GUSTAV YKEMA'S ARTWORK

Basilica of Saint Nicholas

By gykema

52deg22’35.3n4deg54’4.1″E

Located in Amsterdam, part of the old city built in 1887; Architect Adrianus Bleijs. Neo Baroque/ Renaissance. Roman Catholic, in 2021 it received the relic of St. Nicholas from Egmond Abbey. It is said to be a fragment of the Saints’ rib. This bone has been in the custody of the Abbey since 1087.

On the harbour side of Amsterdam the sailing ships would come in laden with goods/ spices from far away lands/ colonies such as Indonesia the Americas. the goods would be unloaded onto smaller ships transported to the pakhuisen or to other parts of europe.

Scheierstoren ( Weeping tower) in this picture, with cone roof, called so they say is where the woman would wave fairwell to their husbands who manned the ships leaving port, not to see them for months, even years. Once part of the medieval wall which circled the city in the 15th century ( 1481 ). In truth, the name was given to this building because it was built with sharp angles.

This scene shows the driving force of Amsterdam and the results thereof. Religion; Hard work, enginuity and Sacrifice (acquiring of ships and goods and the movement thereof ); Storage of goods ( the houses of the merchants, living quarters on the lower levels, storage on the upper floors); Business sense ( accumulation of wealth and power ).

Henry Hudson set sail to North America on the ship De Halve Maen ( half moon ) in 1609.