Parma bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the Parma bridge in Sluis. It is a wooden pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the canal Bruges - Sluis (also called Damse Vaart).

The bridge was named after the Spanish duke who beseiged Sluys in the beginning of the 17th century. Untill 1604, Sluys had always been a Flemish town. Under Spanish government, at the end of the 16th century, there was an uprising (the infamous 80 years war) of the northern part of the netherlands (the "Low Countries") against the Spanish crown. Sluys was a very important strategic point, and the northern armies wanted to conquer this town. Finally they succeeded in doing that (Prins Maurits van Nassau) and the Spanish had to abandon the town in 1604. However, they (by means of the duke of Parma and Spinola) tried to recapture the town, but did not succeed in doing this. Some few 100 meters from this point, were the Spanish lines where they remained till after the war. These lines between the Spanish army and the northern armies still are the frontiers between what would later become Belgium (1831) and The Netherlands. From that point on, the county of Flanders lost a part of its territory to the house of Nassau (being the Netherlands).

The canal you see is the "Damse Vaart" or canal Bruges - Sluys. This canal was dug in 1812-1814 by Spanish prisoners of war (oh irony...) on order of Napoleon. It was partially dug in the old sea arm that made Bruges rich in the Middle Ages. However, due to his loss in Waterloo, Napoleon's work was not finished. The last part of the canal (the part close to Sluis, that we see here) was only completed 1858. The canal never had an important economic role. There was a steamboat service between Bruges and Sluys until the Second World War and it was also used for the transport of coals and so to the surrounding villages and the transport of crops from the fields to Bruges. The canal is a very attractive route to do by bike and each year there are swim competitions and a triathlon held here.

For Jaap: there is a lot of fish in the canal and there are always a lot of fishers here.

I hope you like the picture. Thanks for your constructive comments. byebye.

DonQ, Endy, jrenier, carper, jhm, maphoto, ma-tibou, Georges, supereira, Aegean, papagolf21, ephemere33, nwoehnl, bobll7, mortijo trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

DonQ (2623) 2004-09-05 8:59

Again great panorama view from Sluis Hendrik. The green tones of grass, water and trees are excellent here. The bridge is very well placed.
Good work again.
Regards, Don.

Endy (1025) 2004-09-05 9:22

Superbe composition Hendrik! La netteté de la photo est impressionnant. J'adore particulièrement la réflection des arbres et du pont dans l'eau, elle est claire et précise. La photo possède aussi plusieurs teintes de verts bien agencées.

Bien fait!

jrenier (762) 2004-09-05 9:24

Beautiful picture.
I like the fact that we have to imagine the way of the canal in the reflection of the water. The picture is very sharp and the colors are good. It's either simple and full of details. Very nice shot.

Hanssie (9133) 2004-09-05 10:33

The whole composition is a nice one, a lot of foreground, the lines of the trees and of course, the wooden Parma-bridge, the colours are soft and therefore nice, a good shot, Hendrik !

carper (65264) 2004-09-05 11:46

Hendrik het is weer een schoon spektakel.
Erg goede compositie, goede kleuren, goed lijnenspel, erg goede foto, goed werk Hendrik

vbourrut (30587) 2004-09-05 11:53

Très bon rendu d'image, une composition chargée mais qui fonctionne bien ici, et une netteté parfaite !

jhm (82949) 2004-09-05 12:26

De ophaalbrug die nooit wordt opgehaald, maar dit heb u fijn gezien op de westkant van Sluis, Hendrik ik vind dit schitterend, misschien iets lager en u kon er onderdoor kijken tot in de bocht, maar niet zwemmend hé.

maphoto (8076) 2004-09-05 21:45

Beautiful details and sharpness, nice foreground to present this bridge, great point of view, well seen.

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2004-09-06 12:18

Very nice sharp image, gret notes - very informative :)

explomars (4230) 2004-09-06 13:41

Tres joli pont en bois,mais Hendrik connais tu photofiltre c'est un programme gratos qui te permet efficacement de rajouter de la netteté.Il me semble que ton shot serait encore plus net.Merci.Phil

ma-tibou (4566) 2004-09-07 4:30

Bonjour hendrik, de bien belles image dans votre galerie, de beaux paysages, de belles couleurs . bravo;
Amitié.

Georges (11183) 2004-09-07 5:44

Le point de vue me parait correct je ne pourrais pas dire que l'angle est bon car je ne connais pas le lieu mais celui est vraiment très plaisant et le cadrage permet d'avoir cet ensemble dans toute se longueur.
Les personnes présentes se trouve sur une place maîtresse de la photo et attirent l'attention.

Bravo hendrik pour cette image très soignée.

supereira (9576) 2004-09-07 5:48

Very nice landscape. I like the reflections in the water and the tree position. I only feel that the sky is a little weak in the colors.

Aegean (2567) 2004-09-07 12:22

A very pleasant landscape shot with excellent colors and nice reflections on the water...Very well captured...

papagolf21 (56483) 2004-09-07 14:25

J'aime vos paysages hendrik, ils ont toujours un aspect intéressant et très reposant.
Une composition réussie avec des couleurs douces et naturelles, ainsi que la finesse de l'image.
De plus, la note est parfaite.
Merci hendrik.
I like your landscapes hendrik, they always have an interesting and very restful aspect.
A composition made a success with sweet and natural colours, as well as the sharpness of the image.
Furthermore, the note is completed.
Thank you hendrik.

ephemere33 (9729) 2004-09-08 8:01

très bel endroit ici aussi...celà insite à la ballade et flâner comme ces 2 personnes???d'un romantisme ce pont pris sur cet angle...avec le détail des roseaux en avant plan et du feuillage qui décore toute la composition...tellement de fraîcheur s'en dégage...très bien vu...merci...amicalement BI

loupiot (3909) 2004-09-08 11:41

Very beautiful panorama, Hendrik. I like your composition with this little bridge. Sharpeness is good. I like this kind of shot. Thanks for sharing this!

nwoehnl (120) 2004-09-08 11:57

Beautiful crisp and clean shot, Hendrik. Well composed with the canal bending through the scene, and the beautiful wooden bridge crossing it. The trees on either side of the water give nice leading lines towards the back, and the biggest attraction for me is the effect of the reflection. Well captured.

dominique (11403) 2004-09-08 16:44

Very beautiful composition, framing is perfect with this part in front of or is this grass plus a beautiful reflection. well done

yesterday (9787) 2004-09-09 3:56

Good mood, beautiful light and beautiful bridge in beautiful composition, I like it.

Regards Kaj Nielsen

joseelias (367) 2004-09-09 8:42

Waht is more impressive is that all seems so well cared. Very pleaseant view with a great light and clearness.

bobll7 (194) 2004-09-14 2:32

C'est très bien réussi comme photo! Le cadrage et la composition sont parfaites, l'éclairage tombe bien et l'ensemble dégage une belle sérénité et un calme invitant. Dommage qu'il y a deux «acteurs» sur le pont, il y aurait pu avoir d'autres personnages plus appropriés pour la scène. Autrement, pour la technique 10/10 et le côté artistique 9/10.

mortijo (12328) 2004-09-16 14:51

Well, I semm to have missed a lot during my trip to France. An other nice landscape with soft colours. An other perfect note.