This Markt is reliably suffused with quality goods. Looking for fresh produce? Got it! Need cheese?…read moreThere are so many options! After fresh bread? There are at least two bakery stalls. Let's not even get into the snacks and sweets or the textiles and housewares. There's a butcher and a fishmonger. You can do all of your shopping and never set foot in a corporate store. It's a bit crowded and the pedestrian traffic isn't well organized for those of us using canes or walkers so be prepared for a some bumpy terrain.

I bought a beautiful laundry baskets at Haarlem Saturday Grote Markt. I was so happy to finally…read morecome across some quality baskets that will last a long time. You can easily find them a few steps away from the lovely Texel wool and cotton sheets market stall. They are located on the very end before you walk into the market. You will see some beautiful color mats, baskets and bags for a very good price. No where have I seen these types of quality baskets in the shops.

Very informative tour about the history of the windmill on this location, as well as the workings…read moreof windmills in general. Loved the different windmill (section) models showing how everything works! Highly recommend!!

If you're visiting Haarlem I would definitely recommend sparing €3.50 and ~45 minutes of your time…read moreto visit this charming local landmark! Although the original windmill was built in the late 18th century, unfortunately it burned down in 1932, so what you'll see is a 2002 reproduction. Eunice was such a gracious and informative volunteer guide! I learned a lot about the history of this specific windmill as well as milling and wind power in general. Even if you're not really interested in learning about such an obscure topic, there's a great view of Haarlem from the top of the windmill! The building also has a gift shop, restrooms, and an espresso maker, so you can refresh yourself before heading out to do more sightseeing!

It's definitely a part of Amsterdam that I want to revisit when there's more time. It just happened…read moreto be our drop off and pick up point when given free time to roam about in Amsterdam during a shore excursion. Our guide gave us a little history about the Jodenbuurt before walking us over the Amstel River to a more centralized part of the city. The Joods Museum and the Portuguese Synogogue are the biggest highlights in the quarter. The Jewish History Museum is housed in a building that once had four separate Ashkenazi synagogues. It focuses on the 350 years of Jewish history in Amsterdam prior to Nazi occupation. The Portuguese Synogogue is also a place that shouldn't be missed. It miraculously survived through WWII untouched thanks to Leo Palache (a volunteer firefighter) who somehow prevented the occupying forces from turning it into a Jewish deportation center. There are still Jewish relics being discovered today that were hidden in the synogogue by the fire brigade to protect their heritage. It's stories like this that really bring it all to light. As you're walking through the Jewish quarter, you'll also come across many brass plated stumbling stones that signify the loss of this great community. These have the names of people who were deported and then taken to extermination camps. I just happened to see 2 memorial stones from the Abrahams family who later died at Auschwitz. Their memory lives on as more people discover their names in the bricked pathways. Rembrandt's house (now a museum) is also in the Jewish Quarter. It's about a 5 minute walk away when passing through Waterlooplein. There's a lot of natural beauty and many cafés as you head in the opposite direction towards the botanical garden in De Plantage. So, there's really a lot to see and do in this area. It was a part of Amsterdam that I hadn't seen before. Hopefully we'll return to discover more hidden gems in this area.

The former Jewish Quarter is where from the late 16th century to WWII most Jews lived. The Statue…read more'De Dokwerker' on the Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, waserected in memory of the February Strike of 1941 For more than 350 years, Amsterdam was a center of Jewish life & its Jewish community was a major contributor to the city's vitality and prosperity. The Waterlooplein area was their neighborhood, where they held their market & built their synagogues. In 1593, Sephardic Jews from Portugal & Spain settled in this neighbourhood. In the course of the 17th century Ashkenazi Jews from Central, Eastern, and partly Western Europe also moved into the area. After WWII those that survived relocated to Israel, Canada & the United States. There are art installations & guest speakers bringing attention back to this neighborhood.

Well worth short Uber out of city to tour this windmill and get up in it. Gorgeous town. Have lunch…read moreat pub across way and have a hard cider and amazing French onion soup. Tours happen every 30 mins or so, so might have a short wait. The museum was a five minute attraction, nothing special. Still worth the visit!

From the owner: De Rembrandt Molen van Sloten is een functionerende poldermolen en tevens de enige voor het publiek…read moredagelijks toegankelijke molen in Amsterdam. De molen ligt aan de rand van de stad, bij de Ringvaart, en zorgt ervoor dat het waterpeil in de lager liggende omgeving onder een bepaald niveau blijft. Het is een stellingmolen met een hier herbouwde achtkant uit 1847. Molen van Sloten. Het hele jaar is de molen dagelijks vanaf 10.00 uur te bezichtigen (uitgezonderd nieuwjaarsdag, Koningsdag en de kerstdagen). De Molen van Sloten heeft een lift, zodat ook ouderen en gehandicapten tot op de omloop (stelling) kunnen komen. Vrijwillige medewerkers geven graag uitleg tijdens een rondleiding. En als het even kan, laat de molenaar zien hoe hij de molenkap met de wieken op de wind kruit, de wieken laat draaien of juist stopzet, of hoe hij de zeilen zet in de wieken. Het oude ambacht is in ons museum in ere hersteld; U treft een authentieke werkplaats aan met alle benodigde gereedschappen voor het maken van houten vaten. Verder wordt het gebruik van vaten door de jaren heen getoond. Kortom, een bezoek meer dan waard!

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!