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2020 travels in review
As for us all, 2020 was completely different than we expected. We had only one trip abroad to Austria. Other than that we stayed in The Netherlands. Luckily we made some beautiful trips in The Netherlands during the Summer. So here are our 2020 travels from month to month. January Just like in 2019 we started the New Year at friends in Almere. We played board games and watched the fireworks. Our first outing was Uden on Ice with my nieces during Christmas break. Later in the month I went shopping with a friend in Uden, while Paul and Yuri had the day for themselves. The last day of the…
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Visiting Meissen – catching only a glimpse of the porcelain
The German city of Meissen is world-famous for it’s porcelain of exceptional quality, easily recognisable by the Crossed Swords mark. When visiting Meissen, my wife and I only caught a glimpse of the porcelain though. The Torhaus After visiting Albrechtsburg castle, where the first European porcelain was produced in 1710, and enjoying a spectacular view over the city from the tower of the Frauenkirche, we entered the small, historic gatehouse (Torhaus). In the Middle Ages, the Torhaus was an important building in Meissen, being the only accesspoint to Albrechtsburg castle. Throughout the centuries, the Torhaus has been the home of many famous German artists, including master sculptor Christian H. Kaendler…
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Best cities for shopping in The Netherlands
3 to 4 times a year I go shopping with a friend, we pick a city somewhere in The Netherlands and arrive there by train. We started this in 2013. My son was saying to me “When are you not here?”, not because he had enough of me, but because he thought that on a day with just his dad he could have screen time all day long (luckily that didn’t come true). My friend and I have one city we go to each year, Maastricht, and then a number of cities that rotate. Next to these I have added some cities where I used to go shopping with friends…
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Where to eat in Utrecht
My hometown, Utrecht. A beautiful city I love and lived in for the last 21 years. We’ve been out for dinner so many times here, that a list of places to eat in Utrecht isn’t difficult to make. Just don’t expect it to be short! Options to eat in Utrecht Utrecht being a city with a university, science park and several colleges makes for a lively restaurant scene, with inexpensive options to eat. The restaurants on this list vary from cheap eats to more expensive. I’ve divided them up in sections of Utrecht. When exploring the restaurants in Utrecht, combine it with a street art tour in Utrecht. Lunetten The…
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Where to eat in Maastricht
Maastricht is one of my favorite cities in The Netherlands. My friend and I go shopping here almost every year. We’ve planned our outing to Maastricht for this year already, lets hope we don’t have to postpone. Here’s all the places to eat in Maastricht. When in Maastricht in November or December, reserve some time for a visit to Valkenburg, with it’s beautiful Christmas markets. Options to eat in Maastricht There are so many restaurants to pick from in Maastricht. My friend and I have already tried out a lot of them, but there are many more. A few we’ve been to several times. Buvette ’t Piepenhoes is our standard…
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What to do during lockdown
Like a lot of families around the world right now, we’re in a lockdown. In The Netherlands there’s a soft lockdown. We still can go outside for groceries, a short walk, a motorbike ride, to help someone who can’t go outside or to work if you have an essential job. Group formation is forbidden, more than 2 people together is forbidden except when you form a household. Luckily we can still go outside in moderation. Sadly I have a cold and Yuri the flu, so we have to stay inside. Here’s what to do during the lockdown. What we’re doing during the lockdown Although things we can do and where…
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Discover Frankfurt am Main
Every year in October, Messe Frankfurt, the third largest fair and exhibition center in the world, is dubbed Frankfurter Buchmesse for five days. Frankfurter Buchmesse is the world’s most important fair for the print and digital content business – and a famous social and cultural event. As a ‘plus-one’, I attended the Buchmesse twice, in 2013 and 2014. It’s a great opportunity to discover Frankfurt am Main and for a mini-holiday in Germany! Intercity-Express (ICE) International Travelling to Frankfurt by high-speed train is by far the most convenient way, since the Messe is located near the main train center (Hauptbahnhof). Subsequently, it’s a 10 minutes walk, or you can take…
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Where to eat in Scheveningen
Scheveningen is one of the popular beach towns in The Netherlands. The beach is lined with beachclubs in the Spring and Summer, next to that the boulevard has lots of permanent restaurants. So plenty of choice to eat in Scheveningen. In this blog we highlight our favorites, from kiosk’s to sit down restaurants. Eat on the beach in Scheveningen I love the beach and sea. Being there is heaven. Furthermore I love sitting inside or on a terrace while looking out at the sea. Scheveningen has lots of places where you can sit down and eat or drink and have that perfect view. Not all the places mentioned are open…
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Where to eat in Den Bosch
A city I found boring as a teenager, I rather went to Eindhoven. Now I don’t understand anymore why I found it boring. It’s such a fun city to shop and stroll around in! Here are a few good places to eat in Den Bosch. Options to eat in Den Bosch Den Bosch has so many options to have a good meal. Furthermore the famous pastry “Bossche bol” originated here. With so many options in one city, where best to go? Well, with a friend I have tried out all the places in the blog over the years. Yoghurt Barn It’s a chain in The Netherlands and I love them.…
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A day in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city crowded with tourists, and this is understandable: it’s a beautiful city well worth your time. We visited Dubrovnik as part of our European roadtrip in 2016 and spent one day in Duvbrovnik. In one day you can see the highlights of Dubrovnik, but you could easily spend more time in Dubrovnik. What to visit on a day in Dubrovnik With one day in Dubrovnik you start by walking on the medieval walls of the city. Then explore the inner city; admire the Onofrio fountain and stroll over the stradun. Below I will elaborate further on these things, first some background on Dubrovnik. Background on Dubrovnik Dubrovnik…
