Netherlands

The best place to stay

During our staycation in Zeeland we stayed on the Schouwen-Duiveland peninsula in the cozy town of Zierikzee. This monument city really surprised us! And it is a good base to explore Zeeland. We slept right in the city center in a former warehouse with authentic elements. From here we could easily discover all the highlights of Zierikzee. The evening walks are especially unforgettable. The sunset is so magical! The towers turn into beautiful silhouettes and the facades of the detailed buildings get an orange glow. In addition to beautiful evening walks, Zierikzee has many monuments, a harbor, city gates, cozy squares full of terraces, delicious – instagrammable – food spots, unique boutiques and winding alleys where you can walk for hours.

Restaurant tip in Zierikzee: At Meneer Nilsson you can enjoy a delicious, colorful breakfast, healthy lunch or a nice drink. The looks of this cute restaurant immediately make you want to eat or drink something here! We recommend choosing a spot on the terrace. From here you have a view of the cozy Havenplein.

Admire the impressive Delta Works at Neeltje Jans

The waves crash against it, the wind rages through it and above all, they keep the water level low. We are of course talking about the Delta Works; the famous defense system of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the lowest countries in the world and parts of the country have been flooded, such as during the flood disaster in 1953. Delta Works have been developed and deployed to prevent such terrible disasters in the future. For example, the Oosterscheldekering. This is a lockable storm surge barrier that can close in case of a heavy storm, so that the high water cannot enter the Oosterschelde. Great piece of engineering! The work island Neeltje Jans was specially made for the construction of these Delta Works. Since the completion of the Delta Works, the island has been an information center about the Delta Works.

Spot wildlife in their natural habitat

You can spot seals and porpoises in the Oosterschelde. The clean water, tranquility and space make this the ideal habitat for these animals. For the ultimate experience, we recommend that you bring a binoculars or zoom lens. We were lucky to spot a seal in the water around the work island of Neeltje Jans. So cute! At low tide you have a great chance to see them lazing on the sandbanks, enjoying the sun.

In Koudekerk, the Plompe Toren stands in the middle of the rugged nature. You can also regularly spot seals from this watchtower.

Wander around through the capital Middelburg

Middelburg is the capital of Zeeland and has many beautiful sights. Stroll through the old city center towards the square Markt, admire the special Gothic town hall, shop at the nicest boutiques and concept stores, discover the decorated alleys and the history of this former VOC trading city. During this golden period, Middelburg was the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. The biggest eye-catcher is the 90.5 meter high Lange Jan abbey tower. The best way to admire this tower is from the photogenic Reigerstraat. The street is full of colorful umbrellas. Here you will also find cozy cafes and a bright pink candy store.

Get a breath of fresh air on the beautiful coast of Zeeland

Ouddorp beach is a vast beach where you can enjoy the sun, the peace and the sound of the waves. From the beach you can see the 52 meter high bright red-brown lighthouse Westhoofd. The lighthouse is surrounded by the dunes and has been recognized as a national monument since 2007.

Restaurant tip: In the dunes of Ouddorp you will find restaurant Bij Marc. The food is delicious and for the vegetarians among us; you have plenty of choice! We recommend the ‘Dirty Fries’. These are fries with vegetarian chicken pieces and various tasty sauces.

At the furthest point of the west coast of Schouwen-Duiveland is the wide sandy beach of Burgh-Haamstede. There was a lot of sea fog on the day we visited the beach. This gave a super mysterious view of the beach and the waves disappeared into thin air.

For a small amount you can park near the beach and you can walk onto the beach via the dunes

Visit the picturesque villages Veere and Goedereede

Veere is a 13th century harbor village with beautiful houses, cozy streets and an imposing town hall. The unique thing about this village are the Scottish influences, which can be found in the architecture. The village was used as a storage place for Scottish wool in the 16th century where a large Scottish colony lived for a long time. Be sure to discover the surroundings of Veere. Rent a boat and sail on the Veerse Meer or take a walk along sheep, mills, defenses and the beach.

Goedereede is a cosy, authentic village in Zeeland. During your visit it feels like you are going back in time. The streets are full of authentic houses, there is a special herb garden and the ‘everyone knows each other’ feeling prevails throughout the village. The remarkable tower is the Reformed Church and can be seen from almost every street. Goedereede has a lively center with terraces along the canals and that is the perfect place to enjoy the view with a drink.

Be surprised by the architecture in the middle of nature

From the parking lot you can walk to Tij in about 10 minutes. The road to Tij is already beautiful. Note: If the water is high, the walkway may be under water. So always check this before you set off. Via winding paths, stairs, wooden decking and between the reeds you arrive at a tunnel that takes you to the core of the 8 meter high and 11 meter long giant egg. The tunnel has beautiful viewpoints from where you can already spot many birds.

If you walk further, you will be surprised by the impressive structure, the lines of the wooden beams and the viewpoints where the sun’s rays shine through. This makes bird watching very special!

Go on a bird watching adventure

Climb the iron spiral staircase to enjoy the 360° view over the unique landscape, Haringvliet and the Haringvliet locks. In the breeding season you have a great chance of spotting common terns, terns and black-headed gulls. Outside the breeding season, when the water becomes shallower, the area attracts several species of ducks, spoonbills, kingfishers and egrets. Bring your binoculars to fully enjoy! Which birds will you spot?!

Accessibility

The bird observatory is easily accessible. Park your car for free in the Marinehaven car park in Stellendam and walk in about 10 minutes to the observatory.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Want to see more of Amsterdam?

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?