Our favorite family trips through Europe — from biking in the Netherlands to exploring Italy’s ancient ruins and charming small towns.
A visit to Texel is not complete without a visit to the Shipwreck & Beach-Combing Museum in Texel, Netherlands. When you pull up you’ll wonder if I’ve sent you to the right place. The museum is in fact just a collection of items that have been found on the beaches and shores of Texel. It …
If your kids are like ours they love seeing farm animals. I’ve mentioned before that our life in the Netherlands involves interactions with loads of animals. It has become one of our favorite things about life here. In our neighborhood alone, we have sheep, goats, chickens, swans, ducks and pheasants. Texel, was no exception, offering …
The Texel Lighthouse on the far North end of the island was our first stop after departing the Texel Ferry. It’s just a 20-minute drive along the island from the ferry to the lighthouse (paid parking lot). There is small walking path that leads up to the base. The lighthouse is a symbol of Texel. You’ll …
Texel, Netherlands blew me away with its charm. As the largest of the Dutch barrier islands, Texel provides a perfect getaway for an overnight or a full week vacation. We headed up early on Saturday morning for a weekend on the island. The kids were excited from the moment we pulled into the Texel ferry …
On a rainy Wednesday morning while my sister was visiting, I decided that when the kids got out of school (Wednesdays are half days) we would surprise them by driving to Apenheul in Apeldoorn. It had been on our Netherlands “to visit” list and today seemed like the day. When you translate the Apenheul webpage …
My Facebook feed is full of last day of school pictures from my U.S. friends but here in the Netherlands it is business as usual. Our Summer holiday doesn’t start until mid-July. The temperatures this year have been fluctuating between ‘grab your summer coat’ and ‘run through the sprinklers’ for the last few days. Meanwhile …
I recently found out that the World’s Best Children’s Museum is in the Netherlands. About an hour drive from us, GeoFort has turned an old fort into a museum on maps and navigation. GeoFort blends indoor and outdoor exhibits into the perfect outing for kids of all ages. It is also part of the Museumkart program, …
When you’re living in the Netherlands you can’t miss a flower season, even if a trip to Keukenhof is considered “touristy.” This year my mom and her friend came into town to see the blooms and I was more than happy to show them around. With my Big Little in school for the day, I …
In 2017, Kinder Museum Nacht Den Haag was held on Saturday March 18th. The yearly event opens about 20 museums after-hours with special kids programming. The Big Little was old enough to enjoy the events this year – and also able to stay awake late enough to make it fun. The event targets 4-12 year …
Wednesdays are half days for schools in the Netherlands. With the sun out we try to take advantage of these half days to explore places closer to home. After I picked the kids up from school we loaded into the car and headed to a Goat Farm near Zoetermeer, 20 minutes from our house. Boerdeij ‘t …