Tag Archives: Netherlands

War of the Worlds

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I have been intrigued by the H.G. Wells iconic science fiction novel  War of the Worlds since I first read the book as a 10 year-old. The terrifying tale was first serialized in nine issues of Pearson’s Magazine (1897/98) with … Continue reading →

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Go Medieval On Them

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Medieval Memes  is a clever, fun project by  the Dutch National Library which takes illustrations from medieval manuscripts in its collection and lets anyone who wants make memes out of them to then share. The reason this is great is … Continue reading →

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Worldwide Live

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When I have felt especially claustrophobic during the Pandemic lockdown, I have checked out some of the amazing live camera feeds from around the globe. Recently, I found the wonderful Rolling Cam World on Youtube and I think that I’m … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam Says No To Overtourism

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Amsterdam has long been one of my favorite cities in the world, but on recent visits I have been put off by the sheer volume of tourists. The notoriously tolerant residents of the city seem to have finally had enough … Continue reading →

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Welkom in Amsterdam 1922

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Utilizing archival footage from Amsterdam’s EYE Museum and artificial intelligence,  digital artist Denis Shiryaev  created the amazing video below based on early 1920s filming in Amsterdam. The colorized images offer a rare glimpse into the city’s life before it became … Continue reading →

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Beautiful Amsterdam

Posted on June 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years I have spent more time in Amsterdam than any other city outside of the United States. It was one of the first European cities that I visited and captured my imagination from the very first time that … Continue reading →

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As above, So below

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Dutch artist and printmaker Jaco Putker uses both traditional and digital methods to produce his surreal images. He usually works with photopolymer, or solar plate, etching. This allows him to create photo-realistic depictions. His finished pieces are at once amusing … Continue reading →

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Never Forget

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

A temporary holocaust monument titled Levenslicht (Lifelight)  created by artist Daan Roosegaarde lights up Rotterdam with 104,000 luminescent memorial stones that represent the 104,000 Dutch holocaust victims of the Nazis during WWII.  The monument, which recalls the Jewish custom of … Continue reading →

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Still Life (with books)

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Still Life with Books, a Globe and Musical Instruments, Jan Vermeulen, 1660, Mauritshuis Museum  

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Watching Operation Night Watch

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Rembrandt’s famous painting The Night Watch at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is not my favorite work from the master, or my favorite painting in the great institution. However, every time that I’m in Amsterdam somehow I find myself in front of the iconic work … Continue reading →

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