Germany 🇩🇪
Hamburg, November 9, 2024 🇩🇪
We’re making up for what we didn’t get to do on our way here… Hamburg! Just outside the city center near Stadtpark, we find a quiet and safe parking spot. Then we take the S3 into the city center—it’s about a 20-minute ride. First, we head to Wallter’s Bistro & Kontor for a good lunch, since today is our 28th wedding anniversary. The restaurant comes highly recommended—from the service to the food and the atmosphere, everything is just right.
Afterward, we set out to explore the city, but you can’t really see all of Hamburg in just half a day. So we decide to stay a second day and visit the harbor with all its amazing sailing ships, the St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel, and so much more…
The Gorch Fock, a German Armed Forces training sailing ship, is also docked in the harbor and open to visitors. The impressive sailing ship is almost overrun by visitors—the crowds are enormous.
Afterward, we slowly make our way back to our Joey, since it’s already dark and we’re pretty tired.
Soltau City Center, November 12, 2024 🇩🇪
On our way to Bremen, we stop in Soltau, a small town in the middle of the Lüneburg Heath. Our parking spot is right next to the famous thermal baths, which we naturally visit. A dip at nearly 40 degrees really helps make these already cold and wet days a bit more pleasant. A visit to Soltau itself is also recommended, even though the town isn’t very big. Afterward, we continue on to Bremen.
Bremen, November 13, 2024 🇩🇪
We’re staying in Bremen for two whole days, since there’s plenty to see here. Our campsite is about a 20-minute walk from the city center, making it ideal for exploring the city. Of course, we can’t miss the Bremen Town Musicians! The weather is on the damp side, but that’s no problem since there are plenty of ways to stay dry throughout the day… We’re fascinated by the very well-preserved old buildings in the city center. By evening, however, we’re pretty tired and happy to be back in our warm home to enjoy the evening.
Oldenburg, November 14, 2024 🇩🇪
Just before heading to the Netherlands, we visit the small town of Oldenburg. Oldenburg is located in Lower Saxony and has a population of about 175,000. Here, too, the city center, with its traditional buildings, has a very special charm. The weather is mostly on our side, so we enjoy what will be—for the time being—our last outing in Germany. In the evening, we head to a campsite nearby, where we spend a very quiet night.
Netherlands 🇳🇱
Groningen 🇳🇱
After a short drive, we cross the border into the Netherlands and are now looking forward to visiting Groningen. We visited Groningen about 30 years ago and ate some very delicious pancakes there. The pancake boat is still there—though not in the same spot—but we find it anyway. The pancakes are delicious, but we don’t have any room left for dessert… Groningen itself is a fascinating city with many narrow streets, beautiful houses, and much more. A visit to the Forum—a massive building housing libraries, movie theaters, restaurants, and much more—is a must. The fascinating architecture is one-of-a-kind; it doesn’t quite fit into the city center, but that’s what makes the building so special. We enjoy simply strolling through the alleys and immersing ourselves in the atmosphere, which is at times hectic (cyclists going very fast everywhere…) and at other times very relaxed.
Schouwerzijl, November 17, 2024 🇳🇱
Today we’re visiting Adriana’s uncle Bertus and aunt Marian. The trip takes us to Schouwerzijl, about 20 km outside of Groningen. Nestled beautifully in nature, this little village has only a few houses. Bertus and Marian give us a very warm welcome, and we’re immediately treated to coffee and cake. We spend the rest of the day together, take a walk to the nearby lock, sit together, and talk and talk and… until we’re all tired. We spend the night in our Joey, and the next morning it’s time for another long goodbye.
Leeuwarden, November 18, 2024 🇳🇱
Scharwoude, November 20, 2024 🇳🇱
A planned, short stop in Bolsward ends up lasting a bit longer, as the little town offers a few very nice sights. Afterward, we continue on across the Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometer-long dam between the provinces of North Holland and Friesland.
Our campsite today is in Scharwoude near Hoorn. A pancake house provides two parking spots for campers and, of course, serves great pancakes…. Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed today, so we decide to stay a little longer the next day and enjoy the pancakes for lunch. A real tip for anyone looking for a cozy restaurant near Hoorn… Ootje Konkel in Scharwoude.
Zoeterwoude-Dorp, November 23, 2024 🇳🇱
Our next stop is in Zoeterwoude, where most of Adriana’s relatives live. We visit Riet and Wim just outside Zoeterwoude and stay for three days. It’s really cozy, and we enjoy our time together. There’s a lot to catch up on, since our last visit here was over 30 years ago. We just sit together and share everything that’s happened over the past few years. We also use the time to visit relatives in Zoeterwoude and get to see almost all of them. There’s always plenty to talk about here, too! Of course, a visit to Leiden, the well-known university town nearby, is a must. A lot has changed here as well, but the pancake house is still there…..
On Saturday, Saint Nicholas—or rather, Sinterklaas—comes to Zoeterwoude, and of course we’re there.
On Sunday, we move on and say goodbye to everyone. It was nice to be here again, and we really enjoyed our time.
Delft, November 25, 2024 🇳🇱
A visit to Delft is, of course, a must! Delft, like almost every other city we’ve visited in the Netherlands, captivates with the unique architecture of its buildings and a magnificent church in the city center. Of course, a visit to the Royal Delft factory is a must in Delft. Admission to the Delft store is free and offers a good overview of the product range. For us, that means being a bit more careful with our backpacks, since many items here cost in the five-digit range.
Leave a Reply