Leiden, An Alternative to Amsterdam?
One of my aims on my recent visit to the Netherlands was to find a city that could offer an alternative tourist destination to Amsterdam. Why? Because, although Amsterdam is undeniably beautiful, and interesting, it is also packed with visitors. The figures are hard...
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Kinderdijk and its Windmills: A Day Trip from Rotterdam
You can’t go to the Netherlands without seeing windmills. Or canals. Kinderdijk, an easy day trip from Rotterdam, is a classic Dutch landscape of water and windmills. It is also a place to learn about the long struggle between the people, their land, and the sea....
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How to Enjoy the Art and Architecture of Rotterdam
With several world class museums, Rotterdam is an obvious destination for art lovers. But there is also plenty to see for free. The city is full of street art, sculpture and cutting edge architecture. At times it feels as if the whole place is an open air museum. ...
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Five Reasons to Visit Rotterdam
As I came out of the ferry terminal at Rotterdam Europoort there were several coaches waiting to whisk people off to Amsterdam. And just one minibus going to the centre of Rotterdam. Yet the second city of The Netherlands is a vibrant city with a lively arts and...
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The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the Guilds of York
As in many European cities, the social and commercial life of medieval York was dominated by the trade guilds. And in many ways they are still important today. One of the best ways of discovering the history and influence of the guilds is through a visit to the...
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Exploring Roman York
York is better known as a medieval city than for its Roman origins. Yet it was once a very important Roman town. I set out to discover what can still be seen of Roman York today, and to get some clues about how it may have looked in the past. Why Was Roman York So...
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