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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Top 10 Attractions in Dolfinarium (Dolphinarium) Harderwijk, the Netherlands | Largest Marine Mammal Animal Park in Europe | All You Need to Know Before You Go
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Top 10 Attractions in Dolfinarium (Dolphinarium) Harderwijk, the Netherlands | Largest Marine Mammal Animal Park in Europe | All You Need to Know Before You Go

Dolfinarium Harderwijk in the Netherlands is the largest marine mammal park in Europe that interactively brings humans and nature closer together. Here, you can see charming bottlenose dolphins, naughty porpoises, enormous walruses, roaring sea lions, and stumbling seals performing up close in a variety of shows. You can even get to pet some sharks and rays! It also features 4 fantastic playgrounds and the magnificent water park ‘Waterpret.’ Today, around 600,000 people visit Dolfinarium every year.

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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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Complete Guide to Visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ at Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church in Milan, Italy | Everything You Need to Know to Visit ‘The Last Supper’ | Info, Tips, and Tricks
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Complete Guide to Visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ at Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church in Milan, Italy | Everything You Need to Know to Visit ‘The Last Supper’ | Info, Tips, and Tricks

‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci (Cenacolo Vinciano in Italian) is one of the most well-known paintings in the entire world. This piece of art was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, and created by Da Vinci between 1494 and 1498, depicting Jesus and his disciples having their final meal, on an interior wall of the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Milan, Italy.

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First Timer’s Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | Tips on the Best Things to See and Do on a First Time Day Trip to Kinderdijk
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

First Timer’s Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk | Tips on the Best Things to See and Do on a First Time Day Trip to Kinderdijk

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.

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9 Best Things to See and Do in Zaanse Schans Windmill Park (Zaandam) | All You Need to Know to Visit Zaanse Schans (Zaandam) on a Day Trip from Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

9 Best Things to See and Do in Zaanse Schans Windmill Park (Zaandam) | All You Need to Know to Visit Zaanse Schans (Zaandam) on a Day Trip from Amsterdam, 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.

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Viva la Frida | The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo | A World Premiere Exhibition at Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands
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Viva la Frida | The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo | A World Premiere Exhibition at Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), is without a doubt one of the most well-known and renowned artists in the world today. Her remarkable works of art, turbulent life, and unconventional lifestyle made her a global icon and cult figure. She suffered severe agony as a result of a tragic bus accident and had to endure multiple surgeries throughout her life. Her passion for art, her love for her husband, Diego Rivera, and Mexico's indigenous culture gave her the fortitude to persevere.

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Bezoek het Nationaal Militair Museum in Soesterberg, Utrechtse Heuvelrug | Visit the National Military Museum at Soest, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Bezoek het Nationaal Militair Museum in Soesterberg, Utrechtse Heuvelrug | Visit the National Military Museum at Soest, Utrecht, the Netherlands

The National Military Museum at Soest, in the Dutch province of Utrecht, is a defense museum with the largest military collection in the Netherlands. Stichting Koninklijke Defensiemusea (Royal Defense Museums Foundation) oversees it along with the Marine Museum in Den Helder, the Military Police Museum in Buren, and the Marine Museum in Rotterdam. From flying an F-16, driving a tank, or picking up some NATO lingo, the National Military Museum offers a variety of activities for both children and adults.

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Anne Frank House Museum Amsterdam Virtual Tour | The Story behind the Diary of Anne Frank
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Anne Frank House Museum Amsterdam Virtual Tour | The Story behind the Diary of Anne Frank

‘The Diary of a Young Girl,’ popularly known as ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ is one of the most well-known books of the twentieth century, that has inspired countless plays and films. Written between 1942 and 1944, it paints a vivid picture of a maturing young woman rising to the challenge when thrust into an incredible situation, and exposes the plight of individuals who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during their occupation of the Netherlands.

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Remembering the Fallen | 3 Historic World War II Memorials and Cemeteries in the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

Remembering the Fallen | 3 Historic World War II Memorials and Cemeteries in the Netherlands

During the World War II endgame period of 1944 - 45, significant battles erupted in the Netherlands as the Allies pushed through from the country's south and finally succeeded in liberating the Netherlands from German control. Thousands of troops from the Netherlands and from other countries were martyred. The Netherlands has around 3,900 World War II memorials and cemeteries, the biggest absolute number, and density in Europe. Today I’m going to talk about the 3 most historic World War II memorials in the Netherlands.

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The Mummies of Wiuwert | The Mystery of the Mummiekelder (Mummy Cellar) in Friesland, the Netherlands
Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta Netherlands Travel Blog Shirshendu Sengupta

The Mummies of Wiuwert | The Mystery of the Mummiekelder (Mummy Cellar) in Friesland, the Netherlands

Before we begin our story today, let me ask you a “Did you know?” question. Did you know there are Mummies in the Netherlands? That, too, naturally mummified? If not, then you ought to visit this place. It’s called the Mummiekelder (Mummy Cellar) and is housed in the crypt of a small church in Wiuwert, a tiny village in the province of Friesland. It is still not scientifically proven how the bodies may be so well preserved since 1609. The crypt is a mystery and houses the secret of Wiuwert. Today I’m here to share with you the riddled story of Wiuwert's ancient mummies.

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15 Best Iconic Murals of Berlin Wall East Side Gallery | Top 15 Most Famous Graffiti and Street Art of Berlin Wall Memorial
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15 Best Iconic Murals of Berlin Wall East Side Gallery | Top 15 Most Famous Graffiti and Street Art of Berlin Wall Memorial

For over three decades, Berlin, the present capital of Germany, was a divided city, with a wall running through its center. The Berlin Wall divided the city into East and West Berlin from August 13, 1961, until November 9, 1989. Today, the East Side Gallery, the Berlin Wall Memorial in Bernauer Strasse, the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial, a former Stasi remand jail, and the green Mauerpark are all places where you can find traces of the Wall, its remains, and memorial sites, with The East Side Gallery, formerly a part of the original Berlin Wall being the most famous one. Today I’m going to take you along with me on a journey across the 15 most iconic murals of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery. Let the journey begin!

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Complete Guide to Visiting Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) in Transylvania, Romania | Everything You Need to Know to Visit Bran Castle | Legends, Truth, Fun Facts, Things to Do
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Complete Guide to Visiting Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) in Transylvania, Romania | Everything You Need to Know to Visit Bran Castle | Legends, Truth, Fun Facts, Things to Do

Gazing majestically over the town from a rocky bluff, Bran Castle doesn’t fail to enthrall its visitors one single bit. Today, a whole industry has sprung up around calling it "Dracula's Castle," despite very little being in common with Bram Stoker’s Dracula or with Vlad Tepes (also known as Vlad the Impaler), the historical character rumored to have inspired Bram Stoker to give birth to the character.

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Radhadesh ISKCON Temple and Retreat Centre Belgium | Radhadesh Chateau de Petite Somme in Durbuy, Belgium
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Radhadesh ISKCON Temple and Retreat Centre Belgium | Radhadesh Chateau de Petite Somme in Durbuy, Belgium

Radhadesh is a spiritual community established in 1979 in the Château de Petite Somme, a 19th-century castle in Durbuy, a Belgian town famous for its stone homes and cobblestone streets that claims to be the "world's smallest city" located in the Belgian Ardennes. The community and facilities are spread out over 47 hectares, with pastures and attractive woodlands. The population of the village is estimated to be around 100 individuals. Radhadesh is the main center for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the Benelux and is a non-profit organization governed by a democratic general council.

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Complete Guide to Visiting Montserrat Monastery, Spain | Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery | Everything You Need to Know to Visit Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona
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Complete Guide to Visiting Montserrat Monastery, Spain | Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery | Everything You Need to Know to Visit Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona

Montserrat, literally meaning “serrated mountain” or "saw mountain" in Catalan, is a stunning 1,236 m high mountain, 50 kilometers northwest of Barcelona. The mountain gets its name from the curiously rounded rock pillar formations that appear to have been sawed and sculpted by wind and rain over thousands of years. Pink conglomerate, a sedimentary rock, is the main constituent of the mountain. Cradled at 725 m on its slopes, is Santa Maria de Montserrat, the historic mountain top Benedictine monastery that houses the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, one of Europe's rare Black Madonnas. It is one of Catalonia's most important shrines, as well as one of the most prominent Catholic pilgrimages in the world, making Montserrat the most popular day trip from Barcelona.

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