Europe The Netherlands

Snapshots from The Netherlands

April 29, 2017

Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands

Spring in Holland

Before I get started on all the posts from our recent road trip to The Netherlands over the Easter bank holiday weekend, I thought I’d do a quick post with a few random photos that didn’t really fit in all the other posts.

We left the UK on the Thursday morning and got home late on the Monday evening and it was such an amazing trip. Yes, we froze to death each night in the unfinished campervan, but it was all part of the experience and we even found some things that we’d change or need to improve on with the conversion.

Dover Ferry Port
White Cliffs of Dover from Ferry
Dover to Calais

The ferry went really quickly on the way over. We went to the restaurant and by the time we’d finished eating it was almost time to return to the vehicles! We arrived in Calais and then headed straight to our first campsite.

We got stuck in crazy traffic at a toll booth just outside Antwerp for well over an hour because they had 5 or 6 toll lanes going into one lane because of roadworks so it was insane! But we arrived at the campsite at about 8pm which wasn’t too bad.

Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands
Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands

Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The NetherlandsBeach at Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands

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Beach at Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands
Beach at Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands

Beach at Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The NetherlandsBeach at Camping de Zuidduinen, Holland, The Netherlands

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Campsites

We found the campsite so strange in comparison to UK sites. We don’t know if it was just that campsite, or european campsites in general, but they locked the electricity away so you had to pay extra for it and someone would come hook you up. They also had a carpark for your car if you had a caravan, because the plots were so squished up!

The plus side to the campsite was that it had the most amazing beach just over the dunes, but we didn’t get to fully enjoy it in the 10°c weather. I’m sure it would be amazing during the summer though.

Recreatiecentrum Mijnden

Our second campsite was more like a UK campsite where the electricity was included in the price and it had the most amazing setting. There was a little marina there, a river running alongside it and water everywhere. I couldn’t get over how pretty it was, though the only downside was that all of the permenant residents got all the pretty waterside locations. It was still lovely though!

Antipasti Tapas Selection
Mini Dutch Stroopwaffels
Food in The Netherlands

Though we mostly just pigged out on packets of dried pasta for dinners while we were away, the food that we did try while we were away was amazing! I loved the stroopwafels – think a really really thin waffel, cut in half, filled with caramel then cooled. We couldn’t stop snacking on them!

I also loved the little tapas selections in the supermarkets over there. Shane and I love antipasti and tapas for dinner, so when we saw 3 pots for €5 we couldn’t resist. Our favourite was some syrup fruit stuffed inside bacon and the ricotta stuffed chilli peppers. So so good! While we were at Keukenhof, we also tried a Dutch Apple Tart and it was amazing! Definitely going to be recreating that this autumn!

Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands
Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands

Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands Tulip Fields in Holland, The NetherlandsTulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands

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Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands
Tulip Fields in Holland, The Netherlands
The Tulip Fields

One of the main reasons why I wanted to go over to The Netherlands was to see all the tulip fields! We saw so many, but sadly most of them were private farms that were locked up. I didn’t exactly feel like tresspassing, but we did come across a few that you could just wander into, but Shane being Shane just drove past them exclaiming ‘oh we’ll just find another one to stop at’. Ugh.

We finally found one, ran out in the freezing cold and wind, got a few photos then left. And that was it hahah! So glad we didn’t go over just to see the tulip fields! But it would have been nicer to stop at some of the other ones too. I mean, you kind of have to right?

Looking back through my photos, I wish we’d have stopped in some of the towns that we drove through to take photos because seriously, the towns were amazing! The architecture, the houses, the gardens, the rivers. I just loved it all, and sadly we never got any photos of it. Maybe we’ll just have to go back and see some more haha!

Have you been to The Netherlands before? What did you think?

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  • Reply
    Darina
    April 29, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    Lovely to read how you enjoyed the Netherlands (I am living there :)) Beautiful photos!

    • Reply
      April
      April 30, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      Ah, that’s amazing! The Netherlands is such a beautiful country – I’m so jealous!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Of Ashes&Bones
    April 30, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    Love love this. You guys really make me want to going van-camping!

    • Reply
      April
      April 30, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      Yay! It was so fun (other than the fact that it was SO cold). Though, it’ll definitely be so much better once it’s all finished!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Nikki-ann
    April 30, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    I’ve never been to the Netherlands. It looks like you had such a lovely trip. Such beautiful photos too 🙂

    • Reply
      April
      April 30, 2017 at 8:58 pm

      You have to visit! And if you ever get the chance to, please make sure you see more than just Amsterdam! It’s such a beautiful country!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Joanne
    May 1, 2017 at 1:40 am

    The Netherlands is so gorgeous!! These are such amazing photos, and it sounds like you had a great trip. I also love the stroopwaffles – I don’t know if you did this, but I learned that placing them over a hot cup of tea (not submerging them, just balancing them over the lip of the cup), and waiting a few minutes before eating is when they are at their prime. The warm tea makes the caramel gooey, and makes the overall stroopwaffle warm and delicious.

    Joanne | https://fung-shui.com

    • Reply
      April
      May 1, 2017 at 7:21 am

      Ooh, that sounds so amazing! I watched them being made while we were at Keukenhof Gardens and then you bought them all warm and gooey and they looked amazing. I can imagine it being like that! I should have tried it haha.
      xo April

  • Reply
    Elizabeth
    May 1, 2017 at 7:24 pm

    It looks stunning! I would love to go one day!

  • Reply
    Lucy
    May 8, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    Definitely inspired me to convert my own campervan 🙂 the second campsite was so pretty! I’ve never been to the Netherlands, despite growing up in East Kent which is geographically closer to the country than most of England!!! xxx
    Lucy @ La Lingua

  • Reply
    Esther
    July 15, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    Teehee! Yay for loving stroopwafels. I always take them to my friends abroad and they always go down well. Looks like you saw The Netherlands at their best (though sorry about the weather, we’ll try better next time, hehe).

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