Want to cut the price of your grocery shopping in half? Then get yourself down to the Haagse Markt – the biggest open air market in the Netherlands. We do the bulk of our shopping there, and on our last trip I snapped a few photos of the stalls. I then compared prices on the …read more >>
There is something evanescent, temporary and fragile about food. You make it, it goes, and what remains are memories. But these memories of food are very powerful. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, ‘There is no love more sincere than the love of food.’ It’s always a joy to discover food that takes you …read more >>
For our family, there’s no better way to start Sunday morning than with a trip to the French bakery, Philippe Galerne. Craving French baguettes? Buttery croissants? A pain au chocolat? This is your address, and it’s one of the most popular places to be on a Sunday. The bakery opens at 8am on a Sunday, …read more >>
Wondering where to hold your child’s birthday party? Here are dozens of ideas for memorable celebrations. This list originally included 29 venues (thus the title). We’ve since added more suggestions, so the list has grown. Most are located in The Hague but we’ve also included a few ideas from the surrounding area. We have personal …read more >>
It’s June in the Netherlands and, here in The Hague, wild roses are everywhere if you know where to look. We’ve seen them in playgrounds, in gardens and (by the millions) in the sand dunes along the beach. For keen home cooks, these roses aren’t merely pretty to look at. They’re edible! Just make sure …read more >>
Every year in May, the Spoorwegmuseum (railroad museum) in Utrecht holds a Thomas Weekend. We attended this year for the first time and have a few tips to share if you’re also planning a trip to see Thomas. 1. Get A Museumkaart Unless this is the only museum you want to visit all year, buy …read more >>
Every spring, beach cafés open along the length of the North Sea Coast and on a sunny day there’s no nicer place to have a coffee or lunch. As parents, we’re particularly fond of Habana Beach in Kijkduin. Their large terrace includes quite a few tables and chairs located literally on the beach, plus some …read more >>
This year I made a decision about gift giving. From now on, I’m giving experiences rather than stuff to the people I love. So when one of my best friends — the amazingly talented Zoe — had a birthday, nothing seemed more appropriate than inviting her out for one of my favourite treats: high tea. …read more >>
Finding activities for kids to do in the winter can sometimes be challenging so our family was excited to discover Swing Gyms in the Grote Pyr building (on the Waldeck Pyrmontkade) in The Hague. Not only did we find swings inside but also balls to throw around, tunnels to crawl through and big mats to …read more >>
Of all the things the Dutch do well, cheese is at the top of the list and perhaps no city is more famous for its cheese than Gouda. This summer, we found time to be tourists in our own backyard with a day-trip to Gouda’s cheese museum and weekly cheese market. Both are located on …read more >>
