Header photo – Amsterdam harbor on the IJ looking east past the cruise port / Border photo – Interior view, Harpa concert hall, Reykjavik
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Category Archives: Netherlands travel
old but helpful Dutch rail card news
The old paper tickets are obsolete on Dutch trains. Now you need a smart card, called the OV-chipkaart. Similar to NYC’s Metro card or the London Oyster and Travel cards, these can be bought as either single use or multi-use, … Continue reading
Random news from the Netherlands – summer 2014
A bunch of items from Dutch News. Though some of the articles came out several weeks ago, the news is still valid as far as I can find. Mopeds, helmets and bike lanes. A surprising find during restoration of a … Continue reading
Celebrating Queen’s/King’s Day/Night in the Netherlands
In 2013, the annual celebration of Queen Beatrix’s birthday at the end of April became a joint Queen’s/King’s Day all over the Netherlands. It was to be the last Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) and the first of many King’s Days (Koningsdag), … Continue reading
Dutch rail tickets and Heathrow’s runway plans
From Dutch News. Paper train tickets are being phased out this summer. Time to look into the alternatives. The chipkaart sounds similar to NYC’s Metro Cards and London’s Oyster card and should be easy to get. The tricky part may … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, BeNeLux, England, General magpie travel, London travel, Netherlands travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, UK news, Virgin Atlantic
Tagged chipkaart, Dutch rail, Dutch train tickets, Gatwick airport, Gatwick Express, Heathrow terminal 2, London Heathrow
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Dutch tidbits – spring 2014
From Dutch news. Bike parking to be expanded in Amsterdam. A canal house is being created using a 3D printer and is open to visitors. Problems with high-speed rail service continues, but slow trains are still in service between A’dam … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, Archaeology in Europe, Europe's gardens, European art, European museums, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged 3D printing, Dutch bike parking, Dutch canal house, Dutch flower bulbs, Dutch rail, Han van Meegeren, Han van Meegeren death mask, Rijksmuseum, Vermeer forger
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Keukenhof 2014 is open for business
The best spring garden show in the world, Keukenhof, has just opened in Lisse, Netherlands and runs through mid-May. If you’ve never been and you love flowers and gardens and springtime, you’ll love this annual event. Keukenhof is turning into my … Continue reading
Tidbits from Dutch news – Feb 2014
Here are a couple of stories from Dutch news from last month… The Hermitage’s Amsterdam location is now home to thirty Golden Age paintings by Rembrandt et al., similar to his masterpiece The Night Watch, which lives at the Rijksmuseum … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, BeNeLux, European art, European museums, European music, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Amsterdam museums, Dutch movies, Dutch paintings, Hermitage Amsterdam, Hermitage museum, Imagine Nation, Night Watch, Rembrandt, Rutger Hauer, Soldier of Orange, Soldier of Orange musical
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Souvenirs from King’s / Queen’s Day in Amsterdam 2013
King’s Day / Queen’s Day in Amsterdam in 2013 was a once-in-a-lifetime combination affair – the reigning queen stepped down and her son became king. Two for the price of one. Despite having no vested interest in the ceremonies, I … Continue reading
Roman road found in Utrecht, Netherlands
From Dutch News. A road dating from Roman times has been dug up in central Utrecht while building work was being carried out. Ancient Roman ruins don’t immediately come to mind as elements of Dutch history, which makes the news … Continue reading
Dutch railways removing yellow timetable boards
From Dutch News. The giant yellow timetable signboards have been a hallmark of Dutch rail stations for ages. Nowadays, with so many passengers checking the up-to-the-minute digital signs or using online apps for trip planning, the yellow timetables have been … Continue reading
A good year predicted for Dutch wine – Dutch wine?
From DutchNews. 2013 looks to be a good year for Dutch winemakers. The Dutch make some great cheese. Who knew the Dutch made wine?? Great combination, though.
Van Gogh’s lost masterpiece
From France 24. Sunset at Montmajour by Van Gogh has been found, authenticated and unveiled at the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. You should go.
Amsterdam’s canals are 400 years old in 2013
From Dutch News. A short video celebrating Amsterdam’s canals and the fun to be had on them. More than just sightseeing boats; my favorite clip? ice skating on the frozen canal!
Posted in Amsterdam travel, BeNeLux, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Amsterdam, Amsterdam canals
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Increase your travel budget for Dutch tram and bus fares
From Dutch News. Bus and tram fares have been increasing across the Netherlands. While still cheaper than other options, you’ll pay more than before. The amount of the increase varies among cities.
Posted in General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Dutch transportation
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Dutch coffeeshops, “beer” and a speedtrap
From Dutch News. Although Dutch laws have been changed so that non-residents are no longer allowed to buy dope in coffeeshops, the implementation date has not been announced. Hurry up and get your tokes in now! On another consumer note, … Continue reading
A roundup of ‘Euronews’ for spring 2013
From the London Independent, DutchNews, France 24, et al. Ten gardens to visit when the weather cooperates. The Moscow Cat Circus returns. I’m hoping they get animal visas to travel outside Russia soon. Turn on your high-beams in the Netherlands; … Continue reading
Posted in England, France, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, Scotland, UK news
Tagged Aboriginal art in Paris, Airbnb in Amsterdam, driving in the Netherlands, Dutch - Belgian high speed rail, Marseille museum, Moscow Cat Circus, UK spring gardens
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Some quick notes from Europe
Haaj. Hola. Hello! Coming to the end of the first week on vaca. Wi-fi has been spotty to say the least. The hotel in London only had access in the lobby, a real pain. The place I stayed in Alkmaar … Continue reading
Dutch and other European news March/April 2013
From Dutch News and BBC. Two big art museums in Amsterdam are sue to reopen after long closures. One is the Rijksmuseum, home of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, among many other masterpieces. It will reopen on 13 April. Also, the … Continue reading
Not the same old lawn ornaments
One of the shops at Floriade, the Netherlands’ once-every-ten-years horticultural exhibition, had a variety of plastic lawn ornaments for sale. In addition to the usual ducks, chickens and gnomes, they also had goats and… you won’t believe it… guinea pigs!! … Continue reading
2013 is the last year for Queen’s Day in the Netherlands
From DutchNews. This year will be the last time Netherlands celebrates Queen Beatrix’s birthday (April 30). Next year, they’ll have a king, Willem-Alexander, so the date will move to April 27 and become King’s Day. Still, if you’re anywhere in … Continue reading
Dutch Queen Beatrix to abdicate in April 2013
Just an interesting tidbit from DutchNews. I know almost nothing about the monarchies and monarchs of continental Europe, possibly because they are so low-key. The only time we hear anything about them is if one of them dies or one … Continue reading
Rotterdam to Antwerp – high speed train only
From DutchNews. A heads-up if you are planning a trip soon which includes taking the train between Rotterdam and Antwerp – the only train beginning on 9 December will be the (expensive) high-speed Fyra train. Budget accordingly.
train prices and schedules between Netherlands and Belgium
High speed rail services between A’dam and Brussels will boost prices by almost 30%. Yikes! From DutchNews. US tourists would do well to double-check prices from RailEurope in case there are savings to be had there. Then there is the … Continue reading
The Netherlands needs more free houses to provide better beer choices for customers – discuss
From DutchNews. A heads-up for beer lovers looking for more in Holland than Heineken and Grolsch (Grolsch now owned by SAB Miller). Pooey. Beer prices are rising and affecting many landlords because their pubs and cafes are essentially properties renting … Continue reading
Poffertjes
Pasted from Deutsche Welle Culture page… I had a plateful of these yummy little pancakes sitting at an open-air cafe on the main square in Haarlem, Netherlands almost 15 years ago. I still remember that snack and the late evening … Continue reading
Hague Masquerade on 31 August, 2012
From DutchNews. The last day of August is the date for the Hague Masquerade, a big fancy dress (costumed) dance party. From what I can find, this is the second more-or-less annual edition of this fascinating event. Another intriguing non-touristy … Continue reading
Upping the speed limit on the Netherland’s widest highway
Night time speed limit may be raised for widest highway in Netherlands.
Award-winning herring shop in Leiden, Netherlands
Next time you’re in Leiden, stop into Atlantic Fish shop for some herring. Lekker (yummm).
The Dutch think of everything!
Reblogged from work.failblog.org (odd name for a blog) et al – Dutch help for men
European travel news roundup, recycling art from Dutch churches, the oldest cave art in France
Touring the Dutch coast in Zeeland. From London Independent. Be careful of ‘tourist prices‘. From London Independent’s Simon Calder. BMI gets gobbled up by British Airways; Virgin loses out (Rats!). Other BMI subsidiaries in limbo. From London Independent. From Dutch … Continue reading
