This week the Monday Podcast took a trip to Venlo – a town situated just over the Dutch border.

It is easily reached from Germany via the A40 and A61 motorways and many people go over the border to shop, as some things are considerably cheaper on the Dutch side, coffee being the prime example of this.

The town played a pivotal role in the Second World War, as it was an indicent that took place there between British, Dutch and German intelligence that gave Germany a reason to invade the Netherlands, citing the incident as proof that the country was no longer neutral.

For those wishing to sample the Dutch culture, but not able to speak the language, Venlo offers a good opportunity as most of the people serving in shops and cafés also speak German and the menus in restaurants are often in both languages.

To find out more, listen to the podcast:

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Größere Kartenansicht

Idsteiner Hexenturm

This week, the Monday Podcast visits the “Hexenturm” in Idstein, which literally translates as the “witches’ tower”.

Parts of the tower date from the 12th Century, but the name comes from events that took place in the town in the 17th Century when a number of people in the area were accused of witchcraft.

The tower itself is normally locked, so the key has to be collected from the tourist information office a short distance away.

To find out more, listen to the podcast:

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Größere Kartenansicht

Last weekend I was invited to take part in a camp for former leaders and helpers of the Scout Group in the town of Sonsbeck, in the Niederrhein part of Germany.

Although I was never an actual member of that particular group, I have been in contact with them for the past 23 years and have visited them regularly throughout that time.

Find out why, and what happened at the camp, in this week’s podcast:

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