Can't find these places on my map - may have spelt them wrong. I've been told Maken is where the Dutch tiles are made and that there is a 'seconds' factory there. Does anyone know? As well, I've heard that the beautiful intricate "old Dutch" paintings on trays etc. is done at hindeloopen. Am also looking for the location of the "open air museum" portraying dutch history with rebuilt historical buildings etc. Can anyone help? <BR> <BR>thank you for any info.

Elizabeth, <BR>The open air museum you're looking for is in Enkhuizen on the western shore of the Ijsselmeer. The complex actually consists of two museums, and indoor museum with its emphasis on ships and the Netherlands' maritime history and the outdoor museum which has over a hundred shops and houses. The effect is similar to Williamsburg, Virginia. <BR> <BR>There is a ferry that crosses the Ijsselmeer from Enkhuizen to Stavoren. Hindeloopen is about 20kms north of Stavoren on the eastern shore of the Ijsselmeer. Hindeloopen has an interesting museum with an excellent collection of ceramics and tiles depicting maritime scenes. <BR> <BR>I think, rather than Maken, you may be looking for Makkum, the home of Tichelaar's Royal Pottery and Tile Factory and the Museum of Frisian Ceramics. Makkum is on the eastern shore of the Ijsselmeer just below Rte A7, the dijk that encloses the Ijsselmeer. <BR> <BR>Can't help you with Interloopen; never encountered it in my travels. Never heard of it either, for that matter.

Go to mapblast.com and put in the name of the city and country. It will bring up a map for you.

Elizabeth, <BR>While I think of it, Hindeloopen and Makkum are in the province of Friesland; Leeuwarden is the provincial capital and it has a museum that may be of interest to you. The Museum Het Princessehof specializes in ceramics and has, in addition to a huge collection of porcelain, the world's largest collection of tiles, Dutch, French, Spanish and from the Middle East. The museum is also one of the largest ceramics study facilities in Europe. May be of interest to you.

"Interloopen" does not exist, "Maken" is probably "Makkum" in the province of Friesland. Hindeloopen is also in the province of Friesland and quite a nice town. <BR>The largest Dutch open-air museum is near Arnhem. <BR>http://www.openluchtmuseum.nl/Algemeen/engels.html

"Maken" could also be Marken, which is close to Volendam in the province of Noord-Holland. Don't know about tiles.