Schiedam – a honey of a gin gem and more
The Netherlands has been an oft-overlooked destination for those vacationers from the UK. Amsterdam still has a massive draw but there is so much more...
Closer to Vermeer and the Girl
New discoveries and insights from the international scientific examination of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. The scientific examination of Johannes Vermeer’s world-famous painting, known...
Remelluri Organic Winery – travel review
The mountains have been here for 80 million years; humans have been using the mountains for a lot less time than that, but nevertheless for...
Major Aelbert Cuyp Exhibition in the Netherlands – September 2020
Aelbert Cuyp Exhibition 27 September 2020 to 14 March 2021 To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Aelbert Cuyp (1620–1691) the Dordrechts Museum...
Antwerp for a Belgian Break – Things to do! – travel review
Antwerp is the capital of the Belgian province of Flanders. It is one of the most populous cities in Belgium, although the old city centre...
Africa Museum re-opens in Brussels
9 December 2019 – Tevuren – near Brussels. Originally inaugurated for the Brussels International Exhibition of 1897, Charles Girault, architect of the Petit Palais in...
Limberg – land of wine, honey and rather good coffee
Honey BEEingPure and Sweet? Sounds like advice for a good life. In reality, BEEingPure is the name of a small yet influential honey-making (or is...
To End all Wars- Ypres
In Flanders Fields Museum – To End all Wars – Ypres 27 October – 15 November 2019 To End all Wars – Ypres Timed with...
Me and Mes Amis in Maastricht
I have said it before, and I will say it yet again – The Netherlands has amazing food! It’s not all gin and cheese, although...
Kröller-Müller Museum presents seldom exhibited drawings in Drawn from life
Drawn from life 12 Oct 2019 – 19 Jan 2020 The exhibition Drawn from life features many seldom exhibited drawings, pastels and watercolours from the...
The Bisschopsmolen and a Pie
Nestled in the historic streets of Maastricht is the Bisschopsmolen or, in English, the Bishop’s Mill. It truly was once a mill and its reputation...
Heavenly Kruisherenhotel Maastricht
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is one of the most noteworthy hotels in which I have stayed in the Netherlands. Perhaps it’s one of the most memorable hotels...
Kasteel de Haar
It’s true – one hardly expects to find castles in The Netherlands! But they do exist and there are many of them, along with stately...
The Year of Pieter Bruegel
Pieter Bruegel produced unique works which are still easily recognised today. They reflect the reality of the 16th Century in northern Europe – and that...
Middachten Castle – It’s a Family Affair
Middachten Castle or Kasteel Middachten in Dutch, is a significant and beautiful manor house, located on the Middachten estate, De Steeg, Netherlands. The building we...
Loevestein Castle – Historic Netherlands
This is said to be the most famous castle in the Netherlands. That will come as a surprise to most tourists, who will likely not...
Lambic – the sweet taste of a sour beer
OK, I had not heard of Lambic and that’s mainly because I am not a big beer drinker, but this was something of a revelation...
Blandy’s Wine Lodge – Madeira
A guided tour of Blandy’s 17th century Wine Lodge and its associated Wine Museum, in the centre of Funchal, will reveal some of the art...
Kröller-Müller – The beginning of a New World
From 1 June to 29 September 2019 at The Kröller-Müller The summer exhibition The Beginning of a New World The development of modern sculpture is...
Gaasbeek Castle for a Feast of Fools: Bruegel Rediscovered
Gaasbeek Castle for a Feast of Fools: Bruegel Rediscovered 6 April 2019 – 28 July 2019 Gaasbeek Castle isn’t far from the thronging city of...