These orange pleather trousers and sequinned sweater are both by Essentiel Antwerp, one of my favourite brands because of their use of colour. Marjolein was with me when I bought the set, and she was also the photographer of these blog photos.
We went to Amsterdam, to the NEMO Science Museum which is a fun and interactive museum. I walked a lot that day and my bad knee was really hurting when I came home. But we had a wonderful day.
We started on the 5th floor where the NEMO restaurant is. They have huge windows all around. As it was a grey and dreary day, I thought we would get some natural light through those windows for our photos. Alas…they were renovating the roof, which is a spectacular spot for photos and views. Not only could we not use the roof, they had also put posters on many restaurant windows and there were cement bags all around. What a bummer.
Below: The view from the restaurant through one of the few windows without a poster on it or having cement bags in sight.
Below: To the left is the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum), that white building. In front of the Maritime Museum, a replica of a VOC ship from 1748 or so. VOC means Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, in English Dutch East India Company. See what a miserable day it was? Although Marjolein and I were happy there was no rain and hardly any wind.
Below: This is what the NEMO museum looks like on a sunny day. It is built like a ship.
Below: You can see a little bit of the museum’s roof, terrific for sunbathing and lounging. And of course, to see the view. The renovation should be ready first half of 2025.
I never knew until I started the research for this blog post, that the entrance of the big tunnel underneath the IJ (big water, formally a bay, read more here) is at the NEMO museum.
Below: An impression of what the new roof should look like after the renovation. Because the museum is built on a tunnel, there are many hazardous risks in renovating the roof.
Below: We started near the windows that didn’t have cement bags in sight but discovered that photos against the light were not sharp.
Below: Then Marjolein spotted these blocks of wood. I laid down as I did in a previous shoot with her (scroll down a bit in that post). This setting didn’t work so well, as Marjolein predicted when I laid down, but we had fun and the people around us were puzzled.
Below: Sitting was much better.
Below: A close-up of my dark blue cowboy boots. The sweater is also blue, making it a nice match.
Below: We decided to go outside where the light was better and the background more interesting. Pulling a strange face in this photo.
Below: Great background, Marjolein was lying on the ground, and I was smirking.
Below: Those trousers don’t look bad on me from the back either. My right leg is longer than my left leg, so subsequently the trouser hems are never on an even level. As the left trouser leg is grazing the ground, I will shorten that one.
Below: I can tell you that all those sequins weigh heavily on your shoulder.
Below: I took an indoor photo of Marjolein against the big Christmas tree. Without any aiding light it is hopelessly grainy.
Below: So she had to take her coat off too and be photographed outside. Her wool jumper is gorgeous but itchy, which she solved by wearing a shirt underneath in the colour of one of the decorations, the one in the middle of her left sleeve.
I could show you so many photos of all the instruments, games, gadgets etc. that were in the museum, but will limit it to four.
Below: Demonstration of a paddle wheel, a Maltese cross mechanism and a spring. When you turn the wheels the tennis balls start moving and you can see the process.
Below: You can let in water into the different sections and see what it does. Do you let the water flow into the big basin? Or are you flooding a village? How fast are you to place sandbags to stop floods? Unfortunately, very much reality these days.
Below: Marjolein was colour testing. What colours can you create with the primary colours?
Below: And like Marjolein in last week’s post, I was trying to save the world by holding a shield to stop meteorite and such falling on earth. I failed miserably too.
If you are ever in Amsterdam, and especially when you have children with you, this is a fun museum.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday I visited the Christmas market (fair) in Haarlem which was a shambles. Loads of food stands, the usual. I tried a waffle, but I am used to the Belgian ones which are delicious. This one wasn’t, so I threw half of it away. It must be worth the sin to eat so many calories and it wasn’t.
For the rest there were commercial stands, only a bit better than the usual market. Or perhaps the normal Saturday market is even better. And it was sooo busy. Rows and rows of people plodding along, hardly seeing anything. It was like looking at zombies. I went home as fast as I could. Which was not very fast as I was wearing my orange patent leather boots with low stiletto heels (see below). Quite dangerous on a bicycle.
Sunday my friend Ayen came, and we had lunch in a lovely restaurant which the loyal readers have seen many times, Het Wapen van Kennemerland, better known as the Stinkende Emmer (Smelly Bucket).
Unfortunately, Ayen’s salad was not up to standard, and the place was packed which amounted to an incredible noise. Wooden floors, stone walls and nothing to soften the voices. We could hardly hear one another, and our table was small. See below a grainy dark photo, even worse quality than the outfit photos at NEMO.
Below: Before we left, I had taken an outfit photo in the mirror. Ayen and Ron thought it was chic while I had chosen this black and golden outfit for its comfort.
Nothing to report on the Monday.
Tuesday Marcella and I worked hard for hours to create feedback on her new website concept. I love this kind of work as it used to be my profession. It gives me the sense of doing something useful and I can help a friend with it. Win-win. Below a horrible selfie or ‘usie’ as we call it.
Wednesday Ron and I went out to eat at an Indonesian restaurant. I decided that my resolution not to drink any alcohol anymore, had to be postponed. I drink very little alcohol but do like the occasional liqueur or cocktail. As two of my friends still have a bottle of coffee liqueur in their cupboard, especially for me, I decided I will stop drinking alcohol all together after these bottles are empty.
Below: In the restaurant I chose a cocktail called pornstar martini. Nothing to do with porn and there is no martini in it either. (It’s a post with crummy photos, isn’t it?)
Below: Haarlem by (Christmas) night.
The next day I had to go by the garage first as there was a warning on my dashboard. I thought it was about oil as the icon looked like Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp. Turned out it was the ‘motor machinery’ warning signal. Anyway, the mechanic found what was wrong (faulty oil lid) and ordered a new lid so on Monday they will replace it, and I have to pay €320. Ouch. What a lot of money for a lid.
In the old days I would get some Christmas money from my mum, and I would get a December bonus from work. Both these things are not going to happen anymore.
It wasn’t a problem driving the car till Monday as long as I didn’t drive 1,000 miles. Off I went to Photobrandstore Heemskerk, my camera shop, where I booked an hour of private lessons. After seeing the photos at the beginning of this post, I knew I had to alter the camera settings a bit.
Below: While explaining stuff, the lovely owner of the shop took this photo of me, sitting right in front of him. Afterwards he showed me what the Artificial Intelligence (AI) mode in Photoshop could do. It could give me more hair, make me any number of years younger and also older. We had fun. But what you see below is the unfiltered, naked truth.
Friday I took Watson to our dog sitter. Not because we needed a sitter but because she is so fond of the dog. And the sun was shining that day (see below), YAY, what a change.
Below: Ron was kind enough to take blog photos with this beautiful weather. With coffee and lunch of course, in a lovely restaurant near a market.
Below: On repeat, because it is Christmas time, the funniest nativity performance ever. Watch out for the girl with the silver wings.
Greetje
LOVE your outfits – the orange trousers are amazing and totally suit you, and have me longing to be tall with long legs!
Ah thank you. I long for your tiny waist and divine behind haha.
I love, love, love the sequin sweater and orange pants. Just stunning on you! Thanks for all the fascinating photos, as always.
Happy New Year to you and yours, Greetje.
I was totally in the mood for new things and as soon as I saw the trousers, I knew they’d come home with me if they fit. And they did.
Actually, an Instagram friend of mine wore these trousers on IG and I asked her the brand. Just couldn’t find them online. And there I was in The Hague in the brand’s shop…deal.
Wishing you a wonderful, happy New Year too.
The orange/blue outfit is great on you, beautiful sweater and the pants fit very well, just fun styling. Wishing you and family a Merry Christmas and thank you for entertaining us weekly with your most interesting photos. I love to see the places you visit and your fashion tips. ♥️
This was the easiest styling in the world as the brand already came up with this combination.
I hope that shortening the left trouser leg will go well as it is glued and not sewn. We’ll see.
And you are most welcome Cheryl, the blog is my hobby so I enjoy it very much.
Thank you for another wholly enjoyable Sunday post. Gorgeous outfit and so perfect on you; Adding the museum for next time I have a day between planes connecting in Amsterdam. Delightful little girl. Merry Christmas.
The outfit is really me, isn’t it? Loud, conspicuous and colourful LOL.
The NEMO museum is a 15 minute walk from Central Station Amsterdam and there is a direct train going from Schiphol airport to Central Station Amsterdam, so that is doable. They are open many Mondays but not all Mondays. And you have to buy a ticket with a timeslot in advance (probably only necessary when it is a busy season). So check their website before you start travelling. And have fun.
Thanks for all your hard work, all year, to produce your lovely posts. Must take a lot of time and effort. Always an interesting read!
Best wishes for 2025 and long may you continue to keep us, your readers, entertained.
Yes, it does take a lot of time and effort. But, on the other hand, it is my hobby and if you do something you love, it is just fun, isn’t it? For now, I am still planning to go on keeping you entertained every week. Best wishes for 2025 to you too.
What an interesting post. Loved the outfit!
That’s double praise then. Thank you. I hope to keep up this standard LOL.
Orange is one of my least favorite colors, but I love that navy sweater with the orange! You look wonderful in those black-framed glasses also! The Smelly Bucket sounds like my kind of place.
Merry Christmas from Grapevine, Texas!
Contrary to you, orange is one of my favorite colours, especially near my face. Any colour made up with a bit of red is good on me.
Thanks for your comment and I hope you will have a Merry Texas Christmas.
What a fabulous outfit! The NEMO museum looks really fun too. Too bad you couldn’t access the roof. I hope you and the family have a very Merry Christmas!
I am very pleased with this outfit and to top it, it’s really comfortable. We might go back to NEMO in the summer, after the roof is finished.
Hope you have a lovely holiday period too.
What a charming wee girl, I wonder what she’s grown up to be? Thank you for all the fun and joy this year, reading your blog is my treat every Saturday. Warm wishes for the holiday!
Your comment made my day. Thank you. It is so good to know there are people out there, who appreciate my little blog.
I hope you have a lovely holiday period too.
Greetje, I had such a glorious giggle watching that enthusiast wee singer…hilarious! Your outfit was stunning and suits you well. You have introduced me to such an interesting place I might visit when next in Amsterdam.
Happy Christmas to you and your family ! Your dear Mum will be missed. After a lot of work emptying so many cartons and making my place looking festive and cosy, I am finally ready to have a couple of dinners here with a few friends. And later enjoy the peaceful times on my own. A sense of accomplishment indeed. Will watch for you in 2025.
That wee girl has me in stitches every year. It never gets dull.
Glad you liked my colourful outfit.
And I am also glad that you are finished unpacking and ready to throw dinner parties.
Enjoy the holidays, as well the dinners as the quiet times. Good for reflection.
See you in 2025.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas …..love the faux leather pants and the navy sweater! Enjoy the holiday season..
Of course I wish you the same things Elizabeth, nothing but good wishes. And I hope to keep on hearing from you, also in the new year.
I enjoyed the tour in the museum and seeing your stunning orange and blue featured outfit. Very attractive. And about the AI photo enhancers, I prefer the truth. Happy Holidays.
Glad you enjoyed the post. As for AI, I also prefer the truth, but sometimes when people are blocking a beautiful feature in a photo, I love to remove them. Sometimes I can, but oh boy, it is so much easier and better with AI.
Have a lovely time Linda.
Great outfits today! All of them. Festive and modern. Merry Christmas! Cheers to the new year.
Thank you Patti. We were pleased with our outfits too.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Wishing you a very Happy Celebration and all the best in the coming year. I do so enjoy the tours of your town and country. Be well. Beth
It is me who should thank you Beth. Blogging is no fun if there wouldn’t be any readers. Especially readers who comment. Great.
Hoping you will have a lovely holiday time too.
Despite the camera settings, the photos made me smile. Your orange outfit is spectacularly lovely. And I laughed out loud at the funny Nativity singing. Thanks for a great start to my day.
I have no idea why the photos made you smile, but I am glad they did. After all, that is the goal of my blog, to make you smile or perhaps even laugh. Well, I achieved both by the sound of your comment. Mission accomplished.
That Nativity video never fails to make you laugh. The girl’s mother had said she had to sing loudly so people at the back could hear her too. Well, she delivered. LOL
I love the orange and black combo — very cool. You and M looked esp chic that day.
Actually darling Elizabeth, the sweater (and the boots) are blue not black. Did you only look at the pictures and not read the story haha.
I always send the outfit which we are going to photograph to Marjolein and usually she puts something on that matches my outfit. Not always, but sometimes.
Ah. Even better!
So festive! Brilliant outfit.
A friend is going to the island of La Palma over Xmas, solely to watch the stars from their special observatory…you might be interested!
As the year is turning, please let me thank you for all your lovely posts till now…
You are most welcome Amanda. It is I who should thank you. For reading and commenting. Makes a blogger’s life worthwhile LOL.
Travelling at Christmas is something I’d never do. I want to celebrate it in cold (and unfortunately rainy) Netherlands with friends and family. I am not much of a traveller anyway.
Have a lovely Christmas.
Hello You
By heck, we wouldn’t miss you in the fog, would we?! Great outfit, just be sure to stand straight and not keel to your right under the weight of all those sparkly thingies!
Have a lovely Christmas, you and Ron, and hold the thought that your Mama will be with you in spirit. Darling mothers never ever leave their daughters…
Hugs
Gee x
Thank you very much Gee for your heartfelt wishes. And no, you wouldn’t miss me in the fog hahaha.
Standing straight is something I would love to achieve all the time. Alas, I am slouching and my mind has other business to think about but standing straight. I would give a lot if I could achieve an upstraight posture.
You have a lovely Christmas too.
A very interesting sightseeing tour of Amsterdam and a very nice outfit. I love your pants and the sweater is very original.
Thanks Josep-Maria, I am so fond of colour and there is little colour in the shops. Most people would probably be scared of wearing such an attention drawing pair of trousers, but you know me…it doesn’t scare me at all.