The Complete Cologne Travel Guide | 10 Best Things To Do in Cologne | Top 10 Tourist Attractions, Sights, and Destinations to Visit on a Weekend Getaway Trip to Cologne, Germany
Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Complete Cologne Travel Guide | 10 Best Things To Do in Cologne | Top 10 Tourist Attractions, Sights, and Destinations to Visit on a Weekend Getaway Trip to Cologne, Germany

Born as a Roman city, renowned as the birthplace of cologne (as in the perfume), and home to the world-famous twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) along with twelve other Romanesque churches, the love lock Hohenzollernbrücke (Hohenzollern Bridge), the historic Altstadt (Old Town), Rheinauhafen (Rhine harbor district), museums, murals, festivals like Christmas Markets and Carnival, and a unique local beer (Kölsch) scene, Cologne (Köln in German) serves as the perfect European city break for travelers of any age.

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Visiting Hergé Museum | All You Need to Know Before You Go to Musee Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve near Brussels, Belgium
Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Visiting Hergé Museum | All You Need to Know Before You Go to Musee Hergé in Louvain-la-Neuve near Brussels, Belgium

The nostalgic Hergé Museum, housed in an inventive building in the small town of Louvain-la-Neuve in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium, about 20 km southeast of Brussels, celebrates Georges Remi (1907–1983), alias Herge, the multitalented creator of comic-strip hero Tintin with an engaging, and extensive exhibition. It is a site that serves as both a shrine to avid Tintinologists like us and an appropriately artistic tribute to one of Belgium’s greatest creative personalities. So let’s explore it together!

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Art Below Zero Amsterdam Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Art Below Zero Ijsbeelden Festival Amsterdam, Netherlands 2024-2025 | Europe’s Largest Ice Art Exhibition
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Art Below Zero Amsterdam Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Art Below Zero Ijsbeelden Festival Amsterdam, Netherlands 2024-2025 | Europe’s Largest Ice Art Exhibition

Welcome to the unique ice sculpture exhibition Art Below Zero Amsterdam, where top ice artists (also known as ‘carvers’) from across the globe come together to transform 500 tons of ice and snow into 135 breathtaking artworks that honor Amsterdam's colorful past and rich cultural legacy. Featuring breathtaking ice sculptures, an audio tour, a 4D experience, and entertainment for all ages, it is the largest ice exhibition in Europe that commemorates the city's 750th anniversary!

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The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Netherlands Ijsbeelden Festival Biddinghuizen 2024-2025
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Netherlands Ijsbeelden Festival Biddinghuizen 2024-2025

Welcome to a magical frosty wonderland where ice crystals melt your heart; where world’s top 45 ice artists (also known as ‘carvers’) from 16 different countries come together to transform 550 tons of ice and snow into 100 breathtaking artworks. Welcome to the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival!

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Dickens Festijn Deventer 2025 | World’s Largest Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer, Netherlands 2025 | Walking Route Map, Practical Information, Tips and Tricks
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Dickens Festijn Deventer 2025 | World’s Largest Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer, Netherlands 2025 | Walking Route Map, Practical Information, Tips and Tricks

Before we begin our story today, let me ask you a “Did you know?” question. Did you know that the world’s largest Charles Dickens Festival takes place in the Netherlands, and not the UK? And that too it is just a fan festival without having any documented historical connection to the author? If you didn’t, then this article is for you!

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The Ultimate Andorra Travel Guide | 16 Best Places to Visit and Things To Do in Andorra | Top 16 Tourist Attractions to See in Andorra on a Weekend Trip
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The Ultimate Andorra Travel Guide | 16 Best Places to Visit and Things To Do in Andorra | Top 16 Tourist Attractions to See in Andorra on a Weekend Trip

With rolling valleys, Romanesque cathedrals, and towering peaks nestled between France and Spain, the Principality of Andorra boasts the best ski slopes and resort amenities in the whole Pyrenees. With an area of 468 sq. km (181 sq. miles) and a population of 79,034, Andorra is the world's 16th-smallest country (and 6th-smallest European microstate) by area and 11th-smallest country by population.

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GLOW Eindhoven Light Art Festival 2025 | All You Need to Know Before You Go | Tips for Your Visit
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GLOW Eindhoven Light Art Festival 2025 | All You Need to Know Before You Go | Tips for Your Visit

Every year in November, the otherwise industrial city of Eindhoven transforms into a magical fairy tale of light, known as GLOW Eindhoven. This annual light art festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world who come together to enjoy the breathtaking open-air exhibition of innovative light artworks created by international artists using new media technologies, such as computers, sensors, animations, and projections. The fusion of art, technology, and architecture creates a bewitching experience for visitors of all ages.

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Complete Guide to Kali Puja 2025 in the Netherlands | All Kali Puja Celebrations in 2025 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 Kali Puja 2025 in the Netherlands | All Kali Puja Celebrations in 2025 by Bengali Communities of the Netherlands | Locations, Dates, Opening Hours, and Latest Updates

Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja, is a major annual Hindu festival that is celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, and the neighboring nations of Bangladesh and Nepal on the new moon night (Dipannita Amavasya) of the month of Kartik on the Indian calendar (which falls between October and November on the Gregorian calendar) to commemorate the victory of Hindu Goddess Kali (the fiercest form of Goddess Durga who is regarded as ‘Adi Shakti,’ the primordial cosmic energy) against the demons Chand, Munda, and Raktabija as a part of a greater war between Goddess Ambika (Durga) and the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.

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12 Best Things to Do in Reykjavik | Top 12 Must See Tourist Attractions in Reykjavik, Iceland
Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Europe Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

12 Best Things to Do in Reykjavik | Top 12 Must See Tourist Attractions in Reykjavik, Iceland

Situated near Faxaflói Bay in southwest Iceland, Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of any sovereign state globally. Glaciers, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions have sculpted the landscape of the city over the millennia, as the area is geothermal; after all the name translates to "Smoky Bay." Though it only has 120,000 residents, it's a thriving city that welcomes a growing number of tourists each year. It is the political, cultural, and economic hub of Iceland and is regarded as one of the world's safest and cleanest cities.

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12 Best Places to See the Most Iconic Windmills in the Netherlands | 12 Most Famous Dutch Windmills | Visit The Most Beautiful Windmills of Holland
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

12 Best Places to See the Most Iconic Windmills in the Netherlands | 12 Most Famous Dutch Windmills | Visit The Most Beautiful Windmills of Holland

Many nations have windmills, but the Netherlands has so many of them and they are such a significant part of the nation's industrial and cultural legacy that many people throughout the world associate windmills with the country. From the Middle Ages onward, windmills have been a defining feature of the Dutch countryside. In the heyday of the windmills during the 19th century, there were roughly 9,000 windmills in the country. Even though the Industrial Revolution replaced windmills with steam, diesel, and later electricity, over 1,000 antique windmills, many of which are still operational, still stand throughout the Netherlands thanks to historic preservation initiatives. Today, along with cheese, tulips, and clogs, they are among the most well-known images of Holland. For this reason, visiting a windmill has to be at the top of your travel itinerary when visiting the Netherlands.

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A Guide to 9 Best Castles and Palaces in the Netherlands | Top 9 Most Beautiful Castles and Palaces in the Netherlands to Visit
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A Guide to 9 Best Castles and Palaces in the Netherlands | Top 9 Most Beautiful Castles and Palaces in the Netherlands to Visit

A vast ocean of endless tulip fields, medieval windmills, charming canals, modern bicycle lanes, and postcard-perfect countryside - these are the images that appear in our minds when we think of the Netherlands. However, we tend to forget that the Netherlands also has its fair share of castles and palaces thanks to the royal families and nobilities who shaped the rich history of the country over the ages. Many of these were built during the medieval times either as defensive structures or luxury residences. Over the years, the purpose of these castles and palaces has changed, and today, they’ve turned into government offices, museums, and tourist attractions, where visitors come to admire the architecture, art collections, and gardens.

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12 Things to See and Do in Museum Paleis Het Loo | All You Need to Know Before Visiting Het Loo Palace, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

12 Things to See and Do in Museum Paleis Het Loo | All You Need to Know Before Visiting Het Loo Palace, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands

At first glimpse, the Dutch royal family’s Versailles-like handsome baroque summer palace of ‘Het Loo’ (meaning “clearing in the woods”) seems just as it was when it was built during the 17th century in the middle of the woodlands of Apeldoorn, in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. But 10 meters underneath the courtyard, an injection of engineering expertise spanning 5,000 square meters and costing €171m has created an extraordinary underground Spanish Macael marble museum that showcases the history of the House of Orange.

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Rijksmuseum Kasteel Muiderslot | Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot | Muiden Castle, the Netherlands
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Rijksmuseum Kasteel Muiderslot | Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot | Muiden Castle, the Netherlands

Muiderslot (or Muiden Castle) is the Netherlands's oldest and best-preserved medieval castle. One of the most well-known castles in the Netherlands, it has appeared in numerous Middle Ages-themed television programs. Situated at the mouth of the Vecht River in Muiden, where it flows into the IJsselmeer Lake that used to be the Zuiderzee, the castle has a lengthy and stormy history. It was completed in 1285 by Count Floris V. The eminent author, poet, and historian PC Hooft resided there in the 17th century. It’s a fantastic place to spend a day with your family exploring the castle and the surrounding grounds that host a restored plum orchard, vegetable, and herb garden!

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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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The Miracles of Fort de Roovere | The Moses Bridge (Mozesbrug) and Pompejus Tower (Pompejustoren) at Halsteren in Bergen op Zoom, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands
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The Miracles of Fort de Roovere | The Moses Bridge (Mozesbrug) and Pompejus Tower (Pompejustoren) at Halsteren in Bergen op Zoom, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands

The Fort de Roovere near the town of Halsteren located in the municipality of Bergen op Zoom within the province of Noord-Brabant is one of the largest forts of the West Brabantse Waterlinie (West Brabant Waterline). The main attraction of the Fort de Roovere is the miraculous Moses Bridge (Mozesbrug) where you walk below the water level, but your feet remain dry! Since the structure appears to divide the moat's waters, it has derived its name ‘The Moses Bridge’ from the Biblical reference of Moses parting the Red Sea with his staff during the Exodus of the Israelites. The Union of Dutch Architects, or BNA, recognized the Moses Bridge as the ‘2011 Build of the Year.’

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Bonami Spelcomputer Museum | Bonami Games and Computer Museum in Zwolle, the Netherlands
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Bonami Spelcomputer Museum | Bonami Games and Computer Museum in Zwolle, the Netherlands

Dubbed as the ‘Nerd’s Paradise,’ the interactive Bonami SpelComputer Museum in Zwolle dedicated to the history of gaming and computers, houses the largest collection of game consoles and computers in the Netherlands starting from the 1950s along with a huge amount of boxed video game floppies, CDs, DVDs, merchandise products, and collector items to admire.

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Celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands | Amsterdam Koningsdag
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Celebrating King’s Day in the Netherlands | Amsterdam Koningsdag

King's Day is probably one of the most popular and flamboyant celebrations in the Netherlands. Every year on April 27 (or the day before if it falls on a Sunday), the Dutch celebrate their King Willem-Alexander's birthday as a national holiday with a lot of music, dancing, flea markets, and fun fairs all over the country. If you happen to be in the Netherlands, you can’t miss this event!

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Bloemencorso Bollenstreek Holland 2025 | Flower Parade of the Bulb Region Netherlands 2025 | Information, Route, Tips, and Tricks
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek Holland 2025 | Flower Parade of the Bulb Region Netherlands 2025 | Information, Route, Tips, and Tricks

Being the largest exporter of flowers globally and accounting for two-thirds of the world's total floral sales, the Netherlands is aptly dubbed as the ‘Land of Flowers.’ Therefore, it goes without saying, that spring is the most beautiful time in the Netherlands. When the bulbs start blooming in the endless array of flower fields, the entire country transforms into a vast ocean of flowers. It starts in mid-March with cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths. And as the famous tulips blossom in mid-April, the whole country gets ready for the biggest spring festival named ‘Bloemencorso (Flower Parade) Bollenstreek (Bulb Region)!’

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Ultimate 5 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary | 37 Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in Iceland | Top 37 Photography Locations in Iceland
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Ultimate 5 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary | 37 Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in Iceland | Top 37 Photography Locations in Iceland

Uniquely situated on the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates at the junction of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, the island nation of Iceland is aptly dubbed as the ‘Land of Fire and Ice,’ due to the presence of some of Europe’s largest glaciers and most active volcanoes at the same time. Iceland is a country with dramatic diversity in climate and geography ranging from volcanoes, lava fields, mountains, glaciers, ice caves, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, hot springs, and black beaches. And due to its vicinity to the North Pole, it’s also an iconic destination to chase the Northern Lights. All of these together, create an enchanting otherworldly ambiance that cannot be expressed in words but has to be experienced in person. And probably that’s the reason why Iceland has been the backdrop of several Hollywood and Bollywood movies and TV Series like Starwars, Tomb Raider, Die Another Day, Batman Begins, Thor: The Dark World, Interstellar, Fast and Furious 8, Game of Thrones, Vikings, and Katla to name a few!

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