| « In Haarlem, Treasures of the Dutch Golden Age | Historic Haarlem an easy day trip from Amsterdam » |
Visiting the Oldest Dutch Master: The Frans Hals Museum
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-galenson/visiting-the-oldest-dutch_b_998893.html
On the way back to the railroad station, I stopped to visit Hals' grave in St. Bavo's Cathedral, which towers over Haarlem's beautiful main square. Inside, near the altar, is a black stone in the floor, simply marked with Hals' name. The Dutch are not ostentatious, and there is no eulogy for the most important person who ever lived in Haarlem, who effectively gave immortality to the town's prosperous 17th-century burghers. In the process, he also gave us a powerful and lasting demonstration of creativity in old age.