Whether it’s the chocolate-glazed, sprinkle-laden stroopwafels that attract tourists or the city’s vibrant, historic heart — Amsterdam has royally earned its crown as one of Europe’s most popular city break destinations. 🇳🇱✨
Just how popular, you may ask? Well, according to leading vacation rental company Holidu, Amsterdam has already netted a whopping 91,200 Google searches in 2024.
After analysing Google search data from the past year, Holidu’s travel experts compiled a ranking of the most popular European cities.
Based on the number of Google hits each city received, the ranking placed Amsterdam solidly at number one! 🏆
Ireland, France, and Spain were also fan-favourites
Hot on Amsterdam’s heels were Dublin (Ireland) with 64,000 hits and Paris (France) with 61,000.
However, whilst the Netherlands may have snatched the crown, Spain enjoyed the highest number of cities in the top 20 — with Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid, and Valencia all making an appearance.
Despite coming in at fourth place, Barcelona nabbed a very respectable 54,800 hits! Image: Depositphotos
Amsterdam was definitely in great company — but don’t just take our word for it!
Here’s a look at the top ten European city breaks, according to Holidu:
Rank
City
Google searches (on average)
1
Amsterdam, Netherlands
91,200
2
Dublin, Ireland
64,000
3
Paris, France
61,000
4
Barcelona, Spain
54,800
5
Rome, Italy
41,400
6
Malaga, Spain
33,960
7
Prague, Czech Republic
30,320
8
Budapest, Hungary
30,190
9
Lisbon, Portugal
27,900
10
Berlin, Germany
25,500
Just missing out on a spot in the top ten were other city break favourites, Milan and Copenhagen (coming in at numbers 11 and 12, respectively).
How many of these popular city break destinations have you visited? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments below!
Looking to plan a road trip from the Netherlands this summer? Luxembourg isn’t too far, and it’s so worth it!
When speaking of Luxembourg, people tend to think: banks, rain, and money. While those are all (partly) true, there is much more to the tiny country.
From the Netherlands, Luxembourg is the ideal destination for a weekend road trip: it’s not too far away but has lots to offer (including cheap gas!).
And because it’s such a small country, you can get to any attraction really swiftly once you’ve crossed the border — especially if you have a handy door-to-door transfer.
Once there, these are the must-visit attractions. Ready? Let’s go! 🇱🇺
Live your fairy-tale dreams at Vianden Castle
As you slowly approach this castle through the tiny twists and turns on the road in the north of Luxembourg, you are met with the typical fairy-tale view: a beautiful castle on the top of a very steep hill, surrounded by nothingness. 🏰
Built between the 11th and 14th centuries, Vianden Castle is today one of the most important historical monuments in Europe.
The entrance fee for Vianden Castle is not high, and there are lots of displays to see inside. It’s worth it just to see the views from the castle windows!
Tip: Get a LuxembourgCard! It grants you admission to Vianden Castle and free or discounted admission to more than 90 other places in Luxembourg. It even lets you rent bikes for free at some bike rental shops!
Visiting Vianden Castle on your Luxembourg road trip is a must! Image: Depositphotos
Become one with nature in the Mullerthal
If you live in the Netherlands, chances are high that it’s been a while since you’ve seen a mountain (or even a hill). ⛰️
Well, lucky for you, Luxembourg’s Mullerthal region has got you covered! Known as “Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland,” the Mullerthal is located in the East of the country and boasts beautiful landscapes. The perfect road trip stop for some fresh air!
Here, you’ll find dense forests crisscrossed by rushing streams and waterfalls, towering sandstone formations, mysterious caves and a great variety of plants and trees. 🌳
Before the Mullerthal region became easily accessible in 1814, it was nicknamed “The Land of the Wolves.” Image: Depositphotos
With 112 kilometres of hiking trails, the Mullerthal is any hiker’s dream, and is best explored on foot. 🥾
Visit the medieval town of Echternach
Located within the Mullerthal region is the small Luxembourgish town of Echternach, which is best known for its Benedictine Abbey and Basilica.
The town was founded in the 7th century, and like the rest of Luxembourg, Echternach is not only pretty, but it also oozes history. Its cobbled streets are lined with a mix of historical buildings, small shops, cafés and restaurants.
A 20-minute walk from the town square of Echternach will take you to a beautiful artificial lake. Although you can’t swim in the lake, it’s a great spot for a picnic or a walk, and you can even rent paddle boats to paddle across the lake.
Tip: Don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on gas? Opt for public transport, it’s free in all of Luxembourg! (Take notes, Netherlands 👀)
Road-tripping to Larochette Castle
Larochette Castle is another beautiful castle in Luxembourg that also offers gorgeous views and has a typical fairy-tale look. It’s basically the site of old castle ruins, but there is still enough left of it to imagine how it would have looked back in the day. 👸
It is found in the picturesque village of Larochette, in the east of Luxembourg, and was originally built in the 11th century.
If you happen to be in Luxembourg on a hot summer day, the Upper Sûre Lake is a must!
Covering an area of 380 hectares, it’s not only impressive to look at, but also satisfies the drinking water demands for a big part of the Grand Duchy. (And that’s not only an indication of the small size of Luxembourg but also of the lake’s super clean water!)
Upper Sûre Lake is a superb area for leisure. Outside the protected area, you can practice a variety of water sports, such as swimming, sailing, diving, windsurfing and canoeing. 🛶
Who knew Luxembourg had this much beautiful nature? Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied
Luxembourg City: road trip to the capital
The capital of Luxembourg, also called Luxembourg (…not confusing at all), is the home of many great sights — all of which are worth a visit.
Luxembourg city is a historical delight AND a shopper’s paradise! Image: Depositphotos
What’s special about Luxembourg city is its division into the upper and lower city — which also marks the division between the modern “New Town” and the historic “Old Town.” It will surprise you on every level (literally)! 😉
The upper city is great for shopping and eating, while the lower city is great to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. The entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so we highly recommend taking your time to explore its many little alleyways and local cafés.
Tip: For the best views, take the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator down to the Old Town
Go to Le Chemin de la Corniche
If you wish to take in the Old Town without actually making your way down there, you should take a stroll along the Chemin de la Corniche.
This walkway has the best views of Luxembourg city. It overlooks the historic parts of the city and is perfect to take your holiday snaps. It’s not called ‘the most beautiful balcony of Europe’ for no reason!
Notre-Dame Cathedral
This is a medieval catholic cathedral, and it’s beautiful both inside and out. It’s free to go in, and it’s never too busy either, so it’s a peaceful place to visit to get a break from the hustle and bustle of Luxembourg city’s streets.
It’s not the Notre Dame in Paris, but equally pretty! Image: Depositphotos
The Notre Dame is located right across from the “Golden Lady” — one of the city’s main tourist attractions. It’s a monument dedicated to the Luxembourgish soldiers who volunteered during the two World Wars and in the Korean War.
Visit the Grand Ducal Palace
Luxembourg is the only remaining Grand Duchy in the world — so of course, you have to visit the Grand Ducal Palace!
This is the official (but not principal) residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, where he performs most of his duties. There are guided tours there in the summer season, which we can highly recommend.
We’ve all seen it, some poor soul falling victim to a Dutch police officer and their notepad. However, from today, Dutch police will stop fining people for minor violations.
Minor violations usually consist of things such as putting your bins out too early, fishing outside of fishing season and also speeding.
Of the 8 million traffic fines in the Netherlands, 6.6 million were for speeding offences.
Turning down €1.5 million is a decision that would probably play on your mind. Well, three years after doing just that, Princess Amalia wants to claim her inheritance back.
Despite originally turning down her state income and expense allowance during her studies, the Princess will now begin accepting reimbursement, NOS reports.
She needs the money for “foreseeable costs associated with an independent and autonomous performance of her position”, as her letter to outgoing Prime Minister Rutte revealed:
Prinses Amalia laat vandaag per brief aan premier Rutte weten dat ze per 2025 haar inkomen niet langer terugstort pic.twitter.com/AhSkyXqIFz
Translation: Princess Amalia informed Prime Minister Rutte in a letter today that she will no longer refund her income as of 2025.
Threats, not debts
Some of the money will go towards “a secretariat and reservations for living and working accommodations” after it was revealed in 2022 that the Princess was facing serious threats.
When the figures are adjusted for inflation, this amounts to a whopping €322,000 salary for royal responsibilities and €1,509,000 for additional expenses.
While the princess will continue to give back her €322,000 salary, she will now be keeping the casual €1,509,000.
The Princess’s letter cites “surprising circumstances” as the reason for her change of heart.
She initially received praise for being a “socially conscious” royal, as the first member of her family to waive an allowance.
We guess this now makes her the first to un-waive an allowance too? 🤷♀️
What do you think about Princess Amalia’s decision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Going viral on TikTok makes you big news, with bigger queues. That’s the case for tiny chip shop Fabel Friet in Amsterdam, but now it’s looking more like a recipe for disaster.
The small shop on the Negen Straatjes has become so popular that they have started employing crowd controllers to keep the queues in check, AD reports.
But that’s not enough, according the Amsterdam municipality.
City officials told Fabel Friets they cannot have more than 10 people in line, and they will have to close their second till until those waiting have been served.
But this left a chip on the shop owners’ shoulders: they said that was not possible and took the issue to court.
Have they had their chips?
Fabel Friet has tried its best to keep its doors open while still making the most of its stupe-fry-ing success. 😋
The queue is diverted onto a nearby bridge so it doesn’t block the road, they offer a simplified menu to speed the order process, AND they clean up all waste in the area at the end of each day (even if it’s not chip cones).
You don’t have to look far on TikTok for the Fabel Friet hype! Video: Screen recording/Lottie Gale
But at least 77 locals have complained about the inconvenience caused by the huge queues, with the municipality’s lawyer even calling it “a major burden” at the hearing.
If these residents appeal against Fabel Friet’s operating permit as planned, the company will have to cash in its chips — a.k.a. close its doors. 😳
In an attempt to keep its business alive, Fabel Friet is asking for a 20-person limit rather than the city-sanctioned 10. The future of their fries is now in the municipality’s hands.
Have you tried the famous Fabel Friet fries? Let us know in the comments below.
Yesterday afternoon, protesters in Amsterdam set up a ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ on the Roeterseiland campus of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The protest ended in violence and arrests.
When the demonstration began at noon, about 20 tents and some 300 people were present. Then, it gradually grew bigger.
The reason for the protest? The university should cut ties with businesses and academic institutions in Israel, as Het Parool writes.
The protest camp was inspired by similar initiatives that have been taking place around the United States over the past weeks. There, around 2000 students have been arrested so far.
In Amsterdam, besides hundreds of students, dozens of teachers were also present at the demonstration, supporting the cause and the students behind it.
Violence and arrests
As the protest grew bigger, it was eventually disrupted in the evening.
As NU.nl reports, a group of about ten men is said to have confronted the protesters, beating them with torches and throwing fireworks at them.
It is unclear what motivated the group to instigate violence against the protesters.
In the evening, protesters blocked off the protesting site using pallets and fences from a construction area. They also removed bricks from the ground in multiple locations.
Outside the barricaded protest area, people holding Israeli flags are also said to have sought confrontation with the protesters.
Police had to step in
As violence escalated and turned towards the police, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, police and municipality agreed to evacuate the protest camp late at night.
“Bricks and fireworks were thrown at us. One colleague suffered hearing damage,” a policeman tells NOS Radio 1 Journal.
With megaphones, protesters were asked to leave and briefed about the possible legal consequences if they didn’t.
With dozens of vans and police dogs, protesters were removed from the site. Those who refused — about 125 of them — were eventually arrested. The first of them were released this morning.
By 4.30 AM, the demonstration was largely over, and people were led to buses to get home.
You don’t have to wait much longer to strip down and get gnarly in the centre of Rotterdam. RiF010, the world’s first surf pool in the middle of a city, will be filled with water today!
It’s been a few years in the making, but the construction of the surfing lake by the famous Food Hall is on track for its July opening, the AD reports.
RiF010 might be the first surf experience of its kind, but you can also bodyboard, dive, paddle board, canoe and (because it’s the Netherlands) even CYCLE. 🌊
How long till surf’s up?
Filling the tub will take around five days. But you’ll have to wait a few months before making a splash. 🧘♀️
The surfing lake officially opens to the public on July 6, 2024, when the Rotterdam Surf Open will take place.
Everyone wants to get away on a holiday to relax — but it seems like the airport is the final obstacle before you can finally rest.
And of all the airports in Europe, the beloved (or dreaded?) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport was named the second most stressful hub, according to StressFreeCarRental.
What makes Schiphol so stressful?
Schiphol was given flack for being one of the busiest airports in Europe, for charging passengers €113.50 to park there for a week, and for its high departure delay score. 👀
But to come to the airport’s defence, public transport in the Netherlands has many easy and convenient options to get you to and from the airport — so we’re not counting that one. 😉
The criteria and rankings
To find Europe’s most stressful airports, they were ranked based on these five stress-inducing factors:
Picture a Dutch wall vending machine: the gleaming windows emit heat and the smell of food. You tap your card, a door opens to release the goods — it doesn’t get better than this.
Or does it?
We know Dutchies love eating their favourite fried food from vending walls. But now there’s much more on the menu of these machines, RTL reports.
You’d also be forgiven for confusing some of Utrecht’s student accommodations with a swanky hotel based on the products available in their lobby’s vending machines.
Not pictured but also available to rent: an air fryer and microwave. Image: Lottie Gale
Elsewhere, it’s common to find vending machines that dispense medicine in pharmacies, cleaning products at car washes, and tampons in toilets.
Some offices even have machines that offer USB sticks or phone chargers, so they truly range from the practical to the pretty (the flower machines take the crown there). 😍
The billionaire Van der Vorm family from Rotterdam are paying off the debts of 1000 families in poverty every year for the next three years. Sounds generous, right? Well, not everyone is convinced.
Debt is piling up for around 15,000 families living in poverty in Rotterdam, and the Van der Vorms want to stand up for the suffering children, NU.nl shares.
How exactly are they achieving this benevolence? Well, aside from having the booming bank account for it, they will rely on their own empire.
Who are the Van der Vorms?
Mysterious Martijn van der Vorm, the media-shy head of the family, built up the family’s global business empire in Monaco. 💸
The 61-year-old Dutchman’s family is estimated to be worth a total of €8.5 billion, mainly thanks to their huge investment company, HAL.
How does it work?
Families in Rotterdam with at least one child who have experienced challenging living circumstances in the past seven years are top of the list for the generous act.
They will not have to pay anything back, and anyone can register for it.
Firstly, part of the family’s philanthropic institution will handle creditor negotiations. Then, Fonds de Loods, the Van der Vorm’s debt relief company, buys off the debt in one sweep.
The budget for this project has not been officially shared. However, the average cost of paying off all debts for one family is approximately €2,700, so that would mean a total of over €8 million.
Gratitude, but also attitude
The Van der Vorm generosity has come under fire for only offering a short-term fix for a much larger-scale social issue.
Godfried Engbersen, professor of sociology at Erasmus University, believes it promotes inequality because, “For some this is a lottery ticket, while others are left with debt,” he told NU.nl.
