Zwolle Revisited

There are towns and places which do not lose its attraction. One of them is Zwolle. An excellent choice for my free-travel-day. Zwolle has a museum, De Fundatie, which has recently been revamped, or rather extended. On top of a neo-classical building with Greek columns, resembling a temple, an extension has been built which looks like a Zeppelin or a stranded whale. I was curious to see the interior of this strange hump and so I took a train to Zwolle. The building looks interesting from across the star-shaped moat surrounding Zwolle. But I approached it through a street with attractive historic buildings and thought it looked distinctly odd. 

Several pictures of Museum "De Fundatie"

 The Greek front

 The window from which offers an interesting view of Zwolle

 Once the Palace of Justice and now a Museum of modern art, it has an interesting collection of art and some changing expositions. Standing in front of the entrance on the side of the town, I must admit it looked impressive.  I did look at the art exhibitions, but in fact was more fascinated by the view from the window in this oval extension, a view of Zwolle’s town centre, to the right of the Sassenpoort through which I entered the town, and to the left the Basilica of our Lady, made famous by Thomas a Kempis and by its tower, called the Pepperbox or rather Pepper Salver, as it looks like one. It was a clear day, till later in the afternoon, so I had a good view, also of the restaurant and lunchroom down below where I started my day with coffee and cake. There are two levels in this extension, which afforded different views.

 The Pepperbox tower of the Basilica

Of course there is more to Zwolle than just the Museum, quite a lot more in fact. But I did not climb the Pepperbox, and did not go inside the Basilica which I usually do when I go to Zwolle for the day. I just did some window-shopping. There are a large number of specialist shops with bags and leather goods, crafts, a shop selling products from countries which once belonged to the Hanseatic League as Zwolle did, and many other interesting shops.

 The "Sassen" Gate and the canon "protecting" the town

Another reason for choosing Zwolle was the new bookshop. A well-known bookseller and publisher of art books, Waanders,  has taken over a historic church and made this into a wonderful shop, Waanders in de Broeren, thus preserving the very interesting interior and making it accessible to everybody. The pipe organ is still there in its full glory and organ recitals are given regularly. 

 A view from the cafe towards the organ, and right: a view from the organ towards the choir, now a cafe

 The organ

In the former choir is a very nice lunchroom and coffee corner with good food. The different floors on one side of the church are themed. On the floor with cookery books, there are also related products on sale. The Music floor besides books offers CD’s and DVD’s, there is an Art floor with an exhibition, and a floor with stationary and writing materials. For me the beauty is the ceiling with its paintings of saints and noblemen, which can now be better viewed than ever before from one of the higher floors. St. Caecilia, my favourite, is also represented.

 Different departments on different levels

Of course I couldn’t resist buying several books. Amongst which a book about the history of this church and the paintings on the vaults. Something to study on the train back home, when it was dark and wet and very windy. It was a good day, in spite of my aching arms which had to carry the weight of cd’s and books and hold up an umbrella against the strong wind and heavy rain - which pelted down later in the afternoon- , while my handbag was blown off my shoulder. Fortunately I had a seat on the train and plenty of time to relax and besides reading, observe my fellow passengers.

 

  The paintings on the ceiling and vaults. Right below: St. Caecilia

Candlemas, Sunday February 1st

Candlemas, marking the end of the Christmas period. The presentation of Jesus in the temple, when Simeon took the child in his arms, and spoke the words which we sing at each Evensong, the Nunc Dimittis, known as the Song of Simeon.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared for all people...

The more poignant as we had just learned that one of the oldest members of our church choir had died the evening before, on her birthday February 1^st. I sang the Nunc Dimittis for her, who had been a chorister all her life, first in England where she was born, later in  Holland where they moved because of her husband’s job and where she raised her two boys, one now a musician, organist, pianist, composer and choir master. We, the choir, will sing this week at her farewell service, celebrating her life. She was quite a character, and will be much missed. When I celebrated my 60^th birthday together with a friend from church, she sang a solo, accompanied on the piano by her son. The illness which killed her in just a year or two was horrible. Mercifully an end has come to her suffering, which cruelly also robbed her of her voice, which had been so important to her throughout her life. May she sing the Gloria in the angelic choir.