Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Amsterdam posts
VIDEO: Visit a guinea pig village in Holland
Feb 10th, 2012 at 6:00PM:
If you prefer cute and cuddly animals to the Big Five on safari, you may want to consider a trip to the Netherlands. VICE's Cute Show takes a look this week at a guinea pig village in Holland, where the hairy rodents go to "retire" when their owners can no longer look after them. You can adopt a guinea pig or just visit them (I'm partial to the scrappy and long-haired Droopy).
The guinea ...
Airport Carbon Accreditation program grows in Europe
Feb 4th, 2012 at 9:00AM: Europe's Airport Carbon Accreditation program is now boasting fifty-five major European airports as members and making a significant dent in carbon emissions. The voluntary program has a four-level rating system that assesses and recognizes the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutral operations for all emissions over which the airport has control. ...Food poisoning! What to watch out for in 2012
Feb 2nd, 2012 at 12:00PM: For many people--myself included--one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is experiencing how other cultures eat. Even if you're only traveling as far as the other end of the state, chances are there's a regional specialty, street food, farmers market, or restaurant that's a destination in its own right.
Sometimes, however, the pickings are slim, or no matter how delicious the food, the ...Amsterdam's Schipol Airport gallery opens winter exhibition (about winter!)
Dec 21st, 2011 at 11:00AM:
I love airport art galleries. They offer the delayed passenger something far more satisfying than eating fattening toxins in the food court. The gallery at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, is one of the best because it's run by the world-famous Rijksmuseum.
The gallery has just opened Dutch Winters, a collection of winter scenes by Dutch artists. Interestingly, the curators didn't go for the usual ...Amsterdam day trip: Van Brederode castle
Nov 28th, 2011 at 11:00AM:
Amsterdam has plenty of day trip opportunities. Smaller cities such as Delft are a short train ride away and the pretty countryside has many historic attractions.
Ruïne van Brederode is a castle in the town of Santpoort Zuid, about 25 minutes away by train from Centraal Station. From the Santpoort Zuid station, signs lead through quiet, tree-lined streets to the castle. The ...Kids travel gift: Junior "crumpled" city maps
Nov 26th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
Last year we reported on Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso's crumpled city maps, a delightful series of maps made out of tough waterproof material. Pizzolorusso's maps can withstand crumpling and crushing. They fit in a little pouch and are easily transportable. They are a wonderfully fanciful yet solidly utilitarian tool for tourists.
Pizzolorusso, working with Berlin-based ...Amsterdam's Torture Museum
Nov 25th, 2011 at 12:00PM: Like many travelers, I have a soft spot in my heart for tourist traps. Whether it's the politically incorrect cheesiness of South of the Border or the shabby weirdness of The Thing, nothing brings a smile to my face better than some cheap, gaudy attempt to capture my attention.
Amsterdam's Torture Museum fits the bill perfectly. Behind a pseudo-spooky facade are reproductions of torture ...Down-home Dutch cooking in Amsterdam
Nov 24th, 2011 at 12:00PM: Dutch cooking isn't one of Europe's famous cuisines. Yet while it can't compete on the world stage with Italian or Spanish cuisine, Dutch cooking can been really good and travelers to The Netherlands shouldn't dismiss the culinary side of their trip. Here are three cheap to mid-priced restaurants that will make you appreciate Dutch cooking.
De Stadskantine
This "city canteen" at Van Woustraat ...Tasting gourmet Dutch cheese in Amsterdam
Nov 20th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
I'm addicted to it. Every time I'm in Amsterdam the first thing I do is get some to satisfy my craving. I couldn't think of a trip to Amsterdam without it. Yeah, you know what I mean.
Eating Dutch cheese!
I've always wondered why some countries get famous for certain foods. Why is Belgian chocolate so great? Why do the Dutch make such fine cheese? Why aren't the Dutch the chocolate experts ...Amsterdam's Maritime Museum
Nov 17th, 2011 at 3:00PM: Amsterdam owes its wealth to the sea. In the Golden Age of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch sailed around the world looking for rare products to bring back to Europe. They were one of the great maritime powers and are still important in shipping today.
Amsterdam is a city made for the sea. Its canals are laid out like a spider's web, where every family that could afford it built a narrow ...Amsterdam's booming Eastern Harbor
Nov 16th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
Amsterdam is a beautiful city famous for its narrow canal houses that during its golden age served as both homes and warehouses for merchant families waiting for their ship to come in. The historic heart of Amsterdam is an architectural treasure, and the Dutch didn't stop building innovative spaces in the modern times. One of Amsterdam's newest expansions is the Eastern Harbor Area.
A century ...Preserved human flesh at Amsterdam's Tattoo Museum
Nov 13th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
This is exactly what it looks like--the preserved human flesh of a tattooed man. Judging from the style and subject, I'd say it's from a nineteenth century American sailor. I spotted it sitting on the director's desk at Amsterdam's Tattoo Museum.
Ah, Amsterdam! I've visited you so many times and yet you always have new surprises for me.
Amsterdam is a great city for museums. There are two ...3 events to check out in Holland this November
Oct 31st, 2011 at 2:00PM: This November, 2011, Holland is full exciting events. Whether you want to experience art, music, literature, or photography, you can find it in Holland. Here are three must-attend happenings in Holland this Fall.
GLOW 2011
Eindhoven, The Netherlands, November 5-November 12, 2011
The city center of Eindhoven is transformed into a stage of light design with GLOW 2011. Enjoy surreal and ...Live music and weed sampling at the 2011 Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Oct 24th, 2011 at 3:00PM: This year, the Cannabis Cup will take place in Amsterdam in the Netherlands from November 20-24, 2011. Pot fans will not only get to enjoy live music and performances, but will also get to sample some of the best products in the cannabis industry. Seminars will also be held to teach attendees the best tips and tricks for weed cultivation.
One of the highlights of Cannabis Cup is the contests to ...New Gadling travel series: the lowdown on the Low Countries
Oct 24th, 2011 at 2:00PM: Today I'm starting a new travel series here on Gadling. While Alex explores Far Europe, I'm checking out Near Europe. I'm spending the next ten days seeing the sights and sampling the cuisine of the Low Countries. My first stop is Antwerp, Belgium, and from there I'll head to Amsterdam and the Hague in The Netherlands.
There's a lot to explore and I have a full schedule. I'll be seeing castles, ...Dutch government to ban skunk weed
Oct 9th, 2011 at 8:02AM: The Dutch government is planning on reclassifying skunk weed as a hard drug, the BBC reports.
All marijuana with more than 15% THC content will have to be removed from the country's coffee shops. The new rule will go into force next year and will affect about 80% of the pot sold in coffee shops.
The Dutch government has already announced plans to ban drug tourism by requiring customers to ...Amsterdam art exhibit focuses on the Antwerp school
Sep 16th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
The Hermitage Amsterdam starts an important exhibition tomorrow focusing on the Antwerp school of Flemish art.
Rubens, Van Dyck & Jordaens: Flemish paintings from the Hermitage runs until 16 March 2012 and features almost a hundred paintings and drawings from some of the great names in Flemish art. Peter Paul Rubens is especially well covered, including his famous work Venus and Adonis, ...US Comedian attempts to show that there's more to do in Holland than visit "coffee shops"
Aug 31st, 2011 at 1:30PM:
US Comedian Mark Malkoff is on a mission. After hearing a proposed Dutch law that would make it illegal for tourists to visit coffee shops in Holland, he embarked on a creative video mission: he would travel to the country and make a video series about 101 Other Things to Do In Holland. #65? Hang a painting in the Van Gogh Museum (and, apparently, visit the way cool museum restrooms).
...
Labor Day island getaways from Wanderfly
Aug 24th, 2011 at 3:30PM: Labor Day is fast approaching along with the official end of summer. If you haven't had enough sun yet, maybe it's time for one more weekend of lying on the beach, fruity cocktail and fun book in hand? We asked our friends at Wanderfly.com, a web travel tool that helps you choose a vacation spot, for some Labor Day island getaways offering deals for the long weekend.
Domestic: Hilton Head ...Cheap flights allow for prostitution at Amsterdam airport
Aug 2nd, 2011 at 10:30AM: A large number of budget flights from Eastern Europe and other parts of the world to the Netherlands has created a ring of prostitution at Amsterdam airport, giving a new meaning to the word layover. Prostitutes are flying into
Schiphol Airport and using the hotels in the international transit area to meet with clients without going through customs, often making a hefty profit even after ...
