Tag: Netherlands

Living on the beach in Bloemendaal aan Zee

July 8, 2020

Our apartment with sea view at Poort Beach Hotel

I haven’t been in Bloemendaal aan Zee for a long time. So, we were looking forward to the super stylish Poort Beach Hotel Apartments. The tasteful accommodations have so much to offer!

Bloemendaal aan Zee, Bloemendaal, Fasten Ur Seatbelts, Poort Beach Boutique Apartment

We had planned to spend 2 days on the beach, but when we came to the apartment, we immediately knew that all our time would be spent on the spacious terrace. From here, we could also watch the whole happenings on the beach along with the surfers. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset with a delicious glass of wine.

The apartments are equipped with a lot of love for details. As always, you should think of bringing salt, pepper and oil, in case you do your own cooking. Otherwise, everything is on the spot! Even a Nespresso machine! I always bring my own milk frother for a delicious cappuccino in the morning.

In our apartment, 6 persons could have stayed overnight, and it costs about 250€ a night. You should book the apartments well in advance as they are almost always fully booked.

Things To Do

You’ll never be bored in Bloemendaal aan Zee as there are countless things to do!

– Beach Walk – Every evening, we took a drink from our apartment and walked along the beach with Chuck. Dogs are allowed to run around freely without a leash from 19 o’clock in the evening.

– Water Sports – You only have to walk down the stairs to go to the beach and rent the surf equipment for surfing. Of course there are more water sports available right outside your front door!

– City Trip – It’s only about 10 minutes by car to Haarlem. For a day trip, I would always prefer to go there. The beautiful city of Haarlem has its own charm with its small streets and canals. The place is also known as the “little sister of Amsterdam”. However, I would rather walk all the way to Haarlem because the parking spaces are very expensive. Anyway, the footpath to Haarlem has a lot to offer! You will pass the Kemmerland National Park and some great housing estates. Walking there is an absolute breeze!

– Beach Club, Republiek – Right in front of the apartment door, you have the Beach Club, Republiek. If you prefer to have breakfast in the morning, I recommend you to visit the trendy and new Beach Club. I could have spent the whole day in the lounge chairs in the sand.

– Zandvoort – Do you feel like a walk on the beach? Then you should consider going to Zandvoort! There are also a lot of modern beach clubs here! In the centre of Zandvoort, there is also a small shopping street to stay in. We made a stopover at the photogenic beach club “Ubuntu Beach”; a must-visit for Instagram lovers!

If you want to see more videos of my stay, have a look at the highlights on my Instagram account.

Holland’s Maldivian Water Villas at Oasis Punt-West Hotel & Beach Resort

June 25, 2020

by fastenurseatbelts

Punt-West Hotel & Beachresort, Fasten Ur Seatbelts, Ouddorp

In the middle of the nature reserve “De Punt” on the Grevelingenmeer is the modern Oasis Punt-West Hotel & Beach Resort, which we reached after a good 3-hour drive from Cologne.

The only five-year-old facility in Ouddorp in the south of Holland (near Renesse) is located directly on the Grevelingenmeer inland waterway.

The sea may not be as clear as the crystal blue water in the Maldives, but the villas and studios are located directly on the water! Most of them even have their own beach.

Instead of the Mediterranean palm trees, you look out over the bright green dune grass from the terrace or the panoramic windows.

Oasis Punt-West Hotel & Beach Resort

We were able to enjoy the wonderful view of the place directly upon arrival in our modern “Hotelstudio Waterfront” for 2-persons. On the ground floor, there is a small kitchenette and living room. From the couch, you can always watch the sea drifting through the wide, panoramic windows.

On the first floor, you reach the bedroom and bathroom, where well-scented Rituals products await you! My personal highlight was, of course, the terrace directly above the sea and the quietness in the resort that makes one really relax.

Also, during breakfast and/or in the restaurant, one always has a direct view of the wide sea!

At the reception, in the restaurant building, you can also rent a SUP or bike.

For your information:

The stairs to the first floor are a bit steep. We always carried Chuck, our Frenchie, upstairs, as he could not walk up them alone. Even for older people who find it difficult to climb the stairs, it is better to choose another type of accommodation in the resort.

The fitted kitchen has a microwave but no stove. You should bring your own salt, pepper, oil etc. if you want to prepare something.

There is no partition wall between the terraces of the studios. If both studios are occupied, you end up sitting very close together on the terrace. Dogs, for example, can run over to the neighbours quickly.

Conclusion

We absolutely enjoyed the peace and quiet and the location. Our Hotelstudio is offered on the website for about 350€/night, including breakfast, which is, of course, an exclusive price.

Therefore, the price-performance ratio did not fit 100% for me, as the equipment of the hotel studio is very ordinary. However, I did look at some villas from the outside, which were very ornate! Especially as a big family or a group of friends, one can have a great time here!

Things to do

Beach Time
- Not far from the resort (about 15 minutes walk) is the 18km long coastal beach. Even during Corpus Christi, there was hardly anything going on here, and we could really enjoy the absolute silence! I definitely recommend a walk to the lighthouse and a romantic picnic at sunset. If during the day the weather is halfway ok, you can expect a beautiful sunset!
Bicycle Tour
- An absolute must in Holland is of course to explore the area by bike. You have a great landscape all around, which you can explore by bike.
Brouwersdam
- Whoever arrives early in the morning by car or camper has a great first-row seat at the sea to watch the kite surfers. Unfortunately, you don’t get breakfast here, but there are plenty of public houses on the Dam!

If you do not want to spend a day at the sea, you can be in Rotterdam or The Hague in less than an hour.

Top 10 Instagram & Photography Spots in Amsterdam

June 6, 2018

by fastenurseatbelts

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Amsterdam offers loads of ways to take great pictures! Of course, you will find more incredible spots than my Top 10 list. But I’m sure that you do not know all of the places to take great pictures.

Amsterdam bietet unzählige Möglichkeiten tolle Fotos zu machen! Es gibt mit Sicherheit noch viel mehr zu erkunden als meine TOP 10. Aber ich bin mir sicher, dass ihr den ein oder anderen Ort noch nicht kennt und tolle Bilder machen werdet!

Typical Amsterdam pic

The absolute classic and not hard to find are the canals in Amsterdam. If you are searching for a bridge a bit longer, you will find one with flowers or colorful bicycles.

Der absolute Klassiker und nicht schwer zu finden sind die Grachten/Kanäle in Amsterdam! Wenn ihr etwas länger sucht, findet ihr auch Brücken verziert mit Blumen oder bunten Fahrrädern!

Amsterdam narrow houses

Another classic in Amsterdam are the narrow houses. There are beautiful streets in the Jordan district in Amsterdam. There, you will also find the smallest house in Amsterdam.

Ein weiterer Klassiker in Amsterdam sind die engen Häuser! Wunderschöne Straßen gibt es im Viertel „Jordaan“. Dort findet ihr auch das schmalste Haus in Amsterdam! Hier seid ihr selten allein, wenn ihr ein Bild machen möchtet! Außer ihr seid natürlich ganz früh dran.

Rent a bike

This time I was riding my bike for the first time in Amsterdam. A dream! Amsterdam can be best explored by bike. For only €10 a day, we already got a bike. A bike rental can be found quickly in every corner. It is important to know that parking garages in the center cost €40-€80 per day. A picture without a bike in Amsterdam should not be missed.

Dieses Mal war ich zum ersten Mal mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs. Ein Traum! Amsterdam erkundet man am besten mit dem Fahrrad! Für nur 10€ am Tag haben wir schon ein Fahrrad bekommen. Einen Fahrradverleih findet ihr fast an jeder Ecke! Denkt auch daran, dass Parkhäuser im Zentrum zwischen 40-80€ pro Tag kosten. Ein Bild ohne Fahrrad darf in Amsterdam natürlich nicht fehlen!

Bar Botanique

Whether you have a small brunch or a cocktail in the evening, the Bar Botanique has everything to offer and is a trendy photo spot.

Egal ob ihr Lust auf einen kleinen Brunch oder aber auch einen Cocktail am Abend habt. Die Bar Botanique hat alles zu bieten und ist noch ein angesagter Foto Spot!

Tulip fields

Should you be in Amsterdam during spring, you have to go to the tulip field. The journey takes about 30 minutes by car or you drive to Haarlem from Amsterdam and take a bike to Lisse. The tulip fields are located directly around the well-known garden “Keukenhof”. When I was in Amsterdam towards the end of May, all the tulips were gone very quickly. I loved it anyways!

Solltet ihr im Frühjahr in Amsterdam sein, müsst ihr auf jeden Fall zu den Tulpenfeldern fahren! Die Fahrt dauert mit dem Auto ca. 30 Minuten, oder ihr fahrt nach Haarlem von Amsterdam aus und nehmt ein Fahrrad bis nach Lisse. Die Tulpenfelder findet ihr direkt um die bekannte Gartenanlage „Keukenhof“. Als ich gegen Ende Mai in Amsterdam war, waren leider schon fast alle Tulpen weg. Es hat sich aber trotzdem gelohnt!

MaMa Kelly Restaurant

You love pink? Then there’s Mama Kelly restaurant in Amsterdam. Here you cannot stop to snap photographs. We arrive right around 11 am and there was hardly anyone there. Even though it was Mother’s Day and all tables were booked. Therefore, arrive early but do not expect to get a table. You should book a table in advance. I am an absolute fan of girlis restaurants. The last time I saw such a pink place in the Sketch in London.

Ihr liebt rosa oder pink? Dann müsst ihr im MaMa Kelly Restaurant in Amsterdam gewesen sein! Hier kann man nicht aufhören alles zu fotografieren! Wir kamen direkt gegen 11 Uhr am Morgen und es war kaum jemand da. Allerdings hätten wir keinen Tisch mehr bekommen, denn ohne Reservierung ist es schwer einen Platz zu kriegen! Ich bin ein absoluter Fan von mädchenhaften Restaurants! Das letzte Mal habe ich in London im Sketch so einen pinken Ort gesehen.

Insider tip!

The wonderful strawberries in chocolate are not available in any shop in Amsterdam. If you want to have an exclusive package of strawberries in chocolate, you have to contact the founder via Instagram and pick up the chocolate from her place.

Die wundervollen Erdbeeren in Schokolade bekommt man in keinem Shop in Amsterdam! Die Geschäftsführerin von Polabur beantwortet nur Nachrichten auf Instagram und wer die begehrten Erdbeeren in Schokolade haben möchte, muss persönlich bei ihr vorbeischauen! Klingt komisch? Ist aber genial! Nicht nur der Geschmack, sondern auch die Optik!

Pancake Time

In the Café Dignita, you get brunch the whole day. Here too, you should be early enough, because the Dignita cafes are in great demand. I can recommend the pancakes or even egg Benedikt. Since I was afraid that I did not get full, I ordered porridge and pancakes. No need to order two dishes. One serving is so rich that it suckles you.

Im Café Dignita bekommt ihr den ganzen Tag lang Brunch! Auch hier solltet ihr früh genug da sein, denn die Dignita Cafés sind heiß begehrt! Empfehlen kann ich euch die Pancakes oder aber auch Ei Benedikt! Da ich mal wieder Angst hatte, dass ich nicht satt werde, habe ich mir zusätzlich zu meinen Pancakes ein Porridge bestellt. Braucht ihr nicht! Eine Portion ist so reichhaltig, dass sie unheimlich sättigt!

Vegan Burger

In Amsterdam, you’ll find a vegan junk food bar in almost every neighborhood. You will immediately recognize the pink walls and the cool interior design. In addition, they serve huge burgers and truffle fries. An absolute must for vegans and non-vegans!

Im Amsterdam findet ihr in fast jedem Viertel einen „Vegan Junk Food Bar“ Laden! Ihr werdet sie sofort an den pinken Wänden und dem coolen Innendesign erkennen! Zusätzlich bekommt ihr noch riesige Burger und Trüffel Pommes serviert! Ein absolutes Muss für Veganer und Nicht-Veganer!

Ten are not enough!

As mentioned at the beginning, 10 photo spots are not enough. More are here in my article about Amsterdam from last year. Last year, I found a secret spot to see Amsterdam from the top. How? Look by yourself!

Wie bereits am Anfang erwähnt, sind 10 Foto Spots nicht genug! Mehr findet ihr in meinem Artikel aus Amsterdam vom letzten Jahr! Letztes Jahr konnte ich ganz Amsterdam von oben bewundern! Wie? Schaut selbst!

Where to stay?

This time we drove from Cologne to Amsterdam by car. Then we opted for the XO Hotels Couture in Amsterdam. 24 hours in the parking garage at the hotel costs only €15. This price is still quite cheap for Amsterdam; you can also come here by train. The journey takes only 3 hours from Cologne. The rooms are in a very clean condition. You can check in without hotel staff. Our room was on the 10th floor and unfortunately, the internet hardly worked. We did not book breakfast this time, because there are such great cafes in Amsterdam.

We have the hotel 5 minutes by bike to Vondelpark, and 10 minutes you are already in the center. If you get a bike directly at the hotel, you have to book something in advance! We did not get a bike on Saturday morning.

Dieses Mal sind wir von Köln aus mit dem Auto nach Amsterdam gefahren. Daher haben wir uns für das XO Hotels Couture in Amsterdam entschieden. 24 Stunden im Parkhaus am Hotel kosten „nur“ 15€. Dieser Preis ist für Amsterdam noch recht erschwinglich! Mit dem Zug kommt ihr auch angenehm nach Amsterdam! Die Fahrt dauert von Köln aus nur 3 Stunden! Die Zimmer sind in einem sehr sauberen Zustand! Einchecken kann man sogar ohne Hotelpersonal! Unser Zimmer lag im 10. Stock und leider hat das Internet kaum funktioniert. Frühstück hatten wir dieses Mal nicht mitgebucht, weil es in Amsterdam so tolle Cafés gibt.

Wir haben vom Hotel aus 5 Minuten mit dem Fahrrad zum Vondelpark gebraucht und innerhalb von 10 Minuten ist man schon im Zentrum. Solltet ihr ein Fahrrad direkt am Hotel mieten wollen, müsst ihr auf jeden Fall vorher reservieren! Wir haben Samstag früh leider kein Fahrrad mehr bekommen.

Unterwegs im Auftrag Liebe

July 31, 2017

by fastenurseatbelts

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Wedding, Drivy, Netherlands, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

Meine aktuelle Reise führt mich nach S’Gravenzande, denn dort habe ich meine erste Strandhochzeit besucht, auf die ich schon sehr gespannt gewesen bin. Da es von Köln nach Holland nicht so weit ist, habe ich mir gedacht, dass ich mir die 3 sonnigen Stunden mit einem Cabrio spontan verschönern könnte. Wie? Mit Drivy!

My current trip takes me to S’Gravenzande because I visited my first beach wedding, which I have been very curious about. Since it is not so far from Cologne to Holland, I thought that I could spoil the 3 sunny hours with a convertible spontaneously. How? With Drivy!

Über die App habe ich mir ein Auto in meinem Umkreis ausgesucht, auf die Bestätigung gewartet und kurze Zeit später habe ich es schon abgeholt. Ich bin total begeistert, wie schnell der Vermieter und der Mieter die Vermietung über die App abschließen können. Und das alles ganz ohne Papier! Der Zustand des Autos ist bestens in der App dokumentiert, so dass es nicht zu Schwierigkeiten kommen kann, wenn ich das Auto zurück bringe. Allerdings habe ich schnell gemerkt, dass sowohl dem Mieter als auch dem Vermieter nichts passieren kann, da man auch eine Versicherung inklusive hat und man somit gegen sämtliche Risiken abgedeckt ist. Aus diesem Grund überlege ich schon, ob ich nicht auch mein Auto zur Vermietung anbiete, wenn ich es nicht benötige, weil ich gerade mal wieder unterwegs bin. So kann ich mühelos etwas dazu verdienen.

About the app, I’ve chosen a car in my area, waiting for the confirmation, and a short while later, I already picked it up. I am totally amazed about how quickly the renter and the tenant can complete the rental through the app. All this without paper! The state of the car is well documented in the app so that it cannot be difficult to get the car back. . For this reason, I wonder if I can even offer my car for renting if I do not need it because I’m traveling quite often; this way I can effortlessly earn some money.

Nachdem ich das Auto am Freitag abgeholt habe, bin ich auch schon über die Autobahn nach Holland losgefahren. Mit offenem Verdeck habe ich reichlich Sonne tanken können und der Spaßfaktor ist auch nicht zu kurz gekommen. Der Mietpreis für das Cabrio liegt bei 207€, da ich 900 km inklusive gebucht habe. Der Preis richtet sich natürlich nach der Kilometeranzahl, die man benötigt. Bei Drivy gibt es eine Aktion, bei der eingeladene Freunde 10€ Rabatt auf ihre erste Anmietung erhalten. Sobald diese erste Anmietung vollzogen ist, erhält der „Einlader“ eine Gutschrift über 10€.

After I picked up the car on Friday, I went over the motorway to Holland. With an open top, I could fill up plenty of sun, and the fun factor was not too short. The rental price for the convertible is 207 € since I booked 900 km inclusive. The price depends on the number of kilometers you need. At Drivy, there is an action and invited friends receive 10 € discounts on their first rental. Once this initial rental is completed, the “Invader” receives a credit of 10 €.

Nach drei Stunden Fahrt bin ich in Holland angekommen und das Hochzeitswochenende ist auch schon direkt losgegangen. Ich bin ziemlich erstaunt, was die Feierlichkeit anging. Die Brautzeugin hat wirklich alles bis ins letzte Detail mit organisiert. Ich habe selten solch eine tolle Hochzeit gesehen. Das Brautpaar hat sichtlich den schönsten Tag in seinem Leben gehabt und die Braut ist bildhübsch anzusehen gewesen.

After three hours drive, I arrived in Holland and the wedding weekend was already underway. I am quite amazed at the ceremony. The bride has really organized everything down to the last detail. I have rarely seen such a great wedding. The bride and groom obviously had the most beautiful day, and the bride was beautiful.

Die Location könnte genauso gut aus einem Bilderbuch stammen. Die himmlische Atmosphäre ist wahrhaftig passend für eine Strandhochzeit. Ich finde hierfür kaum passende Worte, was jedoch nicht so schlimm ist, da ich viele Bilder gemacht habe.

The location could just as well come from a picture book. The heavenly atmosphere is truly appropriate for a beach wedding. I can hardly find any suitable words for this, which is not so bad since I have made many pictures.

Ein reichliches und wahrlich superleckeres Essen hat uns zwischen jeder Menge Spaß, die wir während der Veranstaltung genießen konnten, erwartet. Die Nacht war dadurch ziemlich lang, aber jede Minute wert.

A plentiful and truly super delicious food was waiting for us between a lot of fun that we could enjoy during the event. The night was quite long but worth every minute.

Am nächsten Morgen ging es zum Frühstück wieder direkt an den Strand. Im Habana Beach habe ich mich bei einem superleckeren Frühstück gestärkt. Meine Entscheidung fiel auf Pancakes mit einer Himbeersauce und Heidelbeeren, außerdem hatte ich eine Frühstücksplatte mit Käse, Wurst, Brot, Butter, Marmelade und natürlich De Ruijters – meine Lieblingsschokostreusel – geordert. Diese riesige und leckere Frühstücksplätte kostet auch nur 7,50 €. Dazu darf frischer Pfefferminztee, O-Saft und Kaffee natürlich nicht fehlen.

The next morning, we went back to the beach for breakfast. In Habana Beach, I have a super delicious breakfast. My decision fell on pancakes with a raspberry sauce and blueberries, and I had ordered a breakfast plate of cheese, sausage, bread, butter, jam, and of course, De Ruijters – my favorite chocolate truffle. This huge and tasty breakfast area also costs only 7.50 €. Fresh peppermint tea, O-juice, and coffee can not be missed.

Nach dem vollbepackten Wochenende voller Liebe ging es für mich auch schon wieder mit einem tränenden Auge zurück nach Hause. Mit meinem Drivy Auto konnte ich mich an der frischen Luft während der Rückfahrt erholen, bevor ich es dem Besitzer wieder aushändigen musste.

After the packed weekend full of love, I went back home with a tearful eye. With my Drivy car, I could relax in the fresh air during the return journey before I had to hand it over to the owner again.

Have you already met Mr. Jordaan in Amsterdam? If not, have a look!

October 15, 2016

by fastenurseatbelts

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It took me only 10 minutes by tram to get to the most beautiful neighborhood, Jordaan, in Amsterdam. After a 4 minute walk across quaint little bridges and canals, I arrived at the hotel, Mr. Jordaan. Why it’s called Mr. Jordaan? In honor of the hotel’s pre-owner who knew everything about the neighborhood Jordaan and passed his knowledge to today’s employees.

1^st impression of Mr. Jordaan

When I was in front of Mr. Jordaan, I did not expect that the marvelous canal house was a hotel. Entering in the world of Mr. Jordaan, I was impressed by the interior design. Mr. Jordaan did not look like a typical hotel, it looked like a home. The staff treated me like a member of the Jordaan family. Behind every wall is a little treasure so that you can explore the hotel during the stay and get surprised every day.

The room

Well… What should I say… It is difficult to describe if you have not been there… Have you ever felt so amazed that it is difficult to put that experience into words? That’s why I recorded my room in the penthouse suite with a stunning view above the neighborhood. The room was not very big but all in one it was very comfortable, exciting, quiet, lovely, modern, different and fascinating. You will see that the interior designer paid so much attention into detail that there is nothing to complain about! See more in the video and images below.

Perks

As if it is not enough to live in such a wonderful place, you also have water, tee and all types of coffee for free during your whole stay! Furthermore, you get two plastic bottles to refill your water whenever you want and you find “to go” cups next to the coffee machine. The WIFI works very well at the hotel so if you are on a business trip or addicted to the internet, you do not have to worry about it! Additionally, the hotel provides a 24/7 Whatsapp service. So wherever you are or whatever you need, just text them and they will help you. On my way out, I saw that Mr. Jordaan offers tours or bikes for an affordable price. For those, who want to read more about Amsterdam, feel free to use the travel magazine in your room.

Breakfast

Depending on what rate you book, you have breakfast already included. If not, you have the option to book it one day in advance and get a discount of 2,50€. If you have not booked it in advance you will pay 17,50€ for the breakfast. I really liked the breakfast because it has everything that I like such as boiled eggs, muesli, fruits, yoghurt, cheese, ham, salmon, jam, Nutella, bread, croissants and chocolate sprinkles. But I read that vegans could not really find something for breakfast and some expected a larger selection for the price. Try it yourself! You will not be disappointed! It is very tasty and if it is not your thing, you could still go to one of the dozens cafes around the hotel.

Location

You will not find any better location than this one. It is just a one-minute walk away from the famous Anne Frank house, five to Damstraat and ten to the Rijksmuseum. The tulip museum, cheese museum and the best apple pie with cream in town are just 5 minutes away by foot. Jordaan is the most attractive neighborhood in Amsterdam with its beautiful canal houses, quirky little shops, art studios and loads of authentic Amsterdam bars & cafés. If you want to know more about what to do in Amsterdam, read this article.