Did you ever go to Bari, that town so lovely as a nice twirled spaghetti dish?
Snuggled in the cosy arms of the Adriatic Sea, Bari is that great Italian aunt who has a never-ending supply of hugs and gelato. Imagine cobblestones that sway to the beat of your footsteps, having long since perfected the tarantella step in that long promenade and in those picture-postcard squares that radiate with a fuzzy warmth of atmosphere. Read more
During my basic education years, I picked up a few facts about what would one day become my adopted home—the Netherlands. Tulips are Dutch (or so I thought, until I later learned they originally came from Turkey), Rotterdam is Europe’s biggest port (and from 1964 to 2004, it was the busiest in the world), and the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam is named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, one of the greatest scholars of the Renaissance. I learned about Rembrandt and Van Gogh—Van Gogh later became my favorite—and about PSV Eindhoven, Ruud Gullit with his wild hair, and Marco van Basten (my brother was a diehard fan). Read more
When Etienne Gustave Frédéric, Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar (yes, say that three times fast), married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild—yes, those Rothschilds—he hadn’t yet inherited De Haar Castle. But it turned out, marrying her was the best thing that ever happened to the place.
Five years later, the Rothschild fortune finally reached the grounds of De Haar. And when it did, it didn’t just renovate the castle—it resurrected it. Baroness Hélène fell in love with the ruin, with its crumbling stones and ghost stories, and decided to turn it into a modern-day fairy tale. She hired none other than Pierre Cuypers—the architectural genius behind the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station—and gave him twenty years (yes, twenty) to bring her vision to life. Read more
There’s just something magical about vintage stores. For me, every piece whispers a story — a forgotten past, a memory stitched into fabric. And if you’re anything like me, you’re going to fall head over heels for Bluebirds in the Backyard.
This isn’t just a vintage shop. It’s a full-blown fairytale tucked inside the walls of a breathtaking 18th-century building — Huis Roodenburch, to be exact. Rococo charm, art-deco elegance, and a deep sense of history all under one roof. Built in 1766, this former wine shop and printing house has worn many hats before becoming what it is today: one of the most charming hotspots in Dordrecht. Read more
I have this amazing girlfriend who lives in Birmingham, and we’ve known each other since I was 17. Our children have shared countless memories—playing together, sometimes sleeping over at each other’s homes, having their little squabbles followed by sweet reconciliations with hugs and kisses. The beauty of it is that we live near each other again now, even though I’m based in the Netherlands and she’s in the UK.
I have to admit, there are times when I really miss her. That’s why, for both our sakes and especially for the kids, we decided to hop on a flight from Amsterdam to Birmingham. After a short but sweet hour in the air, we landed, and there my friend’s husband was, waiting for us at the airport. Read more
If I could fold a memory and send it like a postcard, it would probably look like Giethoorn. Tucked away in the northern part of the Overijssel province, this fairy-tale village is often called “The Little Venice of the Netherlands”—though, honestly, that might not do it full justice. It’s not just little. It’s enchanting, like someone painted it with a pastel brush and then added ducks, bridges, and boats just for fun.
The best part? Giethoorn is mostly car-free. Yes, you read that right—cars are only allowed on the outskirts. The old village doesn’t even have roads. Instead, it whispers you in with winding canals, charming thatched-roof houses, wooden footbridges (over 180 of them!), and an atmosphere that feels like stepping into another era. With just over 2,600 residents, it somehow manages to feel both intimate and grand. Read more