Cheese markets in Holland

Holland is famous for its cheese. During Summer cheese markets are organised on the central square of towns. Below follows a time schedule.

Wednesdays: Edam (North of Amsterdam)

• 6 July – 31 August
• 10:30 – 12:30

Thursdays: Gouda (between Rotterdam and Utrecht)

• 7 April – 25 August (not on 5 May)
• 10:00 – 13:00

Thursdays: Hoorn (North of Amsterdam)

• 16 June – 1 September (not on 4 and 8 August)
• 13:00 – 15:00

Fridays: Alkmaar (North of Amsterdam)

• 1 April – 2 September
• 10:00 – 12:30

Saturdays: Woerden (near Utrecht)

• 16 April – 20 August
• 10:30 – 12:30

 

Click below to find more information

• Holland Cheese markets

Enkhuizen

Enkhuizen is an old fisherman’s village, just like Volendam and Urk.

Tips:

• Ferry from Enkhuizen to Urk: accross the IJsselmeer.
• Zuiderzeemuseum: see how the Dutch transformed see into lake and land.

Cycling along river Lek, Zeeland, Belgium

In July 2013 we took the tandem and cycled from Utrecht to Schoonhoven, then followed the river Lek to Hellevoetsluis. From there we followed the Delta Works to Vlissingen, Zeeland, where we crossed the river Schelde by ferry and then followed the coast to Belgium.

Along river Lek:

Crossing Spui, province of South-Holland:

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Hellevoetsluis:

Delta Works, between South-Holland and Zeeland:

Domburg and Vlissingen (province of Zeeland):

To Breskens by ferry and then to the Belgian coast:

Belgian coast:

Belgian Coast:

Knokke (Belgium):

From Belgium back to Utrecht:

Amsterdam around Christmas

Skating at Museum Plein, Amsterdam.

I Am Sterdam at Museum Plein, Amsterdam.

Christmas Market at Rembrandt Plein, Amsterdam.

Spiegel Gracht near Museum Plein, Amsterdam.

Flower Market, Amsterdam.

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PC Hooftstraat, Amsterdam: all big brands have a small shop here.

Food in Holland

In Holland the sea is never far away, we Dutch eat quite some fish. Famous (or notorious) is our fresh herring: since the 17th century guts and head are removed at sea, directly after the herring is caught, this prevents it from rotting. Immediatly prior to consumption scales are removed.

The most common food in Holland is fries with fried croquet, frikandel (special kind of sausage) or something similar.

Holland is also famous for its fruit and vegetables. The soil is very fertile and we have many glass-houses, especially in the Westland, near The Hague.

 

Kings Day / Koningsdag

On 27 April we celebrate our king’s birthday. In the whole country children and adults sell second-hand stuff on the streets and they organize games. People are having party on the streets, food and drink is available everywhere. The main cities of interest are Amsterdam and Utrecht.

 

Paris

Bus:

Flexibus: 2x per day from Utrecht cs, earliest 8:50.

• Example: Utrecht 8:50 – Paris 16:40. 38 Euro.
  

Eurolines: 2x per day from Utrecht cs, earliest 11:45

• Example: Utrecht 11:45 – Paris 19:30. 21 Euro.

Train. Every 1,5 hour from Utrecht cs, earliest 6:02

• Example: Utrecht 9:47 – Paris 13:35. 130,40 Euro.

To see in Paris:

• Eiffel tower
• Notre Dame
• Sacre Couer
• Arc de Triomphe

Düsseldorf

Bus: 2x per day from Utrecht cs, earliest 10:50.

• Example: Utrecht cs 10:50 – Düsseldorf 13:20 & Düsseldorf 16:15 – Utrecht cs 18:45. 40 Euro.
  

Train. 2x per hour from Utrecht cs, earliest 7:02

• Example: Utrecht 9:17 – Düsseldorf :10 & Düsseldorf 19:49 – Utrecht 22:51.  65,80 Euro.

To see in Düsseldorf:

• Königsallee: luxurious shopping street.
• Schadow Arkaden: shopping mall.
• Christmas market: Germany is famous for its Christmas markets and Düsseldorf has one of most well-known, it stretches 6 squares and some streets throughout the city.

Eat & drink in Düsseldorf:

• Germany is famous for its beer.
• Germans love meat. Try one of these sausages with bread and sauce: Bockwurst, Bratworst, Currywurst.
• Asian restaurants
  • Na Ni Wa: Japanese noodles, soup & sushi. Address: Klosterstrasse 68a, Düsseldorf.
  • Ou Yue: Chinese cuisine. Address: Oststrasse 37, Düsseldorf.

Antwerp

Bus: 3x per day from Utrecht cs, earliest 8:30.

• Example: Utrecht cs 8:30 – Antwerp 11:50 & Antwerp 18:30 – Utrecht cs 20:45. 30 euro.
  

Train. 3x per hour from Utrecht cs, earliest 6:10

• Example: Utrecht 9:02 – 10:31 Antwerp & Antwerp 19:49 – Utrecht 22:43. 38 Euro.

To see in Antwerp:

• Grote Markt: beautiful old houses.
• Vogeltjesmarkt (Bird Market): Sundays 8:00 – 13:00
• De Meir: famous shopping street.

Eat & Drink in Antwerp:

• Belgian waffles. There are two kinds: ‘Brusselse wafel’ & ‘Luikse wafel’.
• Belgium is famous for its beers.
• ‘Paling in het groen’: Eel in green.
• ‘Mosselen’: Mussels.

Brussels

Bus. 3x per day from Utrecht cs, earliest 10:00.

• Example: Utrecht 10:00 – Brussels 14:00 & Brussels 17:30 – Utrecht 20:45. 33 Euro.

Train. Every hour from Utrecht cs, earliest 6:17 & from Brussels latest 20:49.

• Example: Utrecht 9:17 – Brussels 12:10 & Brussels 19:49 – Utrecht 22:43. 38 Euro.

See in Brussels:

• Grote Markt: beautiful old houses. Tip: eat a Brussels Waffel here.
• Manneken Pis (near Grote Markt)
• European Parliament
• Atomium
• Autoworld