Archive For The “European Travel” Category
It’s true that many British tourists are regulars on the beaches of the Algarve and they will say they love the country. Yes, they enjoy that little corner of this amazing land; but far fewer visitors travel away from the resorts to discover the real personality of Portugal. The Portuguese are the product of a…
Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition Exhibition On Screen, the celebrated art-film brand which brings major artists, exhibitions, and art institutions to cinema audiences worldwide, is thrilled to announce that its latest theatrical release – Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition – is not only the award-winning production company’s highest ever grossing release after just 2 days in cinemas,…
I love The Netherlands and am an unashamed supporter. It’s an oft-disregarded tourist destination even though it’s easy to get to from London. Short breaks are more usually taken in Paris or Berlin. That’s a shame as Dutch cities offer history, architectural charm and delicious food. Yes, dear reader, that statement isn’t an affectation of…
We have all heard of Bratislava but mostly with regard to iffy stag do’s. They are thankfully drifting into the mists of a former time, and there is so much more to this city than nightlife. The first known permanent settlement here was around 5000 BC. About 200 BC, the Celtic Boii tribe founded the…
Nederlands Fotomuseum Reveals 99 Iconic Images In The Gallery Of Honour Of Dutch The development of 180 years of photography On 9 June, the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam opened the Gallery of Honour of Dutch Photography to the public and welcomed His Majesty the King for a visit to the museum. As one of the…
What a wonderful read! It’s only May and I sense I have already found my ‘Book of the Year’! Harley and the Holy Mountain: Through the Heart of Greece to its Soul is both amusing and thought-provoking. It’s an exercise in the human condition as well as being a thoroughly absorbing travelogue. The author, John…
We love those fresh Spring colours of tulips which are synonymous with the Netherlands. It’s not a native of that small northern country but it does so very well there. Tulip mania reared its floral head in the Dutch Golden Age when the cost of some bulbs of the trendy tulip reached amazing heights. That…
An exhibition of romantic perfumes and foul odours in the 17th century The 17th century saw Mauritshuis as a residence and hotel for VIP guests. This beautiful building is conveniently situated in the city centre of The Hague. Now Mauritshuis houses the celebrated museum for 17th and 18th century works of art. Its collections comprise…
The Netherlands has so much to offer. Many of us think we know about this small but perfectly formed country. Well, we had that weekend away in Amsterdam, didn’t we? Yes, that city has a multitude of exciting facets, but travel outside and discover the real Netherlands – it’s a compact nation so it won’t…
On 21 January 2021, the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam will open the Gallery of Honour of Dutch Photography, where 100 photographs will be on display. All the images have iconic value due to their social and artistic significance, and together they tell the story of photography in the Netherlands, from its beginnings to the present…
Delftware or Delft pottery, also known as Delft Blue, is a term now widely used to describe the instantly recognisable Dutch earthenware. Most of it is blue and white, and the city of Delft in the Netherlands was the predominant production area in Europe. Four centuries ago the first Dutch East India Company ships returned…
‘A Dog of Flanders’ is a novel by English-French author Marie Louise de la Ramée and was published under her pseudonym “Ouida” in 1872. It is about a Flemish boy named Nello and his dog Patrasche, and is set in Antwerp, where there are numerous reminders of this popular literary work. I confess that I…
The Netherlands has been an oft-overlooked destination for those vacationers from the UK. Amsterdam still has a massive draw but there is so much more to see in this fascinating and convenient country. Rotterdam offers many attractions and it’s easy to get there on public transport. But take a short trip outside that celebrated city…
New discoveries and insights from the international scientific examination of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. The scientific examination of Johannes Vermeer’s world-famous painting, known as Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665), has yielded new discoveries and insights. By employing multidisciplinary research, an international team of scientists has brought us closer to the artwork…
The mountains have been here for 80 million years; humans have been using the mountains for a lot less time than that, but nevertheless for a long time, historically speaking. The Romans used one of the peaks as a military fort. Later, in the 14th century, a monastery was built that gave birth to this…
Aelbert Cuyp Exhibition 27 September 2020 to 14 March 2021 To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Aelbert Cuyp (1620–1691) the Dordrechts Museum is organising a major exhibition to celebrate the Dutch artist and his impact on English landscape painters. In the light of Cuyp: Aelbert Cuyp & Gainsborough – Constable – Turner…
Antwerp is the capital of the Belgian province of Flanders. It is one of the most populous cities in Belgium, although the old city centre gives the impression of a much smaller and more intimate town. It is about 40 kilometres north of Brussels, and only 15 kilometres from the border with The Netherlands. The…
9 December 2019 – Tevuren – near Brussels. Originally inaugurated for the Brussels International Exhibition of 1897, Charles Girault, architect of the Petit Palais in Paris was called upon to design the Africa Museum , completed in 1910. In 2013, the Museum closed for an extensive renovation and rebuild. Some 5 years later, the building…
Honey BEEingPure and Sweet? Sounds like advice for a good life. In reality, BEEingPure is the name of a small yet influential honey-making (or is it gathering?) company in Limburg in the Netherlands. We visited the site where some hives are kept in a tranquil environment which rather resembles an allotment. Bee-attracting flowers bloom, insects…
In Flanders Fields Museum – To End all Wars – Ypres 27 October – 15 November 2019 To End all Wars – Ypres Timed with the end of the centenary of the Great War approaching, the In Flanders Fields Museum takes a look at the real consequences of this great battle. The peace that ensued…