Philately and holiday photos

Years ago, I met a philatelist who collected stamps from Austria. Every year, he went on vacation to Austria and tried to take identical photos of the images on his stamps. I wondered at the time if other collectors did that. I don't; I do it differently. Luxembourg flag I went to the city of Luxembourg by train for a weekend with my wife and two daughters. When we pulled into the city, the first thing I saw was the Luxembourg flag waving. I must say, that gave me a familiar feeling. Red, white, and blue, just like the Dutch flag, but still slightly different. The blue of the Dutch flag is cobalt blue; the Luxembourg flag has a lighter, sky-blue tint. I actually prefer cobalt blue. Although the flags are virtually identical in design, with horizontal stripes in red, white, and blue, they are not based on each other. The Luxembourg flag is actually derived from the coat of arms of Luxembourg, which features the colors red, white, and light blue. Opinions are divided regarding the origin of the Dutch flag. It is likely that William of Orange's orange-white-blue later became red-white-blue.

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            [/ One_half_last] William II and William III I wondered if there were any more similarities between the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Certainly, our Kings William II and William III were King of the Netherlands and also Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1840 to 1890. Both countries issued stamps featuring these two Williams.

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              In the city of Luxembourg, I came across the street sign for 'Place Guillaume II', which is William II Square. I found it remarkable that it stated: 'King of the Netherlands' and 'Grand Duke of Luxembourg'. William II was also honored on his square with a statue depicting him seated on a horse.

Adolfs Bridge and State Savings Bank Our hotel was located close to the 'Pont Adolphe' (the Adolf Bridge), which was built in the early 1900s. For its time, this was a 'daring' structure. The bridge is 153 meters long and 42 meters high. The span of the largest arch is over 84 meters. A remarkable piece of engineering, indeed. In the background of the stamp featuring the bridge, we see the former 'Spuerkeess' (State Savings Bank), founded in 1856 by William III. A large museum was opened inside in 1995.

Church with three towers Looking to the left of this bridge from our hotel, we saw a church with no fewer than three towers. This turned out to be the 'Cathedral Notre-Dame', the episcopal church of Luxembourg. It was originally the Jesuit church from the early 17th century and at that time had only one tower. In 1773, it became the parish church of the city. Luxembourg had always been part of the Diocese of Trier. When the ties between Luxembourg and the German Confederation were severed in 1866, there was a perceived need in Luxembourg for greater ecclesiastical autonomy. In 1870, Luxembourg was elevated to a diocese. The 17th-century Jesuit church then became a cathedral and was renamed “Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Luxembourg” on that occasion. Because the church was somewhat on the small side for a cathedral, it was expanded between 1935 and 1938 with a new choir and a transept, more than doubling its surface area. Two additional towers were also added to the church building. We visited this beautiful church, and personally, I find this Notre Dame more beautiful than the one in Paris.

The statue of the woman we see on the maximum card is the Gëlle Fra (“Golden Woman”). This is an obelisk with a gilded statue of a woman at the top, a symbol of Luxembourg freedom and a memorial to the victims of the First and Second World Wars. Grand Ducal Palace Unlike back home, you can simply touch this Luxembourg palace. Construction began in 1572. Since 1890, it has been the official residence of the Grand Ducal family. During the Second World War, the palace was used by the Germans as an office and a pub. Consequently, restoration was necessary after the liberation. We walked past it, and there are two guard booths in front of the building. There was also an armed soldier standing there, pacing back and forth occasionally. It looked relaxed despite the crowds of tourists taking photos (like us).

Kazematten The city of Luxembourg originated in 963 when a fortress was built on the rock plateau known as 'de Bockrots'. Later, this was expanded by reinforced enclosures and forts, featuring an underground network 23 kilometers long. Thousands of soldiers were stationed in these casemates. During the two World Wars, these casemates served as shelters for approximately 35.000 people. Part of it has now been dismantled, but the Petrusse casemates (dating from 1644) can still be visited. You just shouldn't suffer from claustrophobia.

We enjoyed our weekend in Luxembourg City. We visited both the 'upper and lower city', enjoyed the beautiful nature, interspersed with visits to churches and buildings. In addition, we had delicious meals in 'international' restaurants. I took many photos myself, though not guided by stamps. Back home, I checked to see if I had taken photos of locations for which a stamp had been issued. It turned out I had, and that allowed me to fill this blog. Luxembourg City is highly recommended. And from a philatelic perspective, they issue beautiful historical stamps.