Summer has arrived in The Netherlands! School is out and so is the sun. Temperatures are on the rise and the beaches are packed. How do the Dutch spend a Netherlands summer? The answers might surprise you. They don’t stray too far Holiday homes and campgrounds are super popular for families who love the outdoors. Otherwise, travelers make their way around Europe with purpose. Most don’t venture too far from The Netherlands. The summers are so mild, it’s hard to…
The Dutch garden is taken very seriously. When buying a home, one detail to look for is where the garden is located. Ideally it will be in the south where the sun will fall for most of the day. The Dutch love the sun and a south facing garden has the potential to make the most of daylight. And how exactly do the Dutch decorate these spaces? While it varies from household to household, it’s common to see a few…
Confession time, I use ASMR. People who can fall into bed and turn off the world are lucky. Others, like me, lie awake for hours after the lights have done off. The reasons are different for why it’s hard to fall asleep. We wake up groggy, unable to focus, and irritated at the smallest things. Sleeping has never been an easy thing for me. When I was young I would stay up reading until I could sleep. Then I played…
The Dutch term wandelen is a bit difficult to explain in English. I’ve been told the term has a variety of definitions depending on who you talk to. I’ve often heard that wandelen is “taking a leisurely stroll out in nature. It’s to experience nature at it’s fullest and to enjoy the time outdoors.” The Dutch definition of it is similar to “walking for sport.” It can be compared to a simple walk in the park or to a muliti-day…
Spring cleaning is always easier said than done. While it takes time and effort to do a good job, it doesn’t have to take more than one day. If you’re struggling to get up and go with your spring cleaning here are some things to consider! Everything happens with baby steps so don’t push yourself. Put away the old Now is the best time to put away the winter clothes that have been clogging up your wardrobe. Store those furry…
Everyone celebrates spring differently but there’s something about the way that the Dutch do it that makes it special. I read somewhere that when the sun is out, the Dutch come out as well and there’s so much truth in that! People leave their cars behind and take a fresh outlook on life. How do the Dutch do it? It’s actually pretty simple when you think about it! Go for a bike ride The Dutch are known for a handful…
Spring is finally here and with it comes the warm sun, balmy breezes, and bright evenings that extend past 9pm. As with any season, the Dutch have adapted to make the most of it and that includes bringing the natural freshness of the outdoors inside. So how exactly do they make their homes feel like an outdoor retreat? Keep windows open First things first, open as many windows as you possibly can. This is a simple and obvious method but…
Vondelpark is huge. Wait that might be an understatement. Vondelpark is colossal! It’s also a real landmark of Amsterdam and one that should be on every to do list. It’s 120 acres of lush life right in the heart of the city. With so much to see and do, it can quickly become overwhelming. However I’d like to share some tips to help make it an enjoyable experience. How to get there Thankfully Vondelpark is accessible in a number of ways.…
One of the most important things about moving to a new country, is learning the language. Understanding the world around you is a very human thing. We’re curious and most of us actively seek knowledge on a daily basis. Thinking about new words, grammar rules and vocabulary often gets me thinking on where those words originated. I often discuss these topics with my Dutch tutor and there are days where she’ll need some time to think about a Dutch word’s origin.…