In 2005 we visited Anne and Erik Buch in Copenhagen, Denmark. We knew them from the Andre Rieu websites where we read they had a Straussmobile taxicab and we asked them to pick us up from the airport with the Rieu taxi. So we became very close friends and this year they came to Holland for a few days, to visit us and to do some sightseeing together.
 
 They arrived at Queen’s day (April 30th) when the entire country turns to the color of orange. I gave them a warm welcome, dressed in orange. The Dutch flag (with orange banner for the occasion) was flying from my house. It was very nice to show them our house and to cook a nice dinner for them. Of course we showed them our newest DVD “Welcome To My World” (which had been sent to us by Sally and Bill V. and we had a copy of it for Anne and Erik).
 
 Next day we went to see the blooming bulb fields and the wonderful park called KEUKENHOF which is only opened for 6 weeks per year in April / May. Although the weather was rather cold for the time of the year, we enjoyed the beauty of the flowers (also the inside exhibitions), the special sound of the historical Dutch street organs, seeing a clog maker at work, etc. Anne and Erik brought their dog Emma, who was an example of good behavior and happiness. It was a pleasure to be in her company all the time!
 
 Anne and Erik had a special wish to see Admiral Obdam’s monument in the St. Jacobs Church in The Hague. The Americans shall wonder: who the hell is Admiral Obdam? I’ll tell you. Believe it or not, even we had never heard of this historic person until we visited Anne and Erik in Copenhagen. Their house is in the Obdams Avenue and they told us Jacob Obdam was a Dutch Admiral who defeated the Swedish navy in the Swedish-Danish war in the 17th century. So he won the war for the Danish people! Anne and Erik had warm feelings for that Dutch “pirate” and the city of Copenhagen honored him with a street named after him. At home we discovered there was a monument for him in the Big Church (also called St. Jacobs Church) in The Hague!! Sometimes mysterious connections seem to appear! There is no grave, just a monument, for there was no body to be buried. In 1665 Jacob Obdam’s ship exploded and he was blown up into the air. We saw his picture and it is really true…. he looks like Andre with long curly hair!
 
 A little while ago I made an appointment for us to visit the monument in the church at May 1st. At that time I noticed the carillon of the church tower has being played three times a week by a lady called Mrs. Van der Weel. I contacted her and I told about our Danish friends and our Andre Rieu friendship and I asked her if she could play the Second Waltz on the carillon while we were visiting the church. We had a nice chat and she invited us to come with her into the tower at May 1st and see her play. She is the city carilloneur of The Hague and she knew Frank Steijns personally, she had even played the carillon of the town hall in Maastricht. Well, I can tell you, American fans, it was a once in a lifetime experience! We climbed all 321 steps into the narrow tower. We had a wide view over the city of The Hague, we saw her play and we listened to the bells above us. Specially for our Danish friends she prepared to play some historic Danish folksongs. While the sound was fading away over the city of the Hague, we had tears in our eyes….. While she was playing the Second Waltz, Anne and me were waltzing in the balcony on top of the tower, in the wind and the rain, with a wide view over a cold and wet city. Would anybody down there notice the carillon was playing in the honor of Andre Rieu and our Danish friends?? We were so grateful, we gave Mrs. Van der Weel Andre’s Maastricht DVD “Songs from my heart” so she can see Frank Steijns and Andre playing together the Concerto d’Aranjuez. It was a day never to be forgotten.

 Next day, thank God, the sun was shining. Anne and Erik loved to see the 19 windmills in KINDERDIJK. That area is under the protection of UNESCO’s World Heritage. Janny van Wingerden, who is living close to that place, came to join us. We had coffee and apple cake (very Dutch!) together and we made a boat trip along the mills. One mill was to be visited. As you know Dutch people made land out of sea, so the fields (polders) are below sea level and the 19 mills were built in about 1740 to pump the water out of the fields and into the river Lek (which is the last part of the river Rhine). Nowadays the mills don’t pump any more. Nowadays the pumping work has been done by modern huge pumping stations. You know, every Dutch inhabitant has to pay a yearly tax for the support of these pumping stations all over the country, to keep our feet dry! On the way back home we saw the ships in the river sailing higher than we were driving our car on the road……. That is very silly to see!
 
 We finished that day with a nice dinner to say goodbye. Next day Anne, Erik and Emma would continue their trip to France, for the rest of their holiday.
 
 Ruud and me, we are really amazed about the match of the Andre Rieu fans. I think we must have similar qualities of character, so good friendships arise easily. Once I read someone in the guestbook writing: “the fans are a reflection of the maestro himself”. Maybe that is very true!
 
 We thank Anne and Erik for the wonderful days together and we hope the trips were not too tiring out for Erik, who is still recovering from a few operations. Have a safe trip to France. Once we’ll meet again!
 
Ineke