The Netherlands

Amsterdam

There are plenty of options in Amsterdam throughout December. The hands-down favourite with the mamas is the ever-popular Westergasfabriek Funky Xmas Market (doesn’t the name say it all?) on 21 December 2025, showcasing lots of local foodies and homemade crafts in full Amsterdam-style.

For additional information on holiday offerings in the city, check this full list of Amsterdam’s Christmas markets and festivals.

And make sure you don’t miss out on any of this month’s festive happenings for families in Amsterdam by signing up to the Amsterdam Mamas’ newsletter.

Haarlem

One of the largest Christmas markets in the Netherlands, the Kerstmarkt Haarlem has a guaranteed spot in the seasonal top 5. As a backdrop to the hundreds of stalls in the picturesque square, there are live choirs singing Christmas carols.

If you are available in the weekend of 12 till 14 December and need no further arguments, then just visit the official website to get all the infomation on how to get there: approximately 20 minutes by train or by car from Amsterdam.

The Hague

The tenth edition of The Royal Christmas Fair will once again be hosted at Lange Voorhout from 4 till 23 December. With more than 80 Christmas stalls, a genuine and dedicated children’s fair, thousands of lights and an abundance of heated wine served in pfandbechers this is a Christmas fair that will appeal to the imaginations of both young and old alike.

The Hague is approximately one hour from Amsterdam by car. Regular trains leave from Amsterdam Central station or Schiphol Airport. Check the NS website for details.

Maastricht

Located on the Vrijthof, Maastricht’s charming Christmas market is open from 28 November – 29 December and features plenty of stalls, an ice rink and carousel. With gluhwein and oliebollen galore, you’ll have a great time.

Reaching Maastricht by car takes just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Travelling by train takes around 2 hours 30 minutes on ICE. Check the NS website for details.

Valkenburg

This charming town in South Limburg offers a unique Christmas experience – markets in caves! Visit the Velvet Cave and Municipal Cave from 14 November till 30 December for all the festive happenings whilst the Wilhelmina Caves are home to the sand sculpture nativity scene.

Valkenburg is a 2.5 hour drive from Amsterdam. It can also be reached by NS train via Maastricht. Valkenburg station is around 15 minutes’ walk from the centre. See the NS website for more details. 

Germany​

Köln (Cologne)

Perhaps the most popular of Germany’s Christmas markets, Cologne offers several different markets spread throughout the city from the beautiful Old Market in front of the Town Hall to the Market of Fairytales on the Rudolfplatz. Cologne attracts thousands of visitors to its markets, so The Mamas advise to visit during the week when it is less busy. The Christmas markets are open from 17 November till 23 December.

Cologne is around a 3 hour drive from Amsterdam. You can also take the ICE train straight through, which takes the same amount of time.

Düsseldorf

From late November until the end of December, Düsseldorf offers a number of charming and atmospheric Christmas markets throughout the city from 20 November till 30 December.

Düsseldorf is around a 2 hour and 40 minute drive from Amsterdam. You can also get there in a little over 2 hours by travelling by ICE train.

Aachen

Aachen offers a more intimate affair around the Market Place and Katschhof. Enjoy mulled wine, ginger bread and spekulatius (spiced biscuits) as you peruse the many craft and food stalls from 21 November till 23 December.

Aachen is a 3 hour drive from Amsterdam. Alternatively, it can be reached by train in 3.5 hours, with 2 changes. Check the NS website for more details.

Osnabrück

Considered one of the prettiest Christmas markets, the Osnabrück Christmas Market offers kids the thrill of meeting St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) every afternoon. Try the local Käsegriller sausage as you wander around the market. It is set around the town hall, Marienkirche and the Cathedral from 24 November till 22 December.

You can reach Osnabrück in 2 hours and 45 minutes by car or in 3.5 hours by ICE train.

Münster

The picturesque town of Münster offers delightful Christmas markets with jewellery, high-quality craftsmanship, toys, lights, delights, and of course, warm, aromatic mulled wine from 24 November till 23 December.

You can reach Münster by car in approximately 3 hours or by train with NS International.

This list has been compiled by our editors from the recommendations of our members on the Amsterdam Mamas Facebook group and has been updated for 2025.

photo credit: Pixabay

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If you are new to Amsterdam, you are likely shocked at the sheer volume of bikes everywhere. In fact, there are approximately 23 million bikes in the Netherlands which equates to an average of 1.3 bikes per person!

Although biking is the preferred method of transportation in Amsterdam, some newly arrived expats can be hesitant to get on a two-wheeler. I get it! Even as a Dane (I was basically born on a bike) who hadn’t biked for many years after moving to Amsterdam from London, it took me a fair amount of courage and a little practice to get back on the bike-lane. Now, there is not a single day that I don’t bike and I absolutely love it! For those who drive a car, it’s the same feeling of complete independence and ability to get on your own without relying on others.

I hope this short article will help newcomers to Amsterdam with a few practical tips on how to bike in a safe way and what to look out for.

Traffic hierarchy:

The hierarchy is as follows – Trams, bikes, pedestrians, moving vehicles (cars, buses). While cars will stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings, bikes often don’t. Legally they should, but in practice they often don’t. There is a pragmatic reason for this in the sense that the sheer volume of bikes would mean a constant stop to the flow of traffic. As a pedestrian you can easily stop walking, but if bikes have to stop at all crossings it would clog up the bike lanes and make it unsafe at times. As a cyclist you need to pay attention to zebra-crossings, try to signal or make eye contact with pedestrians in order to “agree” on who goes first. Personally, I always stop for elderly people, children and often tourists if easily identifiable (the ones who walk leisurely  in the bike lanes and cross any street only looking at the pretty surroundings… you know who I am talking about).

Helmet or no helmet?

It is shocking for many non-Dutch expats to see so many bikes, but no helmets, me included. In Denmark most cyclists wear a helmet, especially children and so for this reason I did too when I arrived in Amsterdam…but it didn’t last long. Biking is generally not considered dangerous here and therefore helmets are not mandatory or even encouraged. However it is a personal choice and if you want to wear a helmet to feel more comfortable, you should not hesitate doing it. With the rise in electric bikes I would not be surprised if we start seeing more cyclists in Amsterdam with helmets on.

How many people can you fit on a bike?

“A lot”, is the answer and there are no rules on how you carry them! I often wonder if I am at the circus or on my way to work when I see people standing at the back or front of someone else’s bike. It is quite an acrobatic skill to commute this way, but it is not illegal. However, children under the age of 8 must have a designated seat on a bike so please keep this in mind. Parents in Amsterdam often bike their children around in a bakfiets (cargo bike). Two-wheelers are preferred over three-wheelers as they take up less space on the bike lane. There are many places where you can test-bike bakfiets before buying one. Juizz Amsterdam is a good place to start.

Where is a good place to start?

If you are not yet ready for the bike-lanes of the city, but still want to practice, going to less busy areas or parks is a good way to start. Although tempting, avoid Vondelpark on a sunny weekend afternoon. It is complete carnage with runners, bikers, walkers, tourists, bike tours and all sorts of other people. Rembrandt park is lovely and more quiet. You can also go early in the morning (before 9am) to the 9 streets or the Jordaan or any of the inner canals. Take in the sights with minimal pedestrians or other cyclists.

Texting while biking: A personal story

Completely illegal! In fact, any distractions on your phone while biking is a traffic violation. Let me tell you a personal story to warn you of the dangers of distracted biking. A few weeks ago I was biking through Vondelpark on my bakfiets with one of my kids. I took my phone out of my pocket as I felt it vibrate. The moment I looked at my screen, two uniformed police officers appeared out of nowhere and signalled me to pull over. They asked for my ID and how long I had been living in the Netherlands. Naïve as I was, I thought maybe they were doing a random police survey, but when the police officer informed me that texting while biking was made illegal in the Netherlands two years ago, I realized I was in trouble and not taking part in a survey….

Of course I understand that it is common sense not to text while biking, I genuinely didn’t know that it was ILLEGAL. After all, it feels as though the general biking rules in the Netherlands are quite lax… am I right?!

Without any hesitation, the police officer asked for my address and said that a fine would be sent to me. I asked if a warning was not sufficient as this was my first ever traffic violation, but my efforts were in vain.

Alas, I did the crime and will accept the punishment. I asked the police officer how much the fine would be (thinking it would be around 40 EUR in line with a small speeding ticket). Oh boy, was I wrong. The fine was 169 EUR and arrived promptly the next day in my mailbox with a convenient link to pay via IDEAL.

Safe to say, my phone is now safely stored away in my backpack whenever I get on my bike. For clarification I should add that any phone activity while biking is illegal so whether you are looking at directions or changing a song on Spotify, just don’t do it. Get a phone holder instead which will keep you both safe and financially stable.

Biking is a fun, healthy, sustainable and a very inexpensive form of transport. It is a great way to discover Amsterdam at your own pace and an even better way to integrate into the true Dutch lifestyle. Take it easy in the beginning, and before you know it, you will be parading around Amsterdam without even touching your steering wheel! Good luck and happy fietsen!

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This summer and due to a certain virus still floating around, we did not feel like taking any risks by going abroad for our 6-day family holiday. So we looked for a number of options within the Netherlands, and our decision was quickly made: Friesland it was going to be!

Getting There Is Half the Fun

If you go by car, a stopover in beautiful Giethoorn is a must. But even before hitting that gorgeous and world famous village in Overijssel, you will pass by Muiderslot (a medieval castle great for kids and with a poignant history explored by Stephanie Ernst Miller) and get a glance from the highway at Oostvaardersplassen close to Almere, a huge nature reserve where the documentary “The New Wilderness” was made.

You may giggle at the highway sign of a village called “Urk” in Flevoland. Or not. The majority of the inhabitants of this fishing village belong to the Dutch Reformed Church, a branch of Protestantism founded in 1571 with roots in Calvinism. It is a distinctive and charming place, so don’t let its short name make you think it is short on things to do.

Back to Giethoorn (also called the Venice of the North). Its center is only accessible by boat or by foot. Renting a boat is therefore a good idea, as it can get swamped with tourists. It was quite a revelation to see how world-renown Giethoorn was!

Characterised by charming thatched roofs and wooden bridges arching over the canals, Giethoorn was established as a settlement of peat harvesters. As all the canals were dug by man, the water depth of the canals is so low that one can always touch the bottom – even in the middle of the lake in front of the Smits Pavilioen, where one can enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking the water and watch the canoes and pedal boats go by.

Giethoorn is also famous for a number of very good restaurants, including the two Michelin stars De Lindenhof. However, if fine dining does not tempt you, sandwiches for lunch on a boat are also a great children-friendly option!

Arrival

From Giethoorn to Friesland is less than an hour, and we quickly arrived through a beautiful tree-lined road to the small village of Beetsterzwaag (I highly recommended practising its pronunciation a few times in front of the mirror, to make sure you get it right).

One of the first things that we immediately loved in Friesland was the famous Frisian sugarbread. I don’t have a particularly strong sweet-tooth, but that bread with a bit of butter was divine! And for history lovers, the University of Groningen’s discovery three years ago that medieval Frisia was more Viking than previously supposed is very exciting; a real Viking hotspot right here in the Netherlands!

The friendliness and laid-back attitude of the people were really touching. I was expecting to have a hard time communicating with them as the Frisian language is very different from Dutch, although it is the second official language of the Netherlands – (N.B. People with Frisian origins often have surnames ending in – stra or –ma, which makes it probable our Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema has roots in Friesland.)

Like in the saying “All roads lead to Rome”, it is impossible to go to Friesland without paying a visit to its capital city, Leeuwarden.  For people traveling by train, a trip up there is well worth it.

A visit to the small, eclectic Het Andere Museum is a plunge into years gone by – old cars, miniature trains, a still functioning jukebox from the 60’s, lace, etc. The owner will welcome you personally and is very passionate about the collection started by his parents.

Lunch at Toko Saigon, two minutes away from the museum on the other side of the canal for delicious gyoza (dumplings) and pho (Vietnamese soup) provides a welcome break. Follow it up with a walk around town along the canals of Waagplein, all the way to Wester and Norderplantage, where charming houses with manicured gardens can be found, and you will be in love with this lovely city.

The walk back takes you through the Frisian Museum  (which we unfortunately did not have time to see) to Blokhuispoort, a 19th century prison creatively converted into a beautiful waterfront restaurant/budget hotel with rooms made from old cells/beach-café and artists’ ateliers.  The famous lion of Leeuwarden itself can be found in the courtyard of the prison, completely built out of recycled bike parts. A rare sight!

Ending the day on the terrace of the restaurant Proefverlof (which also features an old reconverted cell into a small private dining room), with the sun setting down and small boats passing by, was a magical way to end our experience of the Frisian capital city.

For the Nature Lover

You can park your car at the visitors’ centre of the National Park De Alde Feanen, a Natura 2000 area of 25 km² containing morasses, lakes, forests, peat and meadows, as well as at least 450 plant species and 100 bird species. Different walking routes can be found on the board at the entrance of the Park (do make sure to take a picture of it so you can follow the different “knooppunten” or junctions on your route).

Another great family walk is from Beesterzwaag village to the Witte Huis hotel and restaurant (about 7km back and forth, with a stop for ice-cream on the terrace of the Witte Huis).

Finally for a longer one (12km), head off to the beautiful Bakkeveen duinen (car park at recreatiecentrum Dundelle). At exactly halfway through the loop you will find a great café, De Drie Provinciën, for a pit stop.

Recommended Accomodation

Hotel restaurant Het Witte Huis

Gast verblijf Klein Eden:

Landgoed Lauswolt

Looking for family-friendly accommodations? Consider booking your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas. Find the perfect accommodation for your family while supporting Amsterdam Mamas at the same time.

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Mumbai – Some Basic Facts

Mumbai is a huge city! It has a population of almost 20 million people: to put that in perspective, New Mexico City, has around 23 million, and Amsterdam, approximately 800,000. Mumbai used to be called Bombay and is still fondly called by that name by some (ex) residents; including me. I tend to switch between the two.

You can take a girl out of Bombay, but you can never take Bombay out of a girl!

Bombay is on the west coast of India, with the Western Ghats (a mountain range that runs along the length of the Malabar coast) to the east. The city has grown in a northward direction. On a map, it appears as a long, skinny, densely populated metropolis. Bombay used to be seven small islands, which were later connected by reclaimed land. Mumbai is ideally located: with beautiful beaches, only a couple of hours out of the city, across the Thane Creek.  Travel a few hours inland southwards towards Tarkarli, and you discover farms, lush plains, lofty hills and table mountains.  Bombay’s tropical, hot, humid climate (30-32 degrees Celsius), is broken by a spectacular monsoon season from June to September and a few marginally colder months from December to February (26-29 degrees Celsius). A good time to visit is during these winter months when shorter days, languid evenings and cool breezes make walking and exploring quite enjoyable. 

I want to caution the first time traveller:  Mumbai is busy, crowded, loud, unclean and intense! Everything is heightened; smells, colours, emotions, breezes, tastes, disparities and wonders. Respect the culture and the climate, and you’ll have a great holiday. I have experienced visitors who love it and continue to return, and others that never quite get it and leave perturbed. 

Stay

You can treat yourself to unequivocal five-star luxury,  as  India is known for the most exceptional hospitality, or you can rough it a bit. The Taj Mahal hotel is incomparably luxurious but pricey. The Trident, the President, the Shalimar are all top hotels and well located. You want to be careful with food and water, with children especially, so plan your stay accordingly. I suggest basing yourself in South Mumbai; it’s the older, historic part of town. Public transport is tricky in terms of schedules and crowds.  A black-and-yellow cab or Uber is perhaps more convenient. 

Be careful with food but don’t miss out on local delicacies!

What to See

Things to not miss while in the city, include a ride on a BEST double-decker bus, a local train (outside of rush hour) and, a public ferry from the Gateway of India to Elephanta or Mandwa jetty.  Avoid going on a Sunday, when it can be over overcrowded with local tourists. Make sure to plan a few heritage walks through the Fort area, and artsy Kala Ghoda; this area is home to the Prince of Wales Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya), a new Children’s Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art.  It offers many art galleries, design hubs, and the Bhau Dadji Lad Museum, in the east of the city, next to the zoo.  Be sure visit the grand, fraying Ballard Estate, Ban Ganga, Chowpatty Beach and Marine Drive, Crawford Market and Kalbadevi. These neighbourhoods are a treasure trove of Victorian, Imperial, Indo-Saracenic, Art Deco, vernacular and traditional architecture!  Buildings, people and clothes are untidily meshed together, creating a riot of impressions. 

Eat!

Be careful with food but don’t miss out on local delicacies! Street food is also available off the street at some lovely restaurants. If the heady smells don’t lead you there, I’d suggest feasting at Swati, Soam, Sri Thakur Bhojnalaya, and Dakshinaya; for a spread from the North, South and Gujarat. Coffee lovers needn’t fear; western-style cafés dot the city.  A few favourites are Kala Ghoda Café, Pantry and Basilico. 

Good food, fine dining and restaurants, with incredible spatial layouts, have found a home in the city. Masque, Koko, Vetro, Bombay Canteen and my forever favourite, The Table, are all worth the price tag. Though, Udipi restaurants, Irani Cafés, and street vendors continue to be the heroes of the culinary scene. The beauty of this city is that you can dole out a hefty amount for luxury or explore it on a tight budget, without missing out. 

Buildings, people and clothes are untidily meshed together, creating a riot of impressions.

Shop!

Bombay allows you to shop till you drop.  Prices are generally lower than in Europe. Mumbai offers a variety of shopping options: from clothes at Fashion Street for a few euros, to a handwoven pashmina, at a boutique, for a few thousand euros. Stores that are popular with tourists are Fabindia, Anokhi, The Shop, Chimanlals and my favourite, Good Earth. My kids cannot go past, Fashion Street, in Fort, where they can buy ‘Hikes’ (not Nikes) for under 10 Euro. 

Out of Town

Once you’ve seen what’s on offer in the metro, I’d suggest you drive up to Sanjay Gandhi National Park; an escape from a bustling city which can overwhelm the senses. It is an oasis of natural beauty inside the city borders. No, you will not be the only tourist. Still, you will find ancient Buddhist caves, birds, butterflies, flora, fauna, a rickety mini train ride safari,  and hiking trails.  Similarly, you can sail on a public ferry from the Gateway of India to Mandwa jetty, and then catch a rickshaw to the nearest beach or farm for a day out of town.

These are only some things that maintain my love affair with Bombay.  You can take a girl out of Bombay, but you can never take Bombay out of a girl!

Photo credits: All images from Yay Images

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Tasneem’s sentiments about not skiing ring true—for me. Let me explain!

My legs don’t want to bend left and right in a concerted, synchronised effort. My bum levitates off its axis at the thought of falling onto cold concrete—I mean, snow. Bend at the knees whilst pivoting your body left and right and maintain an upright, coordinated pose? Come on! I am not a flamingo! I am no cheetah!

So I fully understand how one can happily go to a beautiful, ski resort  – the kind where people happily walk about in their OWN ski boots and ski gear, carrying their OWN skis – and have no intentions of hitting a single slope.

Tasneem and I are the same person in this matter. There are plenty of very luxurious, equally exhilarating things to do in a ski resort, whilst the rest of the family are fine falling face-first into the snow, or trying their darndest to keep their four limbs from acting out the YMCA dance.

Come on! I am not a flamingo! I am no cheetah!

*Cheetahs have super flexible spines and limbs. Meanwhile, I am not that blessed.

For the first time in nearly 25 years, I was on the same continent as a very old friend of mine. We were close, but since the late 90s, had not seen each other except through Facebook. Last Christmas she invited us to spend Christmas with her family. She lives in Switzerland. Land of snow-capped mountains. Land of people-with-their-own-ski-gear. Her three children and her husband adore skiing, but my friend … not so much. 

So she introduced me to the delights of ‘Not-skiing, Not-sorry’. In Montreux. The prettiest town since sliced bread.

Things to do Whilst Not Skiing:

Whilst the others were splaying out all their irreplaceable limbs with only chopsticks for support, we enjoyed the following delights:

Read our Kindle. Alone. Unhampered by “I’m hungry, Mum”, “I’m bored, Mum”, “Can I buy this [insert name of the-latest-pink thing], Mum?”

Drink mulled wine. Again… undisturbed by little people, shrill voices.

Eat! Savour freshly prepared, super yummy steak tartares, whilst sipping white wine. Without having to simultaneously eagle-eye a little person’s attempt to drink hot chocolate successfully.

People-Watch! Behind those sunglasses, rated for ski-slopes… you can ogle as much as you want.

Spa! Of this I did not partake personally, although there were certainly plenty of signs for places that allow you to bask in warmth while enjoying the serenity of limbs being exactly where they ought to be.

This, I argue, is good chops. This, I argue, is good reason to happily chug along to a ski-slope, happily enter the ski resorts, sans clumpy gear. Happy not skiing.

* For those who have mastered skiing, this is an excellent list of family-friendly ski resorts compiled by Amsterdam Mamas.

Photo credits: Main banner from Freepik, reading image from Freepik, drinking image from Freepik, spa image from Pixabay, ski fail image from Pixabay

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This New York quick-guide is based on a trip I made in June 2019. I hope these tips will help parents to plan their family holiday to this incredible and diverse city.  To make your trip a memorable experience I highly recommend checking out www.newyork.co.uk.

PLAY!

A good way to balance the day with your kid(s) is to mix indoor and outdoor activities and fortunately New York has plenty of both.

Central Park There are many parks in New York. You probably will not be able to visit them all but you cannot miss Central Park. This immense park counts no less than 21 playgrounds and has numerous activities for everyone: you can walk, visit a zoo, bike, row, skate, and ice skate (depending on the time of year). It is also a perfect location for a picnic. You can very easily spend an entire day in this wondrous park. With little ones in tow, it may therefore be a good idea to split the visit over a couple of days, perhaps combining visits to the park with trips to the local neighborhoods surrounding it.

The High Line Park If you have time, the High Line Park, built on an old train track, is also worth a visit. It is a pleasant walk for some great photography. There is elevator-access to the park.

Chelsea Market Before hitting the park, you can take a look at the indoor Chelsea Market, located on the south side. Here, you will find many food stalls where you can buy take-away and easy-access picnic foods. There are also some beautiful, but expensive, little, crafty stores. Walking the park in the northern direction, you will arrive at Hudson Yards, the new district of Manhattan. There is a large shopping centre which houses The Vessel, a funky architectural piece of art. It’s free to visit and explore, but don’t forget to book your (free) tickets in advance. The structure is not pram friendly and therefore all prams and strollers will be required to be left in an unmonitored pram parking bay at the base of the structure. 

SEE!

Empire State Building A must-do is the Empire State Building. The view is breathtaking and will entertain the whole family! You can access the building with a pram but will be required to collapse it to pass the security checks in the lift and on the deck.

Flatiron Building & Grand Central Station While you are in Midtown, don’t forget to see the famous Flatiron Building and Grand Central Station. Both buildings have featured in many Hollywood movies and the kids will love being able to say they’ve stood in the same place as Iron Man or Thor from The Avengers (2012) or Spiderman (2002).

Hop on Hop Off Bus New York City is a very large city, with a population of over 8.6 million people. Distances can be deceiving and a great way to see the city with a minimum of effort and in a short amount of time, while resting the weary feet of your children (and yourself!), is to take the Hop-on Hop-off bus. There are different loops available, the rides are pleasant and the guides are very friendly! The busses can quickly become full so if you want to ensure a seat while enjoying the ride, be sure to hop-on at Times Square, the departing point of the Manhattan loop.

Another great way in which to accomplish some relaxed sightseeing is to take a Tourist Cruise. Some cruises are one, to one-and-a-half-hours, which makes it perfect for your little ones. You will be able to take some amazing photos of the Manhattan skyline and get closer to Lady Liberty.

 The Mets! If your kids are old enough, going to a sporting event in New York is both a fun and exhilarating experience. The atmosphere and the food are great! I went to see the Mets and had the best time even though baseball rules are a mystery to me!

The Broadway Another great indoor activity is to go to a Broadway show. Many Disney shows are played and there are enough choices to please everyone. There are shows every day of the week, both throughout the day as well as into the evening.

Museums New York City is home to some of the greatest museums in the world: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), The Whitney Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum, just to name a few. Some are more child friendly than others, so it is a good idea to see what is currently going on at any of these museums from a child’s eye perspective.

EAT!

You will easily find food everywhere in New York. Here are some good and practical addresses:

Ellen’s Stardust Diner: for an original breakfast/brunch where you will be served by professional singers! The food is not the best but the experience is amazing. You can’t book a table so be sure to go as early as possible.

Junior’s: for a slice of famous New York cheesecake. 

Carlos’ Bakery: for some amazing cakes! (And for lovers of TLC’s Cake Boss).

Magnolia’s Bakery: for when you are looking for something a tiny bit fancier.

John’s Pizzeria: for a cheap family meal. The pizzas are very large and delicious.

Planet Hollywood: is another good location for a great eating experience. The kids will love it.

If you wish to purchase groceries, Whole Foods Supermarkets offer a good range of products.

SHOP!

Most kids don’t like shopping. However, here are some places they will LOVE (Amsterdam’s Intertoys may look a little small and unexciting after a visit to these imagination wonderlands):

Disney Store

Lego Store

Fao Schwarz

American Girl Store

M&M’s World

GETTING AROUND

Walk: Pack some good, comfortable shoes as you will walk A LOT! Don’t forget to look up while striding through the city, water towers and fire escapes are beautiful!

Public transport: The metro is very practical. It is handy to have an idea of where you are heading geographically as you will take the metro direction of either “Uptown” or “Downtown”. Most stations are equipped with an elevator.

Taxi: Yellow cabs are great, and you shouldn’t miss the experience and pleasure of hailing one! You will be able to charge your phone, and even watch some New York television for the duration of your journey.

Looking for family-friendly accommodation in New York? Book your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas and we’ll receive a portion of the reservation value. Find the perfect accommodation for your family and support Amsterdam Mamas at the same time!

Photo credits: Main banner image from Pixabay; all others copyright permitted by Julie Mills

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The months of July and August—and in some cases September—are prime holiday periods with scores of people travelling to holiday destinations the world over.  Close your eyes and think about your dream holiday destination. I bet you see yourself surrounded by lush green forests or relaxing in a cabin on a mountain or lying on the beach with a refreshing drink in your hand. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?

While we all enjoy going to our favourite destinations, do we truly consider the environmental and social impact of our travel habits?

Cost of Tourism

Last year while preparing for our much-anticipated trip to Santorini, I started thinking about the real cost of tourism to such dream-destinations. The sheer number of tourists visiting, whether for overnight stays or day visits, generate an incredible amount of waste, and can cause strain on local resources which may, for instance, cause water shortages.

While we enjoy going to our favourite destinations, how many of us stop to think about the environmental cost of such travel?

Tourism is indeed an essential source of income for the locals, but at what cost?  In a bid to conserve the local coral reefs, the picturesque Maya Bay on Phi Phi island in Thailand is closed till 2021.  A stretch of Bali in Indonesia was declared a “garbage emergency” when a diver’s film about swimming around plastic went viral. These are just two of many stories emerging to illustrate the ugly side of excessive tourism. So, as much as I love to travel, I ask myself, what can I do to change this destructive course?

Travel Carbon Footprint

Mode of Transport

I find carbon footprint calculators confusing, and I know most of us aren’t inclined to do the math all the time. But do consider this simplified take on CO2 emissions.

Air travel has the most significant carbon footprint but is often the most viable choice due to time, distance and budget constraints.  The alternative to flying is to travel by train. It may be more time consuming, but in most cases, has a lower carbon footprint and can be quite fun and relaxing. Many of us also choose to drive, and if we can make this journey in an electric or hybrid car, we cut down significantly on emissions. Unfortunately, these green cars are not yet the norm due to their cost and lack of infrastructure like regular charging points.  However, the flipside to this argument is that since flights and trains carry a lot more passengers than a fossil-fuel-powered car, the carbon emission per person is much less.

Sustainable Choices

Once at our destination, whether it be a hotel, a hostel, a holiday home, a campsite or bed and breakfast, I always try to think of ways to enjoy our stay in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.

Enjoying the luxury of a 5-star hotel is fun, I cannot argue that, but these rank low on sustainability because their priority is guest comfort and high standards of service. No matter how many times we reuse our bath towels or refuse ‘housekeeping’, running a luxury hotel equals waste and pollution; 24-hour air conditioning, immense amounts of laundry, excessive food production and waste and tonnes of plastic generated through single-use toiletries.

When I plan a  holiday in the Netherlands or even Germany, Belgium or France, I opt for rail travel. It’s cost-effective, low on carbon footprint and fun! I try and use public transport as far as possible when I’ve reached my destination,  instead of renting a car. If travelling by air, I try to pack light.    The heavier the load an aircraft is carrying, the more fuel it will need to make the journey. Same goes if you plan to drive. More weight equals more fuel used. I also look for flights on green and eco-friendly airlines where possible.

When looking for a place to stay,  comfort, cleanliness and location, as well as budget, are the obvious considerations. I also try to book a locally-run bed and breakfast, hotel or accommodation provider. It’s usually a cosy, homely stay, I support the local economy and I leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Destination Netherlands

The Conscious Hotel chain successfully combines luxury with sustainability and is Green Key Gold certified. These hotels only use LED lights, are powered by renewable resources and the tables in the rooms are made from recycled coffee cup holders.

The Amsterdam Farm Lodge is a new option for a “staycation” if you live in Amsterdam, or as a recommendation for out of town guests. They have 7 spacious apartments (6-8 people each) on the grounds of an urban farming project. No cars, a natural playground, pancake restaurant, and free-roaming farm animals!

Another Green Key Gold certified hotel group is the Mecure Hotel (part of Accor Hotels). It has a strong recycling policy, make an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions and only use local produce.

A few other Amsterdam based sustainable hotels are the Jakarta Hotel, the Element Hotel and the QO.

The Court Garden Hotel in the Hague is the first eco-designed hotel in the Netherlands.  It has a green picking garden and a polderdak (water storage system) and won the GAIA Green Award.

The Gingerbread Huis in Lieren is only an hour’s drive from Amsterdam and a destination in itself.

With 22 locations across the Netherlands, Stayokay Hostels offer a combination of sustainable and low-cost boarding.

The Natuurhuisje offers more than eight thousand cabins and rooms to rent, across Europe.  Its located in beautiful natural environments.  They plant a tree in locations where flora and fauna are damaged, with every booking made.

I also like to use travel providers such as Book it Green and Book Different to help me plan a green and sustainable vacation no matter where I go!

Destination Europe

Looking to travel to another country in Europe?  EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence Network) offers many options and these are only a few suggestions, which I am keen to explore.

Durbuy, Belgium is home to cobbled streets, stone houses, and lush green forests and meadows.

Naturpark Flusslandschaft, Peenatal in Germany, boasts an Ice Age river landscape. The Peene Valley is 10,000 years old and home to white-tailed eagles and beavers.

Tervete Nature Park in Latvia is the largest fairytale park in northern Europe and covers 1200 hectares of forested hills full of stories and magic.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do”. – Edward Everett Hale

No matter what our dream vacation looks like or where we travel to, we will inevitably leave a carbon footprint. We even do it at home, going about our regular lives, but I now know I can minimise my carbon footprint by following these top green travel tips:

• Travel to nearby destinations.
• Choose the most carbon-efficient mode of transport.
• Pack light.
• Stay at a locally owned hotel or accommodation.
• Carry own supply of toiletries.
• Use only reusable water bottles.
• Buy local and handmade souvenirs.
• Respect the local culture and support the local economy.

These seemingly small, simple things can make a huge difference. Happy travels!

Photo credit:
Main banner is a composite of images from Freepik, designed by Audrey Coggins
Hotel toiletries image by Pixabay
Other images: Freepik

The post Living Sustainably: Travel and Holidays appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

A great destination for family travel all year round, northern Italy is particularly charming during the Christmas holidays. Beautiful Christmas markets brighten the towns and snow is falling in the higher elevations; it is magical. The fabled Italian love for family and children is also true! Our small daughter was showered with hearty smiles and sweet words: “Bella”, “Bellissima”, “Bimba” greeted us on cobblestoned streets, hiking trails, even while sitting in trattorias (less formal than a ristorante but more formal than an osteria). Speaking of which, Italy’s cuisine is scrumptious, even for the pickiest toddler!

Verona

This beautiful old city is the famous setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Could he ever have imagined his tragic tale of young lovers would be played off the stage as well as on? Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) is crowded with tourists anxious to capture a selfie on her famous balcony and the walls under it are covered with lovers’ scribbles: pledges, promises, wishes, heartache … it’s all there.

As Verona is a small city, you can easily explore it in a day or two. We enjoyed the best pizza of our life at Don Peppe Pizzeria e Trattoria in the huge mall Adigeo (a shopping paradise and very child-friendly: kids’ washbasins, playgrounds and a playroom for kids 3+).

Vicenza

We visited this charming village during a day trip from Verona. It took us about two hours to see this town, including having lunch at one of the local restaurants. Fortunately, as it was the festive season, there were bustling and colourful Christmas markets everywhere.

Pellizzano

In mountainous Pellizzano we decided to try an Agriturismo: a genuine, working farm! It’s a popular thing in Italy, ideal for nature lovers and tourists craving the quiet and serenity of rural life. Our farm accommodation had a wooden interior, a heated bathroom floor, hearty dinners, and smiles.  The highlight though was riding in a two-horse open sleigh! Dashing through the crispy snow surrounded by rolling hills is romantic and peaceful! Sadly, our visit was cut short as there was heavy snow forecasted which could have trapped us in one place if we did not leave before the storm (read about snow tires in Notes below). Be aware that in rural areas not knowing any Italian, communication can be difficult.  Google translate doesn’t always cut it.

Trento

Trento is famous for its Christmas market; try the treccia mochèna (plaited pastry cake) and the polenta brustolada (grilled polenta). Trento also offers two wonderful museums that are great places to escape the cold.

Buonconsiglio Castle Museum

Enjoy ancient frescos, carved ceilings, Egyptian and other collections. Not a lot for the youngest visitors (our daughter was napping in the backpack, fortunately) but older kids may find exploring a castle entertaining!

MUSE Science Museum

This little gem has everything you could wish for a visit with a child: interesting exhibits, themed floors, WC’s with changing facilities and kids toilets, kids play areas, interactive exploration activities for bigger kids and adults, and lectures about the exhibits and artefacts in the museum.

Bolzano and Bozen

These towns are little Austria of  Northern Italy. The architecture, Christmas markets, cuisine; everything looks and feels Austrian. They even speak German here! Grab the opportunity to enjoy typical Austrian pretzels and white sausages without actually leaving Italy.

Street food is a must at the Christmas markets but when it’s cold, sooner or later you’ll need to find a place to warm up and eat something more substantial. The kid-friendly restaurant Aida is easily distinguished from outside by a row of buggies next to the entrance. They don’t have a play corner but do have high chairs and a baby changing facilities.

Riva del Garda

For New Year’s Eve and Day, we found an exceptional place which is reasonably priced: an ancient castle transformed into a  stylish apartment hotel with picturesque views of the mountains and vineyards from all the windows. What could be a better and more romantic place to welcome the New Year? Our accommodation was so snug that we didn’t even feel like leaving that beautiful castle but we ventured out for a couple of walks around the nearby lakes.

Walking around the Lago di Ledro took us about 2.5 hours with our toddler sleeping in the backpack carrier. The lake is at an elevation of 650 meters and it is several degrees colder than in Riva del Garda, with snow and ice all around. On our way we came across several playgrounds, on frozen beaches and in empty camping sites, all the houses and restaurants were either empty or closed. Obviously, this area is geared towards summer holidays.

On New Year’s Eve day we walked for two hours on a trail along Lago di Garda. The lake is huge and exquisite, and walking next to the mist-covered lake is pure pleasure. This trail is popular, even on a cold Winter’s morning.

Ristorante Acetaia Del Balsamico offers beautiful views and delicious food, and its amazingly child-friendly waiters make it even more special. The restaurant offers its own home-made olive oil and 7-year old balsamic vinegar for sale – perfect for gifts.

Notes

• Winter tires cost extra, but as the winter weather can make driving treacherous in the higher elevations, it’s a good idea to request them from your rental agency.
• Eating out in Italy requires some planning, particularly during holidays. Most restaurants are open from 12 pm – 2 pm and then after 7 pm, and on New Year’s Day, only fast food places are open!
• Restaurants normally collect a coperto (cover charge) from every person at the table, including children. It seems strange at first that children pay the service fee but when you look under the table after the meal, you wonder why children don’t pay double!

Looking for family-friendly accommodation in Northern Italy? Consider booking your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas. Find the perfect accommodation for your family while supporting Amsterdam Mamas at the same time! 

This article is based on a post from Julia Smile’s blog Frogs in the Box.

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The Netherlands

Don’t overlook the many beautiful destinations within The Netherlands itself: beautiful coastline, historic cities and towns, amusement parks, and forests.

Holiday Destinations Within The Netherlands

A Weekend on Texel

Summer Travels Near and Far

Stay in a Castle in Domburg

Spain and Portugal

The Iberian Peninsula is filled with glorious cities, stunning scenery, warm people, and delicious food.

Barcelona

Galicia

Lisbon

Seville

Algarve, Portugal

France

France has it all – mountains, beaches, castles, quiet country towns, glittering cities, and the je ne sais quoi that is so French.

Paris

Disneyland Paris

Brittany: Biking Holiday

Central Europe

Mountains, castles, charming cities, river valleys – the center of Europe has innumerable places to see and things to do …

Budapest

Berlin

Vienna

Prague

Zagreb

Poland: Stay in a kid-friendly palace

Romania: Stay in the Prince of Wales’ Transylvanian Guesthouse

Slovenia: Go Green in the Julian Alps

Italy and Greece

Sun soaked Mediterranean towns and beaches, ancient ruins, vibrant people, and loads of crowd pleasing food, you can’t go wrong visiting either of these ‘classics’.

Athens

Rome

United Kingdom and Ireland

Beyond the exuberance of London there is a vast and beautiful countryside and coastline filled with friendly, cozy, accomodations and people in the UK, and the Emerlad Isle lives up to its image of being green and friendly.

London

Ireland Glamping

Edinburgh

Scandinavia

Are you ready for a very long, beautiful, day? Go north and experience the natural wonders and beauty of Scandinavia in the summer!

Stockholm

Norway: Hiking

Denmark: Legoland Billum

Looking for family-friendly accommodation in Berlin? Consider booking your stay via booking.com/amsterdammamas. Find the perfect accommodation for your family while supporting Amsterdam Mamas at the same time! 

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Holi – The Festival of Colour

Growing up, Holi was one of my favourite celebrations, second only to my birthday! I remember all the children in my neighbourhood being so excited when Holi preparations began in earnest, days in advance! Coloured powder, Gulal, was bought, water balloons were ready to be filled, sweets were prepared, and wood was collected for the big communal bonfire. On the day of Holi itself, we’d wake up really early, put on white clothes (the colours we’d get soaked in later show up best on white clothes) and meet with our cousins and friends, everybody armed with buckets full of coloured water and mountains of water balloons ready for throwing at any passersby unlucky enough to cross our paths. Of course, no one seemed to mind being drenched in coloured water, after all it was Holi!

Holi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated over two days starting on the night of poornima or full-moon in the month of Phalgun of the Hindu calendar (February or March in the Gregorian calendar). Holi brings with it so many reasons for celebration:

• the end of winter and the onset of spring – the season of abundance
• the harvest of the winter crops,
• the victory of good over evil
• the celebration of friendship, love and fertility

Holi is celebrated across India with much enthusiasm although the rituals, customs and even the names of the festival vary greatly depending on region. Holi is known as Phakuwa or Phagwa in Assam, Dola Jatra in Odisha, Lath mar Holi in Uttar Pradesh, Shimga or Rang Panchami in Maharashtra, etc. Its popularity has grown throughout the world because of the expanding global Indian diaspora.

The Story Behind Holi

Holi celebrations begin with the burning of a communal bonfire, around which people gather and pray that evil be vanquished from their hearts and lives forever. This ritual is called Holika Dahan. Legend has it that a king called Hiranyakashipu, greedy for power and wealth, earned a boon from the gods that gave him five special powers.

1. He could not be killed by either a human or an animal.
2. He could not be killed either indoors or outdoors.
3. He could not be killed at day or at night.
4. He could not be killed either by astra (projectile weapons) or by shastra (handheld weapons).
5. He could not be killed on land, water or air.

With such protection, Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant, thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship him. His son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and refused to pray to his father. The angered king tried to kill Prahlada by making him sit on a pyre in the lap of his aunt Holika, who was immune to fire. Miraculously, the fire destroyed Holika but Prahlada came out unharmed. Finally, Lord Vishnu himself assumed the form of a half lion/half human (Narasimha) and attacked Hiranyakashipu at dusk (neither day nor night), on his doorstep (neither outdoors nor indoors), by placing him on his lap (neither air, water, nor earth) and killed him with his claws (neither astra nor shastra). And thus came about the end of the King Hiranyakashipu!

Holi Today

The bonfire, also known as Choti Holi, signifies the burning of all that is evil and pernicious; the colours, sweets, and playful nature of the Holi celebrations signify new beginnings and hope for a favourable future.

Holi is celebrated with much fervour in the Braj region of central India which is also considered to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna. In this region, the festival is a commemoration of the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Young men and women reenact scenes from the love story while playfully throwing colour on each other.

Traditionally the colours (Gulal) used at Holi were made from natural dyes and medicinal herbs. Ayurvedic herbs such as Neem, Kumkuma, Haldi, Bilva, etc. were used to make the powdered colour and since the change of season often brings with it illnesses such as colds, coughs and the flu, the medicinal herbs in the Gulal helped relieve flu symptoms and even cured minor ailments.  In the present day however, harmful chemicals have often replaced the herbally derived colours. It’s important to be mindful of the source and content of the colours you will be using on your friends and family. Organic colours, talcum powder, and simply water are often used for play these days.

Holi in The Netherlands

Trade and travel over centuries brought the festival of Holi to the shores of countries far and wide. Holi is celebrated in various parts of the world predominantly due to the presence of Indian diaspora. In recent years, the Netherlands has seen a surge in the number of people of Indian origin who come here for work. Naturally, where people go, customs and rituals must follow. This year Holi will be celebrated on the 9th and 10th of March. Since Holi is celebrated as a community, people usually book private venues such as restaurants or open air areas. There are, however, some places that organise public celebrations. 

Bridging The Gap foundation is organizing Holi celebrations this year at Emergo Hal in Amstelveen on Saturday, the 21st of March from 13:00 to 16:30. 

Holi is also being celebrated this year at the Amsterdamsebos (Bosbaanweg 5, 1182 DA Amstelveen)on the 7th of March from 10:30am. It is being organized by Yujgram Indian Community. Tickets are currently being sold on yujgram.com.

In Uithoorn, come celebrate Holi on the 21st of March from 12:00-17:00 at De Merodelaan 1, 1422 GB Uithoorn, Nederland. Book your tickets here.

In Hoofddorp/Rijsenhout, Holi this year is being celebrated on Saturday, the 14th of March at Anna’s Hoeve from 17:00-01:00. This event is being organized by Stichting Zorggelijk. The entry fee is €5 for adults. 

In Den Haag, Holi will be celebrated on the 10th of March in Wijkpark Transvaal. You can read more about the program here.

It is important to remember that Holi is more than just colour play; it is a religious festival and deserves to be celebrated with respect, both for the festival itself and the people celebrating it. Most people “playing” Holi will be happy for you to join in the celebrations if you don’t mind getting a bit of colour on your clothes. If you decide to join the Holi celebrations this year, you might get treated with some of the sweet delicacies and the infamous drink Bhang – which I would watch out for if I were you …

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