Traveling Rats

	*The Netherlands* I arrived in Hattem, the Netherlands, and I love it! It's so beautiful. Hattem has forests on one side and the marshes of the IJssel on the other. The inner city is now a protected historical monument. Hattem has nearly 12,000 inhabitants. Hattem is one of the seven Hanseatic towns along the River IJssel (which I discovered is prounounced eye-cell). The other Hanseatic towns are Hasselt, Kampen, Zwolle, Deventer, Zutphen and Doesburg. These towns were part of the Hanseatic League. The League was formed in the 14th and 15th centuries and was a powerful economic force for several centuries. Branches of the Hanseatic League were formed as far away as Novgorod, Russia, though it was mainly situated around the North Sea and the Baltic. The merchants of the league often became very rich and built magnificent houses for their families. The centuries-old merchants' homes and offices, as well as the medieval streets of Hattem, make me think of olden days. Today, much of the city follows a more modern layout, but you can still see its medieval charm. Hattem is first mentioned in old records in AD 891, when the town was called Hatheim. In AD 1299, the town was granted city rights, a year before Amsterdam! Soon after that, the city walls and gates were constructed. Remnants of medieval walls and gates survive today. The Dijkpoort is the only gate left in Hattem. It was built in 1400 and restored in the early 20th century. In prior centuries the constable would live in the gatehouse. I wanted to go inside to see more, but it was closed.
	In medieval times, a mill stood on the spot where this windmill now stands. The original mill was destroyed in 1808. Windmills use the power of the wind to grind grain.
	This was my favorite house in the city! You can see how it was constructed using cramp-irons, which are the staple-like metal pieces holding the building's walls and floors to each other. This is typical of Dutch construction.
	The town hall of Hattem was built in 1619 and is a favorite place for people to hold their weddings. It would be so romantic to be married here in this lovely building! Hmm...maybe one day I can find my true love and be married here!
	This row of houses is next to the big church in the center of town. Once every year, medieval trades and crafts are displayed here and the winter holiday fair is held here as well. This is a place with a very special feeling!
	Here is part of the city wall, which has just been restored this year.
	Here I am with Miss Ruffles, one of my Raggy Rat friends. She arrived in Hattem long before I did. My host took Miss Ruffles and me for a ride in her tiny car, which really is just the right size for rats! But driving here on the medieval streets was a fur-raising experience. Eeeek!
	This is one of the water taxis that takes people on tours. Amsterdam has 600 miles of canals and is sometimes called the Venice of the North. Seeing Amsterdam by canal is a fantastic way to experience this wonderful city.
	We stopped to have some apple pie with whipped cream. I ate a lot of it! It was very good.
	More sightseeing of my host's beautiful city. It's hard to see me here but I'm standing on the gate! The next two pictures are more lovely buildings I just had to get snaps of. Now it's time for a little rest before getting back on an airplane.