amy311

Hello,

I'm 56 years old. I live with my husband in Haarlem and we have two adult children. A boy and a girl.
Haarlem is also the capital of the province of North-Holland.
The city is located on the river Spaarne, about 20 km west of Amsterdam and near the coastal dunes.

Did you know that Haarlem is a Beer-city???

Beer brewing was a very important industry in Haarlem. Until the 16th century the water for the beer was taken from the canals in the city. These were, through the Spaarne and the IJ, connected to seawater. However, the water in the canals was getting more and more polluted, and no longer suitable for brewing beer. A place 1,5 kilometers south-west of the city was then used to take fresh water in. However, the quality of that water was not high enough either. From the 17th century a canal (Santvaert) was used to transport water from the dunes to the city. The water was transported in barrels on ships. The location where the water was taken is called the Brouwerskolkje, and the canal to there still exists, and is now called the Brewers' Canal (Brouwersgracht).

Haarlem was a major beer producer in the Netherlands. The majority of the beer it produced was consumed in Noord-Holland. During the Spanish siege there were about 50 brewing companies in the city; while 45 years later in 1620 the city numbered in the vicinity of 100 breweries.

From the end of the 17th century the economic situation in the city turned sour, for a long time. In 1752 there were only seven beer breweries left, and in 1820 no breweries were registered in the city anymore. In the 1990s the Stichting Haarlems Biergenootschap revived some of the old recipes under the new Jopen beer brand, that is marketed as a "Haarlem bier".

I think this is enough history!!!!

Now I will tell you something what I like:
-cooking,
-cross-stitching,
-reading,
-buddha's,
-travelling,
-orchids,
-roses,
-music (almost anything),
-milk-chocolate,
-sushi,
-exotic food,
-hands.
Maybe you can send me a card with an item that I love. See above.

If it's possible open cards, so I can see the stamp.
No free cards please.

I always register as fast as I can. So if your card isn't registered I didn't get it. Feel free to contact me.

So let's go and bring the world a little closer!