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.
…Sustainable Tourism
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!
…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!)
…Why you should visit Eastern Kentucky
Travel is not just about going somewhere new, but also coming back to somewhere familiar. I’m an unlikely proponent of visiting Eastern Kentucky as someone who was born and raised in New York City and who had never set foot in Kentucky until I met Jacob. However, Jacob helped me find the charm of this oft-forgotten region of the United States even if he doesn’t always see it himself.
…Where to find the best vegan food in Amsterdam by locals
As someone who has to skip Dutch cheese due to my IBS, I eat vegan quite often, however I’ve somehow never written about my favorite vegan places to eat in Amsterdam. I was recently in touch with Desmond and Karim, two Amsterdammers passionate about vegan food, and we’ve put together a helpful guide to the best vegan restaurants in Amsterdam.
…An introduction to Surinamese food in the Netherlands
One of the things that surprised me about the Netherlands was the diversity of food that you find here, including Surinamese food! Due to Dutch history, there is a large segment of the population with roots in Suriname. I wanted to do something different here as a way of introducing my readers to Surinamese food, its history, the best Surinamese dishes to try, and most importantly where to find good Surinamese food in the Netherlands. However, I’m not from Suriname and it is important to let others’ voices be heard, so I’ve interviewed an expert.
…Catspotting: A crazy cat lover’s guide to cats in Amsterdam
I love cats. This is a detailed guide to my beloved Amsterdam with the best places to meet cats in Amsterdam, officially and unofficially, with my favorite cats. If you’re a fan of Catspotting, you’re going to love this guide to Amsterdam. I’m a crazy cat lady and meeting cats when traveling is one of my favorite hobbies.
While living in Amsterdam, my husband and I hunted down the locations of cats in Amsterdam because we are that cat crazy. We found cats living at one of the cat cafes in Amsterdam, roaming the halls of a historic canal house/cat museum filled with cat art, cozying up to potential owners on de Poezenboot (the Catboat), sleeping in various shops, or even breaking into museum gardens.
This also includes
2 glimpse: The new way to meet locals while traveling
One of the hardest things to do is to meet locals while traveling. I write this as someone who has traveled extensively, but not always found someone that I’ve clicked with. I recently tried out a new website called 2 glimpse. I’ll be discussing how I made a friend while traveling using this great alternative to Couchsurfing! This is a review of the 2 glimpse website.
…Vlaggetjesdag, Hollandse Nieuwe Haring, and herring in the Netherlands
Is there anything more Dutch than herring? This favorite fish is a staple of the Dutch diet, yet many foreigners know little about it. Ever since moving to the Hague, I was lucky enough to experience Vlaggetjesdag, an amazing yearly celebration of herring season in the Netherlands. I’ll be discussing Vlaggetjesdag, Dutch herring, and the amazing cultural legacy of Hollandse Nieuwe Haring.
…Independent shopping and Harry Potter inspired places to visit in Exeter
On the day that I had my bus back to Bristol Airport, my friend Sophie recommended that we have a shopping day in Exeter. Exeter is one of Devon’s most populated cities and it’s full of fantastic of independent shops, perfect for a day of shopping. I’ll be discussing my favorite shops that I visited in Exeter as well as what to do in Exeter, including Harry Potter inspired places to visit in Exeter to help you have a lovely day out in Exeter.
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