Last month, when I visited Amsterdam, I did something different from my previous two visits: Instead of staying in Amsterdam’s center, we stayed in a smaller city called Haarlem. While we originally started looking at Haarlem because finding a hotel/Airbnb there was cheaper than in Amsterdam, we actually felt excited about getting the chance to explore a new city And it turns out that getting from Amsterdam to Haarlem and back is really easy!

If you’re spending time in Amsterdam and are interested in checking out another nearby city, even if you only have a day, I’d really recommend Haarlem. It is smaller and quieter than Amsterdam, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do or see there! And some people find it even more beautiful than Amsterdam. So here’s what you need to know about taking a day trip from Amsterdam to Haarlem, the Netherlands. [Read more…]

In April, Matt and I took our first big trip outside of Spain after becoming Spanish residents — to Amsterdam! We spent about a week exploring the city and its surroundings, and of course we checked out Holland’s famous tulips. While it was my third visit to Amsterdam, it was my first time staying for more than just a couple of days, and it was also my first time visiting in a month other than October. I was hoping to enjoy some warm spring weather, but it was not to be. 😅 But we still had an amazing time.

Without further ado, here’s my city review of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. [Read more…]

Amsterdam may be most famous for its charming canals, legal weed, and Red Light District, but there was something else that I didn’t expect during my first visit: Tulips are a huge part of Amsterdam and the Netherlands’ culture. Despite the fact that I had visited during October in the past, tulips in Amsterdam had been everywhere — from the Tulip Museum, to the “floating flower market,” to the magnets in every souvenir shop.

When we moved to Alicante, Spain, in January, I decided I wanted to take the opportunity to see the real tulips in Amsterdam. But I had to wait until tulip season, which is typically late March to mid-May. And peak time for tulips to bloom is generally mid-April, when most flowers are at their very best.

Though it’s possible to make predictions, it’s impossible to know how things will actually play out. But we went ahead and booked our trip to Amsterdam for mid-April and our tulip tour for April 19, while crossing our fingers that the tulips would be still be at their peak. 🤞

So, here’s what it was like to see the tulips in Amsterdam and what you need to know to book your own Amsterdam tulip tour. [Read more…]