01/07/2024
One of the loveliest towns in the east of the Netherlands!
We gaan er natuurlijk niet voor niets naar toe.🤩
10 Things You Might Not Know About The Dutch Town of Ootmarsum...👇
1. Ootmarsum is a small, pretty rural town that lies in the easterly region of Twente in the Netherlands, close to the border with Germany. . Narrow streets with picturesque facades and half-timbered houses line the old center of this gorgeous place.
2. The town itself dates back to around 770 (!) , when one of the first churches in Twente was built here. When you visit there you can literally feel the history and heritage seeping from every crack in the pavement.
3. In 1325, Ootmarsum received city rights, which, as with many cities and towns in the low countries, led to its fortification with ditches and earthworks and was the beginning of trade and commerce in Ootmarsum.
4. Although small in size, you can see many of the well-preserved medieval and Renaissance buildings, including the notable Tichler’s House from 1492 and the Saint Simon and Judas Church, dating back to the 13th century.
5. Artists love Ootmarsum. It is filled with amazing galleries and studios where you can view and buy some stunning artwork and crafted goods. The town attracts creative people from all over the world, which, in turn, brings a colorful vibrance to the old-world atmosphere of the place.
6. Speaking of artists, the town is home to a museum dedicated to Ton Schulten, a renowned Dutch painter known for his colorful landscapes. It's a gorgeous museum and a must-visit when you are in the region.
7. Step back in time to days gone by. The excpetional Open-Air Museum at Ootmarsum provides an immersive experience of rural life in Twente a century ago, featuring authentic buildings and traditional crafts performed regularly by volunteers and enthusiasts.
8. "Twents" - Many locals still speak 'Twents, a regional dialect of Dutch. People from this region are also known as "tukkers" in Dutch, the origins of which are still argued over today.
9. Krentenwegge : Visitors are often welcomed with krentenwegge, a traditional currant bread available to buy in the Bakery in Ootmarsum. This baking tradition reaches back hundreds of years and it goes without saying that this bread is absolutely perfect with a good cup of coffee.
10. The Passover Boys. In front of the church in Ootmarsum are the "Poaskearls" : a sculpture group of eight young men. In earlier days they had an important role in the preparation and ex*****on of the rituals around Easter, such as building an Easter fire. Even today, the residents of Ootmarsum still travel through the city at Easter, hand in hand in a long ribbon, singing. They are preceded by the Poaskearls, who wear a hat, a long beige raincoat and black trousers.
So there we have it - 10 things you might not have known about one of the loveliest towns in the east of the Netherlands.
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And until next time - Keep it Dutch✌️🇳🇱
- Bob & Adele
