Category: Netherlands

RoadTrip #37.4: Eurotrip Day 4/13 – From Nunspeet, NL to Troisvierges, LU, via BE (ft. the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, the world’s diamond capital – Antwerp, & the Flemish Renaissance style Arenberg Castle)

May 14, 2023

On Day 4 of our Eurotrip last summer, we crossed the borders between the Netherlands and Belgium, and Belgium and Luxembourg. It was my second time visiting the UNESCO WHS of Kinderdijk, and my second time in Belgium, while Luxembourg was a new addition to my “been-to” country list. We also checked out Antwerp (although … More RoadTrip #37.4: Eurotrip Day 4/13 – From Nunspeet, NL to Troisvierges, LU, via BE (ft. the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, the world’s diamond capital – Antwerp, & the Flemish Renaissance style Arenberg Castle)

MAASTRICHT: A sightseeing tour around the medieval city

September 29, 2016

Aside from the beautiful river Maas/Meuse, old and new bridges, and the well-known Vrijthof Square and its medieval and Gothic churches, Maastricht is also home to 1677 national heritage sites (Rijksmonumenten) and lots of ruins, watermills and canals. One will find the contrast between modern structures and well-preserved sites really fascinating — even making Maastricht a … More MAASTRICHT: A sightseeing tour around the medieval city

MAASTRICHT: A city of “joie de vivre”!

September 29, 2016

Maastricht is a river city located on both sides of the river Meuse/Maas. It is debated as the oldest city in the Netherlands, serving as a Roman settlement and a medieval religious center. Today, it is a modernized, industrialized city housing 1677 national heritage sites (Rijksmonumenten). It is the birthplace of the European Union, the … More MAASTRICHT: A city of “joie de vivre”!

MAASTRICHT: Château Neercanne – The only terraced castle in the Netherlands

September 28, 2016

Château Neercanne is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant located in Maastricht, a province bordering the Netherlands and Belgium. While my friend and I didn’t get to eat there, we still managed to get a glimpse of the only terraced castle in the Netherlands. The scenery from the castle was astounding! It is surrounded by a … More MAASTRICHT: Château Neercanne – The only terraced castle in the Netherlands

KINDERDIJK: The largest concentration of old authentic windmills in the Netherlands

September 28, 2016

A visit to the Netherlands is never complete without experiencing the 19 authentic windmills, a unique Dutch icon, located in Kinderdijk, a little village in the province of South Holland. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. A big part of the province is situated up to 7 meters below sea … More KINDERDIJK: The largest concentration of old authentic windmills in the Netherlands

ROTTERDAM: The Euromast, a proud member of the World Federation of Great Towers

September 26, 2016

The Euromast, an observation tower built between 1958 and 1960, stands tall in the port city of Rotterdam in South Holland. Designed by Hugh Maaskant, it was constructed for the international flower exhibition and garden festival held every 10 years in the Netherlands. 185 meters in height, including the space tower added on top of … More ROTTERDAM: The Euromast, a proud member of the World Federation of Great Towers

SS Rotterdam: The Grande Dame, a luxurious cruise ship hotel

September 26, 2016

As the title suggests, SS Rotterdam, dubbed as Le Grande Dame, is a hotel ship docked in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was formerly an ocean liner and a cruise ship which sailed across the seven seas for forty-one years, i.e., from 1959 to 2000. The city converted the ship to a museum/hotel and school for vocational … More SS Rotterdam: The Grande Dame, a luxurious cruise ship hotel

ROTTERDAM: The Gateway to Europe (A tour to the River Maas, Maastunnel and Erasmus Bridge)

September 23, 2016

Rotterdam is big city located in South Holland, a province of the Netherlands. Dubbed as the “gateway to Europe” and consequently, Europe’s “gateway to the world”, the city traces its history back to 1270 when the people constructed a dam by the river Rotte for safety. Strategically situated within Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt river delta at the North … More ROTTERDAM: The Gateway to Europe (A tour to the River Maas, Maastunnel and Erasmus Bridge)

The enduring Dutch town of Spijkenisse

September 22, 2016

Spijkenisse. What a beautifully sounding name for a town. It was derived from the words spieke, meaning  “spit“, and nesse, meaning “nose”, i.e., “pointy nose”. It has nothing to do with the people who live there, or the Spijkenissenaar, though. It actually refers to “a spit of land portruding along the river”. Since the town is located near the River Meuse, … More The enduring Dutch town of Spijkenisse

SPIJKENISSE: A glimpse of the Dutch way of life

September 20, 2016

The Netherlands is one of my favorite countries! The name literally means “Low Country”, that is, it has been prone to flooding since the beginning of time. But with that problem came the Dutch admirable innovation — they built dams and canals and other flood control systems. The Dutch are not only remarkable for that. … More SPIJKENISSE: A glimpse of the Dutch way of life