Een aardige kijktip voor deze donkere decembermaand: Herman Finkers heeft verleden week al zijn shows integraal op YouTube gezet! Ze zijn kostenloos te bekijken onder www.youtube.com/@HermanFinkers

The "Langbett" of Munkwolstrup (just south of Flensburg) is a in 2002 reconstructed long barrow. At 70m(!) long, it is one of the largest objects of its kind in Northern Europe. It is part of Arnkiel-Park, an archeological area which hosts 7 Neolithic grave sites #TombTuesday

Michail Glinkas „Ruslan und Ljudmila“ at the Hamburgische Staatsoper. It is the first opera in the Russian language, and considered "the" Russian national opera. Originally set in Kyiv, I kept wondering why no link was made to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ein neues Wahrzeichen für Hamburg: Die Jury hat heute den Siegerentwurf des Architekturwettbewerbs für die neue Oper in der HafenCity vorgestellt, der ein herausragendes Opernhaus mit einer einladenden, rundum begehbaren Dachlandschaft vorsieht. Alle Infos unter hamburg.de/oper

Neue Oper für Hamburg: Bjarne Ingels Group gewinnt Wettbewerb: Ein spektakulärer Neubau direkt an der Elbe: In Hamburg wurde der Siegerentwurf für die neue Oper in der HafenCity präsentiert – mit vielen Superlativen. Und doch warten einige Probleme.

I went to a fascinating lecture this evening by judge Dominik Groß, who presided over the trial of former concentration camp secretary Irmgard Furchner. At 97, she was convicted for her role in 10,500 murders in what was probably the last trial of its kind.

The Teufelsküche (Devil's Kitchen) dolmen close to Haldensleben. Legend has it a pagan sacrificial site once stood here. Supposedly, men would follow their priest through the forest to this spot, singing ancient chants. Nearby, many other megalithic tombs can be found. #TombTuesday

36 Jahre Mauerfall: der Grenzlauf von Lauenburg nach Boizenburg mit Läuferinnen und Läufer aus West und Ost.

Autumn at the "Sängerberg" megalithic tomb at Sirkfelde, Northern Germany. This dolmen was originally 46 by 27 meter. #TombTuesday

Registered for the Berlin Marathon 2026! Now, I just need to see if I make it through the lottery.

'Der Rosenkavalier' by Richard Strass premiered at the Theater Lübeck. Impressed by the singing and the orchestra, but a bit disappointed in the staging. It felt like the whole budget went into the period costumes, with not enough left for the stage design and props.

When it comes down to bookshelf aesthetics, I am not a fan of the new format of programs at the #HamburgischeStaatsoper

In „Amrum“ wird auch Nordfriesisch gesprochen. Damit rückt der neue Film von Fatih Akin eine Minderheitensprache ins Zentrum, die in Deutschland gerne überhört wird. 👉 taz.de/!6118499/

Erstes Computerspiel auf Friesisch: Jugendliche auf Föhr testen, ob Retro-Gaming auch in ihrer Sprache Spaß macht. www.ndr.de/kultur/kunst...

There were cheers for Asmik Grigorian after she took on the role of Salome in the eponymous opera at the Staatsoper Hamburg. She won the German Theatre Prize 'Der Faust' for this role last year.

German Unity Day celebrates the country's unification 35 years ago. Did this resolve all differences? It seems not: storks in the east fly to Africa via Turkey and Israel, while those in the west take the route via Gibraltar.

Tag der Deutschen Einheit at the Museum Grenzhus in Schlagsdorf, at the former inner German border. This new open-air exhibition illustrates the evolution of the fortifications over the years very well.

With Tobias Kratzer and Omer Meir Wellber as new intendant and Generalmusikdirektor at the #StaatsoperHamburg, I miss the Rathaus Open Air and the comfortable couches in the foyer on the 4th floor. However, I already look forward to rewatching Das Paradies und die Peri on @arteconcertfr.bsky.social

After a long summer break, I'm back at the Hamburgische Staatsoper (or still Staatsoper Hamburg?) to see Das Paradies und die Peri, a secular oratorio by Schumann. It's the first work of the new intendant, Tobias Kratzer, and it is already available to watch from the comfort of your own home on ARTE

Went through all the footage I could find of the 20-09-2025 far-right riots in The Hague and made an overview of all the different flags present #ElsFest

Een bijzondere boekenlegger in @tresoar.bsky.social, ik gok dat deze er al een aantal decennia in gelegen heeft.

According to Wikipedia, this megalithic tomb was destroyed. According to a book on local history from 1955, it has 'allegedly two stones in situ'. It was ignored by the archaeologist Sprockhoff, who published an overview of all tombs in Schleswig-Holstein in 1968. However... (1/2) #Tombtuesday

The wreck of the First World War submarine U16 has been recovered from the North Sea. It broke in two during the initial attempt. An archaeologist was quoted: 'I'm speechless and can't understand why they chose to do it this way.' It may simply be scrapped for its metal. www.ndr.de/nachrichten/...

Here's a tip for this afternoon: you can watch the Dutch championship in the traditional Frisian sport of fierljeppen at the livestream below. Athletes climb a 13.5-metre pole and jump as far as possible over a body of water.

A map showing the locations of prehistoric finds in the Sachsenwald. Allegedly, some megalithic tombs were destroyed and used for the construction of Otto von Bismarck's Mausoleum in Friedrichsruh. #TombTuesday

I'm not sure if Donald Trump really cares what reputation the USA has in Europe, but ten years ago I could never have imagined Coca-Cola launching a 'Made in Germany' campaign like the one they just did.

Not a dedication I expected in 'Vorgeschichte des Kreises Herzogtum Lauenburg' (1951).

"Failed exercise in Schleswig-Holstein - Soldiers accidentally destroy parts of Neolithic burial mound" www.spiegel.de/panorama/sch...

An interesting afternoon exploring the Sachsenwald, east of Hamburg. Using a 1966 map, I located four megalithic tombs that were not featured on any online map, list or overview. The photos below may be the first images of these dolmens to be published online. #StandingStoneSunday

I borrowed a copy of Sprockhoff's Atlas der Megalithgräber Deutschlands (1966) and realised that I don't have a desk or table wide enough to fit it properly. The depiction of the long barrow Alter Hau 1 takes up over two metres — larger than the remains of many actual tombs. #TombTuesday

If you want to kick off the workweek with something other than a dump of the most recent global horrors, hie thee to the Wikipedia home page and check out today's featured article, the Berners Street Hoax of 1810. I promise you will smile at some point. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berners...

Wildlife in #Schleswig-Holstein! After spotting a herd of deer and a pair of wild boars on my run trough the forest, two hedgehogs greeted me in the garden.

"The Hamburg State Opera hardly needs rescuing; the house is in excellent shape. To the extent that such things can be ranked, it is probably one of the country’s top three opera houses." www.ft.com/content/9d46...

In den Kleinanzeigen der lokalen Zeitung. Für 200 Euro sollte sich doch eine Regentonne finden lassen...

Disse Wekenenn heff ik in Hamborg Bardörp mien eersten Vörstellung in Plattdüüt besöcht, mit Geschichten vun Marie Sophie Koop un Musik vun Norma, op Plattdüütsch, aver ok op Föhr-Amrumer Freesk (Föhr-Amrumer Friesisch). Wat för schöön Regionalspraken!

In Emmen, the Netherlands, the megalithic tomb D47 can be found. This dolmen was built around 3470 to 2760 BC as a passage grave. In the background some garage boxes, built ca. 1980, matching the style of the gallery apartments in the area. #tombtuesday

"Lewer duad üs Slaw"

Today marks exactly 210 years since the Nederlandsche Staatscourant published a list of Dutch casualties at the Battle of Waterloo, twenty-eight days earlier. Only fallen, missing and injured officers were listed by name. Enlisted men were only listed by number.

On the river Bille, from the Reinbek Castle in Schleswig-Holstein to the Bergedorf Castle in Hamburg. A beatifull stretch between parks, forests and old estates.

"Menhirs zijn grote staande stenen uit de late steentijd. Ze zijn door prehistorische volken in formaties (megalieten) neergezet, vermoedelijk voor rituelen" Een megaliet is een 'formatie'? Ik kan de redactie van de NOS een bezoek aan het hunnebedcentrum in Borger van harte aanbevelen.

With most opera houses closed for the summer, I'm looking forward to the live stream of Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, coming live from the Opernhaus Zürich at 19:00 with #OperaVision. www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ff...

The Klastorpsdösen near Ljungstorp, Sweden. This megalithic tomb was built between 2500-2000 BC, the dolmen is in a rectangular barrow of 4.5 by 13 meters. #TombTuesday

Een nieuw idee van de NS: reizigers eerst laten uitstappen, zodat het voor andere reizigers makkelijker wordt in te stappen. Uit: De Tijd, 24 juni 1944

The rabbit hole I fell into this evening: Johnny Cash songs in languages other than English. The Man in Black himself gave the right example with the song "Viel zu spät", the German version of "I Got Stripes", which he recorded in 1958. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhhF...

There's a first time for everything. Tonight, I saw my first ballet: John Neumeier's #Nijinsky. Even before the performance began, the audience seemed more energetic than at a typical opera evening. I can't remember any opera at the #StaatsoperHamburg receiving such enthusiastic applause at the end

The forest was busy when I went for a walk this evening.

For centuries, the church of the Cluny Abbey was the world's largest until the St. Peter's Basilica was built in Rome. Destroyed after 1789, only ca. 10% remains of it today. Some of the ruins are quite impressive though.

A standing ovation for Tristan and Isolde at the Theater Lübeck. As one critic wrote about Lena Kutzner as Isolde: "Bravissima, when will we see her in Bayreuth?"

In Lübeck for Tristan and Isolde at at the #TheaterLübeck Though the opera will play at the #StaatsoperHamburg this week as well, this one received such great reviews that I figured it would be worth a drive to the 'Queen if the Hansa'!

Op it ferneamde filmfestival yn Cannes is in film yn premiêre gien dy't him ôfspilet op it Noard-Fryske Amrum. Ym de film komt ek it Noardfryske Öömrang foar, dat no noch fan likernôch 600 minsken sprutsen wurdt. #Frysk www.ndr.de/kultur/film/...