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Is There A Beach In Amsterdam? No, But Zandvoort Is The Closest
When we first moved to the Netherlands and our Dutch friend drove us to the beach for a day on the coast, I realized I knew nothing about Dutch beaches. I had never even thought to look into beaches in Netherlands and didn’t realize they had such a beautiful seaside with gorgeously soft sand. Though there is not a beach in Amsterdam (well there are a few “urban beaches”), you can get out to the coast easily from Amsterdam Centraal Train Station in under an hour. If you’re visiting the Netherlands in the summer, I highly recommend spending a day on the coast. Even in the other seasons, the seaside…
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Discover the Charm of Bloemenmarkt: Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market
Criss-crossing the canals of Amsterdam in the Netherlands can provide all sorts of picturesque views and walks down beautiful city streets. Some more beautiful than others. If you find the right streets to walk down, you can be surrounded by aromatic flowers or cafes and restaurants. This past weekend as we were showing some friends around Amsterdam and walking from the Van Gogh Museum up to the Royal Palace Amsterdam, we stopped along the Bloemenmarkt. Nestled along the Singel canal, this floating flower market is an explosion of colors, scents, and Dutch charm. On one side you’ll find flowers, pictures of flowers, and flower bulbs to grow your own flowers…
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Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum With Kids: Worth It?
When my daughter was in kindergarten, the students were asked to paint their own version of Van Gogh’s “The Bedroom”. After that she delved into Van Gogh’s work and was so inspired we continued to use his works as inspiration. After we moved to the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum was top on our things to do in Amsterdam list suffice to say. We’re not the only ones that seek to find this museum though of course. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters, alongside a collection of Japanese prints and a comprehensive library with more than 23,000 titles, the Van Gogh Museum offers an unparalleled look into…
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Step Inside the Royal Palace Amsterdam With Kids
There’s just something about European palaces, isn’t there? The grandiosity. The ambiance. The luxury. Step into the Royal Palace Amsterdam in the Netherlands and you will have plenty to look at. Not just a piece of Dutch heritage, the palace is a vibrant, living building that is still utilized today as the official reception palace of the Dutch royal family. Not only beautiful, it’s also very family-friendly offering a fantastic audio guide and puzzle for the children you may have brought with you. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of royalty or uncovering the stories of its majestic halls, or just looking for the best things to do with kids in…
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Discover the Timeless Elegance of Royal Delft Blue at the Royal Delft Museum
When we first came to the Netherlands, one of the first things I read about was Royal Delft. When it comes to deciding what unique souvenir or memento I’m going to take home from a place, I usually look for something memorable and traditional. When we happened to be visiting Delft, Netherlands, I looked up where we could learn more about the iconic Royal Delft Blue and noticed there was a Royal Delft Museum. So, off we went. The museum offers an amazing glimpse into an art form that has been cherished since 1653 and it’s more than just a museum. You’ll see… As the sole survivor of the original…
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Discover the Beauty of Humanity at Zaandam’s Unique Museum of Humanity
There are all manner of museums in the world and some can really catch you off guard like the Museum of Humanity in Zaandam, Netherlands. We stayed in Zaandam for two months and during our time there, we noticed how many tourists seem to miss this intriguing city that hugs Amsterdam to the north. Many people will scoot through to find the Dutch windmills of Zaanse Schans, but there are quite a few more things to do in Zaandam than many realize and the Museum of Humanity is one of them. What you need to know to visit the Museum of Humanity in Zaandam, Netherlands: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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The Frans Hals Museum In Haarlem: Learn About Art and History
The picturesque city of Haarlem, Netherlands just a bit west of bustling Amsterdam is home to some fantastic museums and one among them is the Frans Hals Museum. For arts and culture enthusiasts, a stop here is a must. Established in 1862, this museum offers a unique blend of history, art, and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages, children included. If you’re looking for something to do in Haarlem, be sure to visit the Frans Hals Museum. Oh, and be sure to note that they have two different locations in the same city so don’t get confused! Get ready to see more of Frans Hals at the Frans Hals…
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Teylers Museum: A Family-Friendly Journey Through Art and Science in Haarlem
One of the first things I did when we moved to Haarlem, Netherlands was look up the museums to visit. With our nifty Dutch Museumkaart in hand, we were ready to get out and see them all and the Teylers Museum, Netherland’s oldest museum, was one of the first on the list. Welcoming visitors since 1784, this museum in Haarlem is a historical gem with a gorgeous collection that has remained largely unchanged since the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Looking for cool things to do in Haarlem? Don’t miss Teylers Museum: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you…
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How To See More Tulips In Lisse When You Visit Keukenhof
The most famous pictures of the Netherlands are absolutely of the tulip fields in the spring. The dazzling and somehow perfect rows of the pastel hues of the tulips are iconic and with fields just 30 minutes from Amsterdam, they’re surprisingly accessible. This year we’ve been residing in Haarlem, which is just north of Lisse so there was no doubt I had to check out those iconic tulip fields. The picturesque town of Lisse and the celebrated Keukenhof Gardens are the epicenters of the tulip extravaganza in the Netherlands. But, if you’re planning a trip there, make sure to really maximize the experience and see more than just the Keukenhof…
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Discover Street Art in STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam
On the look out for fun things to do in Amsterdam and a little search on where to find street art in Amsterdam landed me on a very interesting website for STRAAT Museum. Straat, meaning street in Dutch, is a giagantic space with iconic pieces by Keith Haring and Banksy, and there was even a piece from one of my favorite Korean street artists, Royyal Dog. STRAAT Museum is an intriguing space for the radical art movement. If you’ve got some time and want to do something fun in Amsterdam, take a ferry to nearby NDSM wharf and explore the dynamic intersection of creativity, expression, and storytelling. If you’ve got…
