Weekend Trips from Amsterdam

Texel: Perfect Couple Weekend Trip from Amsterdam

December 31, 2016 by Karen Turner 21 Comments

I didn’t hear of Texel until I moved to the Netherlands. This beautiful island in the North of the Netherlands (about 3.5 hours from Amsterdam) is a well-kept secret among Dutchies who spend their vacations sunbathing on its clean beaches, swimming into the Wadden Sea, biking along its heather-filled dunes, visiting its seal sanctuary for injured seals, and taking in cute little Dutch towns.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a weekend birdwatching, or a family cycling trip, Texel is a great weekend trip from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. It’s my new favorite summer getaway and I’ll be back.

…

15 of the most beautiful places in Holland that you must visit

April 17, 2019 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

Holland is absolutely beautiful year-round, however it is especially stunning in spring when everything goes into bloom. I’ve been doing some extra traveling within Holland itself recently and I figured it was time to write about the most beautiful places in Holland to visit, including cities and small towns that I wish that I had visited earlier.

…

A perfect day in Middelburg, the Netherlands: Zeeland’s picturesque capital

September 10, 2018 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

On my quest to visit every province in the Netherlands, I ended up visiting Middelburg, the Netherlands. This picturesque capital of Zeeland is perfect for anyone who is a history geek and is looking for a side of culture.

In general, I would not recommend a day trip to Middelburg from Holland, but rather at minimum, an overnight stay in Middelburg or a weekend in Middelburg as the train journey can be fairly long (as we learned the hard way). It is definitely worth a visit though…

…

One day in the Hague: An resident’s itinerary to a perfect day trip to the Hague

April 10, 2018 by Karen Turner 10 Comments

You might have heard of the Hague. The Hague is the former capital of the Netherlands as well as my home. Quite a few friends have asked about taking a day trip from Amsterdam to the Hague and what to do in one day in the Hague. Here’s my resident’s guide to one day in the Hague with the perfect itinerary for exploring the Hague on foot. I include a self-guided walking tour with a map to help you see the best of the Hague.

…

The Pilgrims in Leiden: History and Must-see locations

February 6, 2019 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

As an American living in the Netherlands, it’s been fascinating to discover the key locations for the Pilgrims in the Netherlands. Although not everyone realizes that the Pilgrims lived in Leiden, you can visit many of the key locations relevant to them. I include some history of the Pilgrims in the Netherlands as well as the addresses of where to go! 2020 marks the 400th year when the Pilgrims departed on the Mayflower to the Americas!

…

The Best 20 Day Trips from Amsterdam by a Dutch resident

January 2, 2020 by Karen Turner 24 Comments

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.

…

Insider spots in ‘s-Hertogenbosch that you must see by a local

February 1, 2019 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

No matter how many times you’ve been to a city, there’s nothing like seeing it through a local’s eyes! This guide to Den Bosch written by Brabant local Francis brings you to some local-only insider spots in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, one of Brabant’s loveliest cities. We hope that it inspires you to revisit Den Bosch, even if you’ve been before!

…

Your foodie guide to Yerseke, the best place to try Zeeland mussels, oysters, and lobster in Zeeland

June 15, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

Sometimes, I get a wild hair–and when I read about the Zeeland mussels, oysters, and the Oosterschelde lobster, I knew that I had to visit this Dutch province just for the seafood. After researching where to try the best seafood in Zeeland, I ended up deciding to visit Yerseke.

This cozy fishing village is one of the best places in Zeeland to try local Zeeland seafood. In this little guide to Yerseke for day trippers, I’ll be discussing the history of Yerseke, where to eat in Yerseke, and what to eat in Yerseke.

…

Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Scheveningen and the Hague

December 31, 2022 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! This was my first New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands in a bit and it was lovely celebrating it in my current home of The Hague. New Year’s Eve in the Hague, like most of the Netherlands, is something akin to a war zone… I include tips for spending New Year’s Eve in the Hague as well as the best events for New Year’s Eve in the Scheveningen/Hague area. I’ve updated this post for the 2019-2020 New Year given the recent changes.

…

Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren Amersfoort: the musical center of the Netherlands

November 6, 2018 by Jacob Turner Leave a Comment

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.

…