Saturday - Spot the cutest traffic light in Utrecht

There are books collecting pictures of funny, original and bizarre pedestrian traffic signs all over the world and in Berlin there are even gift shops dedicated to the famous Ampelmann.

For me however the cutest one is in Utrecht, just off the Neude and it's dedicated to Nijntje (aka Miffy), the world famous bunny created by the Utrecht-born Dick Bruna.

Friday - Kicking off the Amsterdam canals' birthday celebration bash

The canals of Amsterdam, or at least the main four ones around the centre, are 400 years old this year and the city is going to celebrate them the whole year with exhibitions and events.

Being a nerdy lover of maps, architectural plans and cityscapes, I will start my own personal celebratory tour with a visit to the State Archives, hosting the exhibition "Booming Amsterdam".

During the Golden Age, Amsterdam was the London or the New York of the era, with people conveying  to it from all over the world, looking for a job and a better life. Statistics and documents of the Seventeenth Century show that actually the majority of the residents had been born elsewhere.

Many of them helped building the canals and the beautiful houses that you can admire (and possibly, envy) along the Herengrcht, Prinsegracht and Keizergracht.

http://boomingamsterdam2013.nl/2012/08/english/

Thursday - Catwalks in the museum in Rotterdam

Jean Paul Gaultier's 35 years of outrageous fashion are on display at the Kunsthal in Rotterdam.

The infamous Madonna's "pointy boobs corset" is also there, together with the outcomes of his collaboration with several international artists, such as David La Chapelle and Pierre and Gilles.

http://www.kunsthal.nl/22-718-The-Fashion-World-of-Jean-Paul-Gaultier.html

Wednesday - Spend the night in jail (in Roermond)

Once, during a weekend in Stockholm, we slept into a former women prison, now converted into an hotel and a hostel.

It proved to be a very interesting experience which is now possible to replicate in Holland.

Het Arresthuis, a former prison in Roermond closed since 2007, has now been converted into a luxury hotel, with comfort and deluxe rooms and suites aptly named "The Lawyer", "The Director" and "The Judge".

Thanks to Little G for flagging this up!

http://www.hetarresthuis.nl

Tuesday - Go out and look for Spring

Despite the chilly weather, miserable grey sky and the sneaky cold wind that goes up your sleeves when you bike, Spring is almost here and you can see clues of it all over the place.

The first crocuses and snowdrops are out and trees and bushes are starting to push out some green bits.

The Haagse, Schveningse and Amsterdamse Bossen, Amelisweerd in Utrecht, the Kralingse Bos in Rotterdam among many others, are all good starting points

So just get out during your lunch break and go Spring spotting!

Monday - Have lunch in a (former) factory in Endhoven

While browsing on Pinterest yesterday evening, I came across the Radio Royaal in Eindhoven.

Originally a Philips' factory building, it now hosts a restaurant. It was actually supposed to be just a pop-up venue, but visitors liked it so much that it was converted in a permanent business.

Walls are left unpainted, machinery is still around as are the old tiles and floors. A scattering of chairs, tables and sofas picked from second hand shops and some food "portraits" complete the decoration.

From the pictures it looks like a really cool lofty, space and the "French/German" menu sounds quite promising.

UPDATE 12/06: we went for dinner last Saturday and indeed we loved it. The structure is amazing, and because it was a lovely summery evening, full of light and balmy air. Part of the machinery is indeed still there but it integrates perfectly in the context, at the back of the bar, as a sort of post modern shelving, or in the middle of the dining area, as a sort contemporary art display.

No fault in the menu either, cooked in the open view kitchen by a merry bunch of young chefs. 3 course menu for 29,00, with a good variety of choice and excellent desserts made at request.

http://www.radioroyaal.be/

Sunday - Time for coffee and cake (yes, again)

It's cold and bleak outside with more snow on its way for this afternoon. If you really need to go out, then make sure that a warm and cosy place is at hand for some coffee and cake.

My personal favourite in Utrecht is De Bakkerswinkel, on the Wittevrouwestraat.

It is actually part of a chain with shops in Amsterdam and Den Haag, but each venue is different and adapted to the building it's hosted in.

This one in Utrecht is located in a pretty canal house and has a bakery and cake shop at the entry level where you can buy delicious breads and slices of cakes.

A staircase leads you to the basement, a beautiful vaulted space with a view on the canal, filled with nooks and crannies where you can snug up and enjoy a cup of coffee with the tasty treat of your choice.

High teas are available as well, alas with whipped cream instead of double one (but this is obviously a very middle class problem...).

http://www.debakkerswinkel.com