October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
Tag: Royalty
GERMANY | Weimar Classicism, the Wittumspalais of Duchess Anna Amalia and the Weimar Haus Experience
October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
ANTWERP | Former Museum Ridder Smidt van Gelder at Hotel Thijs at Belgiëlei
On Open Monuments Day on 8 September 2024 the former Museum Ridder Smidt van Gelder on the Belgiëlei or Belgium Avenue in Antwerp exceptionally opened its doors. This townhouse, hôtel particulier or stadspaleis is also known as Hotel Thijs.
BRUSSELS | KBR Museum reopens on 23 May 2025
The Royal Library of Belgium‘s KBR Museum, the place where the manuscript collection of the Dukes of Burgundy shines, will reopen its doors on 23 May 2025. Thanks to a unique musical experience, visitors can now enjoy the magical polyphony from the 15th and 16th centuries in the museum.
SEOUL | Admiral Yi Sun-sin – King Sejong the Great – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folk Museum
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city…
ANTWERP | Royal Palace on the Meir relaunched as exclusive event location
The Palace on the Meir or Paleis op de Meir, located in the heart of Antwerp’s busiest shopping street, is being relaunched as an exclusive event location. Managed by heritage organisation Herita, the historic city palace will now be available for a range of events, including conferences, networking receptions, weddings, corporate functions and pop-up catering.
ATHENS | Revival buildings, Changing of the Guards at Syntagma and the Acropolis
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…
UNITED KINGDOM | Exploring London with a first-timer
To celebrate his graduation as a therapist and before starting his new career, Oscar from Denver in Colorado decided to take a vacation and travel to London on his own. Oscar and I have known each other for two years, but we never actually met in person. Until in June 2024. His vacation presented an…
Which flags get to fly at Antwerp City Hall?
Today is the National Holiday of Belgium. On 21 July 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the constitutional oath to become King of the Belgians. But I want to look at something else.
ANTWERP | ‘To the Antarctic. The polar pioneers of the Belgica’ exhibition at Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS)
Since 21 June, summer solstice, the Museum Aan de Stroom (Museum At the Stream) or MAS in Antwerp hosts the ‘To the Antarctic. The polar pioneers of the Belgica‘. In Belgium, Baron Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache de Gomery‘s adventure is as famous as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton‘s Antarctic voyages are in the United Kingdom…