Saturday - Gin & flight: a boozy stop at Schiphol

Again at Schiphol, again in the Holland Boulevard section.

This time trying out the interactive Bols Jenever display.

Watch the videos, discover the distillery equipment and interact with the virtual barman, who will show you how to mix inspiring cocktails. At the end of the demonstration, you can actually smell the taste of the drink!

The recipe can be printed and comes with a discount on the purchase of an actual cocktail at the nearby bar.

Friday - Art Deco in Den Haag

It started yesterday, but it will continue for the whole weekend and it's the largest Dutch fair displaying applied art and design from 1880 to 1980. It's the National Art Deco Beurs.

Galleries are getting together and exhibiting the usual paintings, pottery and statues but also books, household items and wall paper.

It takes place in the Grote Kerk and of course, this being The Netherlands, there's an entrance ticket, however it seems that some of the objects on sale, not only are certified by art experts but are also quite affordable.

http://www.aadf.nl/indexnew.html

Thursday - When the levees broke

On the night of the 31 January 1953, a combination of high tide and a powerful wind storm caused floods so severe that it caused almost 2000 deaths. All the South Western provinces of The Netherlands were badly affected with 70.000 people forced to evacuate.

A museum remembering these tragic events have been installed in another piece of history, four cassons that were used to close the breaks in the dykes.

http://www.watersnoodmuseum.nl/en_GB/

Wednesday - Visit Austerlitz, The Netherlands

Nearby Utrecht there's a little town with the surprising name of Austerlitz.

Founded in 1806 on the location of a French army camp, it was given its name by King Louis Napoleon in honour of the victory of his brother, Napoleon himself, during the eponymous battle.

Not far from here, in an opening in the middle of a thick forest, there's a surprising monument. An artificial hill shaped as a pyramid, with a column on the top, commemorating the great French.

The monument is open to the public on certain days, after the payment of a small fee.

http://www.pyramidevanausterlitz.nl/monument.htm

Tuesday - Dig deep into history in S.Peter caves

Space for a suggestion from my good friend Alessandra today.

The caves of S.Peter near Maastricht are the results of centuries of mining for a stone called marl which apparently is used for soil neutralization.

The digging activities have left behind a maze of around 20.000 tunnels, many of them decorated with pictures and drawings from local artists.

Guided tours are available.

http://www.holland.com/us/tourism/Cities-in-Holland/Maastricht-1/Attractions-in-Maastricht-1/caves-of-st-pieter.htm

Monday - Visit the flowers' auction in Naaldwijk

I have been to the flowers' auction a couple of time and had a wonderful time: the array of colours, parfums and patterns are wonderful to watch.

Gorgeous, exotic and sometimes bizarre specimens arrive here from all over the world and auctioned and shipped to national and international buyers.

The public is allowed in from 7.30 to 9.00 and there are both guided and self-guided tours.

http://www.floraholland.com/nl/over-floraholland/bezoek-de-veiling/naaldwijk/

Sunday - Get the weekly art fix at Schiphol

A last minute post this Sunday because I just flew back from London...which was not a bad thing in itself, since Schiphol is my inspiration for today's post.

I am not sure if many people know that at the airport of Amsterdam, between terminal D and E, in the area known as Holland Boulevard there is a small but perfectly formed branch of the Rijksmuseum, displaying both a permanent selection of Dutch classics and a ever changing, themed exhibition. Currently on dispaly: "Dutch Boys": Golden Age portrayals of children and teenagers.

A museum shop is available as well.

http://www.schiphol.nl/Travellers/FoodRelax/AfterPassportControl/Relax/Rijksmuseum1.htm