The Story of the Shipwreck on the Wadden Sea in Wierum, Friesland, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Story of the Shipwreck on the Wadden Sea in Wierum, Friesland, the Netherlands

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.

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Exploring Bronkhorst and ‘t Woudt | The Smallest City and the Smallest Village in the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Exploring Bronkhorst and ‘t Woudt | The Smallest City and the Smallest Village in the Netherlands

There is an inherent fascination with things that are outside the norm for many people. The widespread appeal of the Guinness Book of World Records is living proof of this. Therefore, for something to be the tallest, largest, oldest, greatest, or tiniest is a great thing for business. As a result, a few locations claim or market themselves to be "smallest” in the Netherlands which is driven by the local merchants and the chamber of commerce supporting them. And then naturally, it also means, there will always be an element of ambiguity in these kinds of claims. Today I’m going to talk about two such “smallest” settlements in the Netherlands. Let the journey begin!

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A Complete Guide to Visiting All 54 Prehistoric Dolmens (Hunebedden) of Drenthe and Groningen in the Netherlands | Dolmen (Hunebed) Route with Map, Information, Tips, and Tricks
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

A Complete Guide to Visiting All 54 Prehistoric Dolmens (Hunebedden) of Drenthe and Groningen in the Netherlands | Dolmen (Hunebed) Route with Map, Information, Tips, and Tricks

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.

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The Perfect 9 Days in Switzerland Itinerary | Ultimate 9 Day Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary | Complete Travel Guide to Best Places to Visit and Top Must See Tourist Attractions of Switzerland
Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Perfect 9 Days in Switzerland Itinerary | Ultimate 9 Day Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary | Complete Travel Guide to Best Places to Visit and Top Must See Tourist Attractions of Switzerland

To me, Switzerland is all about mountains, lakes, waterfalls, alpine villages, and historic towns. So you need to choose an itinerary combining one or two of each of the above to experience the beauty of Switzerland in its entirety. Also, having too many of each of these may be overkill and turn out to be a very expensive Swiss drama. So, in our itinerary, we chose the best of each of the above to ensure we capture the true essence of Switzerland in our hearts forever, while keeping the itinerary cost-effective.

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Explore the Fairytale Kasteel de Haar (De Haar Castle) in Haarzuilens, Utrecht | Day Trip from Amsterdam to the Largest Castle in the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Explore the Fairytale Kasteel de Haar (De Haar Castle) in Haarzuilens, Utrecht | Day Trip from Amsterdam to the Largest Castle in the Netherlands

If Gregory Peck got lost trying to find the bathroom just next to his bedroom on his first visit to Kasteel de Haar in 1960, you know there must be something special about this castle. To be honest, most apartments in central Amsterdam are smaller than the average bathroom in this medieval castle. And with ornate furnishings across the rooms, corridors, and bathrooms, it’s easy to imagine that it may have been quite tedious for him to find the switch of the light, especially in the dark!

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Complete Guide to Durga Puja 2023 in Holland | All Durga Puja Celebrations in 2023 by Bengali Communities of the Netherlands | Locations, Dates, Opening Hours, and Latest Updates
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Complete Guide to Durga Puja 2023 in Holland | All Durga Puja Celebrations in 2023 by Bengali Communities of the Netherlands | Locations, Dates, Opening Hours, and Latest Updates

Durga Puja, also known by the names Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a major annual ten-day Hindu festival that is celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, and the nation of Bangladesh during the month of Ashwin on the Indian calendar (which falls between September and October on the Gregorian calendar), to commemorate the victory of the Hindu Goddess Durga (who is regarded as ‘Adi Shakti,’ the primordial cosmic energy) against the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura after a ten-day war.

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8 Best Activities during Illumination Week Event at UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | 8 Beste Activiteiten tijdens Kinderdijk Verlichtingsweek Evenement
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

8 Best Activities during Illumination Week Event at UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | 8 Beste Activiteiten tijdens Kinderdijk Verlichtingsweek Evenement

The UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk shine like bright beacons against the dark evening skies during Illumination Week (which happens every year around the first or second week of September), when they literally shine a spotlight on each of the nineteen mills. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for photographers looking for truly unique photographs. This year it will even be the 50th edition. During this week you can follow various workshops, visit windmills and go on a boat tour.

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10 Most Beautiful Sand Dunes in the Netherlands | 10 Best Dutch Dunes National Parks and Nature Reserves
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

10 Most Beautiful Sand Dunes in the Netherlands | 10 Best Dutch Dunes National Parks and Nature Reserves

The Dutch Dunes are ever-changing landscapes as a result of the water and the wind's ongoing effect, extending for hundreds of miles and comprising lakes, woods, and hills that contribute significantly to the Dutch environment. The dunes are home to a diverse array of wild flora and fauna. The dunes provide an essential barrier against the occasionally untamed and rising North Sea because nearly a third of the nation is below sea level. In addition to storm surge protection, these exceptional habitats can deliver a number of amazing experiences right from swimming in the natural freshwater lakes, to a peaceful trek appreciating wildflowers and unusual fauna to biking across rolling hills and conquering windswept vantage points that give breathtaking views in a flat country like the Netherlands.

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Landgoed Clingendael en Japanse Tuin in Den Haag | Clingendael Country Estate Park and Japanese Garden in The Hague, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Landgoed Clingendael en Japanse Tuin in Den Haag | Clingendael Country Estate Park and Japanese Garden in The Hague, the Netherlands

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.

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De Mooiste Plekken in Nederland in De Herfst | Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands during Autumn | Top Things to See and Do in Fall in the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

De Mooiste Plekken in Nederland in De Herfst | Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands during Autumn | Top Things to See and Do in Fall in the Netherlands

I've always been intrigued by the fascinating season of autumn. To me, autumn is a grand manifestation of the ultimate reality on earth that one day everything has to perish just to be reborn again. And as the tree leaves turn into vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red, one last time before they return to Mother Nature, the mushrooms start emerging, chestnuts lay all around, and soft rays of the sun kiss your face as you take a leisurely walk on the rustling dry leaves, autumn shows us that the end can also be beautiful. And during this beautiful season in the Netherlands, what are the things you can see and do? That's precisely what I'm going to tell you today. So let's begin!

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The Purple Hills of Posbank | The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park, Hoge Veluwe, Gelderland | The Best Place to See Heather Bloom in the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Purple Hills of Posbank | The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park, Hoge Veluwe, Gelderland | The Best Place to See Heather Bloom in the Netherlands

Veluwezoom, a part of Hoge Veluwe (but not the Hoge Veluwe National Park), is the first National Park in the Netherlands, located close to the Hoge Veluwe National Park in the province of Gelderland near the cities of Arnhem and Apeldoorn. It has a hilly landscape with an area of 55 square kilometers, comprising heathlands and sand dunes created during the Ice Age.

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