Robbert Leusink
@robbertleusink.bsky.social
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Cire Trudon has made candles since 1643.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
December 16, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Cire Trudon has made candles since 1643.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
The EU was never about cooperation.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
December 16, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The EU was never about cooperation.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
I hate 40mm+ watches.
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
December 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I hate 40mm+ watches.
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
Made in Italy =/= quality product
December 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Made in Italy =/= quality product
I recently restored this Canon board, to be used for Mass.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
December 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I recently restored this Canon board, to be used for Mass.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
On this day that painter Johannes Vermeer died. Now exactly 350 years ago.
Greatest painter
Greatest painter
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
On this day that painter Johannes Vermeer died. Now exactly 350 years ago.
Greatest painter
Greatest painter
Bari, Puglia 🇮🇹 is a great city.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
December 15, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Bari, Puglia 🇮🇹 is a great city.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Linen passe-partouts are really stylish
December 15, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Linen passe-partouts are really stylish
Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
December 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
December 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
December 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
December 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
Coming Wednesday morning (17 December) it's Ember Wednesday in Advent.
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
December 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Coming Wednesday morning (17 December) it's Ember Wednesday in Advent.
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
A day when the Rorate Mass may be celebrated before sunrise.
When the church will be lit only by candles, the priest in golden vestments, and the choir singing 'Rorate Caeli '
Go to Mass today
December 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Go to Mass today
Puglia 🇮🇹 in December is sublime:
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
December 13, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Puglia 🇮🇹 in December is sublime:
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
No tourists (literally!)
Affordable seasonal food
Sunny weather
10/10
17th century Amsterdam merchants invented pleasure yachting, commissioning yachts with gilt carvings and varnished mahogany.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
December 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
17th century Amsterdam merchants invented pleasure yachting, commissioning yachts with gilt carvings and varnished mahogany.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
Royal Huisman still builds yachts this way: hand-laid teak decks, bronze fittings.
A great Dutch tradition.
A natural ski fit, without any polyester, ain’t that hard.
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
December 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
A natural ski fit, without any polyester, ain’t that hard.
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
I bought this:
1. Amundsen Sports, Groomer Jacket - 100% cotton
2. C&A, Thermo Underwear - 100% cotton
3. Shepherd of Sweden, Johan Mittens - 100% sheep shearling
4. Lodenwalker, Ski Pants - 100% loden wool
Eventhough I hate baroque... what kind of civilisation spends 2 years hand-carving wooden galleries and commissioning baroque frescos just to house books?
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
December 13, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Eventhough I hate baroque... what kind of civilisation spends 2 years hand-carving wooden galleries and commissioning baroque frescos just to house books?
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The kind of people that believed knowledge leads to God.
Architecture reveals theology, like it does in Admont Abbey's Library 🇦🇹
The Olympic Games will be in Cortina D'Ampezzo again 🇮🇹 🥰
December 13, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The Olympic Games will be in Cortina D'Ampezzo again 🇮🇹 🥰
The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (1888) has such perfect acoustics that conductors can hear a violin's vibrato from 40 meters away.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
December 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (1888) has such perfect acoustics that conductors can hear a violin's vibrato from 40 meters away.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
The architect studied Greek amphitheater geometry for 2 years before starting.
Every Friday at 3pm, churches across Europe ring bells to mark the hour Christ died on the cross.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Every Friday at 3pm, churches across Europe ring bells to mark the hour Christ died on the cross.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
The tradition started in the 1200s in Poland.
Almost no Europeans under 40 has an idea why they suddenly hear bells Friday afternoon.
Dutch exceptionalism
December 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Dutch exceptionalism
VOC Vrijdag.... 🟠⚪🔵
December 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
VOC Vrijdag.... 🟠⚪🔵