Rhenen, like Wijk bij Duurstede, is located on a branch of the Rhine called the Nederrhine (Lower Rhine). The town’s mooring is on the river just about a leisurely ten minute walk from the center. From the river you can not miss the large church tower.
Cuneraerk, Rhenen Netherlands, as seen from our mooring
Cunerakerk is a Late Gothic, stone-roofed hall church with a transept and single choir.…
Zondag 15 mei! Wat voor rondje gaan we rijden was de vraag? Vraag 1 waar komt de wind vandaan? Uit het Oosten werd er geappt! Oké top dan richting de heuvelrug? Ja de heuvelrug daar zijn we al een beetje veel geweest de laatste tijd, kan je nagaan.....
Zondag 15 mei! Wat voor rondje gaan we rijden was de vraag? Vraag 1 waar komt de wind vandaan? Uit het Oosten werd er geappt! Oké top dan richting de heuvelrug? Ja de heuvelrug daar zijn we al een beetje veel geweest de laatste tijd, kan je nagaan hoe vaak de wind uit het oosten gekomen is de laatste weken haha werd er geroepen! Hmmm geen heuvelrug dus!? Nee! Dat is dus duidelijk, verder zoeken…
Ben je op zoek naar mooie plekjes in Nederland? In het midden van Nederland zijn er veel mooie plekjes te ontdekken. Eén van die plekjes vind je in Rhenen gelegen nabij de Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
For reasons not really known, the Early Germans attributed an unknown importance to buckets. Both in Anglo Saxon and Merovingian graves can such buckets be found. I’d even call them pretty, and they’re 1500 years old.
1) RMO Leiden, object nr Rh763F, Rhenen-Utrecht, The Netherlands
2) KMKG Brussels, object nr D0077-001, Tienen-Vlaams Brabant, Belgium
3) The British Museum London, object nr 1939,1010.119 , Sutton Hoo - Suffolk, England
Although not at all as numerous as bird brooches, they are the second most recognizable animal motif in the Merovingian dynasty: Horse brooches.
Always in profile, one can recognize a stylized horse. They are easier to identify when they include a horsemen.
Horse brooches are not as elaborately decorated as bird brooches, although owning a horse was considered the same as having the newest Ferrari. They were the ultimate status symbol of material wealth.
It’s unusual to portray such a rich object in such minimalistic style (contrary to f.e. birds). It’s not clear why birds are the most popular and most decorated motif, for example over a horse which is a more tangible outing of wealth, or even power. Perhaps religious/animistic/spiritual motives were held in higher regard than physical wealth which is in itself contradictory because of the amount of regalia to which both horse and bird brooches are included. Why horse brooches exist and what they mean is a tale lost to time, even more so than birds.
Both examples above were found in Rhenen and were part of a complete jewelry set including large strings of beads, multi layered dress (thus brooches), earrings and other grave goods.
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden, Zuid-Holland - The Netherlands