Add
Private Notes
There are still four water towers in the city of Utrecht. The towers are no longer used, their function - building up water pressure - has been taken over by electric pumps. Pump and tower had the same purpose: to build up water pressure. They are no longer needed, but many water towers are still there, much to Maarten's delight.
The tower in Bilthoven is still completely in its original condition and that is reason enough for Maarten to climb up with a camera and nodding knees.
Alfred Tepe was an architect in the mid-nineteenth century. He was best known for the 70 churches he designed. Churches that are often still in our region. And what does Maarten learn in this episode? Many of those designs are similar. The churches are tall, slender, inspired by cathedrals with a high nave and pointed arches. From now on you will never pass a 'Tepe church' again!
He was a prominent VOC member, respected governor, talented naturalist and beloved in London. Why do we know Joan Gideon Loten in Utrecht so poorly?!
Hendrik Scholte became a wealthy orphan at the age of 22. He started his own church in Utrecht and eventually left for America with 800 followers to found his own city.
To conclude the 'Week of History' - which this year has the theme 'Getting to work!' - Maarten is a guest at the glass factory in Leerdam. He sees the appalling conditions under which (young) children worked for years and discovers how much the director regretted employing those children at the time.
