24 Hours in Maastricht, The Netherlands

Maastricht was the final stop on our whistle stop tour around the Netherlands. Despite it being a couple of hours away by train from Utrecht, it was en route to Brussels which is where we caught the Eurostar back to London. Maastricht is very different from the other cities we visited. Cultural similarities here are much more in tune with Germany and Belgium, compared to the north of the country which feels more Nordic in comparison. Because of this Maastricht ended up being my least favourite city but that's not to say I didn't enjoy our time here because I absolutely did. The city is traditional, picturesque, and full of history. Whilst you won't find concept stores, street food markets, or pretty canals like the rest of the country, you will find some excellent attractions and a sophisticated foodie scene. We spent just under 24 hours in the city and it was the perfect amount of time to see everything that took our fancy.

Here's my Maastricht city guide.

24 Hours in Utrecht, The Netherlands

Utrecht was the city that surprised me the most on our trip around The Netherlands. I didn't know much about it, except that it's the home of Miffy and my friend, Sarah. She always gives the city high praise and that was enough for me to add it to the itinerary. We had 24 hours to explore but it was not enough time, I definitely could have done with an extra day. But we squeezed a lot in and I'd love to visit again. Now that direct trains are running from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Netherlands is even more accessible. Utrecht is lovely, it's a small city that combines the the charm of the Amsterdam canals, with the alternativeness of Rotterdam thanks to a big student population.

Here's my Utrecht city guide.

HOTEL REVIEW: Mother Goose, Utrecht

The search is over, I've discovered my favourite hotel.

Three Days in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

I'd been looking forward to visiting Rotterdam, the Netherlands second city, for a long time and it did not disappoint. Completely different from Amsterdam, this urban jungle lacks romantic canals but makes it's own drama with modern architecture, big open spaces, and more than a touch of the alternative. Rotterdam is an ever evolving city with surprises around every corner. At first glance the city might look a little grey but once you've scratched the surface you'll find pops of colour everywhere, especially yellow, which is fine by me as it's one of my favourites.

Here's my Rotterdam city guide.

HOTEL REVIEW: Stroom, Rotterdam

The second stop on our Netherlands road trip was Rotterdam, and whilst accommodation in Amsterdam is expensive, Rotterdam is a lot more affordable. As always, I was in search for an affordable boutique hotel, and Stroom hit the bill perfectly. I was drawn to the minimalist, industrial design of the bedrooms, and despite the slightly 'out-of-the-city-centre' location, the hotel was a dream.

PHOTO DIARY: Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 2017

Amsterdam was amazing and most definitely lived up the hype. I'd been once before, when I was 17, but we didn't get much sightseeing done so I was excited to get back to the capital of the Netherlands and find out what makes it tick. Steve and I had four days in the city and we squeezed in as much as possible. Museums, cafes, food, beer, you name it. I left feeling like we had achieved a lot in a short space of time, but also that there was still so much to see.

DAY 1

HOTEL REVIEW: Generator Hostel, Amsterdam

When it comes to accommodation, Amsterdam is expensive. Space is at a premium so be prepared to splash the cash for those much desired canal side locations. After a lot of searching for an affordable, boutique option, I came across Generator Hostel. This small chain of upmarket hostels has locations all over Europe where they promise a boutique hostel experience. Located on the east side of the city, Generator doesn't exactly have a central location but it's close to a tram stop which makes travelling into the city centre a breeze. The hostel is situated in Oosterpark and with many of the rooms looking out onto the park, it's a lovely and tranquil atmosphere.

Out of Office: Netherlands Edition

Tonight Steve and I embark on a 9 day tour of the Netherlands. We're getting there via the Dutch Flyer which means a train from London Liverpool Street to Harwich, followed by an overnight boat to the Hook of Holland, and then a train to the Amsterdam. Steve has always wanted to do this route so it'll be a little adventure and perhaps more exciting than a direct one hour flight...

I visited Amsterdam back in my sixth form days and have been dying to make it back ever since. Steve has never been but the country has been at the top of his travel wish list for a long time. I think Dennis Bergkamp has something to do with it. This will be a very different trip from the one I took in 2005 (has it really been 12 years), as we'll be spending more time taking in the sights and less time feeling light headed in a coffee shop. But it's Amsterdam, who knows what will happen.

We're spending three nights in Amsterdam where we have a jam packed schedule with sightseeing, restaurant visiting, and beer tasting. We're staying in the Generator Hostel which looks lovely. I was originally hoping for The Hoxton but at £900 for three nights it was a little out of our budget.

Our next city will be Rotterdam, were we will be spending three nights at Stroom. I have a thing for second cities so I'm really looking forward to seeing what Rotterdam has to offer. There's meant to be great architecture which is just my thing so I can't wait to take some photos. One day we're going to visit The Hague and Delft which I'm really looking forward to. Delft is meant to be absolutely charming plus The Hague has some impressive sights.

We'll be spending one night in Utrecht, staying at Mother Goose. I don't know a lot about this city but an old colleague is from Utrecht and she speaks so fondly of the place that I can't wait to see everything she's told me about. Especially the Miffy Museum.

Our final stop will be a night in Maastricht, where we'll be staying at Townhouse Design Hotel. Again, I don't know a lot about Maastricht about it looks quite quaint. From here we'll be catching a train to Brussels where we'll be getting the Eurostar back to London. I'm really looking forward to a holiday not involving a single airport.

If you have any tips about things to do and see in any of these cities please do let me know.

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