Abel Landsweers

5 Unique Spots in and near Leidschendam, The Netherlands

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De Molendriegang Leidschendam

1. The authentic Molendriegang

Let’s start with one of the most magical places in Leidschendam, the Molendriegang. These are 3 windmills, built around 1672 to drain the Driemanspolder. Today the mills are active once a month. You can see the windmills from afar, because they are in the middle of a beautiful polder landscape. But you can also admire these impressive historical buildings with its huge wicks up close. Therefor you have to go to the Stompwijkseweg. We are so lucky, for us it is only a 5 minute bike ride to spot the windmills. That’s why we often enjoy this special Dutch view just around the corner.

2. The Nieuwe Driemanspolder, the place where you can walk for hours

A few meters from the Molendriegang, you will find the vast Nieuwe Driemanspolder. This is the perfect place for a walk or bike ride to enjoy the tranquility in the middle of nature. You are away from all the noice for a while. The polder has been constructed to store rainwater, so you will see a lot of water. You will probably also come across horses, because bridleways have been constructed throughout the polder.

Driemanspolder Leidschendam Nederland

3. Leidschendammerhout, the habitat of Scottish Highlanders

With their messy orange hair and pointy horns, the Scottish Highlanders are impressive animals. You have a good chance of spotting them in the green Leidschendammerhout nature reserve. Follow the Duinwaterpad and you will automatically come across them. Here the Scottish Highlanders graze in their own territory. They are so curious, so they often come very close. At one point we could just stroke their fluffy hair. Besides being cute, they can also pose as professional models! So don’t forget to bring your camera. They will love it!

Scotish highlander Netherlands

4. Picturesque Leidschendam at the Sluis

Did you enjoy a walk in the Leidschendammerhout or the Nieuwe Driemanspolder? Then we definitely recommend relaxing on one of the terraces at De Sluis. It is a bustling part in Leidschendam full of restaurants, bars and ice cream parlors.

Our favorite spots for lunch or dinner are:
💛 Italian Restaurant Fratelli & Brasserie aan de Sluis. Both have a terrace in the sun, with a view of the Petrus & Paulus Church and the bobbing boats passing the the Rijn-Schie Canal.
💛 Restaurant NR 11, with a cute courtyard garden and fancy interior.

Our favorite spot for ice cream is:

💛 IJs & zo. They have very tasty and special ice cream flavors.

5. The Futuristic Mall of The Netherlands

In addition to all the beautiful nature and authentic places, Leidschendam is also very modern and innovative. The largest indoor shopping center in the Netherlands can be found here: the Mall of the Netherlands. With 230 shops, a food hall, cinema and various restaurants, there are plenty of options for a day out! What immediately stands out is the futuristic design on the inside and outside. All stores look beautiful and are real eye-catchers!

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6 Tips for Flying a Drone Carefree – Our Do’s & Don’ts

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Mavic mini fly more combo

Sidenote before flying a drone

Before we will talk about the do’s and don’ts of flying a drone, we hope you know how to fly responsibly and safely. Would you like to know more about the rules and legislation regarding flying your drone? Then read our blog ‘3 Important Drone Rules to Know Before Flying a Drone‘

#1 Flying a drone inside is a NO GO

The first thing that comes to mind is: please don’t fly inside and fly very carefully if necessary. When we took our drone out of the box, we immediately wanted to try it out. But at home, the drone usually has no GPS signal due to the different layers in the house. This allows the drone to drift in the air and is less controllable. Our drone flew straight into a wall. Also, we had not attached the supplied inner protection to the drone, but luckily the drone had no damage.

#2 Look around before flying a drone

If you want to take off outside, it is important that you choose a good spot. First of all, find a place with a lot of space, such as a wide field. Follow the steps of the DJI Fly App and let the drone take off from an object. We use the box from the Fly More Combo as a platform. This way the propellers do not touch the ground and cannot be damaged. Tip: Always check the propellers beforehand to make sure they are all intact. If you decide to take off, first check that there are no trees, branches or power lines in the area you can fly into. And keep checking this continuously while flying.

DJI Mavic Mini

#3 Choose a good ‘Return to home’ spot

Don’t panic if you lost sight of your drone at some point and don’t know how to get back. You can always use the ‘return to home’ button on your remote control to return your drone to the spot where you started the flight. Therefore, choose a suitable place where the drone can easily land or return to. The return to home button works even if the app loses connection to the drone. Once we flew near a village and the drone disconnected, we pressed the return to home button and the drone came back perfectly.

Tip: You can set the altitude at which the drone will fly back. Make sure not to let it fly back too low, because the drone will fly back in a straight line without paying attention to obstacles. Too high, on the other hand, is also not useful; the drone will have to take a long time to get to the correct, unnecessary height first. So explore the neighborhood and make sure you set the correct flight height.

Flying a drone

#4 Try to start from a 0 point

Always try to launch the drone from a 0 point. One time we launch the drone when we were on a hill and then wanted to fly to the salt lakes below us. The app indicated that we were flying at -50 meters. This is confusing and you can no longer estimate when you are near the ground (in this case the water). To see if we could fly a little lower, we had to point the camera down. At one point it was hard to see and of course we didn’t want to risk the drone falling into the water, so we had to fly back.

#5 Check the weather conditions

If it is windy outside, but you still want to fly your drone don’t let your drone take off too high at first and test whether the drone can handle the weather conditions. A drone can only handle a certain wind force, otherwise there is a chance that your drone will be blown away and you may never find it again. Some drones are stronger than others, so keep that in mind. For example, the DJI Mavic Mini can reach 46 KM/H and the DJI Mavic Air 2 72 KM/H. We have flown in high winds. First we flew with the wind and our drone went really fast! On the way back, however, the drone had a lot of trouble and was moving about 2 meters per second. That is quite slow when you are 250 meters away. At such a time, try to fly as low as possible so that the drone catches less wind.

Tip: With several apps, such as UAV Forecast, you can check the weather conditions and see if it is possible to fly.

Flying a drone, DJI Mavic Mini

#6 Return back after the ‘low battery’ warning

You are completely in your element and you take all the shots you could only dream of! But then the notification ‘low battery’ appears. Make sure you always fly back if you get such a notification. If you are far away, the battery drains pretty quickly and especially when it’s windy, the drone can’t return in time.

Flying a drone, DJI Fly App battery warning

Tip: If you want to start flying again after the ‘low battery’ notification, buy the DJI drone with the Fly More Combo. This package includes extra propellers, 2 extra batteries, a charger in which all 3 batteries can be charged + a box in which you can take the drone with you. We always take the box with us, so that our drone is well protected in our backpack. The Fly More Combo is slightly more expensive, but we really recommend it. With 1 battery you can fly for almost half an hour, but that includes preparation and take off. If you often go to different places in one day and want to show different place from the air. Then you need at least 3 batteries to get the most out of your drone.

DJI Mavic Fly More Combo

Manually Set Your Drone – Tips To Get Beautiful & Smooth Shots

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DJI remote controller

Sidenote before flying your drone

Before we will talk about your drone settings, we hope you know how to fly responsibly and safely. Would you like to know more about the rules and legislation regarding flying your drone? Then read our blog ‘3 Important Drone Rules to Know Before Flying a Drone‘.

Maximize the quality of your shots

The camera of the drone can be set to different quality settings. Make sure you film in the maximum mode: Full HD → 2.7K → 4K. The better the resolution, the sharper and more impressive your shots will be. 4K is 4 times as sharp as Full HD! Tip: Even if you export your video in Full HD, it is better to film your video in 4K. You will crop the footage in the post-processing, but a 4K recording contains a lot more information and will therefore look sharper than if you shoot your video in Full HD.

Please note: Make sure that you also set the highest quality when you switch to the photography mode. You often have to reset the quality settings in this mode.

Manually set your drone, maximizing quality

Manually set your drone to film

Decide the ideal flight mode

Most drones have 3 flight modes:

  • C-mode (CineSmooth): In C-mode, the drone will fly slowly and more controllably. This way you can make the shots as smooth as possible. So this is the best mode if you want to take a close shot of an object at low speed or when you fly in an area with many obstacles, such as the forest or in a city where you have to be careful.
  • P-mode (Normal): The P-mode is the standard mode. You will use this mode most of the time. The speed increases so you get more movement in your shot, but the drone does have a controlled stability. This mode is perfect for landscapes and wide shots.
  • S-mode (Sport): The sport mode provides an extra fast drone. With the DJI Mavic Mini we can fly 47 kilometers per hour. This mode is useful if it is windy, if you are far away from your subject and you want to have enough movement in your shot or if you want to track a fast subject such as a car or animals.

Manually set your drone, flight mode

Manually set your drone for smooth slow motion shots

You can use slow motion when filming an action where you want to show more details of the action. If you want to slow down the shots, you have to set your drone to 60fps with shutter speed 1/120 or 120fps with shutter speed 1/240 for even more slow motion. In post-processing you can easily slow down the shots with these settings. In Adobe Premiere Pro this is how you slow down your shots: Create a timeline with the setting 24fps. Put the shots in the timeline and slow down the speed of the shots by clicking ‘speed / duration’ in the menu and enter the percentage you want the shots to be slowed down. At 60fps you can set the maximum speed to 40% and 120fps to 20% of its original speed.

Manually set your drone, slow motion

Manually set your drone to photograph

Shutter speed

First of all, make sure that the shutter speed is as fast as possible, at least 1/160. Slower shutter speeds can cause movement in your photo. Because the drone gets constant gusts of wind and is not 100% stable, a fast shutter speed is definitely a must when shooting.

ISO

It is important to keep the ISO value as low as possible to get as little noise as possible in your photo. Also your photo will not get overexposed.

Aperture

With some drones it is also possible to chose an aperture, then it is possible to create a smaller depth of field and take brighter photos.

Mavic mini fly more combo

How to get the perfect cinematic look?

The best thing is to create a cinematic look for your shots. Cinematic means that your shots look real and natural and are stable and smooth without stuttering. At 24 fps (frames per second) you get the most cinematic look. But if you use 24 fps, you must double the shutter speed to 1/50. This setting is not possible on a sunny day, because your shots will be overexposed. So in this case you need a shutter speed of 1/200. But a faster shutter speed will stutter your shot and it will not look cinematic at all. In this situation a ND filter can be very useful. With a ND-filter you put a kind of mini sunglasses on the lens of your drone, so that you can correct and slow down the shutter speed to 1/50. A ND-filter will often have 1 to 4 stops. Every ‘stop’ is a doubling or halving in the exposure of your shot. On a sunny day we use ND32 (5 stops) and on a cloudy day we usually use an ND4 or 8. We use the ND-filter set from Sunnylife ND filter and we are very satisfied with the results. You can easily click the filters on the lens of your drone and vary in strength.

DJI ND filter
DJI ND filter

How to Spend a Multi-Day Trip in Florence

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Duomo Florence Italy

Admire the Duomo

The 15th-century old “Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore”, called the Duomo, is the symbol of Florence and is by far the most remarkable building in the city. It took at least 176 years to build, but the result is majestic. The cathedral is 114.5 meters high and therefore towers far above all buildings. From various viewpoints, this is the building that dominates the view.

The cathedral attracts all the attention, not only with its greatness, but also with its special construction. The Duomo is characterized by the large red stone dome on top, which you can spot from almost every street. You can admire the Duomo from the inside for free, if you do, go early to avoid waiting in a long line.

Danique’s sister took us to a friend who has a roof terrace right in the center of Florence. From here we had a perfect view of the Duomo. During sunset, the sky turned bright pink, orange and yellow. So magical!

Stroll over the iconic Ponte Vecchio 

The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge known today for the established jewelers *bling, bling*. Early in the morning the shutters open and a lot of craft is sold here all day long. Numerous houses have been built on the bridge, which makes the bridge a unique eye-catcher of the city. A fun fact; The Ponte Vecchio has two floors. The top floor was once used to guide the wealthy Medici family to other palaces without having to walk through the crowds.

Climb to the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint

Do you want a beautiful view of the city? Then go to Piazzale Michelangelo. You can walk there in 30 minutes from the center. Pay attention! Prepare well because you have to climb quite a few stairs to get there. Piazzale Michelangelo is a large square with a viewpoint over Florence. From this point you can spot all the highlights, the hilly green surroundings and the special architecture. The square itself is also beautiful. In the center is a copy of Michelangelo’s most famous statue “David”.

Visit the magical Roman Church; San Miniato al Monte

The viewpoint Piazzale Michelangelo is very touristy, so we recommend you to walk 5 minutes further up to the church San Miniato al Monte. From here you have an even wider view of the city and you can enjoy the view in peace, without the crowds of tourists. The Romanesque church from the 11th century is impressive, also from the inside. On a sunny day, the rays of light shine in. Before visiting the church, check the opening times, because the church often closes for a few hours in the afternoon.

Browse the special squares

Get lost through all the typical Italian alleys. Most streets lead you to impressive squares. Such as:

Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo is the most touristic square of Florence, which is not surprising considering that there are a number of must-sees here, including the Duomo. Right in front of the Duomo is the Baptistery, which is particularly notable for its large bronze doors. And right next to the Duomo is the beautiful Giotto’s bell tower. If you climb up here you have a nice view over the city and the famous dome.

Piazza della Signoria

Immediately noticeable on Piazza della Signoria is the former palace “Palazzo Vecchio”, which today serves as the town hall and museum. Furthermore, the square is a true open-air museum. You will find many statues, including a copy of Michelangelo’s world famous statue “David” and a large fountain with a huge statue of Neptune, surrounded by river gods. To see the real “David” and other beautiful statues and paintings you can go to Galleria dell’Accademia. Here you can buy your tickets in advance.

Piazza di Santa Croce

The basilica di Santa Croce in the center of Piazza di Santa Croce is known as the most beautiful Gothic basilica in Italy. The special thing is that many Italian greats have found their final resting place here, such as Michelangelo and Galileo. The front of the church is very impressive. Would you like to enjoy this view for longer? Then take a seat on the terrace of Note di Vino. You are in the 1st row and have a direct view of the square and the basilica. They have the tastiest sandwiches and delicious limoncello cocktails. Cheers!

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata

We have already visited Florence several times, but we had not discovered Piazza della Santissima Annunziata before. The square is located just outside the city center, but it is certainly worth a visit. When we were in Florence, there was a special public artwork. The wolves of the artist Liu Ruowang symbolize nature’s response to humans, which causes damage to nature and disturbs its balance.

Enjoy nature in the Boboli Gardens

Florence is best known for its beautiful art, architecture and squares. So there is little greenery in the city. Still, there are some gardens to visit. We really like the variety, to be able to relax in nature after a walk through the city. So we went to the Boboli Gardens. At that time, the entrance costs €16. We thought that was quite pricey, but it is well worth it! In the gardens you will find fountains, sculptures and viewpoints over the city. It’s huge, so you can spend a big part of your day here.

Taste the culinary highlights

In Florence you certainly don’t have to worry about the food and the wines. There are so many good restaurants that you can hardly choose where to eat. We had the best dinner at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco. Here we ate a vegetarian spaghetti with burrata, basil and tomato sauce; in short, a taste explosion. For dessert, you have to taste an Italian ice cream. Tip: at Venchi you can eat delicious ice cream and the shop itself is also special; the wall is a chocolate waterfall!

Take an evening stroll through the illuminated city

If you are staying in Florence for several days, an evening stroll through the city is recommended. First watch the beautiful sunset overlooking the Ponte Vecchio. Is it getting darker? Then all buildings and highlights are beautifully lit. It gives a mysterious look and you see the city in a completely different way. Often there are many buskers in the evening, giving you the ultimate Italian vibes.

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A little taste of Lisbon: In these 6 steps you make the best Pasteis de Nata

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What do you need?

To make the little round pastries, you need a baking mold with small round (muffin) tins. You also need two different pans, a whisk and an oven that you can heat to 280° degrees.

Ingredients for Pasteis de Nata

You can make the tastiest Pasteis de Nata with the following ingredients:

1 roll of puff pastry
250 ml of whole milk
150 ml of water
2 egg yolks (M)
25 gram butter (unsalted)
2 tbsp flour
150 grams of granulated sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
8 thinly peeled lemon slices
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cinnamon sticks

Note! This amount is enough for 9-10 pastries.

Step by step: How do you make Pasteis de Nata?

It is not difficult! We will explain step by step how to make the best Pasteis de Nata.

Step 1: Make the custard

You start by making the custard. In a bowl, stir together 2 tbsp flour, 1 tsp cornflour, 2 egg yolks and 50 ml milk with a whisk until it’s smooth. Add the remaining 200 ml of milk in a pan along with half of the butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 4 thinly peeled lemon slices and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring this almost (!) to a boil. Make sure that the mixture is warm and in the meantime keep stirring with the whisk in the pan. Is the mixture warm enough? Then remove the cinnamon stick and lemon peels. Pour the warm mixture from the pan into the bowl with the white flour, cornstarch, egg yolks and the other milk. Keep stirring. Return the mixture into the pan and bring to a boil, stirring continuously, until it turns into thick cream. Add the other half of the butter to the thick cream and stir it further until it is lump-free. Is it lump free and has the butter melted completely? Then you can remove the pan from the heat.

Step 2: Prepare the sugar syrup

Now make the sugar syrup. Put 75 ml water, all the granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick and the 4 thinly lemon peels in a pan and put it on the fire. Don’t set the heat too high, as it can go wrong quickly. Do not stir, just move the pan occasionally and make sure all the sugar is moist. After a while the mixture turns into a nice brown sugar syrup. Then lower the heat and carefully add the remaining water to the mixture, continuing to swirl the pan so it doesn’t clump. Leave it on low heat for a while. Then remove the cinnamon stick and lemon peels from the sugar syrup.

Step 3: Finish the custard

To finish the custard, gradually add the sugar syrup to the custard. Keep stirring all the time so that the custard stays lump free. Save some of the sugar syrup so you can sprinkle the top of the Pasteis de Nata at the end.

Step 4: Fill the baking tins with the custard

Before the Pasteis de Nata can go into the oven, there is still some preparation that needs to be done. Roll up the puff pastry. Then cut the roll into 9-10 slices. Grease your baking cups with butter. Fill the 9-10 baking molds with a piece of dough and spread the dough up to the edges of the tins. This gives you 9-10 beautiful cups, which you can now fill with the custard. Make sure there is no air between the dough and the tins, make some holes in the bottom of the dough if necessary. Fill the baking cups just below the rim with the custard because the custard will puff up a bit in the oven. They are now ready for the oven!

Step 5: Into the oven

Heat the oven at the top and bottom on the highest setting (about 280° degrees) and place the rack high in the oven. When the oven is preheated, place the baking tins on the hot grid and bake the Pasteis de Nata for 10-15 minutes at 280° degrees. Until the tops of the pastries turn brown. When the Pasteis de Nata are out of the oven, leave them in the baking tins for another 10 minutes. Take them out and now you can sprinkle them – while they are still warm – with the remaining sugar syrup.

Step 6: Serving Pasteis de Nata

The sweet puff pastries can be served cold or warm. We prefer eating them cold, then you will taste more of the vanilla and the cream is thicker. You give the final touch by sprinkling the pastries with icing sugar or cinnamon if you like. This gives that little bit extra flavor to the Pasteis de Nata. And now… Just taste!! And dream away to your favorite memories of Lisbon.

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Hortus Botanicus; An oasis in the middle of the busy Amsterdam

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Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

The special plant collection

In the multiple gardens and greenhouses of Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam you can discover the special plant collection. At every tree, plant or flower there is a card full of information like the name and where it normally grows. Our favorite ones are:

🌿 The Guano Coccothrinax sp. (left photo): This palm tree may not immediately stand out due to its camouflage stripes. But look at the tree trunk, it looks like tiger print, wow! The palm is native to Central America, the Caribbean.

🌿 The Tail-Grape (right photo): This special plant climbs trees. In Southeast Asia, this species is cultivated for its yellow, edible fruits.

🌿 The Giant water lily Victoria: This water lily grows in a heated pond of no less than 28 degrees. The lily has huge leaves that can grow up to more than a meter. The special thing about this water lily is that it gets a flower a few times a year. This flower blooms for two nights. The flower turns white the first night and pink the second night, then the flower disappears. It is a very special moment and you must be lucky to spot a flower!

🌿 Banana trees: Ohhh this is definitely our number one favorite tree. The immense banana trees rise above everything. We definitely want to have one later, they really give you the best tropical vibes.

Monumental greenhouses

In Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam are a number of monumental greenhouses; the Three Climates Greenhouse, the Palm Greenhouse and the Butterfly Greenhouse. They already look impressive from the outside and invite you to discover the green worlds.

The Three Climates Greenhouse

Get lost in the Three Climates Greenhouse and experience the three climate zones; subtropics, tropics and the desert. In the subtropics you will find shrubs, flowing streams with water lilies and ferns and you should also look up, because the most beautiful and tallest plants and trees grow there. Take a seat on one of the benches and be surprised by mother nature.

Imagine yourself in the desert between the impressive succulents and the most prickly cacti, in their natural habitat. It is a super diverse collection in all shapes and sizes. They can survive in this arid climate because they master a technique of absorbing enough water and holding it for a long time. How special?!

The part of the tropics has high temperatures and high humidity. This causes the windows of the greenhouses to fog up, which looks mysterious. When you walk through the tropics, you can enjoy the sound of running water. Due to the tropical temperatures, drops will form on some plants, in which you see the reflection of all the greenery.

The Palm Greenhouse

Leave the Three Climates Greenhouse, walk through the garden towards the Palm Greenhouse. This place is also a wedding venue, it’s dreamy for sure. It is also the place where concerts and yoga sessions are held. In the summer this greenhouse is a bit emptier, because a number of plants will enjoy the wonderful summer weather outside.

Instagrammable spots

During your visit to Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam you will find many instagrammable spots. Stroll across the narrow floating bridges and look out over the colorful plant kingdom. Let the overgrown winding paths lead you past small ponds with fish and waterfalls. Photograph the most special cacti that stand out beautifully against the bright pink wall. Have lunch or a drink in the restaurant and admire the impressive Pandanus Utilis tree, which grows indoors due to the poor winter temperatures in the Netherlands.

Tips

We visited Hortus during the week. We almost had the gardens and greenhouses to ourselves and we could enjoy our visit to the fullest. It is best to visit the botanical garden when it is sunny. Then the sun’s rays magically shine through the greenhouse and all the greenery is beautifully illuminated.

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4 Awesome Spots in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

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1. Creative street art in the Berenkuil

The most colorful graffiti can be found in the Berenkuil, a place where graffiti artists are legally allowed to make their creations. Because the artists spray over each other’s work, you are always surprised by new works of art. In the background you hear hip-hop music blasting from the speakers and the graffiti spray cans are getting shaked. Admire how one stripe turns into an entire work of art. It is a lifestyle and it is so interesting to have a chat with one of the artists, so you can learn more about the culture, different styles and the stories behind the bizarre works of art.

We visited Eindhoven on a rainy day, but that made this place even more special, as the artworks reflected in the puddles of rain. So double the fun!

2. Trendy & industrial Strijp-S

At less than a 10-minute drive from the center you will find Strijp-S, once a Philips business park and now the place to be. The site, where the Philips factories were located, has been transformed into a lively center full of trendy (vintage) boutiques, food halls, great architecture and the tastiest restaurants & food trucks. Here you experience Brabant’s conviviality. We recommend Coffeelab for lunch. The interior and atmosphere are authentic and there are plenty of options on the menu for vegetarians. After lunch and a walk through the area of Strijp-S, it is time for a tasty ice cream from Intelligentia ICE. The combination of hazelnut and chocolate caramel sea salt was perfect. The interior is also a real eye-catcher, with the pink flower walls.

3. The bright blue courtyard; Blok 61

There are many unique places in Eindhoven when it comes to architecture. Such as the bright blue courtyard; Block 61. It is a 2-minute walk from Strijp-S. You will find this spot in the Philitelaan, opposite the Ontdekfabriek. The atmosphere was a bit grim and it seemed deserted, but that made it extra cool.

4. New York vibes in the city center of Eindhoven

The residential tower Vestedatoren is located in the center of Eindhoven. With its impressive flat and narrow shapes, this residential tower resembles New York’s Flatiron Building, doesn’t it?

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4 Highlights of Historical Metz, France

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Metz

1. The impressive New Temple

When you discover Metz, one building immediately stands out: The New Temple, a beautiful Protestant church, built in 1901. The church is located on the island of L’île du Petit Saulcy and has a mysterious look. You will find many striking large trees that grow in all directions. For example, over the edges of the walls around the island. The island is surrounded by the waters of the Moselle. Cruise around the island by boat or walk up the island via a bridge to get to the church. From the island you have various viewpoints over the Moselle and you look out on the authentic canal houses.

Metz
New Temple, Metz

2. Cathedral St-Étienne

The St-Étienne Cathedral is an impressive 88 meters high church from the 13th century. Much of the front consists of statues, gargoyles and large round windows. Inside the cathedral you can see how immense the building is. Look up to see the great organ and admire the high columns. The cathedral is colorfully lit by the stained glass that is richly present in the church.

3. Medieval city gate Porte des Allemands

Porte des Allemands is the city gate of Metz and was built in 1230. The city gate has remained in its original state. During the Second World War, the gate was damaged, but this damage has been repaired without any modifications. Walk through the drawbridge to the center of the square. You are surrounded by towers, walls, hatches and gates. For a moment it feels as if you are going back in time to the Middle Ages. Climb the walls via the narrow spiral staircases of the towers. From here you can enjoy the view over the city and the River Seille which flows below the Porte des Allemands.

4. Shop till you drop

There are several shopping streets, indoor shopping centers and specialty shops in Metz. It is therefore the perfect city to go shopping. Stroll through the streets and discover the nicest boutiques and artistic studios with homemade sculptures, paintings and furniture. If you want to make it a complete shopping day, there is a huge indoor shopping center Muse, just outside the center of Metz. More than 100 different shops are located here, spread over 3 floors.

Metz the new temple

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How to spend one day in Nancy, France

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Nancy France

Stroll past the most beautiful squares

One of the most impressive squares in Nancy is Place Stanislas and has rightly been awarded a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This gigantic square is surrounded by special buildings, such as the opera house and the town hall, black and gold detailed gates and on every corner you will find imposing fountains. This gives the square a prosperous and luxurious appearance. In the center of the square is the statue of King Louis XV. Place Stanislas is the connector of the city. From here you can easily go to all other highlights.

From Place Stanislas, walk under a triumphal arch to the breathtaking Place de la Carrière. It seems as if you are going back to the 18th century, in the time of the Renaissance. Jousts and tournaments used to be held on this square. The long, wide square is surrounded by two rows of trees and on both sides you are surrounded by beautiful architecture.

Place D’Alliance is also worth a visit. This square has a beautiful fountain in the center and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Tip: Rent a bike and cross from square to square, so you are sure that you don’t miss anything!

Visit food halls and vintage markets

In Nancy you can stroll around at various markets. How about the covered food hall Marche Central with fresh vegetables, roasted nuts and the most colorful herbs. If you like unique items, then stroll through beautiful alleys through the vintage market where you can buy special antiques.

Taste macarons, the specialty de Nancy

You have to try one of Nancy’s colorful specialties: macarons. They come in all colors, shapes and flavors such as raspberry, coconut, pistachio, mocha, lemon, caramel. We definitely recommend the delicious macarons from Chocolats de Neuville.

Relax at Parc de La Pépinière

Nancy’s largest park is the enchanting Parc de la Pépinière. It is the perfect place to recover from the bustle of the city, in the middle of nature. Here you will find beautiful flowers, baroque statues and fountains. In addition to relaxing, you can also do many fun activities here, such as mini golf, walking through the rose garden, attending a concert in the music dome, tasting the most delicious waffles or churros at various stalls. There is even a zoo (!), where you can spot monkeys, peacocks, goats and donkeys.

Admire the free light show Rendez Vous

On warm summer evenings, between June and September, Place Stanislas offers a colorful and free light show. We reserved a spot at Pizzaria Michel Angelo and ate delicious pizzas, watched the dreamy sunset and enjoyed the colorful light show Rendez Vous, which projects the history of Nancy on the facades of the buildings.

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3 Extraordinary Places in the Provence

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1. Hidden red treasures

Our adventurous Airbnb host and hostess took us to a very special undiscovered gem in the middle of the nature of the Provence. The drive there was quite an experience itself; a ride in a retro convertible beetle, up the steep and bumpy hill paths. In less than 10 minutes we drove through a small town, called Mormoiron, into the hills and you find yourself in a completely different world. From an open field you walk through a narrow path into the densely vegetated forest. After a few minutes you will walk through a gigantic gorge of red rocks where you can spot ocher.

Red rocks France

The area around Gordes is rich in red ocher, so if you search well you can find more of these hidden spots. Ocher is a red / orange pigment extracted from the ground. This pigment was formerly used to give color to clothes or houses in parts of the Provence. Roussillon, also known as the ‘red city’, is a town where all houses are covered with this pigment. It’s something you won’t see anywhere else anytime soon. Do you want to discover more about this special town? Then read our blog ‘6 Most Idyllic Towns in the Provence‘.

Red rocks France

As you walk further up the canyon it gets steeper, narrower and muddier, but don’t give up! After 10-15 minutes you will reach a point surrounded by rocks covered with moss and ivy. You can also spot a mini waterfall. For a moment you imagine yourself in the middle of the jungle!

Hidden spot France Provence

2. Purple lavender fields

The Provence is – rightly – associated with lavender. And we certainly understand why. There are many lavender fields, sometimes miles long. So colorful and the smell is intense and sweet. The best time to visit Provence is between June and August when the fields are in bloom. We have seen most of the fields in Sault.

Tip! The route from Carpentras to Sault is a fun route to drive, you will come across many breathtaking viewpoints where you can admire the lavender fields from different perspectives.

3. The enchanting Abbey of Sénanque

From Gordes, follow the winding roads. At the end you will find the beautiful Abbey of Sénanque. The location makes this spot even more unique. The monastery is surrounded by lavender fields and mountains. It couldn’t be more enchanting, right?! Visit the monastery during the golden hour, when the building will be magically illuminated by the setting sun.

1092*135

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