groningen en kan me bijna niet voorstellen dat dit Nederland is. Wat mooi! Daar wil ik zeker nog eens heen. Bedankt voor de foto's XX Esther
BeantwoordenVerwijderenNow this is what fairytales are made of. It is somewhat comforting to know that such places still exist with simple folk living quiet simple lives. The countryside is beautiful. I am so glad that you shared your photos.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHet ziet er allemaal heel gezellig uit en je hebt prachtige foto' s gemaakt. Wat leuk dat je dit met je ouders kan doen. Even terug naar vroeger. Groetjes, Hetty
BeantwoordenVerwijderenquel charmant village et quelle vue magnifique
BeantwoordenVerwijderenet la vitrine rempli de gâteaux humm
on a envie de s'installer sur la terrasse cela à l'air si paisible
bonne journée
bisous
edith (iris)
Hello Madelief, I just love the look and the sound of this place. It is really pretty and especially lovely for you because of those precious times you have spent there. I really enjoyed having this little sneak peak of an area I know nothing about. It is a lovely sunny day here but still cold. I am very excited about getting the garden tidied and sorted.I have been cleaning and organising inside, now I need to get outside. Wishing you a wonderful week. Love Linda xx
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMadelief, from your photographs it's easy to imagine this as a place time forgot, while also being a place that a child would remember so very fondly. A country dream indeed!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI think I understand what you mean about not being able to settle in such a place...but how grand to be able to visit friends and family there. Truly spectacular. I will have to do some more research about Wahlwiller. Beautiful Wahlwiller. xo
Prachtige post Madelief en inderdaad Belgie heeft mooie plaatsen om in te vertoeven....veel liefs
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt always lovely to visit a place that has so many childhood memories! It looks such a special place especially when there haven't been to many changes. I'm glad you had a lovely time. Sarah x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt is beautiful, each and every photo is worth savoring.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe church is so different that most churches I have seen in Europe.
I love it.
Oh, Madelief, these are so beautiful. What wonderful memories you must have. Thank you for sharing this special place.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSo beautiful and tranquil Madelief. It's nice to see the contrast in the different seasons. I can't wait for the flowers to bloom.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWhat a lovely Village! I am sure your Aunt was pleased with your visit. Thank you for sharing these beautiful images.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHugs,
Wanda
You took some great pictures, it makes me want to visit this place. I especially love the photo of the café terrace, what a beautiful atmosphere!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLieve Madelief.Wat een prachtige foto's van ons mooie Limburg. Toen ik de eerste foto zag dacht ik dat dit Engeland was.Zo mooi , de velden.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHeerlijk dat er nog zulke dorpjes bestaan, waar de tijd stil is blijven staan. En dat mooie Maastricht, wij waren er vorig jaar, ik wil er zo wel weer naar toe.
Nee hoor, ik had niet de griep, gewoon een beetje veel aan mijn hoofd en geen inspiratie. De weken vlogen voorbij en dan dacht ik, oh jee weer niks op mijn blog gezet.
Nu de lente in aantocht is krijg ik weer zin en gaan we hier en daar weer eens naar toe.
Lieve groet van Riet
I can imagine that this was a nice trip with a lot of memories. I love visiting my parents in Bavaria where also my grandparents lived, and being a child I often spent my time there. Being there I enjoy everything because it reminds me of childhood, of family and carefree times. The photos you took there are very nice, it really seems to be a beautiful area.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHave a nice Friday,
Barbara
What a beautiful place - it must be wonderful to visit and relive your childhood memories and such a stark contrast to city life.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBeautiful photos Madelief, and it looks like a lovely little place to visit. I remember when I first came back to England revisiting places from my childhood, it's so special isn't it and I'm glad you get to go back whenever you wish. Happy week for you.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe pfotos are so beautiful:) Hugs, amnuela
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGorgeous street scenes and awesome countryside.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenit looks like my kind of place - superb scenery and beautiful architecture - stunning images. It is lovely to revisit childhood memories and am pleased you had such a great time x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenOh dear what a lovely place! So beautiful...your pictures makes me want to visit the place at once!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHave a great saturday Madelief!
Titti
You have such an eye for beauty and your photographs always touch me. You really should have a book published, so stunning. I love the title of this post too. Childhood memories are so precious and just seeing a place brings back such emotion. I love this little village - and those Crocus are gorgeous! x
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWhat an idyllic town, with stunning views and lovely architectural designs. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories. Hope you have a wonderful week Madlief.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHugs,
Aida
Schitterende foto's! Ik kan me goed voorstellen dat je het heerlijk vindt om zo nu en dan op bezoek te gaan in Zuid Limburg. Twee jaar terug zijn we op vakantie geweest in Zuid Limburg en het heeft voor altijd mijn hart gestolen. De prachtige heuvelachtige omgeving en natuurlijk ook de mooi stad Maastricht!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenFijne week. Groetjes van Aleta
Wat leuk, Madelief,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenveel van deze foto's herken ik wel!
Prachtige plaatjes ook als je er in de
buurt woont!
Ik wens je n fijne avond!
Lieve groet,
NIcole
What a special place that village looks to be. I can imagine it would feel almost timeless.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenEen prachtig deel van Nederland. Fijn dat je daar zulke mooie herinneringen aan hebt. Bijzondere kunst van deze schilder. Heb je de tentoonstelling in de Rotterdamse Kunsthal 2011/2012 bezocht?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenDear Madelief, I can see why you love this place. Not only does it hold wonderful memories for you, but it is simply lovely. It is so nice that you are able to visit whenever you can get away and have a familiar and loving place to stay. Your photos are beautiful. Hugs xo Karen
BeantwoordenVerwijderen