This is my 50th journal entry, so it must be a special one. The honour goes to the fortified city of Heusden, indeed my favourite little Dutch town.

If you could fly over Heusden, you would see a big wheel surrounded by water. In medieval times it was said that this fierce place was unreducable. The city-moat, the ramparts, the bastions and gates still look impressive. Your visit to Heusden should start with a walk on the ramparts, which offers fine views of the old city center.

Unfortunately Heusden's castle, one of the oldest and biggest Westeuropean water strongholds, was destroyed by explosions after lightning struck the tower which functioned as powder-magazine. All what remains are some fondaments, some small side buildings and a partly reconstruction of the entrance. They can be well observed from the rampart. On the location of the fore-building, a catholic church has been erected after WO II.

From the castle fondaments, Ridderstraat, a small street with beautiful old houses, leads to the vismarkt. The so-called fish market is a big square bordered on its north side by a remarkable construction, the Visbank. It contains 12 Dorian columns and an open window to the old port. Aside the Visbank is the custom-house with a nice two-sided stairs entrance. The other sides of the square consist of many beautiful Dutch houses dated ages ago. Walk in the side streets, wander around and you see all these old houses, one even more beautiful than the other. The oldest residence, according to a stone on the wall dated 1521 A.D., is situated on the corner of Lombardstraat and Putterstraat.