A family adventure through some of Europe’s most charming cities — with the best cheese, fries, waffles, and chocolate you’ll ever taste. There’s something truly special about gathering your family from near and far and exploring a corner of the world together. This summer, we did exactly that — a multi-generational family reunion trip through the Netherlands and Belgium that I can honestly say exceeded every expectation. From cobblestone market squares and underground cave tours to canal cruises and the most heavenly waffles (Belgian and Stroop), this trip had it all. If you’ve been dreaming of a European family trip that blends history, culture, incredible food, and enough charm to last a lifetime, let me walk you through everything we loved. Starting in Maastricht: The Perfect Family Reunion Home Base We began our adventure in Maastricht, a gorgeous university city in the southern Netherlands tucked right against the Belgian border — and honestly, I couldn’t have chosen a better gathering point for our family. For groups traveling together, finding accommodations where everyone can actually be together — not scattered across hotel floors — makes all the difference. We cannot recommend Dormio Resort Maastricht highly enough. This beautiful collection of luxury holiday homes and a hotel sits on a peaceful resort just on the outskirts of the city, minutes from Belgium. It’s the kind of place where the whole family can spill out onto a shared terrace with a glass of wine, catch up over breakfast without rushing off to a dining room, and feel genuinely at home. If you’re planning any kind of group trip or family reunion in Europe, put this on your shortlist immediately. Once we were settled in, we set out to explore Maastricht on foot and by bike — the resort rents bikes, which made getting into the city wonderfully easy and frankly quite fun. Here are the highlights that had us absolutely charmed: Friday Farmers Market at Vrijthof Square — We happened to be in the city on a Friday, which meant we got to experience the weekly market in the stunning Vrijthof square (and also at the Markt square in front of the town hall). Think gorgeous wheels of cheese, gorgeous local produce, beautiful baskets and fabrics, handmade local goods, and yes — even a bike parts vendor where we spent an embarrassing amount of time testing out every bell and horn on display. Pure joy. Boekhandel Dominicanen (The Dominicanen Bookstore) — This is one of those places you simply must see to believe. A magnificent medieval church transformed into a breathtaking bookstore. Even if you don’t buy a single book, walk in and look up. It’s stunning. De Bisschops Molen — A working watermill bakery where locally grown grains from the Limburg countryside are ground into flour and baked into the most extraordinary sourdough bread and Limburg flans (those are fruit tarts, and they are divine). Pop into this bakery and bring an extra bag for your purchases. Friture Reitz — The oldest chip shop in the Netherlands, open since 1909, right in the city center next to the market. A paper cone of fries with their famous joppiesauce is non-negotiable. Trust me on this one. Maastricht Underground (The North Caves) — Perhaps the most unforgettable experience of our Maastricht stay. A guided tour through an extraordinary tunnel system beneath the city, including The North Caves — a magical underground museum filled with charcoal drawings, inscriptions, and paintings that tell the story of the region’s history. Absolutely worth every minute. Amsterdam: Energy, Art, and the Best Canal Tour You’ll Ever Take From Maastricht, we made our way to Amsterdam, staying at the Hilton Amsterdam Central Station — a perfect location for exploring this endlessly fascinating city. The highlight of our Amsterdam days? Our afternoon wine and cheese board canal tour with Pure Boats Tours aboard the luxury electric yacht, the Stan Huygens. Gliding through Amsterdam’s iconic canals with family, a gorgeous spread of local cheeses, and a glass of wine in hand — it’s the kind of afternoon that becomes a core memory. Book it. You won’t regret it. Amsterdam’s food scene had us constantly stopping and snacking our way through the city: buttery pastries and gelato from Saint-Jean, the most perfectly crisp stroop waffles from Hans Egstorf (serving waffles since 1898!), deeply satisfying ramen bowls at Ramen Kingdom, and a repeat visit to the fries situation — this time at Fabel Friet, known for their fresh double-fried Dutch fries served with truffle mayo and parmesan. Yes, really. We also loved wandering the aisles of Albert Heijn, the local grocery store, to stock up on Dutch treats. Dinner at The Seafood Bar was exceptional, and cocktails at the hotel rooftop bar made for a perfect evening. Beyond eating (if you can believe we did anything else), we visited the Van Gogh Museum — a deeply moving and inspiring experience. Knowing that Vincent found beauty in the world while battling profound mental health struggles makes his work feel even more powerful. A must for everyone. We also biked through the city and hopped the metro, visited the Aviation Museum near the airport (a must for any aviation enthusiast in your group), and made a wonderful day trip to Zandvoort on the coast. There, we took a private kitesurfing lesson, got a peek at the famous Formula 1 race track, and ended the evening at the bohemian chic Hippie Fish restaurant, watching the sun dip into the sea over a leisurely dinner. Before or after, stop into Meijer Aan Zee for a cocktail or hot chocolate with ocean views. And don’t miss the surrounding South Kennemerland National Park — a sweeping nature reserve of sand dunes, coastal forest, wetlands, and beaches that genuinely took our breath away. Brugge, Belgium: Fairytale Architecture, Waffles, and the Best Dusk Walk of Your Life Our final stop was Brugge (Bruges), Belgium — and I want to be very clear: nothing fully prepares you for how beautiful this city is…
Adventures/Travel
Copenhagen, Denmark: The Most Charming City You’ll Ever Explore by Bike
Everything about Copenhagen feels like it was designed for people who love beautiful things — and we are absolutely those people. There are cities you visit and cities that stay with you long after you’ve unpacked your bags. Copenhagen, Denmark is firmly in the second category. From the moment we arrived, we understood why this city consistently ranks among the most livable, most beautiful, and most sought-after destinations in all of Europe. It is compact, it is flat, it is gorgeous, and it is genuinely joyful in a way that sneaks up on you. By day two, we never wanted to leave. If you’ve been dreaming about a European trip that combines history, stunning architecture, world-class food, design culture, and scenery that belongs on a postcard, Copenhagen belongs at the very top of your list. Let us tell you everything. Where to Stay in Copenhagen Copenhagen offers two wonderful hotel options that we recommend wholeheartedly, depending on what kind of stay you’re after. Villa Copenhagen is an upscale choice — a beautifully restored historic building with the kind of thoughtful design, conscious luxury and serene atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re living your most elevated life. It has a pool, a rooftop bar with views that will make your jaw drop, and bicycles available for guests. It is, simply put, a dream. Tivoli Hotel is the family-friendly option, positioned right next to the legendary Tivoli Gardens. It also has a pool, a rooftop bar, and bicycles for guests — and the energy here is warm, welcoming, and wonderfully festive. With children or without, it’s a genuinely delightful base for exploring the city. Both are excellent. Your choosing between them depends entirely on your travel style — but you truly cannot go wrong with either. Get on a Bike: The Best Way to See Copenhagen Here is the single most important piece of advice we can give you about Copenhagen: get on a bike and don’t get off until dinnertime. Copenhagen is one of the most bike-friendly cities on the entire planet — not in theory, but in beautifully executed practice. There are dedicated bike lanes everywhere, the city is essentially flat, and cycling through the neighborhoods, along the canals, and across the bridges feels less like transportation and more like pure, unfiltered delight. Both Villa Copenhagen and Tivoli Hotel have bikes available for guests, so there is absolutely no excuse not to pedal your way through this city. You can cycle to Nyhaven Street, but park your bike and stroll through Nyhaven— along, the iconic waterfront lined with brightly colored 17th-century townhouses and bobbing wooden boats. It is every bit as beautiful as every photo you have ever seen, and somehow even more magical in person. From there, let the city open up to you at bicycle pace. Do not miss the Circle Bridge — a stunning pedestrian and cyclist bridge with a design that is equal parts sculptural art and functional beauty. It is one of those moments where you stop in the middle of the bridge, look out at the water, and think: yes, this is exactly why we travel. Things You Absolutely Cannot Miss Rosenborg Castle and the King’s Garden — This 17th-century Renaissance castle in the heart of the city is magnificent, and the surrounding King’s Garden is one of the loveliest places we found to simply slow down. The flowers are extraordinary. We sat on a bench in the sunshine, watched the Danes going about their day, and felt completely at peace. Make time for this. The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) — A 17th-century astronomical tower you can spiral your way up (no stairs — a wide, winding ramp) for a panoramic view of the city rooftops. It is charming, a little surprising, and absolutely worth the climb. GoBoat Harbor Tours — One of the true highlights of our entire trip. These are small, self-driven electric boats that you pilot yourself through the Copenhagen canals and harbor. There is something so wonderful about seeing a city from the water — the bridges, the architecture, the light — and GoBoat makes it completely accessible and genuinely fun. Book in advance. Shopping and Studio Culture — Copenhagen is a city that takes design seriously, and shopping here means exploring beautiful Danish brands, gorgeous home goods, and one of the most thriving vintage clothing scenes we’ve ever encountered. For something special, visit Studio Arhoj, where you can watch glass and ceramic artists working right in front of you. The pieces are stunning and one-of-a-kind. We may have come home with a few. The Pastry Crawl: Our Greatest Idea Yet We planned a self-guided pastry crawl across Copenhagen — by bike, naturally, because a little exercise between buttery stops felt like the right approach — and it was, without question, one of the greatest mornings of the entire trip. Copenhagen’s bakery culture is extraordinary. The pastries here bear almost no resemblance to what we call “danishes” at home. They are flaky, precise, beautifully crafted, and made with ingredients that taste alive. Our recommended stops: Skt. Peders Bageri — A Copenhagen institution with lines that tell you everything you need to know. Get there early. Buka — Warm, welcoming, and absolutely delicious. Hart — Stunning, minimalist, and worth every calorie. Rug — A beautiful neighborhood bakery with an excellent selection. And then, our absolute favorite, the one we cannot stop talking about: Juno the Bakery. We had the cardamom bun, a cheese sandwich, a rhubarb vanilla cream danish, and butter cookies — and every single thing was transcendent. We are not exaggerating when we say that these are worth traveling back to Denmark for. If you do nothing else on our list, go to Juno. Dinner Reservations Worth Making Copenhagen’s restaurant scene is as impressive as its bakeries. We recommend booking ahead at The Olive Kitchen for Mediterranean-influenced cooking with the freshest produce, Sticks’n’Sushi for a Copenhagen institution that manages to be both casual and exceptional, and Bloom for…