Orange festival in Holland
It’s one big orange festival in Holland. The orange craze on King’s Day is nothing compared to the one during sport events such as the European Football Championship, World Cup or the Olympics. Read more
The Hague bike tour - typical Dutch food stop
Dutch pancakes. Not the American one, more like the French crepes. Something in between. And apple pie. Cold or warm creamy chocolate milk. On the most popular The Hague bike tour you'll eat typical Dutch food. In a place that looks a lot like grandma's home. Your Dutch grandma.
The real The Hague bike tour with Dutch food
"This is like a real cycling tour!" Questionmarks are all over my face when I look at her. She laughs. "In most city bike tours the guide stops every five minutes to tell something. You stay in the city centre, don't really get anywhere. This is an ideal tour with kids as we actually cover some ground ánd get to know more about life in the Netherlands."
Typical Dutch food stop The Hague bike tour
The best stop on the Sea & the City The Hague bike tour for kids is the food stop. Ah, who am I kidding? The best stop for everyone is the food stop. Often, when I stop at the water tower and explain that 1.3 million people living in The Hague and surroundings get their fresh water from the dunes the question the kids ask is: "Is there some food nearby as well?" Then something starts to tickle inside - I'm a real foodie-. "It's just around the corner, let's go!"
Food motivates people. You should see how fast we get from the water tower to that cosy place that looks like grandma's farm! The red-and-white curtains, the wooden picnic tables, the cosy garden with view on the ponies. What's not to like?
The menu is full of typical Dutch food: from fries with kroket to authentic Dutch pea soup. The pancakes and apple pie usually are the winners. Warm and with whipped cream. And for drinks: a good Dutch beer or a chocolate drink. The typical Dutch, nice and creamy one. I enjoy watching my participants eat and always wonder: will we continue the The Hague bike tour city & sea? And how? :)
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Amsterdam beach cycling route
When I take the Amsterdam beach cycling route I forget about everything. It's the variety of landscapes that attracts me most. Dunes, North sea coastline, picturesque villages, green meadows and forest. And hidden behind the trees castles, houses with thatched roofs and churches. A Dutch fairytale starts here. Read more
Holland Greenhouse Festival Kom in de Kas
It takes place the second weekend of June. Some call it the ‘get into the greenhouse’ event. Although it takes place in different areas of the Netherlands, I love visiting the Holland greenhouses of the Westland. The Westland is not only a bike ride away from The Hague or Delft, it is also the cradle of the horticulture in the Netherlands. Here’s what the region has in store – or better, in the greenhouse- for you.
In Dutch the event is called Kom in de kas 2022. In English I would call it Holland greenhouse festival. It’s more than a visit to a Dutch greenhouse, it’s a celebration which is great fun for all ages. The different bands playing enroute of this Holland greenhouse festival get you into the festive mood, you can taste paprika smoothies or radishes with chocolate or just relax in the sun with a cup of coffee & cake, children can participate in all kind of fun activities and of course you can buy your favourite flowers, fruit & vegetables at a stand located at the end of the Holland greenhouse festival.
Greenhouses in the Netherlands open their doors for visitors only one time per year. The reason is that young, growing plants are vulnerable and easily infected by diseases, which is why hygiene in the greenhouses is extremely important and visitors are often not allowed inside or can only visit when they follow strict hygiene rules.
So, it’s quite a unique opportunity to visit a greenhouse and see how fruit, vegetable & flowers are grown. A colleague once called Westland the all year round Keukenhof and it’s true. You’ll be amazed by all the different types of flowers grown in the Westland, also known as Glass City. You can see all the fantastic greenhouse innovations and developments, ask the growers all your questions about the plants that are being grown and many greenhouses put (Dutch) signs which explain all about the horticulture.
The Kom in de Kas ( get into the greenhouse) event takes place on Saturday 11 June from 10 AM – 5 PM & Sunday 12 June 2022 from 10 AM – 5 PM. In Westland the focus is at Wateringen where 7 greenhouses open their doors. There are lovely cycle routes from The Hague & Delft to the centre of horticulture and visitors are advised to come by bike. Really don’t feel like cycling? There are free busses at the flowerauction Royal FloraHolland bringing you to the walking zone. More info (in Dutch) on komindekaswestland.nl
Can't make it on Saturday 11 June or Sunday 12 June 2022? Did you know the greenhouse area has its own Flower Parade? Send an e-mail to veritasvisit(@)gmail.com for more information on Verita's Visit's (bike) tours & events to the Holland greenhouses.
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Meet Vermeer in Holland - From virtual museum to real life
Meeting Vermeer in Holland. It's the end of your travel through time and space. 15 december is the death anniversary of the Delft painter. On 3 December 2018 a special museum opened its doors. It shows all 37 works of the Golden Age painter. This is where you start your journey.Read more
2.5 hour tour Leiden lakes plus visit windmill
In the UK it's the end of the mid term break. I've been on this road a trillion times. Mainly in spring. The sun's much lower now. I make a stop every ten minutes to breathe in the fresh air, take in the amazing landscape and catch the sun on camera in all different stages. Today is a great day for a 2.5 hour tour Leiden countryside.
What do you need to paint Delft blue?
A jar of muddy water, two brushes, a pencil and a palette with a big dot of dark paint. As non-professional painter you might get a tad bit nervous at the sight of these materials. Especially at a Delft porcelain workshop. No pressure! This is going to be fun. Let's see: what do you need to paint Delft blue?
