Dinner on day 1: soup and hot dogs.

The kitchen.

The living area, with ample comfortable seating for three people.

The bungalow came with a home cinema set. We supplied the music and movies.

Rolf and Tom cooking dinner on day 2.

Sunlight streams through the clouds near the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier.

An asphalt-covered dyke protects a harbour (left) on the west side of the artificial island Neeltje Jans.

The middle part of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier (Oosterscheldekering in Dutch), between the artificial islands Neeltje Jans and Noordland. The barrier consists of massive sluice-gate-like doors that can be closed in case of high water levels. The doors are normally open to allow the daily tidal motions and maintain the Eastern Scheldt ecosystem.

Wider view of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, now also including the northernmost part between Noordland and Schouwen-Duiveland.

Closer view of sea side of the barrier.

Close-up of the first three doors. The entire barrier was closed for testing when we arrived, as can for example be seen by how far the pneumatic cylinders extend downwards. Normally, the shiny metallic part would be up in the white housing.

Me (picture by Tom).

Me (picture by Tom).

The control room for the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier on Neeltje Jans.

The windy conditions along the Dutch coastline make for an excellent location to generate electricity.

The mouth of the Eastern Scheldt is about 9 km wide. The storm surge barrier consists of three series of doors, together extending for 4 km. The remaining 5 km are covered by the two artificial islands Neeltje Jans and Noordland.

Tom.

Rolf.

Rolf and Tom.

The northernmost part of the barrier. Note that the support structures at the centre are taller than at the edges, reflecting the curvature of the sea floor.

Me (picture by Tom).

The east side (away from the North Sea) of the barrier.

Schematic of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier. The land masses at the bottom (south) and top are Noord-Beveland and Schouwen-Duiveland. The barrier consists of three series of doors (brown) and two artificial islands (green). Most of the construction work was done from the larger of these two.

View along the barrier from a walkway about five metres above normal sea level.

Close-up of one of the support pillars. The doors are move up and down with the pneumatic cylinders. Normally, none of the shiny part of the cylinder would be visible.

Close-up of the metal support structure at the top of the door.

The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier was opened on October 4, 1986 by Queen Beatrix in the presence of VIPs from Belgium, Luxembourg, France, England, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Austria.

Two roads run across the barrier: a two-lane highway and a smaller service road. The latter is also by cyclists.

Tom engaged in a game of table tennis.

Rolf engaged in a game of table tennis.

Me engaged in a game of table tennis (picture by Tom).

Rolf and Tom engaged in a game of table tennis.

Our bungalow.

The street outside our bungalow.

Rear view of our bungalow.

Rolf and Tom engaged in a game of Dutch Blitz.

Terraces in the city of Middelburg, capital of the provence of Zeeland.

Middelburg's city hall.

Middelburg's city hall.

De Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Middelburg. The tower is nicknamed Lange Jan (Long John).

The former abbey of Middelburg.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

Lange Jan.

The Abbey Square in Middelburg.

The Abbey Square in Middelburg.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

Entrance to the abbey.

The former abbey of Middelburg.

The Koorkerk (Choir Church) in Middelburg.

Organ in the Koorkerk.

We climbed the Lange Jan tower to get a view over the city. This picture shows the former abbey and the tree-filled square that it surrounds.

View across the former abbey and residential areas of Middelburg.

View across downtown Middelburg. The tall building in the centre is the city hall.

View across downtown Middelburg.

View across downtown Middelburg. The square just left of the centre is the Dam Square. All the way on the left, the dome of the eight-sided Oostkerk (East Church) is just visible.

The southern tip of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is located about 10 km north of Middelburg and is easily visible from the Lange Jan tower on a clear day.

The visitors area of the Lange Jan tower.

Lange Jan.

The Spuistraat in Middelburg.

An old bridge in Middelburg. The canal that used to run here was destroyed many decades ago, but the bridge survived.

A 1720 house in Middelburg.

19th-century houses in Middelburg. The trap doors give access to coal cellars.

An old pump in Middelburg.

A 1698 house in Middelburg.

The eight-sided Oostkerk (East Church) in Middelburg.

An 18th-century house near the Oostkerk.

Another old house near the Oostkerk.

Skulls and bones on one side of the Oostkerk.

An old warehouse in Middelburg.

The former moat surrounding Middelburg.

The Koepoort (Cow Gate), the only one out of the original eight gates into the city to survive.

The Koepoort.

An old house in Middelburg.

The Pijpstraat in Middelburg.

An old vinegar factory.

The main canal into Middelburg.

A café in Middelburg. They serve a delicious home-made apple pie.

The café's interior.

An old crane used for lifting goods from the quay into ships or vice versa.

A bridge over one of Middelburg's canals.

One of Middelburg's canals.

Four old warehouses in Middelburg.

A small marina in Middelburg.

A mansion from the colonial age.

Modern architecture in Middelburg.

Tom and Rolf standing in a piece of artwork.

A sailing ship in Middelburg's harbour.

The marina is located at the rear of the four warehouses from a few pictures back.

The marina.

Middelburg's city hall by night.

Me engaged in a game of bowling (picture by Tom).