Near the village of Wierum is an old shipwreck from the second world war times that emerges from the sea only during low tides. This wreck symbolizes a crucial part of the Wadden Sea's cultural history - the struggle for territory between man and nature that occurred here from the Middle Ages to the present. It first appeared close to the Schoorsterhoofd, in the west but eventually started to wander towards Wierum and ended up becoming trapped in the mud. Ever since it’s been here getting gradually affected by the ebb and flow gradually but steadily affecting the praam.

Before we begin our story today, let me ask you a “Did you know?” question. Did you know that there are Stonehenges in the Netherlands? And that they are older than the English Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids? And that too not just 1, but 54? If not, this article is for you. In this article, I’m going to demystify the prehistoric Hunebedden (meaning giant beds in Dutch) for you. So without further delay, let me share with you the intriguing story of the Hunebedden or Dolmens of the Netherlands.

The lavender fields in Provence are among the most well-known in the world. Every year between mid-June and mid-August, when the Provence lavender fields begin to take on their distinctive purple tint, and the countryside gets inundated by their sight and scent, it reminds us that even when life is about to come to a standstill at the whim of the sun's powerful rays, the earth can still ripen, that there can be joy amidst misery. And that, my friends, is not a sight to be missed! Today I’m going to take you along with me on a ride across the best lavender fields of Provence. Let the journey begin!

From late April through May, millions of bluebells blanket the Hallerbos, also known as the ‘Blue Forest’ of Belgium, located in the municipality of Halle, 20 km south of Brussels. As far as the eye can see, a flowering carpet brushes up against the slender beech trees in the 1,360-acre forests' unearthly transformation. Visitors can meander the twisting roads while keeping an eye out for deer and rabbits that wander through the lush, emerald woodlands. Though bluebells are not uncommon in Europe, especially in its oldest woods, the Hallerbos is exceptional due to the quantity and quality of its bloom.

In the gorgeous wetlands around Dordrecht, 25 kilometers east of Rotterdam, stands nineteen historic windmills, constructed between 1738 and 1740. The windmills of Kinderdijk were built to pump water out of the low-lying Alblasserwaard polder situated at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers, thereby preventing floods in the region. Today, they symbolize centuries-old Dutch engineering for water management. In 1997, they were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the most photographed places in the Netherlands.

The Zaanse Schans is a small Dutch village on the Zaan river 20 km north of Amsterdam, in the neighborhood of Zaandam. It has an open-air museum feel that offers a peek into the Dutch life of the golden ages with its traditional wood houses, vibrant windmills, and workshops. The Zaanse Schans draws in almost a million visitors each year, and it's one of the Netherlands' best-loved destinations. Together with the neighboring city of Zaandam, famous for its wooden Zaan-style houses, it is a must-visit destination when you’re in the Netherlands.

Spring is undoubtedly the most fascinating season in the Netherlands and therefore, the best time for tourists to visit this beautiful country. After dull, grey, and cold winter months, as the sun starts peeping through the clouds, the sky turns blue and the days get longer and warmer, you know spring is in the air. And during these spring months of mid-March to mid-May, being the largest exporter of flowers globally, the whole country transforms into a vast ocean of flowers. It starts with cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths between mid-March and mid-April, followed by the famous tulips between mid-April and mid-May. This makes it a great time to explore the Dutch countryside.

Clingendael is one of the most beautiful country estates in the Netherlands. The estate, which is located halfway between The Hague and Wassenaar, has a colorful past. Several aristocratic families have resided on the estate since the 16th century, and various garden and landscape architects have contributed to the look and feel of this country estate since the sixteenth century. In the nineteenth century, garden architect Zocher modified the garden's original French design with the popular English landscape style of the time. Later, the garden was transformed into an old Dutch park with the addition of a Japanese garden.

‘De Efteling’ is a one-of-a-kind fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, with a fairytale ambiance, natural settings, and a variety of thrilling and captivating attractions derived from ancient myths, legends, fairytales, fables, and folklores, making it a perfect short-break destination for children, adult, and families who need a little magic and thrill now and again!

When you think of the Netherlands, the first thing that comes to your mind is an endless ocean of vibrant flower fields. That’s why it has been very aptly dubbed as the ‘The Land of Flowers’ though it’s often equated to ‘The Land of Tulips.’ But to be honest, this beautiful country has a lot more to offer beyond just tulips when it comes to horticulture. Being the largest exporter of flowers in the world, the Netherlands makes up around two-thirds of the world’s total floral sales. And it goes without saying that they aren’t all just tulips.

When you think of the Netherlands, the first thing that comes to your mind is an endless ocean of vibrant flower fields. Soon after the first tulip was planted on the Dutch soil in the mid-sixteenth century, the country saw a tremendous floral revolution and the founding of a horticultural industry that later converted their lowland country into the global hub of flower trade.

Literally meaning 'Flower Viewing,' the Hanami Festival is a Japanese tradition of celebrating the advent of spring. Flowers and nature, in general, have a symbolic meaning in Japan. To the Japanese, the cherry blossom represents a new beginning and hence the festival of Hanami Matsuri, most often referring to Sakura Matsuri ('Cherry Blossom Viewing') is a means of appreciating the transience of life.

Having lived in the Netherlands for the last eleven years and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all the 12 provinces of the country, we’ve discovered many hidden treasures that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, and many of our Dutch friends aren’t even aware of them, making them perfect for crowd-weary travelers. Based on that experience, today, I decided to share with you 34 best hidden gems in the Netherlands.

Having lived in the Netherlands for the last 11 years and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all the 12 provinces of the country, discovering many hidden treasures on the way that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, I can safely proclaim that we’ve seen this country more than many of the locals. Based on that experience, today, I decided to share with you the 33 best photography locations in the Netherlands that are shouting to feature on your Instagram.

The Moselle Valley region offers families the opportunity to vacation by the Moselle, spend time with their families, have fun, be active, and learn new things right from a child-friendly guided tour of the Cochem Castle, the Reichsburg, to a ride on the chair lift up to the Pinnerkreuz, the fantastic viewpoint above the small town of Cochem, from where it's not far to hike to the Klotten Game and Leisure Park, which, among other things, has a large enclosure with wild animals, to a must-do boat ride from Cochem to Beilstein, that will leave you awestruck! So based on our personal experience, today I’m going to share with you the tips and tricks on how to get the most of this amazing piece of creation named the ‘Moselle Valley’ over a weekend with your family. Let the journey begin!

Zell am See is a quaint alpine town on Lake Zell, around 100 km south of Salzburg. Trails and lifts lead to the ski slopes of Schmittenhöhe mountain and Gipfelwelt 3000 panoramic platform at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

‘Podhale’ often described as the 'Polish Highlands,' literally translates to 'Under the Mountain Meadows.' It's situated in the southernmost province of Lesser Poland (Małopolska in Polish) at the foothills of the Tatras, a range in the Carpathian mountains with its capital in the Royal city of Krakow.

Today I’m going to tell you an Easter story. An epic easter story of a 6000 km road run across Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Austria from the Netherlands.

For most travelers, Black Forest is just about Cuckoo Clocks, Triberg Waterfalls, Lake Titisee, or big cities like Baden Baden, Heidelberg, Freiburg, and Feldberg, where you will find most of the crowd. But that surely is anything but the real ‘Schwarzwald.’ Experiencing the real Black Forest is by driving through dense and dark stretches of woodlands, serpentine climbing mountainous roads, lush green valleys, postcard-perfect villages while expecting to run across a wicked witch or huntsman, taking a break to pluck a few apples from the orchards, tasting wine while driving across the vineyard trails, or stopping the car in the middle of nowhere when you spot a deer.