Europe

The best cafes and coffee shops in the Hague for coffee in Den Haag

January 23, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

Last Updated on January 23, 2020

I knew that the Hague was cosmopolitan, however I never expected the range of cafes in the Hague that I’ve found here. As someone who is an entrepreneur, I find that working at a coffee shop (not that kind!) helps me feel both refreshed and inspired in a way that I cannot feel at home. Similarly, there’s a lot of taking a moment to enjoy on a good cup of coffee and the little joys that something so simple can bring, so keep reading for my favorite cafes and coffee shops in the Hague!

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A Europe Itinerary for 2 months in Europe: Your perfect itinerary for Europe

January 10, 2020 by Karen 32 Comments

Last Updated on January 23, 2020

On my first trip to Europe, I made a lot of mistakes as I was trying to see many capital cities as possible in the shortest possible time. Halfway through my Europe trip, I was exhausted and I felt like I had barely seen any nature or small cities.

I’ve been very fortunate to have taken multiple European backpacking trips and I’ve been living in Europe for nearly three years now. I hope that I can help a bit with helping you create your perfect European itinerary that mixes capital cities with cultural centers and stunning nature to show you the best of Europe in two months! You’ll find a downloadable excel to help you plan your own European trip at the end!

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A Couple’s Guide to Amsterdam: 30 Romantic things to do in Amsterdam

January 7, 2020 by Karen Leave a Comment

Last Updated on January 8, 2020

I’m a romantic at heart and this cold weather is making me sentimental. Jacob and I moved to Amsterdam about three and a half years ago. We got married in Amsterdam and although Amsterdam has a certain reputation, I find it to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe. I’ve included in my insider tips for my favorite romantic things to do in Amsterdam, cozy romantic hotels perfect for a couple’s weekend, and the best romantic meals in Amsterdam.

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Magical Maastricht: Tips for visiting Maastricht’s christmas market

January 7, 2020 by Karen 2 Comments

Last Updated on January 7, 2020

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 the Christmas season.

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Things to do in Maastricht, the most beautiful city in the Netherlands

January 6, 2020 by Karen 16 Comments

Last Updated on January 6, 2020

Maastricht is one of the most charming cities in the Netherlands and it can be easily explored in a weekend. The city is perfect for a slow, romantic weekend away from Amsterdam spent exploring a beautiful cathedral bookstore, strolling the tangled streets, touring historic caves, and eating/drinking delicious regional cuisine at affordable prices. For architecture and food lovers, Maastricht is a city that you will not want to leave off any trip to the Netherlands. Read the best things to do in Maastricht!

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The Best 20 Day Trips from Amsterdam by a Dutch resident

January 2, 2020 by Karen 20 Comments

Last Updated on January 2, 2020

I’ve been living in Holland for over four years now. One of the best parts of the Netherlands is how easy it is to take day trips within the Netherlands! I include insider tips from my time living in Amsterdam for the best day trips from Amsterdam to other gorgeous Dutch cities, including Gouda, Leiden, and Giethoorn. I include easy day trips from Amsterdam as well as off the beaten path day trips from Amsterdam.

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Belgium in 4 days: Beer, Chocolate, & Castles

December 16, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

Last Updated on January 15, 2020

The beginner’s guide to Belgium’s best sights! Includes travel tips and top 5 sights for visiting Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. Includes chocolate, beer, and castles! Read more for the best tourist sites to visit in Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges as well as travel advice for visiting Belgium in a quick 4-day itinerary.

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Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam

November 13, 2019 by Karen 1 Comment

Last Updated on December 30, 2019

Considering visiting Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve? Amsterdam is one of the best European cities to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Europe within. Read insider tips by a resident on the best things to do on New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam, the best parties on NYE in Amsterdam, and where to buy fireworks in Amsterdam.

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The best museums in Amsterdam and which museums to skip

November 1, 2019 by Karen 4 Comments

Last Updated on November 9, 2019

One of the best parts of visiting Amsterdam is to visit the many museums in Amsterdam. As an Amsterdam resident, I had the Museumkaart, which gave me access to the majority of the museums in Amsterdam (as well as the rest of the Netherlands), which meant that I’d often take an afternoon to explore a museum.

I hope that I can inspire you to visit some of my favorite museums in Amsterdam. I also include some advice about what ‘museums‘ in Amsterdam to avoid. (I put this in quotes as some claim to be museums, but I truly think that you can skip them as they are bonafide tourist traps.)

I’ll first go into the best museums in Amsterdam (in my opinion) with a note about who they’re suitable for and which museums in Amsterdam to skip.

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A free self-guided walking tour of the best chocolate in Brussels

November 1, 2019 by Karen 17 Comments

Last Updated on November 8, 2019

If you’re figuring out what to do in Brussels and you’re a chocolate lover, you must try Belgian chocolate—and do a chocolate tasting in Brussels. Here’s some advice for finding the best chocolatiers in Brussels on a self-guided chocolate tour in Brussels, including their addresses!

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