Sailing the Wadden Sea

Finally, vacation! 

Last September, after a long year of hard work, I finally finished my master’s thesis. It was time for a well-earned sailing vacation. The Monday after my graduation, I and my boyfriend set sail for a three-week sailing trip.

The first two days we sail to the north of the IJsselmeer Lake, to the locks that are the gateway to the Wadden Sea. Although it is September already, the weather is still nice and sunny. We enjoy the Dutch version of the Indian summer. But when we arrive at the north of the IJsselmeer, the weather forecasts start to change. Stormy rain and winds keep us pinned down in the town of Makkum.

Mirror Boxing

The loud call of the oystercatcher always reminds me of the Wadden Sea, one of its natural habitats. But the salty wetlands of the Wadden Sea aren't the only place where I meet these beautiful birds.

They also colonize more inland areas, like college campuses and industrial sites. These worlds of glass and steel may look like unnatural places for them. But as long as it's not too crowded, they seem pretty okay. Most of the time, at least...

Those peaceful nights

In the Netherlands, sailing is big. Really big. Or perhaps, the country is just a tad too small to fit all those sailors in. But on hot summer days, everybody seems to get out on the water. In the evenings, even the smaller natural harbors and inlets are packed full of boats. There's the smell of barbeques, dinghy-racing kiddo's and the five other boats you have to climb over to get ashore. Mass tourism, Waterworld-style.

Winter in the Netherlands

Today, I am posting three paintings instead of one. These three are part of one whole. Together they try to capture the atmosphere of winter in the Netherlands.

Winter sailing, winter quietness

Often, I hear people say: such a shame that summer is over, I enjoyed sailing so much! Or: ‘I am glad that I live in California/Malaysia/some other warm country, so I can continue sailing all year long. Some people seem to assume that sailing is impossible during the wintertime! But they couldn’t be more wrong...

When you sail, the quietness is never far away...

I made this drawing from a photo I took during a winter sailing trip. It is a picture of a lock in the Wieden-Weerriben National park.

First time solo!

Last weekend, I did a crazy thing. I went on a solo sailing trip for the first time of my life... in another boat than my own. And it was great!

The beauty of engineering

Today I am posting a bird's eye view of one of the bridges we pass when we bring our boat to her winter berth. There is a reason I chose this particular bridge for my drawing. At the west side of the bridge, there is a lake with a number of small islands in it. Perfect for a spectacular sunset scene like the one I have drawn. But that's not the only reason. Next to the bridge, there is a really cool piece of engineering.

Above and below

In the Netherlands, great crested grebes are a common, but beautiful sight.

Next to beautiful, crested grebes are also fierce hunters. And they need to be, because their young are always hungry. Very, very hungry. I see their parents catch so much fish, I often wonder how it's possible that there is any left. But there always is...

In this drawing, I wanted to show both aspects: the beauty above the surface, and the deadly hunter below. 

  

The Zombie Mode

We all have those days when we seem to be swallowed whole by the rat race. For me, it is no different...

Love is war...

At this moment, we're working to get our boat ready for next season. There is a large canal adjacent to boatyard we work on. The yard also has its own little harbor. So when we work, we are surrounded by all kinds of water-loving birds, like ducks, coots and gulls.

It's a peaceful sight, most of the time. That's how I drew these two ducks: peaceful.

A winter fairy tale

Last year, we took a two-day trip, from the town of Lemmer to Giethoorn. Just an ordinary weekend trip, but it turned out to be really amazing..