Hannah Booth
@hannahbooth.bsky.social
Northumbrian in the Netherlands | Writes about connections between Britain & its North Sea neighbours | Historical linguist turned editor & communication coach
Writing: https://northseanexus.substack.com
Website: https://hannahmarybooth.com
Writing: https://northseanexus.substack.com
Website: https://hannahmarybooth.com
Day 1 of the Coastal Lexicon Advent Calendar and today’s word is:
fleet — ‘an arm of the sea, inlet, run of water’
Found especially in the North Kent Marshes and also in the Low Countries as its Dutch cognate: vliet
Photo: Capel Fleet from Capel Gate, Isle of Sheppey, Penny Mayes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
fleet — ‘an arm of the sea, inlet, run of water’
Found especially in the North Kent Marshes and also in the Low Countries as its Dutch cognate: vliet
Photo: Capel Fleet from Capel Gate, Isle of Sheppey, Penny Mayes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
December 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Day 1 of the Coastal Lexicon Advent Calendar and today’s word is:
fleet — ‘an arm of the sea, inlet, run of water’
Found especially in the North Kent Marshes and also in the Low Countries as its Dutch cognate: vliet
Photo: Capel Fleet from Capel Gate, Isle of Sheppey, Penny Mayes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
fleet — ‘an arm of the sea, inlet, run of water’
Found especially in the North Kent Marshes and also in the Low Countries as its Dutch cognate: vliet
Photo: Capel Fleet from Capel Gate, Isle of Sheppey, Penny Mayes (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Not stars in the night sky but rather clusters of offshore wind turbines in the Southern North Sea, and the ships steering their course around them.
Yesterday's image of the day from Copernicus, acquired by a Sentinel-1 satellite on 15 October 2025.
Yesterday's image of the day from Copernicus, acquired by a Sentinel-1 satellite on 15 October 2025.
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Not stars in the night sky but rather clusters of offshore wind turbines in the Southern North Sea, and the ships steering their course around them.
Yesterday's image of the day from Copernicus, acquired by a Sentinel-1 satellite on 15 October 2025.
Yesterday's image of the day from Copernicus, acquired by a Sentinel-1 satellite on 15 October 2025.
An appropriately wet morning in the Netherlands for the anniversary of the 1421 St Elizabeth’s Flood, which flooded parts of Holland and Zeeland — some of which are still under water today.
These panel paintings from 70 years or so later depict the flooded villages and polders around Dordrecht.
These panel paintings from 70 years or so later depict the flooded villages and polders around Dordrecht.
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
An appropriately wet morning in the Netherlands for the anniversary of the 1421 St Elizabeth’s Flood, which flooded parts of Holland and Zeeland — some of which are still under water today.
These panel paintings from 70 years or so later depict the flooded villages and polders around Dordrecht.
These panel paintings from 70 years or so later depict the flooded villages and polders around Dordrecht.
Cancelled flight and several long hours to wait around in limbo — all softened by the fact that the one tiny airport bookshop had something I’ve been looking out for for a good while!
November 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Cancelled flight and several long hours to wait around in limbo — all softened by the fact that the one tiny airport bookshop had something I’ve been looking out for for a good while!
Utrecht's Domtoren — always a good reminder of the importance of looking up now and then
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Utrecht's Domtoren — always a good reminder of the importance of looking up now and then
This week's post on the invisible boundaries in the sea we rarely think about, and how they came to be.
northseanexus.substack.com/p/drawing-th...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/drawing-th...
November 11, 2025 at 9:38 AM
This week's post on the invisible boundaries in the sea we rarely think about, and how they came to be.
northseanexus.substack.com/p/drawing-th...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/drawing-th...
The light sculptures are ready for tomorrow night’s St Martin parade in Utrecht — a celebration of the city’s patron saint and the values of peace and sharing.
The parade revives the local lantern-walking tradition long associated with the festival of Martinmas in this part of the world.
The parade revives the local lantern-walking tradition long associated with the festival of Martinmas in this part of the world.
November 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The light sculptures are ready for tomorrow night’s St Martin parade in Utrecht — a celebration of the city’s patron saint and the values of peace and sharing.
The parade revives the local lantern-walking tradition long associated with the festival of Martinmas in this part of the world.
The parade revives the local lantern-walking tradition long associated with the festival of Martinmas in this part of the world.
Catching the last of the light over Amsterdam this evening
October 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Catching the last of the light over Amsterdam this evening
This week's North Sea Nexus post looks at the surprising story of Delftware, on both sides of the North Sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-most-f...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-most-f...
October 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This week's North Sea Nexus post looks at the surprising story of Delftware, on both sides of the North Sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-most-f...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-most-f...
Trijn van Leemput was a Dutch heroine of the Eighty Year’s War and became a lasting symbol of Utrecht’s resistance against the Spanish.
According to legend, in 1577 Trijn led a group of women to begin the demolition of the city’s Vredenburg Castle — hence the pickaxe and the brick.
According to legend, in 1577 Trijn led a group of women to begin the demolition of the city’s Vredenburg Castle — hence the pickaxe and the brick.
September 24, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Trijn van Leemput was a Dutch heroine of the Eighty Year’s War and became a lasting symbol of Utrecht’s resistance against the Spanish.
According to legend, in 1577 Trijn led a group of women to begin the demolition of the city’s Vredenburg Castle — hence the pickaxe and the brick.
According to legend, in 1577 Trijn led a group of women to begin the demolition of the city’s Vredenburg Castle — hence the pickaxe and the brick.
This week’s North Sea Nexus post takes in Siccar Point on the Berwickshire coast where, in 1788, the father of modern geology found compelling evidence for the idea of deep time
northseanexus.substack.com/p/looking-in...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/looking-in...
September 22, 2025 at 9:28 AM
This week’s North Sea Nexus post takes in Siccar Point on the Berwickshire coast where, in 1788, the father of modern geology found compelling evidence for the idea of deep time
northseanexus.substack.com/p/looking-in...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/looking-in...
From antiquity and the Middle Ages through to the satellite age, this week’s North Sea Nexus post explores the history of how we’ve seen and recorded the very many colours in the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/all-the-co...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/all-the-co...
September 9, 2025 at 7:38 AM
From antiquity and the Middle Ages through to the satellite age, this week’s North Sea Nexus post explores the history of how we’ve seen and recorded the very many colours in the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/all-the-co...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/all-the-co...
Had half an hour to kill before a meeting in Amsterdam, so wandered into a nearby secondhand bookshop — and came away with this gem!
September 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Had half an hour to kill before a meeting in Amsterdam, so wandered into a nearby secondhand bookshop — and came away with this gem!
Rogue waves are among the topics covered in the latest North Sea dispatches from North Sea Nexus
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
September 2, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Rogue waves are among the topics covered in the latest North Sea dispatches from North Sea Nexus
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
On the recent rediscovery of 16 British cannons in the fabled German Bight
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
September 1, 2025 at 7:23 AM
On the recent rediscovery of 16 British cannons in the fabled German Bight
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
northseanexus.substack.com/i/171963418/...
A Dutch windmill with its sails in mourning position, slightly to the left of centre, following the burial of Queen Wilhelmina in Delft, 8th December 1962 (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed).
From this week’s Substack post on sails beyond the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/sails-beyo...
From this week’s Substack post on sails beyond the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/sails-beyo...
August 27, 2025 at 6:56 AM
A Dutch windmill with its sails in mourning position, slightly to the left of centre, following the burial of Queen Wilhelmina in Delft, 8th December 1962 (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed).
From this week’s Substack post on sails beyond the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/sails-beyo...
From this week’s Substack post on sails beyond the sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/sails-beyo...
August 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM
August 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
First impressions of SAIL Amsterdam on its opening day.
This year’s festival is a bumper edition, coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
A big few days for the IJ!
#Sail2025
This year’s festival is a bumper edition, coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
A big few days for the IJ!
#Sail2025
August 20, 2025 at 7:11 PM
First impressions of SAIL Amsterdam on its opening day.
This year’s festival is a bumper edition, coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
A big few days for the IJ!
#Sail2025
This year’s festival is a bumper edition, coinciding with Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary.
A big few days for the IJ!
#Sail2025
This week’s North Sea Nexus post looks at a surprising story of recovery from the North Sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-surpri...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-surpri...
August 19, 2025 at 7:25 AM
This week’s North Sea Nexus post looks at a surprising story of recovery from the North Sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-surpri...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/the-surpri...
This week’s North Sea Nexus post looks at a surprising story of recovery from the North Sea
August 18, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This week’s North Sea Nexus post looks at a surprising story of recovery from the North Sea
The small hilltop church at Heavenfield, Northumberland — and the view up the North Tyne Valley from the back of the churchyard.
This is believed to be the third church built on the site of the Battle of Heavenfield, where King Oswald of Northumbria defeated Cadwallon of Gwynedd in the year 634.
This is believed to be the third church built on the site of the Battle of Heavenfield, where King Oswald of Northumbria defeated Cadwallon of Gwynedd in the year 634.
August 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The small hilltop church at Heavenfield, Northumberland — and the view up the North Tyne Valley from the back of the churchyard.
This is believed to be the third church built on the site of the Battle of Heavenfield, where King Oswald of Northumbria defeated Cadwallon of Gwynedd in the year 634.
This is believed to be the third church built on the site of the Battle of Heavenfield, where King Oswald of Northumbria defeated Cadwallon of Gwynedd in the year 634.
I love the Netherlands, but it is always a joy to return to my native Northumbrian side of the North Sea as I did last week
August 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I love the Netherlands, but it is always a joy to return to my native Northumbrian side of the North Sea as I did last week
This week's North Sea Nexus post looks at some surprising biorhythms at sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/body-clock...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/body-clock...
August 6, 2025 at 6:59 AM
This week's North Sea Nexus post looks at some surprising biorhythms at sea
northseanexus.substack.com/p/body-clock...
northseanexus.substack.com/p/body-clock...
On this day in 1674, a terrible summer storm swept through Utrecht, destroying the nave of the city’s cathedral.
The nave was never rebuilt and so to this day the cathedral tower or Domtoren stands alone, separated from the church’s east end by a large public square. It’s still a windy spot now!
The nave was never rebuilt and so to this day the cathedral tower or Domtoren stands alone, separated from the church’s east end by a large public square. It’s still a windy spot now!
August 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
On this day in 1674, a terrible summer storm swept through Utrecht, destroying the nave of the city’s cathedral.
The nave was never rebuilt and so to this day the cathedral tower or Domtoren stands alone, separated from the church’s east end by a large public square. It’s still a windy spot now!
The nave was never rebuilt and so to this day the cathedral tower or Domtoren stands alone, separated from the church’s east end by a large public square. It’s still a windy spot now!