While living in Amsterdam, I wrote a non-fiction book titled âFlavors of Lifeâ. âFlavors of Lifeâ, is a collection of inspirational tales about Amsterdam restaurateurs. In the process of writing the book, I learned that the Dutch capital offers nearly three thousand restaurants, cafes, and bars. So where should you...
Franeker, experience the oldest and still working planetarium
One of the 11 cities of Friesland, Franeker is home to the oldest working planetarium in the world â a massive wooden construction built into the ceiling of a rather smart canal side house between 1774 and 1781. Franeker is also a great base to visit the rest of the...
The prison village of Veenhuizen
The prison village of Veenhuizen was developed in the early 19th century as a place where anti-social families, the jobless and the poor of Amsterdam were sent to be reformed. One poorhouse has been turned into a rather good museum and two of the prisons still hold prisoners â you...
Tiengemeten
A lovely little island just south of Rotterdam, great for hikers and nature lovers. Hikes varying from 3.5-9.5km. It used to be used for agriculture but now been returned to nature since 2006. Unique activities for kids and parents all year round. Also possible to cycle on the island. Home...
Bloemendaal aan zee
I like to go to the beach at Bloemendaal. Itâs a large beach with some of the best seaside pavilions in the Netherlands serving Dutch and other types of food as well. The beach is within easy reach of the city of Amsterdam, by car or public transport. Youâll be...
Landgoed Hilverbeek
Lovely peaceful forest. An unknown spot to tourists and the perfect place for a unique experience. Only 10 minutes from the centre of Hilversum. An oasis of rest and relaxation, and home to cows, horses, swans and squirrels. If you are lucky and not too noisy, you might even spot...
Meijendel Nature Reserve
Hugging the coast between Scheveningen and Wassenaar, this nature reserve comprises of 1875 hectares of rugged wilderness. Itâs a great place to walk or cycle, at any time of the year, and to take a break from city life. The beach here is rarely busy as it is only accessible...
Is Amsterdam a country or a city in The Netherlands?
Amsterdam is the largest city in and capital of The Netherlands and a very cool place to visit. If you find yourself in Amsterdam and youâve got some time to spare, nothing beats a simple bike ride through this fantastic village or a private boat trip on the canals. Even...
Terschelling
Terschelling is an island I discovered several years ago and itâs one of the few places in the Netherlands where you can actually not encounter a single human being for a while. Itâs one of the small islands in the North of the Netherlands and if I feel like just...
Maastricht, a university city on the southern tip of the Netherlands
Maastricht is distinguished by its medieval-era architecture and vibrant cultural scene.My work has brought me to Maastricht once a year for 15 years. Although itâs only a two and a half hour drive from Amsterdam, arriving in Maastricht is like arriving in another country. You immediately feel a warm bath...