View from Above

[Luc de Schepper]

The three mages in this topic were shot during a recent balloon ride. Please click 3x on the image to enlarge and view the details on image 1 and 2.

 

View on my hometown Amersfoort which is located in the centre of Holland. In fact, the isolated church tower (98,33m) in the middle/right is the official geographical centre of Holland. The church which was attached to the town was destroyed by a gun powder explosion in 1787. The medieval layout of the old city centre is clearly visible. I live in one of the red roofed houses in the top/middle of the image.

 

 

Amersfoort is at the border of the so-called Randstad, the highly populated area in the West of Holland consisting of the cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Once you cross the A28 highway visible in the middle of the image below you enter beautiful rural areas which are great for my bicycle trips.

 

 

The balloons are landed on grasslands such as these. The farmers are mostly ok with this, as long as nothing is damaged. The cows and dogs are slightly disturbed by the balloons, especially from the sound of the heaters. 

 

Edited 29 June, 2018 by Luc de Schepper

[Dallas]

The thing that struck me when I looked at the first image was that there seems to be a playing cards spade shape in the middle of the image. 

[Luc de Schepper]

Yes that’s the layout of the old medieval city centre, more or less cicular surrounded by water. In those times cities were small islands in vast countrysides. Most cities were built with 360 degree view and good defense as priorities. Remember, these were the violent dark ages in Europe and foreign or domestic army groups and vagabonds were to be kept at bay.

Edited 30 June, 2018 by Luc de Schepper