The travels of Bengalis in the past
Sumana Dam
(Continued from the last part)
In this part, the relevant countries are Belgium and Holland.
On November 2, 1886, the author left his family in England and traveled alone for a month and a half through twelve countries, including Germany, Austria, and Italy. The author’s steamship journey began from the White Cliffs of Dover, London.
The first city on the water route was Ostend in Belgium, which is home to the Belgian royal palace and a popular European seaside resort. After that, the author visited the ancient city of Bruges, once one of Europe's major trading centers. The city's Notre-Dame is very old and tall, and it houses the graves of many famous personalities, as well as various valuable paintings. The Bell Frey (the historical bell tower) is a cultural landmark of Belgium and a major attraction. There is also the famous market area of Hotel de Ville, built in the fourth century. The next city was Ghent, where notable sites include the cathedral, the Bell frey, the city hall (Hotel de Ville), the market, and the ancient palace of Count Flanders.
The author then visited Brussels, a city as picturesque as Paris, with boulevards similar to those in Paris. Key attractions here include the Palais de Justice (the courthouse), the museums of Counts Egmont and Hoorne, the library, the royal cathedral, the city hall (Hotel de Ville), and the Congress Column.
From Brussels, the author took a train to the Waterloo battlefield, just 40 minutes away, where the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 marked the fall of his empire. At a place called Château of Hugues, the author saw bullet marks on the walls.
Antwerp, now Belgium's military center, is also famous for the renowned painters Rubens and Van Dyck. The city's cathedral is the finest example of Gothic architecture in the Netherlands, and there are also museums and the Hotel de Ville.
The author then traveled to Rotterdam in the Holland by train. The train passed over the famous Hollandich Diep River bridge, and the city is known for its notable iron bridge or viaduct, which the train to Amsterdam crosses. Although Rotterdam is a typical Dutch city, it is a significant commercial hub.
After that, the author visited The Hague, a city historically and architecturally more significant than Rotterdam. The Hague is home to the royal palace, the parliament, and the Dutch government's main offices. The Binnenhof, a medieval castle surrounded by a moat, and the Buitenhof, a historic palace housing the Dutch Parliament and other government institutions, are major attractions, along with the town hall and picture gallery.
The author then went to Leiden, a university city in the Netherlands, often called the "Athens of the West" for its intellectual legacy. The city's museum is also noteworthy, containing ancient statues of Hindu gods like Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, and Durga, which were brought from the Dutch colony of Java. The presence of Hinduism in Java contradicts the superstition during the author's time that crossing the "black water" (the ocean) was taboo for Hindus.
Next, the author traveled to Amsterdam, passing through Haarlem. In the 11th century, Lord Armsteld of Amstel built a dam on the river, and the city got its name from this structure. Amsterdam is remarkable because it is divided into 90 islands, connected by nearly 300 bridges. Many boats also navigate the canals of the city. The houses lining the canals are built on wooden piles because the wet soil does not support brick foundations. Attractions include the royal palace, the parliament, churches, and museums.From Amsterdam, the author visited the northern Dutch town of Helder.
Leaving Amsterdam, the author traveled to the historic town of Zandam, where they saw many forests and windmills. Next came Alkmaar, a town known for its cheese trade, followed by Helder, a fishing village. The author’s final destination in the Netherlands was the seaside resort of Zuider Zee, which they visited by steam tram. Zuider Zee is an inland sea, and the author learned that plans were being made to convert the area into agricultural and grazing land. This transformation was completed in the 20th century and is considered a marvel of Dutch engineering.
(To be continued)
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