Mileage: 157492

Today’s driving route took us over and through a particularly remarkable structure in the Netherlands. The Oosterschelde Bridge was, at the time of its construction in the 1960s, the longest bridge in Europe at over five kilometers and is now called the Zeeland Bridge. It remains the longest bridge in the Netherlands. The Westerschelde Tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the Netherlands at over six kilometers and has been toll-free since 2025, to our delight.

Once again, we wanted to stop in the Netherlands and, after a dance with the bodyboard in the waves, spent the night on a farm just before the Belgian border.

The weather app predicted sunny and warm weather for today. Since we had walked quite a lot over the past few days and hadn't had a real beach and swimming day yet, today was set to be a beach day.

We walked for a few minutes to the Haringsvliet, a large arm of the sea, and there was indeed a small beach with sand and a sunbathing area. However, we were surprised when we first got into the water, as it turned out this could not be a sea arm, since we were swimming in fresh water. It seems they had enclosed this area with a dam at the mouth.

We spent the day here until around 4:00 PM when all the local students wanted to spend their afternoon here, and it started to get more crowded.

On the way home, we saw a demand bridge for cyclists in operation. To get across the harbor entrance, there was a fully automatic self-service bridge at the former lock. When you pressed the request button, the passage for the sailors was closed, and a bridge was slid over the water. Impressive.

Mileage: 157197

It was once again time for a big city. After spending the last two days mostly away from closed towns, Sebb insisted on going to Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, Gary was not allowed to join us in the capital of the Netherlands. As his emissions standard was classified as ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/ueberall-und-nirgends/komm-wir-fahren-nach-amsterdamhttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/ueberall-und-nirgends/komm-wir-fahren-nach-amsterdamMon, 13 Jul 2026 22:01:00 GMT52.379053199999994.9003621Mileage: unchanged

Last night, we had already booked tickets for the ferry to Schiermonnikoog. That was to be our trip for Saturday, going over midday and returning in the evening.

The ferry took us from the mainland to the island in fifty minutes. We could have rented bikes at the harbor for a few euros, but we decided to go on foot.

The whole island was designed for bicycles (Fietsen), there were more bike paths than footpaths and of course, bicycles had right of way; always and everywhere.

Unfortunately, we didn't consider that the tidal times were getting later. So, while we were now at the beach, the water wasn't, and we walked over the mudflat.

When the sea slowly returned around 5:00 PM, we finally got to swim in the water.

Today, we were finally set to head to the Netherlands. But not too far, after a 2-hour drive we had already reached our destination: Lauwersoog. Because today we had something special planned again.

Ines had noticed that there was a seal rescue center here, and feeding with commentary happened at 3:00 PM. So we arrived in time to first explore the entire information center and then at the end, see the treatment and feeding. Each of these about fifty little seals had a story of suffering, and here in the seal hospital they were being nursed back to health, to be released into the wild after about three months.

It was unbelievably adorable.

At the end of the day, we still had time to see the R.J. Clevering Lock. This is part of a large dam project that transformed the former Lauwer Sea into the Lauwersmeer in 1969 by cutting off the water from the North Sea and thereby protecting against storm surges.

We continued further south until we reached the renowned Hague. We were impressed by the Peace Palace, which is home to the International Court of Justice. We also visited the Noordeinde Palace - one of the three official palaces of the Dutch royal family.

Our third stop was the port city of Rotterdam. Here, among other things, we admired the euro bridges, which are built in appropriate colors and shapes according to the bridges depicted on individual euro banknotes.

Kinderdijk was the penultimate city we visited that day. We viewed the network of windmills that fall under the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After about 20 kilometers of walking, we were very glad to stay at Bédi's cousin Jindra's place in Utrecht. For dinner, we cooked pasta with pork and watched an exciting football match between Norway and Brazil. Then we chatted for a while and went to bed.

Tadeáš

Right after breakfast, we set off to Zaandam, where one of the largest tourist attractions in the whole Netherlands is located. This is the kind of open-air museum, Zaanse Schans, where we admired windmills, saw the production of wooden shoes thanks to a pleasant Czech tour guide, and, last but not least, tasted countless kinds of cheese. Everyone found their favorite; for some, it was beer cheese, others enjoyed it with garlic, chili, or pesto, and we even tried cheese with lavender.

Next, we traveled to the fortified town of Naarden, where we had only a short stop for lunch, after which we indulged in tasting traditional Dutch stroopwafels. After that, we went to see the place where Jan Amos Komenský was buried.

Now we were looking forward to the much-anticipated Amsterdam. Considering that we wanted to walk around even during the night, we arranged accommodation right in the city for tonight. Before the evening walk, most of us went for a pleasant five-kilometer run through the streets of this city. From the accommodation, we headed to the metro, had a couple of beers along the way, and enjoyed a perfect kebab for dinner before setting off on the metro towards the city center. As soon as we emerged from the metro, we headed to a famous café to buy and test the local herbs, which for some of us clouded perception to the point that we had to sit for a while before we could continue exploring the wild streets of the Venice of the North. When we reached the district famous for its red curtains and red-lit shop windows, we carefully peered into each of them and assessed what we had just seen. After walking through several of these alleys, we stopped to satisfy our hunger and, feeling tired, headed back to the room.

But let's get to my tour.

The second day went exactly as planned. After a restless, warm, and at times very stormy night, I set off quite early towards Eindhoven.

I could only view the Roman Park in Xanten from the outside as I arrived too early. However, since I already knew it, it wasn't a big deal.

Although 30° feels like a cool down, it was still warm, and I'm glad that in the Netherlands there are water stations available in many places. No one needs to suffer from thirst here.

The storm from the previous night left quite a mark. Completely toppled cornfields and bike paths littered with broken, fortunately small, branches and plenty of deadwood.

As I said, the journey itself went completely smoothly, so I arrived in Eindhoven quite early. The BnB is indeed not as comfortable and luxurious as yesterday's, but it's still absolutely adequate and ultimately just what I booked.

Since I was so early, I took the opportunity to take the bus into the city. This is absolutely straightforward in the Netherlands. Simply hold a credit card or phone to the device when getting on and off the bus, and you're good to go. No app, no ticket, no other fuss.

Eindhoven on a Sunday afternoon was busier than a Friday afternoon in downtown Elberfeld. For me personally, it was actually a bit too crowded. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist the obligatory culinary highlight in Holland: goulash croquettes and fries with mayo.

Now it's time to put my feet up, sip on a (non-alcoholic) beer, and hope that tonight brings a bit more sleep than last night.

The tour on Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/3070129627?ref=itd&t_medium=komoot_tour_share&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&t_ref_username=278778870060

The Relive video: https://www.relive.com/view/vDqgzZYGZG6

The Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.de/rooms/1418682157820917684

Our rented house is located just south of Amsterdam in Nederhorst, allowing us to lock our bikes in about 1 hour at „Fiets” in Amsterdam Centraal.

We begin at the harbor, right behind the train station, and face architectural masterpieces in Westerdokseiland. Here, the free ferries go to the A'Dam Lookout Tower and the NDSM Wharf.

At the wharf, an old industrial site, queer events often take place outdoors, and monumental works by international artists are displayed at the Straat Museum (the largest street art museum in the world). Right next to the entrance, you can admire Anne Frank by none other than Eduardo Kobra.

Not far from Westerdokseiland is Westerpark with several dining options and the Fabrique des Lumières featuring one of the current exhibitions of the “Dutch Master”. You should plan about 1.5 hours for this.

https://www.myheimat.de/essen/c-kultur/amsterdam-im-goldenen-zeitalter_a3616780

If you walk towards Sloterdijk, you will reach a beautiful green residential park that invites you to relax with herons, kingfishers, and meticulously designed gardens.

You can enjoy a canal tour on the Prinsengracht. Nearby is the Westerkerk, a stylishly simple Protestant church where organ concerts take place every day from 13:00 to 13:30.

The Nieuwe Kerk opposite the Royal Palace hosts the World Press Photo exhibition every year from April to September. An event where you can view outstanding photos from the past year on themes such as wars, climate crisis, and human rights.

https://www.myheimat.de/essen/c-lokalpolitik/world-press-photo-ausstellung-2026_a3617158

The Red Light District is part of the Amsterdam stroll. I found it very interesting that the Oudekerksplein around the Oude Kerk (from the 13th century, making it the oldest building in the city) offers Amsterdam Coffee Shops and legal window prostitution with a bronze statue for sex workers.

You should always see a city from above. Amsterdam offers two free options: The OBA, the Amsterdam library, where you can also enjoy a cappuccino, or the NEMO Science Museum, which is a must in the summer as you can relax on the wooden planks and cool your feet in the water fountains.

 April 27, 2029 Monday 

Monday is King's Day. And this is the quintessential national holiday in the Netherlands. So, we first secured our spot until after Monday to avoid any awkwardness. Additionally, such a celebration in a big city like Alkmaar is certainly more noticeable than anywhere in a holiday village.

Then, we read online what the day means for the Dutch and how it is experienced. Goodness, something is coming our way….

But we still have three days until Monday.

And those days are flying by in the beautiful sunny weather. One day of shopping in Alkmaar with the cheese market, one day of beach life in Egmond aan Zee, and another day of chilling and eating at the beach bar “Zeezicht” in Castricum aan Zee – the name says it all.

And here we go already with King's Day. It's Sunday evening, and tomorrow is a holiday. All the families go out for dinner. We can only eat before the rush until 6:00 PM, which works out relaxed – the calm before the storm.

By the way, our plan has completely worked out. Not only did the campsite “Het zonnige Veld” turn out to be a jackpot.

 The weather and temperatures have also been nice to us. Every day, the sun shone brightly, and the temperatures even allowed for a nice sunbathing in sheltered spots.

At the beach, some daring souls even plunged into the North Sea waves – but only for a very short time. It was still too chilly for that and I didn't even think about it.

But the beaches and dunes in this part of North Holland are truly a gem. The dune landscape stretches from Wijk aan Zee (before the North Sea Canal, which connects Amsterdam with the open sea) to Schoorl (Schoorlse Duinen) over a length of about 20 km. It is one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands, which is accessible to the public on designated hiking trails and bike paths.

Through the dunes, you can reach the sandy beaches at selected points, all spacious and sandy with beach bars, beach houses, and water sports.

Because there is always a decent wind blowing here, kite surfers are drawn here as well.

It’s quite bearable.

And then comes Monday. The party actually starts the evening before. You can see that quite well in Alkmaar. When we arrive around 2:00 PM, everything is still quiet. The access roads and the city center around the church are lined with flea market stalls of all kinds. Here, both children and mothers sell their discarded clothes and toys. There are also larger stalls with a wider range of clothing and useful/useless items lining the street.

At the hotspots in the city, stages are set up and DJs are already warming up the speakers. But everything is still quiet, and people are strolling through the streets.

Only the trash and remnants of the previous evening are still present – and that did not come from the children's flea market or the early Saturday beer sessions.

Almost all Dutch people have put the national flag on their cheeks; the color orange is ubiquitous. Everyone has found an orange piece of clothing, some more, some less. But wherever the crowd gathers, they are all waving in orange.

The streets are full of people. Actually just as full as on Friday during the cheese market.

Today, hardly any shops are open, only the pubs – and they've wisely banished all their inventory to the outdoors. This way, more people can fit in when the party moves from the outside to the inside.

In the courtyard of Sonoy, we find a spot to sit and chill with a cold drink and a plate of Borellhapjes (fried snacks).

As we set off again and stroll through the streets, the atmosphere has changed. People are more excited (or drunk) and rush to the stages. Many young people rush through the streets recklessly, shouting at each other loudly. Crowds gather at the stages, making it difficult to get through. Everyone has a beer in hand and is singing at the top of their lungs. The DJ or live band is pumping up the energy.

The bar streets and pubs are now really busy. Drinks are only served in plastic cups (because that's evidently better). The young people, especially the girls, all have a can with unknown contents in their hands. It seems to be particularly trendy, as everyone is carrying them around in their bags.

And the cans? In the Netherlands, there is a 'Statiegeld' on drink cans (0.15 €). That's probably too little – the cans end up in the corners of the streets (good for the deposit collectors) or in the waters of the canals (bad for the deposit collectors and even worse for the environment).

Before everything goes wild here, we settle down at a pizzeria by a canal and have just that. It's wonderful to watch the people passing by.

They are all infected by the national fever and express their allegiance through clothing and face tattoos to their country (and perhaps also to the royal family, since it is their birthday after all).

Is it the same for us on October 3?

The unity celebration is taking place in Bremen this year. So we can compare.

On the way back to the bike, we have to pass through a party zone. And there, the bear is dancing. We try to push our way through. After just 30 meters I give up – I don't want to go through that. The crowd is in party mode, Balearic culture in its purest form. Everyone is drunk and singing loudly – consideration for others is non-existent.

I would love to show 1 – 2 video sequences, but unfortunately, I can't upload them at Vakantio.

We have had enough and cycle back to the peaceful campsite. When we arrive around 7:30 PM, the sun is already mostly gone and it is getting cold. So, we hop into the Laika and start reporting.

Tomorrow the journey continues.

 04/22 Wednesday

We are opting for an extension and staying one more day. The weather is so nice that we don't have to leave.

So we take some time to stroll and enjoy the terrace in Lemmer.

A true lazy day with extensive newspaper reading and sunbathing in the afternoon on a lounge chair.

The place has become more crowded, and some 'big ships' have arrived. By that, I mean the motorhomes from Morelo, Niesmann & Bischoff, and other liners. They certainly stand out, not just because of their size but also because of their owners. People tend to look at them quite critically. Are they show-offs, pretentious, selfish, or just individuals who have made it?

This category of campers is often said to prefer to keep to themselves and look down at the smaller campers down below with disrespect.

Yet with this category of vehicles, I struggle to call it 'camping'.

While you live in your vehicle with four wheels and all conceivable comforts, the price you pay is immobility and thus limited freedom to go wherever you want. Only a few places are designed for that.

A clear advantage for 'the little ones down there'.

And when does the 'liner' category actually begin?

Is it over 7.5 tons in weight? Which not everyone can drive anymore.

Or is it length that is the distinguishing factor? A normal space for a motorhome in a campsite/parking area is 8 – 10 m long. Comes a big one over 10 m long, it requires a special spot to not inconvenience anyone.

I’ll stick to my 7.40 m and can go anywhere.

04/23 Thursday

We continue, but now really.

Despite all possibilities, we are heading directly to North Holland, to the region around Alkmaar on the North Sea coast.

This is the province we have been regularly visiting for some time now, and it almost feels like 'home'.

However, what we have not yet discovered is the ultimate best place to stay if you want to

• visit Alkmaar

• spend time at the beach of the North Sea

• explore the dune landscape in front of the beach

• easily and safely reach everything by bike

Searching through camping apps and websites yields no results. You simply have to go there and see for yourself on site.

For that, you need to cross from Lemmer to the other side of the Ijsselmeer, for which there are two options: the northern route via the Afsluitdijk (A7) or the southern route via the Houtribdijk, which separates the Ijsselmeer and the Markermeer.

We choose the southern route and drive again through the many tulip fields, which are all in full bloom right now. In just a few days, the beauty will be over.

The 35 km over the dam are completely relaxed since there is little traffic, and you can enjoy the ride in the best sunshine.

On the other side, it gets initially busier because the region between Enkhuizen and Hoorn is densely populated and also industrially used.

Our first camping attempt is at a place south of Alkmaar in the small town of 'Boekel'. What we didn’t know and only realized upon arrival is that there is a huge industrial area south of Alkmaar, which reaches up to just before the campsite.

It turns out to be a well-maintained island, but we don’t like the surroundings at all. So long ...

We drive towards the coast and find the entrance to the campsite 'de Croft', near Egmond aan Zee.

A nice quiet oasis, friendly owner, but unfortunately no space. They only accept motorhomes under 7 m.

However, she recommends the nearby campsite 'het zonnige Veld', which has larger spots available. Kindly, she calls and informs them of our arrival.

And there it is – the place we have been searching for so long. It meets all the criteria mentioned above and is not only super clean but also excellently managed and equipped. All for a price of €35 per night for everything (motorhome spot, 2 persons, electricity and services, tourist tax).

The owner (Marcel Zonneveld) is instantly likable and shows us to our spot. However, he only has space for 2 days. If we want to stay longer, he can offer us something – one night in the parking lot for cars without electricity, then back on the spot. But we need to decide today; demand is high.

I immediately believe that after the first impression, and we accept the offer. Five days in the same spot – we haven’t done that in a long time.

Let’s see if all self-imposed requirements can indeed be met.

20.04. - Monday

Once again these considerations, where are we headed now.

Somehow there's a tense atmosphere, as we’re only traveling from place to place but can’t do much. I miss the movement, but Simone can’t do much. We knew this, yet it dampens the joy of vacation.

It certainly feels insufficient to just head to a spot, set up the camper van, and then experience a movement radius from the sanitary house, to the restaurant, and back to the van.

Before we start arguing, I take a walk and visit Stavoren. Look at that, this place actually exists next to the huge harbor. A typical place in Friesland with small houses, canals at the door, boats in the water, and also a harbor entrance with hotels and restaurants with terraces.

Unfortunately, it seems that Monday is a complete rest day here. In any case, there are hardly any people on the street, and all the venues are closed – despite the sunshine and terrace weather.

Compared to the huge harbor, the place feels rather dreamy and cozy. There’s even a supermarket, so a longer stay at the parking spot is possible.

Back at the camper van, we weigh again where the next stop should be. North Holland and Alkmaar definitely need to be visited. Should we head in that direction now? Or do we want to stay in Friesland a bit longer?

Or should we go to Lemmer?

• The place at the southernmost tip of Friesland with a transition to Flevoland

• And we have already been there, which we really liked.

• And Falko also raved about it when he was there 10 days ago.

• The weather is said to be good, it's only 20 km away,

• Parking space directly at the dike

• attractive shopping and delightful little town.

There can’t be more reasons than that. Let’s go, always along the dike.

Vakantie Park Lemmer is currently only half operational, as extensive construction work is taking place on the right half to expand the parking spaces.

The left half is also only moderately filled, so we find a good spot on the lawn. Very generous spots with electricity hookups and a view of the dike. Just behind it is the beach and the Ijselmeer.

We book ourselves in for 2 days, with an option to extend.

The place is very popular with German campers; we only see German license plates. And then - oh shock, isn't that the camper from Hameln that was already next to us in Joure and drew unpleasant attention.

This time a bit further away - good.

21.04. Tuesday

The sun finally shines early in the morning, and it stays that way the whole day.

Time for cycling. Simone is nervous but wants to try. We choose a route along the water's edge on the other side. Here, a bike path runs between Lemmer and Urk (24 km away) directly at the water's edge and thus behind the dike. Otherwise, you always look at the dike and can’t see the water – it's different here.

At first, we have a tailwind, and it feels effortless. The first fear fades, and the joy of cycling sets in.

The route goes straight ahead - in the distance, the horizon shimmers like in a road movie. Apart from us, there’s no one else on the path.

What does it look like on the land side of the dike? I’ll go have a look.

Wow, not only are there wind turbines in abundance, but the land behind the dike is generously covered with photovoltaics. The landscape is called Noordoostpolder and was once reclaimed from the sea through dike construction.

And then there are also the tulip fields.

Not far away lies a tulip show garden as an excursion destination. We want to head there.

The garden turns out to be a small cultivated tulip field with different colors, which is referred to in the included brochure as the selfie field.

And indeed, that’s what it is.

Entire tour buses arrive here. We experience a travel group with young girls from Arab countries. All in burkas and with phones – and they pose numerous times in the tulip field.

I am indeed moderately horrified and shake my head. Simone is more tolerant and says that we would have done the same before if we had had phones and social media.

She is probably right.

We learn a lot about tulip cultivation and the history. And that the Noordoostpolder is the largest contiguous tulip-growing area in the Netherlands.

Then we cycle back – this time against the wind, which is tiring and also cold. After all, it’s still April and not summer yet.

After a small rewarding beer at the promenade in Lemmer, we experience a unique camper phenomenon.

… and what are you doing all day

…. oh, I fill my water tank in the camper with a watering can

… yes, but not all day long?

…. well, about 80 cans fit in there.

….????

April 18th - Saturday

We're in no hurry today, since we're booked in for two days. That makes a difference and allows for a relaxed daily rhythm. No packing and driving off, especially without a real destination.

Today is a day of rest with sunshine forecast.

Simone's knee is giving her a lot of trouble walking, so a bike ride is out of the question. But exploring Joure should be possible. We're practically right in the city center.

The "Middelstraat" is the heart of Joure. Its shopping street and restaurants invite visitors to stroll and explore.

It's astonishing how diverse the retail scene is in a small town of 13,000 inhabitants. Boutiques for men and women with good clothes, small specialty shops (like the Douwe Egberts coffee roastery), and nice restaurants.

Unfortunately, it starts to rain during our stroll (see title), so we'll probably have to find a place in the outdoor restaurant and have a drink, garnished with a small snack plate (bitterballen, frikadelljes, fried cheese...).

Back at the campervan, the sun is shining again, and the best way to enjoy it is outside in a deck chair.

These are the days when you enjoy complete freedom. There's no pressure, nothing needs to be done – you simply live in the moment and enjoy yourself.

Tomorrow we continue our journey, and now the search for our next destination begins. We don't really have one yet, which is starting to become a problem. Should we go here or there? Where does the sun shine longer? Are there campsites right by the water?

These are all questions that can only be answered slowly, and often only once you set off and simply stroll through the countryside. It's not a big place here in the Netherlands, and we have time.

The main roads and highways provide quick access to the regions. However, we prefer to use the smaller roads near the water, which are often very narrow, making it best to avoid oncoming traffic.

So we'll just set off tomorrow.

April 19th, Sunday

The square is emptying quickly; both the boats and the camper vans are leaving. Guess they all have to work tomorrow, huh?

After setting off, we want to refuel first so we can drive a bit more relaxed. There are sometimes no gas stations along our routes.

There's an Esso Express right next to the harbor exit. Diesel is €2.339 – they're all crazy! I'm only filling up with 30 liters.

Friesland is a scenic region with lots of grazing livestock and arable farming. The small villages are all neat and clean, situated along the road. It's quiet (because it's Sunday) and you can cruise slowly through the countryside.

The road along the edge of the Ijselmeer, however, lies mostly in front of the dike, so that although you can see the sheep on the dike, you can't see any water.

At the very tip of South Friesland lies the town of Stavoren with a marina, canals and a parking area directly on the water.

That's rather the exception, so we spontaneously decide to check in for one night.

The harbor master is also in charge of the mooring area and fills out his form:

2 people, one motorhome, one night, tourist tax = €26.50.

The site is actually located at the far end of the marina on a meadow, with electricity and a washroom.

And a new restaurant, the "Postvis", is only 100m away.

Today the kitchen stays cold, we're going to... the Potvis, where of course there will be a fish dish.

And to say that the night was very quiet is an understatement. Not a single sound could be heard until the sheep on the dike greeted the day with their baa-baa in the morning.

Okay, if you please.

I'll order leg of lamb at the next restaurant.

17.04. - Friday

No new water damage to the faucets.

After breakfast, we set off. First, we head to the nearby North Sea coast, crossing the country. It's also doable by bicycle; it's only about 10 km. We cycle along the dike, passing through villages with a very rural character. Everywhere there's a church in the center and a cemetery.

Behind the dike there is... actually water. So we're lucky that the tide is in right now. Otherwise, it looks just like back home in East Frisia on the German North Sea coast. However, there's no beach life here, just dike land with sheep. Seaside resorts are in other places.

Not far away we drive around the “Lauwersmeer”, an artificial lake landscape in front of the dike, supplied by a tidal barrier.

This provides a constant water supply for water sports and other attractions. Consequently, a large leisure industry with holiday villages and a marina has naturally developed here.

Because of the lack of a suitable, established location, we do not want to stay and are looking for a new destination.

In southern Friesland, on the shores of the IJsselmeer, lies "Waterland," a region with many lakes and canals, all navigable by boat. Every town here also has a marina, so we chose the town of Joure, which has a pitch at its marina.

The approach is adventurous and fills me with disbelief, but the GPS guides us exactly this way. At the end of the road lies the harbor for numerous ships and a meadow for numerous camper vans. Despite the good weather, both facilities are only moderately full. The off-season definitely has its charm.

We found a nice spot on the meadow next to the canal with ships at the landing stage and settled in comfortably – chairs out, drinks on the table.

The harbor master will be here at 5 pm and I'll register us for two days right away. We don't have to keep going every day.

Incidentally, it costs €20.50 per day - pitch including 2 people and use of the sanitary facilities.

Next to us is a camper van from Hameln. The owners are an older couple, naturally with a dog. And because they have very loud voices, you have to listen whether you want to or not.

You wouldn't want to – what a load of rubbish came out of that! Can people really be that stupid? The proof is right here next to us.

The next morning, after breakfast, we pack up.

What are those water stains under the camper van? And why is water dripping from the wheel arch? It did rain last night, but that was long ago and the water has dried up.

Surely not… YES. The cabinet under the kitchen sink is full of water, and the cause seems to be the faucet. It's dripping steadily from above.

A call to the caravan dealer in Moormerland, 6 km away. We can come at 2 pm. The knowledgeable employee immediately knows the reason for the broken tap – it froze and broke. Despite draining the water and leaving the tap open, a small amount always remains in the hose, which freezes in very low temperatures and bursts the connection between the tap and the hose.

Here's a tip for everyone: Drain the water, turn on the tap, inflate a balloon and place it over the tap, so that all the water can be pushed backwards.

The tip costs €170 for the repair, including a new tap and a 3-hour waiting time.

There are worse things.

We use the waiting time to select our next destination.

Dokkum in Friesland – the northernmost city in the Netherlands, parking space right on the canal with access to the city center. So no long walks (good for S.'s knee).

The employee at the Caravan Center overheard our thoughts and confirmed that Dokkum is very beautiful and definitely worth visiting.

We'll still manage 125 km even with the late start.

Around 5 pm we reach the place, which is the northernmost city in the Netherlands and has city rights.

The 13,000 inhabitants are nowhere to be seen; everything is quiet and peaceful.

Turn off the main road at Lidl and then it's another 500 meters to the parking area right by the canal. The 10 parking spaces are 80% occupied; we get the second-to-last spot.

There is even a sanitary building with showers, toilets and waste disposal.

Let's go and explore the city.

Typical Dutch houses line the street, offering an open view into the living room, everything very tidy. Lines with small flags hang in the streets; the city is sprucing itself up. Something's definitely going to happen soon...

The national color orange is omnipresent; shop windows display orange shirts bearing the city's name and the addition of "Kenningsdei." Some even ostentatiously drape them on armchairs in living rooms.

A floating pontoon is being installed across the entire width of the central canal on the promenade – what on earth is going on here?

A quick internet search reveals that "Kenningsdei" is Frisian for King's Day, which is the national holiday in the Netherlands. It falls on April 27th, the birthday of King William Alexander. And each year, he graces a different city with his presence – this year the royal family is coming to Dokkum, causing quite a stir in the city.

It's a shame that it's not for another 10 days.

But then we certainly wouldn't have gotten a spot on the campsite.

Let's sit down on the promenade now with a beer in hand and imagine what it will look like here in 10 days.

Unfortunately, the shops in the city close at 5:30 pm, so we have no further shopping experiences apart from window shopping.

However, the shops show that even small towns can have an appealing mix of businesses in the city center. See? It can be done!

As we were about to call it a night in the campervan, a horde of teenagers nearby started playing loud bass music and talking loudly.

Opinions on this matter are very different – Simone wants to kill her, I'm not listening.

Around 2:00 a.m. it probably gets too cold outside and things quiet down.

Jan 24-25, Feb 12-15, Mar 7-8

I’ve been to Amsterdam a handful of times throughout my exchange so far. Unfortunately, I’ve been a little bit unlucky with the weather, and every time I go, it’s been so cold. That doesn’t take away from the fact that the city is beautiful, though, and definitely one of the more unique places on the planet.

My favourite thing to do in Amsterdam is just roam the streets and cross the countless number of bridges. It’s one of those places where it’s so easy to get lost, as everywhere looks the same, but everything is nice to look at. The Van Gogh Museum was also incredible. The museum takes you on a chronological walk through his life and shows that through his artwork. His art is amazing, but it was really cool to learn about his life and how he didn’t become world-famous until after his suicide.

The biggest con of Amsterdam is probably the price, it’s a really expensive city. Food and drinks are both really costly, but I guess that’s what happens in such a touristy place. I also think that Amsterdam is much smaller than people expect it to be, so it’s very easy to run out of things to do after 3–4 days.

Overall, it’s a beautiful and historic city. I’m sure that I will be back in Amsterdam at some point in my life.

January 23 - June 5

After a week in London, I headed to my home base for exchange, Maastricht. Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect before moving to Maastricht, as I had never really heard much about the city before.

Over my time on exchange, Maastricht has really surprised me in a positive way. It is a beautiful little city that has way more things to do and see than you would think. Often, I just go for small walks around the city, and it makes me really appreciate how beautiful it is. There are lots of nice little stores and restaurants all over the city to go to.

The going-out scene in Maastricht is also quite fun. We mostly go to a bar called Roto, and I also like Shamrock, Peter's (Trivia), Cafe Forum (Jazz), and Cliniq. I’ve had so many fun nights preing at the Guesthouse, then going out after 12 AM, which differs from the 9 PM Delilah’s resos back at home.

School has also been good, while also being very easy, which has been nice for me. We only have two classes per semester here, and the classes are all participation-based, which I am obviously really used to. I have noticed how much harder it is to work with the European students, though, as there are so many differences in the way they learn and approach group projects compared to what we’re used to back home.

Overall, I definitely love this place and have zero regrets about choosing this as my home base. It’s the perfect balance of chill and simple while also being fun. It’s always really nice for me to come back here after a big trip, as it feels like a refreshing reset, something that is really important when you are on exchange. I’ve met so many great people and friends here, and I’ll definitely need to come back and get nostalgic at some point in my life.

Although modern art is exhibited here, the museum is housed in an old villa from 1904. It is not particularly large, and one might expect that it can only accommodate a few artworks. However, that is misleading. Every surface and room, including the basement and outdoor area, has been utilized to its fullest.

Among the exhibited works are many well-known names like Banksy, Keith Haring, and Robbie Williams. The latter even has his own room in the museum. There are black-and-white and colored pictures as well as cartoons that address his fears.

I found the visit worthwhile, even though one can certainly expect more from other museums.

By the way, there is also a Moco Museum in London and Barcelona. All locations are situated in areas heavily frequented by tourists, and I believe the Moco Museum was designed specifically for these visitors. The artworks are all easily accessible and very Instagram-friendly.

The Amsterdam Light Festival actually ran from November 27, 2025, to January 18, 2026. So we were here on the very last weekend of this edition. And it was already the 14th edition of it. This time the theme was “Legacy” and along the route, there are about 20 light artworks by international artists to see.

I initially thought that a canal cruise would be the best way to admire the attractions. We did that too, but I wouldn't really recommend it. In fact, you don't see the artworks from the boat very well, because either you're sitting on the wrong side or the window reflects too much.

Therefore, we used a second evening and walked along the route. This tour is about 6.5 km long and can of course also be done by bike. Some sections were quite busy, while others were less so. Unfortunately, it became quite foggy for us later and it was only 2°C warm.

But this weather doesn't bother an Amsterdamer at all. After 8:30 PM, we passed by an outdoor tennis club where tennis was still being played under floodlights. And right after that, we encountered a large running club. However, we found the groups of paddlers waiting at the bridges the most impressive, as they had to be directed to avoid colliding with the excursion boats.

Another extra tip for the next edition: I found the app for the festival quite handy, even though it cost a proud €6.99. Unfortunately, it was also essentially shut down from January 19, 2026. I would have liked to read some things again.

Either way, the tour is worth it, especially on foot or by bike, as you can take your time to look at everything at your own pace.

A quick internet search reveals: Today, on January 17, 2026, is the Dutch National Tulip Day, also referred to as Tulip Day everywhere. While it’s not spring yet, Tulip Day marks the start of the tulip season.

At this colorful festival, a pop-up tulip picking garden is created at the Museumplein, the museum square, where Dutch tulip growers offer various plants for self-picking. There’s also music and photo opportunities.

The fun begins at 1 PM, and by the time I even realized this day existed, it was already 2:30 PM. Thirty minutes of brisk walking later, we arrived at our destination and, despite the line, held onto the hope of still catching some tulips. The event ends once all the bulb plants are given away.

We were lucky. Shortly after we arrived, the area was closed off. However, we had to speculate on the color of some of the tulips we picked, as most plants in bloom had already been taken.

It was still a lot of fun to be part of this Dutch traditional event. And a few tulips are now beginning their journey with us to Erfurt.

My naive assumption was that mid-January would be a good time to visit Amsterdam, as there would be fewer tourists around.

But that was not the case at all. Party tourists had already found their way here. In certain parts of the city, it’s probably similar to Ballermann, just with added prostitution and plenty of weed. Our hotel was nice, situated by a canal, not far from the train station, and we slept well. But just two or three streets away was the red-light district. And if you think that only men would find pleasure here, you're mistaken. Tourists from all over the world, including many couples, stroll around here.

It’s the allure of the almost universally forbidden that is so enticing. You can often see rosy-cheeked Asian couples coming out of a strip club or the

We are tired but have landed very well in Holland.

No showing of birth certificates 😉, neither in South Africa nor in Europe.

Unfortunately, we were met with unpleasant weather in Holland/Germany, but a much warmer welcome at home 🥰.

Thank you to everyone who followed the blog and always enjoyed the wonderful pictures with us. We thought: it was the best vacation, the best experience, that we have ever had.

Thanks a thousand to Susanne from Wild Of Africa ❤️

And once again, our big summer tour is upon us. This time, we are heading to CANADA 🇨🇦.

For the next nearly three weeks, we will be driving through Eastern Canada.

Today, we are traveling to Toronto. For the first time in a long while, we decided to go for the 'train to flight' ticket 🫣 As expected, the journey got off to a rocky start: the first train was canceled - family shuttle emergency call and off to the next transfer station, fortunately, we managed to catch the ICE train. But we had planned three buffer connections anyway. So we arrived in Frankfurt very much in advance.

Frankfurt Terminal D - what can I say, this is what traveling felt like in the 1980s. Very thorough security check (I never had to separately put my charging cable in a box, I can't remember when I last had to take off my watch). Ancient body scanners, so everyone had to be patted down, old X-ray machines, every second backpack had to be manually checked. This made everything take forever. Well, in May I flew from Terminal A, where you're even allowed to take liquids with you again.

But if there was one thing we had, it was time. It would have been nice to do some shopping after the security check, but... Terminal D has exactly one shop! No wonder Frankfurt always ranks so poorly!

Off to Amsterdam. That's a great airport. Even in the far corner, there's still a restaurant, café, bakery, or burger joint...

And the famous clock:

From here on, everything went according to plan, very efficiently, and the flight with KLM was top-notch and uneventful. We landed on time and had a very short waiting time at immigration control. And then something curious happened... At immigration, an officer manually filled out a yellow paper slip with our data. This was practically the access control to the baggage area 🤣, just show it once there.

The luggage also made it, and then off we went to Canada. But wait! First, we had to hand in the yellow slip! We had just gotten used to it, and then after 15 minutes, we had to hand it over again. It felt somewhat like it was from another millennium 🤣

Searched for the hotel shuttle, found it, checked in, and that was the start.

Upon arriving in Holland, everything suddenly felt so calm and completely de-stressing. We found a spot in a marina, absolute tranquility, except for the train behind us, which was bearable.

After setting up, we could wonderfully relax in our new chairs. Thank goodness we brought our bikes because this place is truly a paradise for cycling.

We also started our tour of Holland with proper fish and chips – even though it took longer, it was very delicious.

Here, cycling is really absolutely relaxing and possible.

After a wonderful holiday with my family, I'm departing from Amsterdam via Dallas to LA, then taking a bus to Santa Barbara. I'll be traveling for approximately 21 hours, wish me luck 🫣😅