Holland

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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De Burcht (Leiden Castle): A free and historic park worth visiting

February 10, 2019 by Karen Turner Leave a Comment

One of my favorite places to read in Leiden or relax in Leiden is the De Burcht. This castle turned fortress in Leiden has a fascinating history. Today, it’s free to visit this stunning park in Leiden. I’ll include some tips for visiting De Burcht and a bit of de Burcht history!

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Where to find the best breakfast and brunch in the Hague by a resident

November 22, 2022 by Karen Turner 1 Comment

Is it weird that I consider breakfast a very important food group? Maybe it’s my American upbringing, but I am a huge fan of breakfast and brunch. This post is about the best brunch/breakfast cafes in the Hague by one very biased American couple living in the Hague. I hope you get very hungry while reading this as I’m already planning my next brunch for this weekend…. I will be updating it periodically as new places open and other close.

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Tips for visiting the Moco Museum in Amsterdam (and seeing Banksy’s art)

January 25, 2019 by Leanne Claire 1 Comment

Our writer Leanne has braved the crowds at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam help you decide whether it’s worth a visit to see Banksy and other artists’ work within the permanent collection. She also includes tips for making the most of your Moco Museum visit in Amsterdam!

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Your insider guide to best beer in the Hague with the best craft beer bars

April 14, 2022 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

I’ve been in the Hague for almost a year now and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the thriving craft beer scene in the Hague! As craft beer lovers, both of us have been very busy trying out all the various breweries around the Hague and we solemnly promise to try to keep this updated as new exciting breweries come to The Hague. I include my favorite craft beer bars in the Hague as well as beer shops.

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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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Tourist Guide to Amsterdam: What you need to know before your first trip to Amsterdam by a local

March 14, 2018 by Karen Turner 36 Comments

Amsterdam is a city to RELAX in. I’m not talking about the abundant coffeeshops, but about the gezellig (cozy) atmosphere that you’ll find in this city.

Take your time to sit back to enjoy the passing bikes, unique architecture, and beautiful canals among the many things to do and delicious things to eat. I’m a proud Amsterdam resident and this is an ultimate guide to Amsterdam with all the questions that I feel like I’ve been asked most often.

Find out how many days to spend in Amsterdam, get advice on what are the “must-sees”, where to stay in Amsterdam, what to eat in Amsterdam, which museums to visit in Amsterdam (and skip!), what to do before you arrive in Amsterdam, how to get from the airport to the city…and more!

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Can Amsterdam be saved from overtourism? Thoughts on sustainable tourism in Amsterdam

July 26, 2018 by Karen Turner 4 Comments

As a former resident of Amsterdam, I’m concerned about overtourism in Amsterdam, which threatens the livability of Amsterdam as house prices skyrocket and many neighborhoods have become overtaken by tourists. Although the city of Amsterdam has enacted new legislation to limit the impacts of tourism, the numbers of tourists visiting the capital of the Netherlands isn’t slowing down.

A marketing campaign that began in 2016 by the Amsterdam Marketing still seeks to bring more tourists to other destinations in the Holland region, a goal shared by many tourists who hope to see the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam. However, in trying to bring tourists to other destinations, the campaign has rebranded nearby towns and attractions (that aren’t part of Amsterdam) as parts of Amsterdam. Does Amsterdam truly value sustainable tourism or does it only wish to push unwanted tourists beyond its city borders?

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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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