Oss Walkabout 2005

What is there to say about Oss? Not a great deal, to be perfectly honest. It is in the south of Hollandishland, it is the home to a couple of Pharmaceutical companies (the reason I was here) and it’s the birthplace of Ruud van Nistelrooy. After that, it gets a bit difficult to find anything to say. Sorry Oss. Oh, apparently, the name comes from an Icelandic word.
Schipol

God, I hate Schipol Airport!
No, really, I do. It's a hateful place. It is so BIG. Your plane lands at a gate somewhere in Belgium, then you have a route march across Europe to Passport Control!
It's just wrong on so many different levels.
So, I happened to be required in Dutchland on business for a few days.
Not for me the debauchery and depravity of the capital city. Oh, no, not for I the drugs, the women, and the loud rock and roll music. Oh, no. I get the tranquil, sedate, relaxed town of Oss, some one hour drive from Amsterdam. Just my luck.
No, really, I do. It's a hateful place. It is so BIG. Your plane lands at a gate somewhere in Belgium, then you have a route march across Europe to Passport Control!
It's just wrong on so many different levels.
So, I happened to be required in Dutchland on business for a few days.
Not for me the debauchery and depravity of the capital city. Oh, no, not for I the drugs, the women, and the loud rock and roll music. Oh, no. I get the tranquil, sedate, relaxed town of Oss, some one hour drive from Amsterdam. Just my luck.
Gone Walkabout

Gone walkabout in the locale to snap some pictures that show the essence of Dutchness. I make no apology for the gratuitous windmill shot! These pictures were all taken during a weekday afternoon...
Nice. Very clean and friendly locals, but not the liveliest place I've ever been.
Holland is so clean and neat and tidy, it's a little bit of a culture shock, especially considering their predilection for the legal aforementioned debauchery and depravity.
Another nice thing about the Dutch, is that most Hollandish people speak English better than most English! Given that their own language is impenetrable by anyone with a throat, this is a nice gesture of friendship.
Nice. Very clean and friendly locals, but not the liveliest place I've ever been.
Holland is so clean and neat and tidy, it's a little bit of a culture shock, especially considering their predilection for the legal aforementioned debauchery and depravity.
Another nice thing about the Dutch, is that most Hollandish people speak English better than most English! Given that their own language is impenetrable by anyone with a throat, this is a nice gesture of friendship.
Food

OK. This place deserves a special mention. I ate here two nights out of the four I was in Oss. Mmmmm! Fantastic Italian food, in portions that will not leave you wanting more.
Although, it has to be said, I speak no Dutch and they spoke no English, so ordering from a menu written in Italian (which I also do not understand) with Dutch descriptions, was interesting.
Although, it has to be said, I speak no Dutch and they spoke no English, so ordering from a menu written in Italian (which I also do not understand) with Dutch descriptions, was interesting.
Nah, only kidding. Love the Dutch people, their country, their strange desire to eat raw fish on Friday, their drugs, their women, and most importantly, their rock and roll.
Yes, my name is Mark and I am a Golden Earring fan. I have been a fan of the Dutch masters since 1974. Never seen them live though. YET!
I should have originally gone to Oss a few months earlier, but I was in the US at the time. Bugger of it all is, that night I should have been there, Golden Earring played a gig in the town. Of course, this time they were as far away as possible from Oss, yet still in the country. I would like to see them before one of them pops his clogs though.
I know, it was unworthy. But, you can't write about Hollandland and not have a clog reference. You can’t let those ones get away!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
May 2005
Yes, my name is Mark and I am a Golden Earring fan. I have been a fan of the Dutch masters since 1974. Never seen them live though. YET!
I should have originally gone to Oss a few months earlier, but I was in the US at the time. Bugger of it all is, that night I should have been there, Golden Earring played a gig in the town. Of course, this time they were as far away as possible from Oss, yet still in the country. I would like to see them before one of them pops his clogs though.
I know, it was unworthy. But, you can't write about Hollandland and not have a clog reference. You can’t let those ones get away!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
May 2005