Het Grote Kerk (The Great Church)

Het Grote Kerk

The “Grote Kerk” as it is known, is a magnificent cathedral in the center of Haarlem. Also known as the “Bavo Church,” the Great Church was constructed in its present form between 1370 and 1538. When you see it, you know why. It is truly magnificent.

The Christian Muller Organ

For three years beginning in 1735 the Christian Muller organ was constructed. It consists of 5068 pipes and stands over 90 feet tall. In 1766, ten year old Wolfgang Mozart played the organ in the cathedral.

"Here lies Cornelius Muys..."

The floor of the cathedral is entirely covered by tombstones, about 1500 in total, the oldest of which dates to the fifteenth century.

The oldest portion of the pulpit dates from 1434.

The ship models hanging in the church were a gift from the Shipbuilder’s Guild in the sixteenth and seventeenth century and are modelled after the ships build in Haarlem at the time.

One of many unique features

Ten Boom House

Surely, the sorry tale typified by the Anne Frank story was repeated in many versions all over Europe during WWII. One such example involves Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch woman whose story was immortalized in “The Hiding Place.” During the Nazi occupation, Corrie lived with sister, Betsy and their father at Bartelijorisstraat 19 in Haarlem.

The Ten Boom House, Haarlem

As a deeply religious Christian family, the Ten Booms assisted the safe passage of over 800 Jewish fugitives and wanted resistance fighters during the occupation years. To facilitate their efforts a "hiding place" about 36 inches wide was created behind the rear wall of Corrie's bedroom.

A view of the "hiding place" in 2012

Entrance was through the lowest portion of the linen closet

In February 1944, a German agent posing as a Dutch citizen requested Corrie’s assistance. Despite being severely ill, Corrie met with the man, who requested a contribution of 600 guilders, which Corrie supplied. Assured of their suspicions, Gestapo agents raided the Ten Boom house.

Book jacket

The early warning system installed at the Ten Boom house worked well and the four Jews and two resistance fighters in the house were safely concealed in the hiding place. Unable to find the people hiding, the search did reveal approximately 100 ration tickets, which was enough evidence to arrest the entire family.

Discovered ration book and the secret compartment at the base of the stairs

Legend (and the tour guide) has it that Papa Ten Boom was given the option of remaining in Haarlem on condition he would never again receive visitors. He refused. Ten days later he died.

Corrie Ten Boom

It is estimated that over 95,000 women over the age of 25 were exterminated at Ravensbruck, but Corrie, a middle-aged woman, survived her imprisonment. According to the tour guide, a clerical error led to her release. Corrie was much more inclined to credit divine intervention than sloppy bookkeeping. Corrie lived to tell her tale in over 100 countries worldwide, including Germany. Corrie even claimed she once met and forgave the prison camp guard who had regularly beat her sister.

So, Like What Are You Studying?

OK, I’m an American. I’m certainly not ashamed to be American, in fact quite the opposite; but (better make that a capital HOWEVER) when I overhear goofballs like the pothead I endured while waiting for a tour at the Ten Boom Museum, I keep my nationality to myself.

You thought I was making this up?

The Ugly American recognized a woman who has been waiting near the museum door and greeted her. Their conversation drew my attention due to proximity, volume, and the record number of misuses of the word “like.” As embarrassing as it is, the conversation got to this point:

Euro: So like what are you studying?

UA: Well, like… um, I’m like studying… I’m studying like at hostels. I'm like sending my studies to my professor—like it’s independent study.

I could not get my notebook out fast enough so no telling what I missed between that and this:

Euro: What did you do yesterday?

UA: We went to like a bunch of coffeeshops and… yeah… kinda random.

Ya think?

Zansvoort aan Zee

The beach at Zansvoort aan Zee

Jackpot! 85 and sunny, bright blue skies, cool breeze off the North Sea, and…um…let’s just say, Zansvoort is ‘clothing optional’. A resort town, Zansvoort aan Zee is a stone’s throw from Haarlem, so after 50 minutes on a bus and a quickie train ride, I found it.

A little crowded on the train

I’m not much for lying on the beach, but without Gwaz or at least the grandkids, that wasn’t going to happen; nevertheless I did spend a lovely afternoon at an outdoor café overlooking the scene.

I remember my brother commenting that “Dutch people aren’t fat.” I’m guessing he hasn’t been to Zansvoort. There is nothing quite like the European total disregard for body image. There was no shortage of European men with poochie bellies in skintight Speedos proudly displaying what God gave ‘em, but really one can take only so many wrinkly butt cracks. The thing is no one seems to take note—except me. Naked boobies, wrinkled old-timers, and plenty of chunkybunks, I saw it all.

Um...yeah...no comment

Hey, I’m not complaining. I had a wonderful day at the beach.

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da

My students mock me. (Risky business, that. One doesn’t often tease the lions on safari—twice ; does one?) But in this case, I get it. I taught them soon after arriving something I learned from Loyola professor Joe Procaccini—the answer’s always yes. Here’s the example Joe used: If my 17-year-old waits until 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night to ask for the car keys, the answer is yes. (If I drop dead in the next few minutes, take them out of my pocket and enjoy yourself!) Funny? To me, it never gets old (that’s another Thannerism that my kids are sick of); but on a very real level, it is not only true; it’s a way of thinking.

Invariably, when students ask me ‘yes or no’ questions, I immediately answer, “Yes...” So when my kids ask me questions to which they already know the answer (e.g. Can we have an extra recess? Can we skip homework tonight? You get it…) someone, usually more than one of them will call out—in their best mocking voice—the rest of my response, “…if I change my mind!”

But, as much as my kids think I am being difficult, I’m not. I always consider the “yes option” first. If the answer is “yes” then what are the consequences? Need an example? On Friday with very minutes left in the school day until my three-day weekend was set to begin, Ava (sweet, sweet Ava) walked toward the classroom door where I was standing. “Mr. Thanner,” she asked, “may I get my guitar?” I asked her why she need her guitar at that moment (See? The answer wasn’t “no”—yet). She looked upwards, batted her eyes as she often does and said, “We have a recital to—” then it hit her.

“Mr. Thanner, will come to our recital tonight?” I repeated my question—why do you need your guitar, right now? “I want to practice for the recital, but please Mr. Thanner, please, will you come to our recital?” I asked her who “our” was. “Lily, Anna, and I…” but before she finished her answer, here band mates were also at the door. “We’re first,” Anna added. “Yeah, you don’t have to stay for the whole thing,” Lily said. See why the answer is always “yes”?

John, Paul, and George

When I entered the orchestra room at 6:25 the Three Lady Beatles looked as shocked as if they hadn’t mentioned it at all. Like the piano recital I attended not long ago, the agenda was quite simple. Each student plays one, two or three short pieces while granddads and moms watch through the camera viewfinders, nanas smile intently, and dads work iPhones (until their own performs). The only difference I saw was that in this one students accompanied each other. For example, Lily and Anna played rhythm for each other, then Ava did that for the two of them, then they returned the favor when Ava was featured. It was cool.

I didn’t have a program so each number was either a total mystery or a pleasant surprise; none greater than the opening notes when my brain instantaneously told me:

Desmond has his barrow in the marketplace,

Molly is a singer in the band…

I simply cannot thank Dr. Procacinni enough for the unintended lesson he taught me all those years ago. “I wouldn’t miss it,” I told my three musicians before Ava ran off to get her instrument.

There was true irony in the choice of music that night:

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, brah!

Lala lala life goes on…

So it does. So…it…does.