The Netherlands – Oh, the Places We See . . .

Elegance in art and architecture: Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp

It wouldn’t be a European tour worth its salt if we didn’t see at least one cathedral. But in Belgium, we saw several — and not just any plain ol’ architectural beauties. Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp has distinguished itself as a noteworthy example of Gothic architecture, but it’s also a depository of some […]

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LAPC #213: Here Comes the Sun

Thanks to Amy for hosting the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #213 this week and this topic that probably appeals to anyone who loves photographing the sun whether it’s morning, noon, or late evening! (In fact, head to her site for a stunning photo of an Alaskan sunrise taken at 3:49 a.m.) To love beauty is to […]

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Belgium’s charm begins in Antwerp

Leaving Holland’s quaint streets and stair-step gabled architecture could have made us regret that we were nearing the end of our Holland & Belgium cruise with Viking were it not for the continuing charm of Antwerp. Even though the official capital of Flanders is Brussels, we found the “unofficial capital” — Antwerp — to be […]

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The many delights of Maastricht

It would be hard NOT to fall in love with Maastricht, a town in Holland known for its markets, open plazas, and rich history. And so, we, too, fell in line with others who agree that this is a free-spirited place for shopping, touring, and relaxing. Known for its open-air markets selling everything from clothing […]

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Retracing Van Gogh: A walking tour of Neunen

It would be difficult, we suppose, to visit The Netherlands and not hear about Vincent Van Gogh, the well-known post-impressionist artist known for “greats” such as Starry Night, Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and The Potato Eaters. But what we didn’t realize was that his life was a humble one, living, as he did, in a small […]

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A foodie day in Gouda

Before we get into this delightful Viking Cruise add-on excursion to the little town of Gouda, Netherlands, let’s get one thing straight: You’ve got to pronounce Gouda correctly! That’s right. You’re probably not saying it right, and the lady holding a tray of sample cheeses will insist that you learn the proper pronunciation before you […]

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Windmills of Kinderdijk, gems of The Netherlands

Although windmills dot the landscape in various parts of The Netherlands, the 19 remarkably preserved windmills in Kinderdijk make them a must-see on any tour of the region. “The area is located amid low-lying polders, tracts of land reclaimed from the sea by the power of the windmills and enclosed by embankments, or dikes.” (Viking […]

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Tulips and windmills: Just another day in The Netherlands

None of us would imagine a trip through The Netherlands without seeing tulips or windmills. But, of course, tulips don’t bloom year-round. And with that thought, we figured that if we booked a tour of Holland in May, we wouldn’t expect to see tulips in bloom. But Viking’s cruise — Holland and Belgium — had […]

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Treasures of Hoorn, a waterfront town in The Netherlands

If you ask us, every town we visit has treasures of its own. But since we had never heard of Hoorn, we weren’t expecting the historic and nautical treasures awaiting us in this small town about 45 minutes from Amsterdam. When you’re on a Viking tour — well, maybe any river cruise for that matter […]

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The Netherlands will have to wait!

As fate would have it, my right shoulder has a tear in its rotator cuff. So I’ll be out for surgery (only a day) and then recovery. But writing may not be possible for a while. So, a trip to the classy little town of Hoorn and many others in The Netherlands and Belgium will […]