The Archangel Michael of Zwolle


Around the eight century, a number of merchants settled around a natural inlet on a tributary of a river. The settlement soon developed into a harbour, with trading firms and warehouses. The commercial heart grew up in the first church, founded in 765 by Saint Lebuinus and Saint Marcellinus in the area that later became … Read more » “The Archangel Michael of Zwolle”

A Gallic Warrior and Romanisation


The Roman Conquest of Gaul, a territory that today compromises the whole of France and parts of Switzerland, Germany and the Low Countries, was written down by Julius Caesar in de bello gallico. Despite his claim to have conquered Gaul already by 52 B.C., fighting certainly continued well into Augustus’ imperial reign. Even afterwards major … Read more » “A Gallic Warrior and Romanisation”

The St. Nicolas Chapel Nimwegen


The ancient Batavian settlement near the Dutch city of Nijmegen (Nimwegen) was called Oppidum Batavorum by the Romans, until the Roman emperor Traian granted the right of market in 104 AD and called the city was called Ulpia Noviomagus (the new market). The Romans built a castle (Castellum) on the hill. Frankish rulers reigned over this … Read more » “The St. Nicolas Chapel Nimwegen”

The World’s oldest working Planetarium


Else Eisinga was born in a small Frisian village in 1744. He worked from early age on the the wool combing business of his father and he became himself a true master of this craft, and even won an international prize in 1820. That is not why he is still well known however. His self-study … Read more » “The World’s oldest working Planetarium”

A European Stone


Amber can be found at around 200 locations in the world, in Europe mainly in  Denmark, the Baltic States, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, France, Rumania, Slovakia and Italy (Sicily). Amber is a beautiful material and easily worked. The earliest piece on which the head of a wild horse is engraved dates from around 10 000 BC. The Greeks … Read more » “A European Stone”