Maastricht is such a lovely city and it’s always delightful to have an excuse to revisit Maastricht. After finding a steal on NS, 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. Keep reading for tips for visiting Maastricht during
The Netherlands
Valkenburg Christmas Market: The most unique christmas market in the Netherlands!
This past weekend, we visited the Valkenburg Christmas Markets. Although people assume that there’s only one Christmas market in Valkenburg, there’s a reason why Valkenburg is called the Kerststad Valkenburg…
There are three Christmas markets within this charming Dutch city that is extremely close to both Belgium and Germany. This post includes tips for visiting the markets as well as photos of the Geementegrot and the Fleuwengrot.
…Things to do in Maastricht, the most beautiful city in the Netherlands
Maastricht is one of 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!
…A Couple’s Guide to Amsterdam: 30 Romantic things to do in Amsterdam
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.
…Your Dutch bucket list: 55+ Amazing things to do in the Netherlands
I’ve been lucky enough to call the Netherlands my home. Visiting family and friends will ask me what is the one thing that they must do in the Netherlands. That answer isn’t so easy. We’ve came up with 55+ things for you to do in the Netherlands to add to your Dutch bucket list based on our time living in the Netherlands. Not everything will be possible (due to weather) during your trip, but I hope that it inspires you to revisit this beautiful country.
…Secret Jordaan: a self-guided walking tour of the Jordaan
One of my favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam is the Jordaan. If you’re looking to escape some of the crowds of center and experience some of the charm of Amsterdam, you can follow this self-guided walking guide to the Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most charming neighborhoods, to see a few secrets of de Jordaan that you might not see otherwise. It’s based on my time living just five minutes away from the Jordaan.
I do my best to discuss history as well as some charming cafes, restaurants, hofjes and streets that I always love to stop into. The walking tour of de Jordaan should take about 1.5 hours. The total distance covered is 2 kilometers (~1 mile), but I encourage you to slow down. Map at the bottom of the post.
…A perfect weekend in Amersfoort, the Netherlands
One of the things that I love most about living in the Netherlands is how easy it is to travel around the Netherlands. Amersfoort is a charming city just thirty minutes from Amsterdam (and only 15 minutes from Utrecht) with a stunning medieval center. Although I’ve been to Amersfoort briefly before, this past weekend gave me the chance to explore this beautiful Dutch city. Keep reading for your perfect weekend itinerary for Amersfoort, the Netherlands!
…Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren Amersfoort: the musical center of the Netherlands
In the center of Amersfoort, standing 98.33 meters tall, is the most distinctive and noticeable landmark of Amersfoort: Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (in English, “Tower of Our Dear Lady” a common reference to Mother Mary). Not only is the height impressive, being the third largest tower in the Netherlands, but this tower, known as Laang Jon, houses an impressive collection of bells and marks center point for all surveying done in the Netherlands. Read about the history of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, the carillons of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, and the Rijksdriehoekscoördinaten.
…The best Christmas markets in the Netherlands not to miss
Now that Halloween is over, we can shamelessly shift to Sinterklaas. Just kidding, we’re ready for Christmas. Although the Dutch Christmas markets are not as famous as their German counterparts, the Christmas markets in the Netherlands are absolutely charming. I ended up not ranking these strictly as people look for different things in different Christmas markets, but I’ve grouped it based on the opinions of friends. I’ve included ten Christmas markets in the Netherlands and I’ll be updating this post with more experiences/photos this year!
The Rietveld Schröderhuis: the iconic building of De Stijl
As someone with a keen interest in architecture who has traveled to some of the most famous architectural masterpieces in the world, I was excited to visit the Rietveld Schröderhuis, one of the iconic buildings of de Stijl.
What is striking about architecture is that it’s not just a work of art to be admired, but also one to be used. Although some architecture is built to fulfill the architect’s whimsies, the Rietveld Schröderhuis was built specifically to suit the needs of its owner.
Beyond the history behind this iconic house, the interior of the Schroder house is extremely striking yet functional. This post will discuss the history as well as the architecture behind the home. (There are many photos of the interior as well as the exterior of the Rietveld Schröderhuis!)
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