Zeist, NL – Stopped in downstairs for a cup of coffee at the Zeist Hotel. It’s located on a busy corner in small commuity in the Netherlands, just 7.5-miles east of Utrecht. After putting down my phone and watching out the window for a couple minutes, it became enchanting the mix of a morning routine and Monday rush. There was a rhythm. So I stepped outside to sit on the stoop and watched as the morning dove cooed and the traffic sounds wrapped their arms around welcoming another day.
The grandparents who walked across the street as they left the local grocery with their grandson in tow. A different lifestyle from when they were parents – you can see it happening in the crosswalk.
The man who tried walking his stout reluctant dog across the street. Spoiling him by carrying him. Probably a daily routine.
The people commuting on bikes. Kids dressed in shorts and adults in down coats and scarves set for a cool morning.
My dad had a babyseat bike. An old blue Schwinn he got from my Aunt. Two seats to start; one in front of the handlebars and one in the back behind the driver. My nieces would chide that I’m the “red-headed little boy up front.”
At its height, that bike once sported four babyseats. Another was added behind the handlebars when sister No. 3 came along. Then there was the dicey caboose perch added as an extension on the back.
We would be gone for hours. Dad and his four girls. Having adventure. We would spin through Esterbrook Park. He would stop at the wooden bridge. My dad would climb underneath as one by one, a little girl in white-and-brown saddle shoes would run across the bridge and my dad would yell like the troll in the old Billy Goat Gruff, “Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge.”
These were obviously simpler times. My sisters and I would schriek with delight.
One fateful day pedaling through Shorewood my dad got pulled over by the police who told him his bicycle was illegal. He said he was simply taking his four girls for a ride. The officer threw down, and as we witnessed…. so did my dad.
He then pushed off and said, “Well… arrest me.”
I think I was 5 or 6 years old and in shock. It was challenging for all the girls, sporting ponytails and cute shorts, thinking we were headed for the slammer.
After a couple blocks my dad broke the silence. “Who wants ice cream?” Well, of course, we all did. We made a stop at the local DQ on Hampton Avenue, across from Food Lane and just east of the railroad tracks and in the same strip as Aliota’s Pizza.
While inhailing our rare sweet treat, we quickly learned there were strings attached. “Don’t tell your mother,” he said.
Not quite sure which incident we were supposed to easily forget.
We pedaled home and mother quickly spotted evidence on our face. It was simple, a man with four girls and ice cream … trying to keep a secret.
I’m not sure who squeeled. But we ran through the kitchen shouting. “We had ice cream and dad got pulled over by the cops.”
Amazing when you think about it… they had three more kids after that.
On a side note:
-Extended my stay one more day in Zeist. So much to explore and the room is a reasonable rate. Peter, at the clerk’s counter laughed when I said $60. “We don’t do dollars.” He got a good Dutch kick out of that. “Euro’s miss. We do euros.”
-This is my new best friend at the hotel, Marius. He’s the maintenance man and self-appointed problem solver. He took me across the street to the grocery to get some paperwork taken care of. He said, “It’s all in who you know. And then, you owe me a six pack.” I reiterated the offer and he said, “Welcome to Holland. It’s how we do things here.” (That’s Peter in the background photobombing the shot. It’s a family hotel – very comfortable/relaxed crew. Almost feels like an episode of “The Office.”)
-Pedaled 7.5 miles to Utrecht. A busy city with historic churches. The Dom Cathedral was stunning and its artwork, alarming. In one of the chapels there was a sandstone sculpture representing three generations: grandmother St. Ann, mother St. Mary and the child Christ. All had their faces cut off – damaged in 1580 during Reformation.
According to Edwin, a docent, “In the 16th century when there was a struggle between the Protestants and the Catholics in the Netherlands. The Protestants made an effort to get rid of idolatry, saying the images of people were actually idols and you shouldn’t worship a sculpture, you should worship God only. That’s why they smashed all the statues and paintings. Since the sculpture above was part of the wall and couldn’t be removed they decided to smash off the faces.” The pattern was repeated throughout the church.
-Another awesome sunset in Zeist. Sleeping with the windows open. A cool night, but comfortable and the air is fresh.
Received confirmation of media accreditation this morning for the ISU World Championships Speed Skating, from March 5 to 8, 2026, in Heerenveen.
Click HERE to see who is on the front of the World Championship poster
USA speedskater and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Stolz is on the ticket for the event. Stay tuned!
