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What Should I Not Miss When Visiting The Netherlands?

Talking of tourism, the Netherlands is a country that offers great eye-catching sites that are very ambient and quite breath-taking. Popular for its beautiful flower gardens and the windmills, there are so many other hidden gems that you may not be aware of.

Here is a list of places and things you do not want to miss out when touring this amazing country.

Keukenhof Gardens

Also known as the Garden of Europe, the Keukenhof is found in the town of Lisse. The garden holds approximately 7 million flower bulbs every year. This spectacular site tops our list of must-go places in the Netherlands.

A wonderful and magnificent site to see if you ask me. The Keukenhof gardens simply show you the beauty of mother nature with a wide range of flowers from tulips to daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi among many more. Something for all lovers of mother-nature,

The West Frisian Islands

Located in the North Sea off the Dutch coast along the edge of the Wadden sea. There are a total of 14 islands, but here are the main ones.

• Texel (Den Burg)- largest

• Vlieland (Oost Vlieland)-second largest

• Terschelling (West-Terschelling, Midsland)-third largest

• Ameland (Nes, Hollum)-fourth-largest

• Schiermonnikoog (Schiermonnikoog)-fifth largest.

While chilling at these islands, get to catch the dazzling sunset view from the beach club along the sand as you interact with the magnificent people of the Netherlands while sipping your cocktails.

Wander along the fine relaxing beaches on the mudflats or even take a bike with you and cycle along the cool shores.

WONDR Experience

This is a truly immersive experience awaits here. The WONDR is a playground sprinkled with confetti that is full of colour sensations. The place is very vibrant and full of energy and is most certainly suitable for every age.

Socials would term it as the most instagrammable place to visit, well simply because of the tons of pictures that you get to share while here. Did you know that this is Amsterdam’s first artistic playground for adults? Swing in the colourful jungle, smile in the confetti shower, sing in the

Karaoke booths, play in the ball pit as well as get to swim in a marshmallow pool.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the crowd is limited to 15 participants. All health and safety measures are, however, applied. The experience is also designed for adults; therefore, children under 10 years of age are not allowed for safety purposes.

Canal Tour

We could not leave this one out of the list, since it is certainly attractive while you tour through the streets of the cities in the Netherlands. One of which you will attest to be absolutely an experience of its own.

The trips are accompanied by a very informative tour guide that takes you through the towns’ history as you cruise through. The world-famous Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Heineken Experience, and the Royal Theater Carre could be some of the route’s drop-off points.

From romantic candlelight cruises to cheese and wine tours during the Amsterdam light festival in winter are some of the best experiences for couples. Dinner cruises, cocktail cruises and the famous pizza cruises aim to satisfy your culinary cravings. Enjoy the delicious Dutch pancakes from the pancake boats that allow sightseeing as you gobble up the stacks of pancakes.

Gouda

Talking of the best cheese, have you heard of the famous ‘Goudse Kaas’, a Dutch cheese from Gouda made from cow’s milk? It is one of the most popular cheeses worldwide. Be sure not to miss some of the famous Gouda cheese cauliflower soup, cheese puffs, and of course the Gouda cheese pastries.

There you have it, start planning your next trip to the Netherlands and enjoy these and many more.

Best Cycling Months in The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, cyclists ride their bikes all year round since it is a vital means of transport. People in the Netherlands use the bicycle to go to school, visit the shop, and work. However, when the weather is favourable, a lot of cyclists enjoy recreational cycling. In the Netherlands, you get good things from every season.

Because of that, you need to take your bicycle and have fun if you are in the Netherlands when the weather is excellent. Like any other coastal country in Europe, Netherlands has both cold winter and warm summers with rainfall all through.

If you have to pick the months to take out your bike, mid-April to October is the best. You can avoid big crowds if you try cycling during spring. Though the chance of having good weather in spring is half, you get the best of the Netherlands.

April To May

The weather pattern in April is unpredictable. It is vital to carry warm cloth and the right rain gear when you visit the Netherlands at the start of April. However, as the month nears the end, the weather changes to warm, making it suitable for cyclists. In May, the temperature rises, attracting many tourists. In places like gardens and museums can get crowded. Thus, there are several spots in the Netherlands that are rarely busy for cyclists.

A cyclist can enjoy free movement in areas like the world heritage coastline, scenic fisherman’s village, and De Hoge Veluwe National Park. According to Max Lang-Orsini, you can visit the Van Gogh museum after a long ride since art is significant for relaxing.

June To July

People in the Netherlands are happy as there are fewer winds, and the sun gets warm. It is excellent to visit the Netherlands in June since the holidays have not yet started and the weather is good. Because of that, roads and museums will not be busy cycling all day. You should be ready to be packed with other travellers when you visit the Netherlands in July.

This period is better for a cyclist since most tourists will be in the city while visiting Dutch znature and some of the exciting sights. There is no bothering from tourists when you take a ride on the road, hence enjoying your group’s time.

August To September

There are a lot of activities that take place in August. Most of the biggest festivals in the Netherlands during the month happen outside the big cities hence creating the right interaction environment when cycling. If you like riding when relatively warm, September is the month. Although the summer holidays are done, in the Netherlands, September remains warm.

In terms of freedom, there are almost no crowds in the cities and other catchy areas in September, hence a great ride.

October

At the beginning of the month, the weather is still suitable for riding. As the month nears the end, the chance of rain is high, making many people want to spend time indoors. If you like chilly weather while bike riding, you can have the best time at the end of this month with minimal disturbance.

Parting Words

As described, there are plenty of activities that you can do while in the Netherlands other than bike riding. Therefore, have fun in your stay to create beautiful memories of your cycling days in the Netherlands.

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad for Looking After Your Mental Health

It is completely normal for people to feel stressed during this ongoing pandemic. In this time, most cases of mental illness arise and the results are often devastating. Remember that everyone is under pressure and it is your responsibility to make sure you stay sane and healthy.

Guilty Pleasures during a Global Pandemic: Why you shouldn’t Feel Bad 

It is evident that people staying in quarantine have a socioeconomic and physical impact. These impacts affect the mental wellbeing of a person. However, keeping it positive and having no regrets about what you do is important for your mental health. You should not feel guilty about treating yourself to the finer things in life for the sake of your mental health. 

Here are some of the reasons why.

The need to have better relationships

The first relationship you can have is with yourself. How you choose to treat yourself will ultimately impact how you will relate with other people. Treating yourself with respect is well deserved and it will determine the level of self-esteem you have. For this reason, it builds up the level of confidence you have in whatever you do.

Mental health is a determinant of a good marriage life. During a pandemic, this is the time that you fully spend time with your partner. 

You may find some characters that may make you mad. However, finding ways to cope up with this issue will help you become mentally healthy. It may include taking an interest in art from people like Maxmillian Lang-Orsini.

After spending so many days away from his Irish family during the pandemic, he said, “Painting and other new hobbies have kept me sane. I think you maybe have to indulge yourself a little more than in other years, and just not feel so guilty about it.”

Increases discipline and develop a stronger work ethic

Due to increased stress levels, people become depressed, which is mentally disturbing for many people and it may cause dangerous effects. With a better mindset, the discipline you have at the workplace becomes stable. 

On a day to day basis, it can increase productivity. It means that with discipline, you will have a change in work performance and not make you feel worse.

We’re all in the same boat during the pandemic. Sure, there are some people who have a better outcome than others. But if we remember to have a good care routine and push yourself to do something you could never have done pre-pandemic. Now is the time to do it.

Boosts physical health

Physical health is related to the mind. The more you engage in physical exercises, the more you become fit. With many exercises, the body releases endorphins responsible for people’s happiness. 

Remember that the food you eat, the amount of sweat you pour have an important part to play in the wellbeing of your body and the brain. This can help you feel good as well as having a healthier looking body.

Doctors encourage being more active by going to the gym, hiking or biking to build up self-confidence. It will reduce cases of depression and anxiety popping up. This has been medically reviewed and proven to do so. 

Although going to the gym now may not be possible. Home workouts are still an option.

To improve your quality of life

Controlling your life is important for you to live a stress-free life. People have many responsibilities in life. Due to this, it is inevitable to develop migraine, fatigue and muscle tension. Through managing the stress that life comes with, you will hand an upper hand in obtaining a better life.

There are various activities that you can involve yourself in to make it easier to maintain better lives. These activities may involve hobbies such as singing, dancing and taking part in good art from Maximilian Lang-Orsini.

Conclusion

It has been a tough year for everyone. It is important to reduce the impact that comes with the pandemic, especially mental health-related issues. It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of their body, mind and soul. However, you should not feel guilty about how you choose to make yourself better. 

It can be by dancing like nobody’s watching or knitting a sweater. Do whatever makes you happy.

Has Coronavirus ruined Christmas for us all?

It’s been a year since the start of the global pandemic, which has changed people’s lives in significant ways. Most people were not expecting the pandemic to still be here by Christmas. Sadly, the situation keeps getting worse, and its impact on the holiday season is recognisable.

The Question is How Has Covid-19 Affected Christmas and Will We Be Able to Adapt and Survive This?!

The impacts of coronavirus on the Christmas holiday season are numerous. Below are a few;

Gatherings

The Christmas season is often characterised by family and friend gatherings. It is a time of the year when families come together to celebrate and have a good time. However, one of the most significant impacts of coronavirus is that it has led to movement and crowd restrictions. This was done to decrease and mitigate the infection rate by as much as possible.

Families cannot travel to get together. Even those families that live in the same state or city cannot risk spending time together because of the advice against crowding. Social distancing as explained by the public health is crucial, and unfortunately during the festive season, it still is. 

To maintain the coronavirus pandemic, the prime ministers in most or if not all European Countries have told everyone to stay in a bubble when celebrating Christmas with close family or friends.

Most people, like Maximilian Lang-Orsini, who is ‘Heartbroken to be spending Christmas in Amsterdam, away from his Ireland and Germany-based family, but stoic and intending to enjoy a Merry Christmas in Amsterdam!’ have to deal with this. This is not how most people would like to spend their time.

Travelling

Most people love to travel and vacation during the Christmas season. However, this may not be possible this year because of the pandemic. 

Travelling at this time is equivalent to putting your health and that of your family at dire risk. The most popular vacation locations in the world are currently in lockdown. If you are to go out, then don’t forget to wear a face mask.

Finances

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy of the world in general. Hundreds of thousands of people in different parts of the world have lost their jobs following the pandemic. 

Due to the Coronavirus Strain, companies have had to shut down their operations and let go of a significant number of their employees and clients. This means that most families are currently struggling to make ends meet. The Christmas season is coupled with a lot of expenses. 

Sadly, this year, many people have to change the way they celebrate because of financial challenges. So for some, Christmas Shopping will not be a thing. Despite this, we can still turn things around.

How can you adapt to the changes and still celebrate Christmas this year?

While the pandemic’s negative impacts are numerous, you don’t have to have a terrible Christmas. The best thing about human beings is that we are adaptable and can learn to make the best out of most situations. 

After going through the pandemic for a year, most people have already started adapting to the problem. Below are some ways through which you can make the best out of the Christmas holiday despite the pandemic;

Quarantine beforehand

The best thing to do during this Christmas season would be to spend time with your immediate family and not risk being in a crowd. However, most people have gone almost a year without seeing their loved ones and friends. 

If you have to see your family this holiday, the best thing to do would be to sacrifice some time in quarantine so that you can ensure the safety of your family when you meet. This means you will be able to have a get together while remaining safe.

Prioritising only the traditions that matter the most

It would help if you thought about the holiday and what matters the most. You can still keep some of your traditions, like putting up holiday celebrations and making special foods, while still staying safe.

Shop online

While you may not be able to go to the mall or the market to shop for gifts for your loved ones, you can still get them something special from online stores. Just make sure you do this early so that you don’t miss out.

Conclusion

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Despite the pandemic, you can still have a good time and keep some of your favourite traditions. Just make sure you keep yourself and your family throughout the celebrations.