Off the beaten path from a typical trip to The Netherlands is the lovely city of Leeuwarden! Having friends that live here, my husband and I have visited a few times.
1. Oldehove Tower
This landmark in Leeuwarden is a must visit. It’s actually leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Make sure you climb to the top to not miss the pretty views of the city and countryside. The volunteers working here are very proud of their tower and full of stories to share!
2. Boomsma Distilleederij Museum
Dating back to a distillery from the 1930’s – this is a great spot to spend a couple hours. We had a fun tour tasting their famous traditional bitters and learning about the distilling process from a nice Dutchman!
3. Friesland
Leeuwarden is located in the northern province of Friesland. It feels like you’re in a different country here as they have their own language (Dutch and English are also widely spoken) and fly a Friesian flag as well. The canal and lake filled countryside is one of the reasons I love this area in The Netherlands! It’s less densely populated and not on a main tourist route – which gives it a very authentic feel.
4. European Cultural Capital of 2018
During my last visit to Leeuwarden they were touting the prestigious title of “European Cultural Capital of 2018”. It’s a great honor in Europe to be chosen to show off your community’s contributions to art and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit they had on all the languages of the world!
5. Fletcher Hotel – Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof
My husband and I have stayed in this former 18th century palace during both of our trips to Leeuwarden. The Fletcher Hotel has the perfect city center location being walkable to all the sites (Leeuwarden has a charming city center located on a canal surrounded by traditional Dutch architecture). The rooms are spacious, comfy and I love their European breakfast! My not so favorite thing is it doesn’t have air conditioning (as with many European hotels).
Hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of this hidden gem in The Netherlands!
Until the next adventure – bon voyage!
Kris
