As an American living in the Netherlands for a couple of years, I’ve been missing American food a lot. More of a passion project than a real project, I’ve been compiling my favorite places to buy American food in the Netherlands to help other American expats living in the Netherlands satisfy their cravings.
I’ve been living in Amsterdam and the Hague, so I’ve done my best to include other places, however, please let me know if you have any other favorites for me to add to this list!
…“Paris is always a good idea,” declared Audrey Hepburn. I thought that moving to Paris was a great idea until we were living in Paris. If you’re coming here because you love Paris, you will probably love Paris (most of the time). If you’re not a Francophile or you love to judge strangers, you will want to read this 3,000-word long article on why we don’t like living in Paris as expats and why we’re leaving France.
This is my opinion about being an expat in Paris and based on MY experiences living in Paris, so please read it before judging me. I’ve included lots of pretty photos of Paris to compensate for being such a negative Nancy.
…Finding the best places to eat in Amsterdam where you’re on a tight budget can be tricky as eating in Amsterdam seems expensive. As a resident of 2+ years of Amsterdam, I wrote this guide to where to eat in Amsterdam on a budget for anyone looking for cheap restaurants in Amsterdam who want to also eat at non-chains that provide some healthy options! It’s possible to stay on a budget while eating in Amsterdam, so keep reading for the best cheap eats in Amsterdam.
…I used to think of myself as a big city girl, but after moving to the Netherlands, I fell in love with the smaller quieter cities in the Netherlands. One of my favorite cities in the Netherlands, which is an easy day trip from Amsterdam, is Delft. I’ve been living in the Hague for some months now and I routinely visit Delft each month.
Delft has one of the most prestigious universities in the Netherlands, so despite the history, Delft feels like a young town if you know where you’re looking.
This itinerary for Delft is a mix of historic sights and new modern shops/restaurants, so you get to experience both sides of this beautiful city. Keep reading for things to do in Delft in a compact one day itinerary for Delft.
…While my mom visited me this summer, we finally visited Dordrecht as a day trip. This stunning city without the crowds of Amsterdam is an easy day trip from Rotterdam, the Hague, or Amsterdam, however the quiet charm of Dordrecht won me over with its beautiful canals, picturesque warehouses, and stunning views.
…As a Dutch resident, I love exploring the Netherlands, but writing about the Grote Markt in a town can get a bit tiresome. For a while, I’ve been pursuing some really off the beaten path places in the Netherlands and these are my favorite quirky places in the Netherlands to add to your Dutch bucket list if you’re someone who loves the strange, the adventurous, the macabre, the magical, and the weird. They’re spread throughout the country.
…If you’re looking for a great day trip from Amsterdam, you’ll be surprised how many things to do in Zwolle you’ll find–and how much great shopping you’ll find in this medieval Dutch city, including a beautiful bookstore. Keep reading for things to do in Zwolle, the Netherlands and how to get to Giethoorn from Amsterdam (via Zwolle).
…One of the things that I’ve loved about living in the Netherlands is how easy it is to take weekend trips within the Netherlands and the surrounding countries. While living in Amsterdam, we took weekend trips at least once a month to a new city. I’ve been to every single place on this list and I hope that it inspires you to take one of these suggestions for weekend trips from Amsterdam (or anywhere else in the Netherlands).
…If you’re visiting the Netherlands, you must head from Amsterdam to Haarlem, a typically “Dutch” city. Haarlem is a very easy day trip from Amsterdam, only fifteen minutes on the train. This iconic Dutch city with pretty canals, fewer tourists, a laid-back vibe, and gorgeous architecture is a must-see for people who have limited time in the Netherlands. Keep reading for what to do in Haarlem with a complete one day in Haarlem itinerary (and map). At the bottom, there’s a more complete list of things to do in Haarlem.
…Maastricht is such a lovely city and it’s always delightful to have an excuse to revisit Maastricht. After finding a steal on NS last year, we packed our bags for a weekend to explore Maastricht’s Christmas market, Magical Maastricht. Needless to say, our weekend in Limburg enjoying Maastricht and Valkenburg was just what we needed. I recently returned back to Maastricht to revisit Maastricht during the magical Christmas season and I’ve updated this post with more tips for visiting Maastricht during
