What an amazing small quaint castle in the Arnhem countryside that you can kick off several hiking…read moreroutes. Before you do, be sure to drop in to the local cafe for drinks, coffee or tea and a light lunch (or even better a slice of one of the fresh baked delicacies). Read up on the history of the place on convenient signs or take a tour... amazing views in the backdrop if you choose to sit outside in the courtyard.

If I were to have a job as a guide to people who don't know the Netherlands, and who have never…read morebeen to a castle, I would show them this one. They have done an outstanding job giving you great information on the hows, wheres, whys, and whats of living and running a castle in Medieval times. Everywhere you go there are large information tablets, in Dutch and English, with explanations of the historical significances and/or changes that took place. We started the tour in the kitchen, an interesting place to learn about how they stored foods and wines, complete with separate entry for filling the pantries (almost secretive), and big keys for the meats and alcohol (I guess they had problems back then already with people 'sampling') cellars. The point was well made of how big a part a castle fulfilled by feeding large crowds in times of special holidays, during wars, and general times of bad harvests. Then one continued up the stairs, and we landed in the general hall. They have restored the fireplace and reinforced the windows. Yet you could feel the cold the closer you stood to the outside wall -- a good thing during the hot summer day we were visiting, but in the winter less so, I can imagine. We were informed of important dignitaries who had visited during its history, of course. Then we continued, up the stairs, to bedrooms (larger than mine now) and other receiving rooms, and a library. On the top floor, after climbing another set of stairs, the museum gave background information on the landscape and plants, along with a room dedicated to paintings of those times. I had to stop counting staircases after climbing about 4 or 5 of them. Stairs were all over the different parts of the castle, and even in between rooms, and going from one room to the next room. To get to the bathroom you even had to climb a few stairs! I cannot imagine what that would be like if you were physically challenged with your knee or leg in some manner. And that was the biggest lesson I took with me: you had to have been in good shape to survive in those days. Perhaps that could be a lesson for all of us, to continue to stay in good health by walking plenty and grabbing the staircase. P.S. The restaurant outside is not bad, good coffee and tea.

Running through the heart of Utrecht, the Oude Gracht ('old canal') is the major artery of the…read morecity. It's lined with many shops at street level and bars and restaurants at the level below. It also hosts a weekly flower market on Saturday morning. Yes, it can get a tiny bit seedy at night with rowdy students ('bralapen') and it isn't always as clean as one would like, but this all adds to the charm. It's truly a wonderful place to hang out any time of day or year. The oude gracht was built in the 1100's by upgrading and taming a former branch of the River Rhine. The mooring level (accessible by steep steps from road level), where goods would be loaded and unloaded, gives access to deep tombs / caverns that extend below the road and under the shops above. In the old days used for storage, they have now mostly been transformed into bars and eateries. It's hard to miss the oude gracht when you're in Utrecht as many of the city's landmarks, including the Dom tower / church and various museums are located close by. Enjoy this place. It's awesome. But, be careful of bicyclists as you stroll around; you'll likely have your eyes on façades or the water below!

Um, this place is absolutely amazing. The whole area used to be an industrial park / campus /…read moremanufacturing plant for Philips, but they've since left. Now, it's full of creative businesses, from beautiful home decor shops to clothing to mixed media to restaurants & cafes to art exhibits to skate parks to ETC, ETC. The whole industrial look is definitely overused nowadays, but this is different. It feels so authentic because it actually used to house factories, and some machinery is still there, surrounded by quintessential stylish Dutch design. It's quite inspiring how much creativity is within every single little shop. On the third Sunday of every month, this is the venue for Feelgood Market, a pretty big collection of food / handmade goods / music / more. Such great vibes in a unique location. Must see if you find yourself in Eindhoven!