Archive For The “European Travel” Category
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…
27 May – 24 October 2021 at the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery Nero (r. AD 54–68), the last male descendant of Rome’s first emperor Augustus, succeeded to the throne aged only 16. During his reign of nearly 14 years, he murdered his own mother, his first wife, and allegedly his second wife; it has even been…
Reflections: contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa February – August 2021 in Room 90 Featuring around 100 works on paper, the majority of which have been collected by the British Museum during the past decade, this exhibition presents artists from across the Middle East and North Africa who reflect on their own…
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…
We have many cheese choices in specialist shops and even our local supermarket. Gouda can easily be overlooked. It seems to have been with us forever and we don’t even notice it anymore. The first mention of this cheese dates from 1184, making it one of the oldest recorded cheeses in the world still being…
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…
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…
I have said it before, and I will say it yet again – The Netherlands has amazing food! It’s not all gin and cheese, although both are very good. There is a wealth of dining opportunities in this country so why do we overlook such gastronomic treasures? I have no idea, but I think Mes…
Drawn from life 12 Oct 2019 – 19 Jan 2020 The exhibition Drawn from life features many seldom exhibited drawings, pastels and watercolours from the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum. The works provide an insight into life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum is famed worldwide for…
Nestled in the historic streets of Maastricht is the Bisschopsmolen or, in English, the Bishop’s Mill. It truly was once a mill and its reputation grinds on in the guise of its bakery and restaurant. The mill was built in the 7th century and has had different roles since its construction. In the 11th century…
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is one of the most noteworthy hotels in which I have stayed in the Netherlands. Perhaps it’s one of the most memorable hotels I have ever visited anywhere. It’s a unique marriage of 15th century architecture and ultra-modern design. It truly is a matter of taste, but Kruisherenhotel was, for me, heavenly in…