The non-stop talk of the Eurovision Song Contest and the related topics about ‘European Culture’ have made me dig into my travel files to find something to counter-act the poppy-chatter. So here’s my quiz question for today: What three things have Turku in Finland and Košice in Slovakia have in common? Ok, the first one is [...]
January 11, 2012 – 11:36 am
The the recent wet weather has caused havoc in many EU countries, and for the first time in my memory (not that this says very much…) my home city of Groningen has had to resort to sandbags to stop the rising waters from flooding parts of the city. OK, I know that the Netherlands is [...]
Posted in Arctic, Finland, Folklore, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged Arctic, Flooding, Folk Stories, four winds hat, Groningen, Lapland, Lauwersoog, Norway, Poland, rain, Sami, sea levels, storm, the Netherlands, Warsaw, winds
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November 27, 2011 – 8:29 pm
It has been unseasonably warm this autumn and it’s hard to believe that we are only 3 weeks away from the winter equinox. Despite the glorious sunshine though, the days seem shorter than ever, so it must be true. One thing that confirms the time of year is the fact that people in the Netherlands [...]
Posted in Austria, Croatia, Folklore, France, History, Netherlands, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged 5th December, 6th December, Austria, Bari, boat burning, Croatia, Dordrecht, France, Holiday Season, Komiza, Krampus, Moors, Myra, Netherlands, Paterswolde, patron saint, pepernoten, Pere Fouettard, Pilgrims, saint, Santa claus, Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas zinkt, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas sinks, St. Nicholas' Eve
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November 1, 2011 – 9:45 pm
How time flies! It is hard to imagine that a year has gone by since I wrote about Halloween, and the celebrations of All Saints and All Souls. Well, a year did go by, and the lights in our hand-carved pumpkin went out late last night, after the busiest Halloween night I can ever remember. [...]
Posted in Croatia, England, Nature, Poland, Slovakia, Travel Writing
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Tagged All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Arboretum, Autumn, Cemetary, England, Halloween, Remembrance, Trick or Treat, Walks, Westonbirt
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August 31, 2011 – 5:05 pm
As I am writing this blog, I find myself on an Emirates flight, high above the great African plains – more than 10 kilometres high to be precise. It appears to be about midday, although my body clock is definitely not in agreement – I’m about three hours out. I’ve snoozed for hours, but haven’t [...]
When planning a family holiday, I tend to rely heavily on recommendations from people I know well and who have personally inspired me to visit a certain place or country – people who know me and my family well, and who understand what things will appeal to us. I have been fortunate: I have a loyal band [...]
The first herring of the season, freshly caught, arrived yesterday afternoon in the Dutch fishing port of Scheveningen. If you’re not from the Netherlands this little fact may not mean much to you, but to many Dutch people it means everything. Herring, or more specifically the eating of herring, is almost an institution in Holland, [...]
Posted in Customs, Denmark, Finland, France, History, Netherlands, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Fishing, Flag Day Scheveningen, Haring, Holland, Raw Herring, Scheveningen, Vlaggetjesdag
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Tired of all the Royal Wedding planning in the UK? Fancy a Royal Party with a difference? If so, then read on… In neighbouring the Netherlands preparations are in full swing for something completely different. It is the annual celebration on the 30th of April, when the Dutch celebrate Koninginnedag, (‘Queen’s Day’). Having grown up [...]
Posted in Customs, Folklore, Netherlands, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Amsterdam, Family Travel, Koekhappen, Koninginnedag, Koninginnenacht, Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, Queen's Day
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I recently read somewhere that if a place is worth visiting, you should be able to list at least ten things you can do while you are there. Hmmm…. Interesting thought. Let’s give it a go. Let’s assume you’re planning your first ever trip to Croatia. You’ve bought your plane tickets, your kids are excited [...]
January 28, 2011 – 2:20 pm
Yesterday was national Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK, the day when we take time to remember all those who have died during the Holocaust and in armed conflict around the world since then. It is a day that always makes me reflect on the things I have learned, seen and experienced throughout my life but [...]
Posted in Estonia, History, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Travel Writing
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Tagged Estonia, Family Travel, History, Holocaust, Kids Travel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Travel Planning
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