Adventures/Travel

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…