'Freedom'

Freedom was the ultimate title that I already thought of when I took this photo.

On the one hand it symbolizes a part of our population who live on boats (Rhine Barges) transporting goods over the many rivers to their destination often all the way up to Switzerland.

It's always a funny sight to see their car parked on the roof of their floating living room and an even more impressive sight to see them crane it ashore when they arrive at their destination. Just imagine the freedom of living and being mobile anywhere you need to be in Europe.

Now for the irony...

The dome it's just passing in the background is another of the many monuments in Haarlem called the 'Koepelgevangenis' (cupola prison).

Obvious that the title 'Freedom' gets a completely other dimension now and that irony was the inspiration for today's shot.

Oh yes, one little detail. This prison is still in full operation, but is due to shut it's doors forever in 2016. (Behind closed doors ;-))

A famous prisoner who spent time here was Hanny Schaft - the girl with the red hair - a famous Dutch national resistance fighter during the second world war.