Category: Netherlands

Second Time Around: What To Do on Your Second Trip to Amsterdam

Brouwerij 't IJ is a great brewery serving delicious craft beer in Amsterdam, Holland, the Netherlands.

A certain blonde gentleman with a penchant for European travel — perhaps you’ve heard of him? — often shares this advice in his guidebooks: “Your trip to [insert European country] is like a complex play — it’s easier to follow and really appreciate on a second viewing.”

(Spoiler alert: it’s Rick Steves, of course.)

Keeping this sentiment in mind, I had several questions about what my second trip to Amsterdam would be like. Would visiting at the height of the summer make us want to scram from Amsterdam? Would I manage to avoid head-on collisions with one of their 881,000+ bicycles? And, most importantly, would I be able to stuff myself with as much stroopwafel and beer as I had last time?!? Inquiring minds needed to know.

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Why You Need To Visit Keukenhof, Holland’s Tulip Paradise

There's no better place to be right now to get into the spring of things than Keukenhof, one of the world's largest flower gardens. But what makes Keukenhof so awesome? How do you get there? And what does Keukenhof actually mean? Here's why you need to visit Keukenhof, Holland's tulip paradise.

Spring is finally in the air, which means that — if you live in a normal part of the world where you aren’t hit by four snowstorms in the span of three weeks and moping about in your dusty apartment — the birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, and tulips are blooming all over the land. And there’s no better place to be right now to get into the spring of things than Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower gardens.

If you’re feeling like frolicking around in some flowers this year, you’re not alone: over one million visitors flow through Keukenhof’s gates annually. But what makes Keukenhof so awesome? How do you get there? And what does Keukenhof actually mean? Here’s why you need to visit Keukenhof, Holland’s tulip paradise.

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How To Fall in Love with Amsterdam in 72 Hours

Bikes and Canals in Amsterdam
After 72 hours together, I can officially say I'm enamored with Amsterdam. This is how I fell in love with the Netherlands' capital, and how you will, too.

Oh, Amsterdam. You’re like that friend in college that was always asking me to hang out, but I was always busy for one reason or another. I had a feeling we’d get along; it was just that glitzier cities like Rome and Hong Kong were calling my name more loudly. When I finally came to visit you, however, I couldn’t believe we hadn’t been together sooner.

I fell in love with you, Amsterdam. Hard. Yes, you helped me to understand my Dutch heritage a bit better, but you also surprised me in the most unexpected ways. Your picture-perfect canals. Your relaxed, blue jeans attitude. Even your damn maddening bike lanes won me over in the end.

Though I was uncertain at first, after three days together, I can officially say I’m enamored. This is the true saga of how I fell in love with the capital of the Netherlands in 72 hours, and how you will, too.

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The Heineken Experience: Or, How I Found Beer Nirvana in Amsterdam

Love beer? If you're in Amsterdam, you've got to take the VIP Tour at the Heineken Experience. Dutch beer, cheese, and good cheer - what more could you ask for?

The moment my parents returned from their trip to Amsterdam last spring, they eagerly regaled us with tales of their Dutch adventures. Though they spoke about the usual suspects — the Anne Frank House! Museums galore! Rijsttafel! — I was shocked to learn what topped their list of Amsterdam favorites: the Heineken Experience.

As a beer aficionado with Dutch ancestors, I knew immediately that I needed to visit the Heineken Experience on my March 2017 trip to Amsterdam. Would it be touristy? Cheesy? I didn’t know, but I didn’t care; I was in.

It took zero effort to convince fellow travel blogger Ashley to visit the Heineken Experience with me (probably because we have some serious beer telepathy going on). Turns out we had the best ‘dam time of our lives there. Here’s why.

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