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For a weekend getaway in the Netherlands, Maastricht is one of my favorite destinations. Nowhere else in the Netherlands do I feel so much like I’m on vacation, and I want to spontaneously start speaking to people in another language. I'm also a big fan of beautiful...
For a weekend getaway in the Netherlands, Maastricht is one of my favorite destinations. Nowhere else in the Netherlands do I feel so much like I’m on vacation, and I want to spontaneously start speaking to people in another language. I'm also a big fan of beautiful design boutique hotels. And the 5-star Kruisherenhotel Maastricht had been on my wish list for quite some time. It's not the cheapest option for an overnight stay in Maastricht, but we decide to indulge this weekend and travel to the south of the Netherlands specifically for a stay at the Kruisherenhotel. 5 Star monastery hotel in Maastricht After driving mostly through Belgium (apparently the...
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Not only am I going to be in a cookbook...I'm also making an appearance in an actual TV show. For the second episode of Anne's Kitchen she's taking me to Marylebone to show me where she finds inspiration for her recipes. And Anne surprised me with some...
With all the commotion around royal baby George, I felt I needed to learn a bit more about the history of the British royal family. And what better way to do that than to walk around in a palace where many of them have lived since 1689 until today: Kensington Palace....
For some reason I don't buy second-hand books very often. But I find second-hand book markets impossible to resist. Even if I'm not looking for something in particular, and probably won't buy anything, I always love the sight of all those books on display. Some really...
Cupcakes in London are - like pretty much anywhere else in the world - incredibly popular. What's not to like about those sugary, colorful, beautifully decorated little cakes? One of my first stops in London was Hummingbird Bakery that is famous for its American style...
Just like most cliches turn out to be true, most tourist attractions are popular for a reason. They're usually worth visiting. And there are so many of them in this city! Even after four months I still haven't ticked all the city highlights boxes. But on the weekends...
The last time my parents and I were in London together, I was fifteen and didn't care much about what I wanted to do, see or eat. This weekend however, they came to visit me. For the first time since I moved to the city. Expecting to have a fabulous weekend.... Oh no,...
Every year the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park commissions a different architect to design a temporary pavilion. This year's pavilion is created by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The result is quite impressive. It's like a cloud made out of white steel. No roofs, no...
Unfortunately for me, I have to cross half the city to get there, but I love shopping in Marylebone High Street. Here you'll find Daunt Books, the Conran Shop, The Natural Kitchen, La Fromagerie and other great shops, boutiques and restaurants. So when I read that...
Dubai fascinates me. The sky is literally the limit with all the luxury in the world, its new high-rise buildings and Western-style mega malls. Whatever you want to do or buy, you’ll probably be able to find it in Dubai. But for me, the city has no soul. Everything is...
Shopping for an abaya and headscarf in London. Not really how I had pictured my shopping experience when I moved here. But sometimes business trips bring you to unexpected places and for this one I needed some additional clothing. It’s funny how quickly you get used...
One of the things I love about London is that it has so many beautiful parks. Sure, the city can be smelly and polluted with all its traffic fumes, but there's always a park nearby where you can escape the city buzz and relax. This morning I woke up early and went to...
The Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly is really old school London. Fancy stores for the richer happy few. So for me it wouldn't be the place to go to if I want to go shopping, but the walkway itself is beautiful and definitely worth a visit. If only for the 'Burlington...
When I was living in Paris, every time someone came to visit me, I basically took them to the same places that I knew and liked. Which is great for them (no need to go through tourist guides), but as a result I had to go see the Mona Lisa over and over again instead...
Berlin always seems to surprise me. When the sun doesn't shine it's grey and kind of ugly.... but then the sun comes out and all of a sudden it's the most amazing city. That's why I love going there. This week I was in Berlin for work, which unfortunately didn't...
Sometimes you just need to be a tourist in your own city. And as it is a long weekend, which means that the city is filled with tourists anyway, I thought why not join them. So I rode my bike - through the rain - to Greenwich. On my way to Greenwich Park I walked by...
Sea salt and I, it's a growing love affair. What started as seasoning for my weekend egg, then scrubbing, hair spray.... has now evolved to sea salt in my chocolate. What else? I promised you more chocolate, and did I find the right spot to go to! Artisan du...
You would think that in a city where there is so much to do, there just isn't any time to sit down and read a book. But actually I don't think I've ever seen so many people read in public. It's the perfect way to kill some time on your commute to work or wherever...
I'm a bit of a chocoholic. Nothing new for people who have known me for a while. I thought that by now I kind of gained control over my addiction, but London is just full of temptations. This Saturday I walked by this place called Ben's Cookies and I couldn't resist...
Visiting a cemetery is probably not what first comes to mind when you're thinking about what you want to do in London. But that's actually where I'm writing this post, at the Abney Park Cemetery in North East London. Today was going to be the first warm day of the...
In case you were wondering.... I love visiting food markets. And so far Borough Market is definitely one of my favorites. Apparently the market has been here since the 13th century and has grown to over a 100 different food stalls today. It's THE place to go to if you...
When I moved to London, I was so looking forward to discovering all the different areas of the city. Unfortunately, as it has been so cold and rainy, I haven't seen much yet. Well, it's still cold, but the sun has finally come out (for a few hours at least). So today...
One of the fun things about a 'new city' is that I can discover new hotspots for having coffee, tea.... and cake. And the best source for finding those places are of course the locals. One of them brought me here: Drink, Shop & Do. On the outside it doesn't really...
Of course, having your own apartment (which I just found!) in London is great. But I must admit, that I'm also a bit sad that I won't be staying in this hotel anymore. CitizenM has been my home away from home for the last week. And what a home it has been! Are you...