You really must visit the Dom tower while in the Netherlands! It blew us away. We were a little…read morelate to the tour because we couldn't find the meeting spot. It is in the gift shop. Once we found that, an employee brought us to join the group. Our tour guide spoke perfect English and was very knowledgable about the tower. It was really incredible getting to be inside the belfry and see all of the different sized bells. We also got to climb to the top for a truly spectacular view. I will say, there are nearly 500 stairs here and some staircases are VERY tight, so keep that in mind if you have accessibility needs. This was a highlight for sure. The gift shop also has the most adorable merchandise! I got a tiny candle shaped like the tower.

Given all the scaffolding the team did an amazing job. Well done!!!…read moreIt was worth Ruhr visit and the guide spoke in Dutch and English.

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!

Coming from our hotel we had seen this marvelous cathedral, and I knew we had to stop by on our…read morereturn. Fortunately it was open, as we saw some others going in. The cathedral is gorgeous, awe inspiring. The quiet and reverence here offers a complete escape from the outside world. After soaking up the timeless architecture we were lucky stumble on the choir practicing for their Saturday 5 PM performance - amazing, beautiful voices and music. We only wish we had more time and could have stayed for the complete performance.

This is a stunning church, the Basilica of St. Nicholas, sits across from the Centraal train…read morestation in Amsterdam. One of my favorite things to do while traveling especially Europe is, to randomly walk into an intriguing church-- must be part of my Catholic upbringing, ha! Named after the patron saint of Amsterdam, the basilica was designed by architect Adrianus Bleijs (1842-1912). It's stark somber looking on the outside, stark stunning looking inside. I appreciate the church's use of technology. It's the only church I've seen with electronic confessionals. The church also has a very well designed and branded website. There are 5 churches in this conglomerate and St. Nicholas is the most ornate. The dome of the church is visually awesome, intricately constructed. I had to take photos. St Nicholas is a beautiful work of art and I like it more inside than outside. I very well understand the decades sometimes centuries of toil and pain artisans went through to create Art to please the church's exacting standards. The Sistine Chapel is probably the epitome of that dedication. For these historical reasons, I've come to appreciate pre 1900 churches all over the world. Another really supahcalifragilisticoolthing I discovered was the church holds mass in Gregorian Chant. Wowzah! Now that was amaaaazzzzzzing mass to experience after a long night of debauchery and partying in Amsterdam. Geniusly Sick! Website: http://www.nicolaas-parochie.nl/ Visits: 2

We decided to go to Haarlem for the day. Unfortunately it was Monday and there's not as much opened…read moreon Monday but we were lucky to see this beautiful church. There's lots to see and we spent quite a bit time here. The organ is massive and gorgeous and Mozart played on it at the age of 10! We recommend seeing this impressive expansive place.

We decided to stay In Haarlem just a bus 20 minute bus ride from Amsterdam, the church is in the…read moremarketplace and is rich with Dutch culture, the gothic church is beautifully decorated with splashes of royal red inside which compliments the Muller Organ wonderfully, the church bells and light are a peaceful reminder of the presence of this wonderful church, inside are graves of the wealthy. Rotted bodies buried underneath large slabs of stone seeped up into the church, this is where the term "Stinking rich" comes from. Don't worry it doesn't smell any longer and added a wonderful touch after returning from other cities and places. We would come up and enjoy the rest of our evenings here peacefully while overlooking the church.

Beautiful church in the middle of Den Haag, around the corner from the Binnenhof and walking…read moredistance from Den Haag Centraal. Used primarily as a concert venue, it's a great intimate space for chamber music or a small orchestra/ensemble. Check their website for upcoming concerts throughout the year.

Said to be the tallest church in the Netherlands, this gothic style church tower is an interesting…read moretouristic sight. It's has 465 steps, and you will be able to see old and new bells, and will enjoy a nice view from the top of the tower. The entrance was 9 euros in June 2016, 7.50 for concessions and the tour is conducted in Dutch and English. In our case, Dutch visitors didn't mind it to be English-only, so the tour was in English. You are required to leave your things in storage cameras (you can take a photo camera), however, as it was a hot day they allowed us a bottle water as well.

Perhaps one of the biggest buildings in the area, you cannot miss seeing the Dom Church tower that…read moresits in the middle of old Utrechet city. The tower is quite impressive to see and has amazing architecture work. Unfortunately during my visit to to Utrechet, they were remodeling the outside of the tower so I wasn't able to see all of it since it was covered up. I really wanted to go inside the tower but the only way they will let you in is through a guided group tour, something I didn't feel like waiting around for. Cool building nonetheless, a great sight to appreciate even if you don't go inside.

This is a very caring church and lovely people working here. In this church there are always a lot…read moreof people coming here on a Sunday to pray. Parents always take their children too, who always get a smile on their faces from the people in the church. The International Baptist Church is very easy accessible as it is in a friendly and caring neighbourhood. There are also a lot of parking spaces available for those who come here by car. It is not the biggest church I would say, but it is well worth while giving this church a visit if you are in the local area.