Mierlo. Railroad Crossing

We are leaving for the Netherlands, to the suburb of Eindhoven. The camera is installed in the town of Mierlo, located 10 kilometers from the nearest major city. In front of us is a railway crossing, and the road that connects Mierlo to the N270 (Eindhoven-Helmond).

Do not be surprised if you don’t see a lot of traffic on the screen, small European towns are known for their leisurely lifestyle. The only thing that gives dynamics to this picture is high-speed Dutch trains sweeping along the tracks. All nearby buildings on the opposite side of the railway crossing are occupied by various shops. There, you can find souvenir and flower shops, a glass shop, bicycle parts, a supermarket, and so on.

A couple of minutes’ walk from the crossing is the main attraction of Mierlo, the church of Santa Lucia, built at the end of the 19th century. From its high tower, you can see all the surrounding villages and neighboring major cities.

The name of the town, Mierlo, can be translated as “forest near the lake” or “forest on high sandy soils.” Both perfectly describe the nature around Mierlo. The village is known for its archaeological finds. In particular, the most ancient rock art in the whole country was found here. About 9,000 years ago, the picture of a half-naked dancing woman, called Venus from Mierlo, was scratched on a piece of sandstone.