A must see destination

The New York Times published an article recently, rating Rotterdam as a must see destination for 2014. I couldn't agree more. To me, my home town is one of the most attractive cities I have seen. When you like the contrast between old and new architecture, Rotterdam is the place to be. 

Love the amazing new building De Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas and the old warehouses with names of islands in the former Dutch colonies, on the other side of the road. The fact that you are always close to the river, there are many quirky shops and restaurants and an amazing harbour area, only add to it's attractiveness. 

Alongside one of the quays in an area of town called Katendrecht, a fabulous cruise ship, called the SS Rotterdam, is permanently moored. It was once a prestigious flagship of the Holland America Line, used for carrying passengers to 'The New World' and for cruises. It dates back to the 1950s and is really worth a visit. Enjoy the fantastic interior, which brings you straight back to the fifties and sixties and have a coffee in one of the stylish restaurants or on the lido deck.

Last week I showed my friends from Budapest around town. We had a fabulous time! The weather could not have been better. Blue skies all over. We had coffee in the Nhow restaurant, on the 7th floor of The Rotterdam building, lunch at the SS Rotterdam and finally a glass of cool lemonade at De Zeeuwse Meisjes on the Deliplein. Seeing it through my friends eyes, made me realise once more how fabulous Rotterdam is. So if you haven't been yet, do come and visit!

Dear Jane and Lance, Thank you for your kindness, your enthusiasm and humour. It was a joy to spent the days with you! Blowing a kiss to both of you. 

If you would like to see more photo's, please have a look at their blog. It's one of my favourites!! You can find the link in their names.
  

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead! Three more days to go and I will be on my way to the UK. Hurray!

Love,

Madelief x

With love to Budapest

When we set off for Budapest more than a week ago, my husband and I didn't know what to expect. Leaving comments on a blog and sending occasional emails does say something about the people we were to meet at Ferihegy airport, but nevertheless they could have been as mad as a hatter! Several scenario's crossed our minds. Our daughters even contemplated giving us the number of the Dutch embassy in Hungary. Just in case!

After lingering at baggage claims just a little bit too long, we finally gained enough courage to set foot in the arrivals hall, where we were enveloped in a big hug by our dear friends. At that moment we knew 'all was well'.

We had four delightful days, full of talking & sightseeing. We didn't see Buda, nor one of the major museums and we only caught a glimpse of the Danube, but what we did see exceeded our expectations: Bruce Willis in action for his latest Die hard film ;-)!

In this post some photo's of the amazing buildings we passed when discovering the city. From Jugendstil apartments to Gothic cathedrals.

In one of my next posts I will take you for a coffee to one of Budapest's many coffee houses, show you an amazing antique shop, have a look at the Szechenyi Bath and see how one of Hungary's famous poets lived!


For now I wish you a Happy Sunday! 


Love from a rainy Rotterdam. With a special kiss and hug to our friends in Hungary.


Madelief x

A walk of art

A short while ago my husband and I did 'Een rondje Dordt'. This is a walk along galleries and vintage stores, that is held in Dordrecht every first sunday of the month. A must, for not only lovers of art and brocante, but for those who are interested in architecture as well. Dordrecht is one of the oldest Dutch cities, with houses dating back to the 17th century. I have written about Dordrecht before in the winter, when the streets were covered with a layer of snow.

This time we had a cloudy, but dry day. Perfect weather to explore some shops and galleries and walk through the old town. Do you notice the colours of the doors and windows? Not long ago Dordrecht was full of green doors and white window frames. This was until the Dutch 'Monumentenzorg', who take care of monuments in our country, changed their attitude. More colours are allowed. Nowadays its different shades of green, grey and red that adjourn the houses. The funny thing is that although more colours are used, they match perfectly. I think it makes the city look more attractive.

Let me take you on a tour and show you some of the alleys, shops and houses.

Wish you a lovely day! Lieve groet, Madelief

Canals, spires and a museum

 
 

I thought I was in love with Antwerp, but there is another Belgian town that can easily compete, Gent. What an amazing town it is. So full of history. It's like walking through an open air museum. All those old houses along the canals, with the most beautiful facades. Some houses date back as far as the 12th century. I lost count of the spires you can see when standing on the bridge crossing the Leie. There are so many churches and towers!

Although old, the city is very much alive. The students take care of that. In the evening the cafes and restaurants are filled with people of all ages. One of the museums we visited was the Design museum. I fell in love with it from the moment we stepped in. The building itself, a combination of old and new, instantly appealed to me. The light fall through the big and flower shaped windows in the wide open spaces is magical, the way the objects are displayed is a work of art itself and the collection very much worthwhile. From nineteenth century interiors, 1930s furniture to kitchen utensils by Alessi. At the moment we visited there was an exposition of Piet Stockmans, a porcelain desinger. His work looks simple, but is oh so beautiful! Today I show you some of the pictures I made of the houses, canals, and the Design museum. Next time I will take you through the streets and alleys, along the shops to the B&B we stayed in. Enjoy!

 Lieve groet, Madelief