Wikipedia tells me that approximately 55% of individuals in the Netherlands are “non-religious,” and only about 35% are Christian. This is a bit different than the U.S., which Wikipedia lists as about 75% Christian, and about 15% non-religious (and it especially contrasts with the towns I grew up in, which felt like they were about 95% Christian). So I find it interesting that so many of the holidays recognized in the Netherlands are religious in nature. Commonly recognized (meaning people get time of work) holidays include: Good Friday, Easter Monday (the day after Easter), Queen’s Day (so, not religious, but recognizing the Dutch Queen), Liberation Day (so, not religious, but celebrating the Germans leaving after World War II), Ascension Day (celebrating Christ ascending), White Monday (a Christian feast day, I think), Christmas day, and “second” Christmas day.
For me, the “good” in today’s Good Friday referred to the weather. After a week-long retreat, the spring weather returned for one day. The sky was crystal clear for most of the morning and early afternoon, and the 50 degree high felt pleasant given the sunshine. It felt like the beginning of a four day weekend, with families of tourists walking around the center of town, and locals lounging in the parks.
The Oosterpark (East Park), which is a half mile from my house:
The interior of the Amsterdam Maritime Museum:
People lounging outside the NEMO science center:
Looking over the IJTunnel, which goes under the IJ river to the northern part of Amsterdam:
Oh, Josh, it's so much fun to scan through the months of your blog postings and to see the seasons change and to see your observations and understand a bit of your feelings as they develop and change a bit, too. You have such a fine eye, too. Thank you for this!
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