Amsterdam The Netherlands We’re standing in front of the Zuiderkerk, in the center of Amsterdam. The church played an important role in the life of Rembrandt, also because three of Rembrandt's children were buried in the church.

Recife Brazil A saying, popular in Brazil in the 17th century was this: ‘Women should only leave the house three times in their lives: to be baptised, to be married and to be buried’.

The 21 islands of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago can be found some 354 km off the Brazilian coast. The islands are now part of the state of Pernambuco, even though the state capitals Joao Pessoa and Natal are both closer to the islands.

Jo o Pessoa Brazil We are at the Fort of Santa Catarina, also known as the Cabedelo Fort, on the beach of the same name in the state of Paraíba, in Northeast Brazil.

Recife Brazil Rua da Moeda is also a historic bohemian stronghold in the city, perhaps due to its proximity to the port, and has served as a place for entertainment since the early days of European colonisation in the north-east of Brazil.

Salvador Brazil Although the Dutch presence in the Brazilian northeast in the 17th century is focussed on Pernambuco, where the cities of Recife and Olinda are located, the Dutch began their attempts to invade Brazil on the 9th of May 1624 at the city of Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia.

Recife Brazil We are on Rua do Bom Jesus, where we find the first synagogue built in the Americas, Kahal Kadosh Zur Israel, the Holy Congregation of the Rock of Israel.

Ruyven The Netherlands On the central town square in Delft, we find an homage to the city’s most famous, or perhaps infamous, son. A statue in front of the ‘New Church’ commemorates the most famous jurist of the 17th century, Hugo Grotius.

Los Alamos United States The Bradbury Science Museum, located in the town of Los Alamos, is the information center and science museum operated by Los Alamos National Lab, and contains many interesting exhibits and displays, including much related to the nuclear testing program.

Bellingham United States The international boundary between the US and Canada comes to Point Roberts from the east, across the bay from Blaine, and hits the last of the range towers marking the boundary across the waters of the bay, known as Range Tower C.