Day Trips from Amsterdam

A Political Geek’s Guide to International Institutions of the Hague

January 10, 2019 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

As a self-professed political geek who did Model United Nations in high school, the Hague holds a lot of gems for political geeks in terms of international institutions (including the International Criminal Court) and Dutch political institutions. Similarly, for movie geeks, this will show you some of the highlights of the filming locations used for the Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) in the Hague.

Many of the international institutions of the Hague are a bit spread throughout the city, so I’ve chosen to set this guide up as a self-guided biking tour of the Hague showing off political highlights of the Hague.

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Alkmaar Cheese Market: What to know before your first visit

April 10, 2019 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

Despite living in Holland for a few years, I had somehow never visited the Alkmaar Cheese Market before this week. The Alkmaar Cheese Market is one of the most well-known cheese markets in Holland as it is an easy day trip from Amsterdam. It is the perfect place to experience the pomp and circumstance (as well as the sheer silliness) of this weekly market during spring and summer.

This post will cover practical information (getting to Alkmaar from Amsterdam), what you need to know before visiting the Alkmaar Cheese Market for the first time, the history/traditions of the Alkmaar Cheese Market, dates of the Alkmaar Cheese Market, and tips for making a day trip out of this cheese market!

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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.

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What to know about visiting the Peace Palace in the Hague by a local

October 24, 2018 by Karen Turner 2 Comments

One of the most stunning buildings in the Hague is the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis in Dutch). Visiting the Peace Palace is not particularly easy, however touring the grounds where the International Court of Justice is held is a worthwhile endeavor. I’ll be discussing the history of the Peace Palace, what to expect from a guided tour of the Peace Palace, and how to visit the Peace Palace as a private citizen.

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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.

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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!

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The Escher Museum in the Hague: Tips for visiting from a local

January 25, 2019 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

As a resident of the Hague, there’s one museum that I keep returning to: Escher in Het Paleis. This museum dedicated to the artwork and life of M.C. Escher in the Hague is one of my favorite museums in the Hague. I’ll give you an overview of what to expect from your visit to the Escher Museum, what to bring with you, and tips for avoiding the crowds.

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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.

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What to do in Leiden: The 18 best things do in Leiden

February 25, 2019 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

Since I’ve moved to Zuid Holland, I go weekly to Leiden. Leiden is one of the most charming cities of the Netherlands without question. This guide to Leiden focuses on the best things to do in Leiden that I’ve brought my visitors to! If you can wish for Amsterdam without the crowds, you better take the train just thirty minutes to Leiden!

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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.

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