Breda Mural 28 -- 'Ode Aan De Haven'

'Haven' = 'hah-ven' in this case means 'port'.

This mural is situated in the Potkansteeg ('Potkansteygh'), or Potkan Alley, close to the waterfront at the city centre.  It shows a woman surrounded by water plants and an octopus.  The 'haven' was really the main mooring area for trading vessels, and many of the old buildings along that street were warehouses for various goods.  The castle is close by, so it was also used by the military.  Potkan Alley, narrow and dark, was a meeting place for lovers.  It can't be widened, obviously, and today it's simply a passageway from the port to the inner city, and a space for some drunks to pass out in after midnight.

We went by bicycle to the centre today because I wanted a mural, but the mural was actually just a good excuse to enjoy the weather in town.  There was a swimming event for the cancer foundation, and the finish line was right there at the port.  It was done by the time we got there, but we didn't mind.  After the very brief photo shoot, we had open-air dinner at the Havermarkt, and then a lazy stroll around the town that we love.  The trip home, then some football in the evening.

Thankful for a lovely summer's day together.