Dotted with medieval castles and precipitous wineries, the Rhine River is exactly as picturesque as the brochures make it out to be. Steeped in history at the confluence of four countries — namely France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands — the mighty river truly lies at the centre of Western European civilisation from its source in the Swiss Alps to its delta in the North Sea. And from my private balcony on the AmaKristina, a glass of wine in my left hand and a camera in my right, I thought to myself that surely the most elegant way to explore the arcs and bends of this region was a Rh ..read more

In a land far, far away (well, not that far, it’s just an hour outside Amsterdam) is a village where time seems to have stood still. With no cars, coaches or any engine aside from the gentle humming of the odd motorised punt, Giethoorn is truly a dream come true. It’s flanked by traditional Dutch farmhouses with thatched roofs and blooming tulip copses, and moves to the rhythm of the local duck gang persistent’s quacking. Must I really go on with these superlatives, or do you understand by now that a day trip to Giethoorn, located in Weerribben-Wieden National Park, is an absolute must if you ..read more

One of Europe’s smallest countries morphs into a colorful patchwork quilt from mid-March to mid-May. Reds, magentas, yellows and purples almost roll out a technicolored rug all over the region! Aside from photogenic tulip fields and bustling flower markets, the Netherlands actually have a long, fascinating history with the bulb trade. Therefore, I went on location in search of the prettiest floral expanses and to find out a little more about why tulips are such a blooming deal in Holland. TULIPS IN HOLLAND Basel Alsace Germany Amsterdam Why book a Rhine river cruise? + europe travel tips ..read more

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Keukenhof Gardens twice in my life; once, in 2009, back when I had no idea how to use a camera other than to point it at things and hope for the best, and another in 2015, when I had a better understanding of what the hell I was doing. I have to state right away that besides being the largest flower garden in the world, Keukenhof is also a photographer’s idea of paradise. With its 32 hectares of flowers encompassing every colour of the rainbow and its meticulously laid out arrangements, Keukenhof will turn anyone into a flower person – all you’ve got to do i ..read more

One of the most enjoyable things about Europe for North Americans is undeniably how close every country is to each other. The notion of going on a day trip is much more tangible on the Old Continent than it is here, in Canada, where going from one place to another can literally take hours. And out of all European countries, that reality is especially true in the Netherlands, which, at just 41,543 km2, are 240 times smaller than Canada. Crossing the entire country can be done in less than half a day! Setting up base in Amsterdam and going on a few day trips is ..read more

What was I thinking, booking a cycling tour in the Dutch countryside when I am literally the worst cyclist in the world? Immediately upon entering my payment details I realise what a huge mistake I’ve made. In hindsight, I know that it is the promise of a cheese factory visit (you know what my priorities are in life) completely clouded my judgment and led me to believe I could nail this. But I could not walk out. I am way too proud to chicken out on things like that. + holland travel tips The most colourful day trip from Amsterdam: Keukenhof Gardens My biking day trip from Am ..read more

It hardly gets more touristy than this, right? Because I usually prefer to tick off a handful of landmarks off my proverbial bucket list and then set off to discover the city’s cool, more authentic neighborhoods, hopping on a canal cruise was of course never part of my master plan in Amsterdam. Not that there’s anything wrong with it – it’s just not something I would normally do (mostly because I’m cheap and dislike paying for attractions). Amsterdam was the 7th city on my grand Northern Europe Eurail trip, and at that point I had been battling the flu for a few days. I didn’t have it in me to ..read more

Well hello there, Dutch icon. Nice to finally see you. Quite frankly, it doesn’t really get more scenic and picturesque than this in the Netherlands. Kinderdijk (pronounced kin-der-dike – you’re welcome). It starts with a relatively calm boat ride through the maze of canals/rivers outside Rotterdam and then, bam, the largest concentration of windmills in the country are right in front of you. All that’s missing are wooden clogs and brightly coloured tulip fields and you’ve got the complete Dutch stereotype. The historic windmills network -comprising 19 different windmills- date back to 1740 an ..read more

When you think of the Netherlands, and Holland in particular, what pops in your mind? Canals, cobblestone streets, bicycles, cheese, and gabled roofs, right? This is exactly what you’ll get in Delft. All these features, when presented together, make the ultimate Dutch town, the one we imagine, the one we read about and the one we want to see. Away from the hustle of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Quite the Dutch paradise, if you ask me. Delft canals It couldn’t be quintessential without canals, right? And in Delft, when it rains, it pours. There are SO many cute, quaint canals around the city, th ..read more

One of the big advantages of traveling within the Netherlands, outside massive amounts of cheese and overall awesomeness, is the proximity to, well, everything. Because if you’ve looked at a European map, chances are you’ve either: Noticed how small the Netherlands are, or… That you just haven’t seen them at all (true story). It’s always a weirdly fun feeling for me, a Canadian, to visit a country that’s precisely 240 times smaller than my own. The sheer idea of crossing an entire country in just a few hours is normally something I would snort at – but not in the Netherlands. If you plan on ..read more