The Joys of Being a Tourist in Your Own Country

A happy family reunion & exploring The Netherlands the tourist way.

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Hiya, it’s me, Hannah!

A few weeks ago, I reunited with a special guest.

None other than my very own grandma 😊

Because of life happening and a fun little worldwide pandemic, we spent far too many years apart. So, when the chance finally came to see her again, I maximized our quality time and joined all possible activities - even the touristy ones.

And as it turns out, they’re a blast!

From falling in love with new parts of The Netherlands to indulging in amazing food - it was a week filled with many memorable moments. In this blog, I'll be sharing a recap of the highlights, the restaurants we enjoyed, and the tourist activities that are worth your time.

Get ready for some typically Dutch scenery in…

3,

2,

1.

Let’s go!

What we got up to

Over the week, we enjoyed these 3 touristy things in The Netherlands: Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis, and Keukenhof.

How were they from a local’s perspective and should you be going there yourself?

Let’s examine each one.

Rijksmuseum

It had been years since I wandered through the grand halls of Amsterdam’s most visited museum.

And I think that was a good thing.

Because now I was finally mature enough to genuinely appreciate the artwork. The details, the contrast, the lightwork. I was in awe!

From Rembrandt, to Johannes Vermeer, as well as a few Van Goghs - Rijksmuseum is a must-visit for a reason. It can get busy around the popular pieces, but with a bit of patience, you can admire them at your own pace.

It’s good to note that the Nightwatch (aka the most famous painting in Rijksmuseum) is still being restored. But, don’t worry about not seeing it. It’s being restored in the behind a glass installation, so you can still admire it - just from a few meters away ;)

So yes, I absolutely recommend visiting Rijksmuseum.

Afterward, you can even visit one of the below restaurant options 👀

Mauritshuis

Even though I live in Amsterdam, I work in The Hague - right across from the now prettiest museums I’ve ever visited.

Man oh man was I blown away by this palace of a museum and the stunning art pieces that decorate the walls.

Even though I wasn’t a museum person before, Mauritshuis has changed me.

Many landscape paintings took my breath away and I stared at one small, yet incredibly intricate floral still life for at least 10 minutes.

And the best part is you can get surprisingly close to the paintings at Mauritshuis.

I mean, don’t touch them or cross the lines on the floor but - you get to admire every single tiny brushstrokes if you want to.

And, you will want to.

From Jan Vermeer’s Girl With The Pearl Earring to several Rembrandts - Mauritshuis is impressive in its paintings as well as its entire ambiance and interior design.

And I hereby officially give it my local stamp of approval.

(Even though it, obviously, doesn’t need it).

Keukenhof

We transition from famous pieces of art to our other national pride and joy - tulips.

Rows and rows of ‘em.

This is the second year in a row that I joined visitors on their trip to the Bollenstreek (the region where tulips are grown). And it’s everything you expect it to be: countless varieties of gorgeous tulips, carefully organized bursts of color everywhere you look, and, of course, a sea of people trying to snap the perfect floral image.

Plus their accompanying selfie sticks 🙃

But hey, I get it.

Heck, I’m one of them.

Tulips are gorgeous (and yes, they’re my favorite flower) and Keukenhof does a great job at showcasing them. It’s a fun, family or friend day trip where you stroll around the spacious park, enjoy the sights, and stop to smell the flowers - literally.

Would I go here without international visitors?

Probably not. But that’s because you can also drive through the surrounding area (Lisse and the rest of the Bollenstreek) to see the tulip fields for free.

But, you won’t get to casually walk along them, enjoy all the different varieties in one go (and believe me there are many), or take a generous amount of photos without being on someone else’s property.

So yeah, I recommend Keukenhof.

Just look at these, how could you not stare at them for days?

Restaurants we went to

After you’ve satiated your cultural cravings, it’s time to enjoy the culinary scene of The Netherlands.

Since we’re a family of herbivores (my grandma has been vegan for around 30 years), our restaurants were very veggie and vegan-friendly.

So if that’s your kind of vibe, you’ll love these.

Indonesian Takeout

For our first dinner together, we had a cozy night in with some good old Indonesian Takeout.

My parents live 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam, so you might not come close to their “Toko”, so here’s our favorite Indonesian place in Amsterdam:

Warung Atika.

It’s in de Pijp (Amsterdam’s local bar & restaurant area) and the flavors are 10/10.

Order a small menu and you’ll have more than enough for the evening, or order a big one and have tasty leftovers for the next day.

I highly recommend getting some Indonesian during your next trip!

(Plus, the Indonesian kitchen has great meat dishes like Rendang, so even non-veggies will have a top-notch experience).

It’s a win-win.

De Waaghals

It’s not every day you get to host such a special guest, so these next two restaurants are for an extra-special evening out.

De Waaghals is a refined and creative vegetarian restaurant in the bustling area of de Pijp. You choose between a 3 or 4-course surprise menu (vegan or vegetarian) inspired by the art of cooking from around the world.

This was my second time here, and I was once again blown away by the freshness of the ingrediënts and their unique combinations.

It’s a small restaurant, so make sure to reserve a table. And don’t be like us, arrive on time because they like to serve their tables in an organized (and ordered) fashion.

Here’s a sneak peek of what your plates might look like:

TestTafel

This activist kitchen is a bit more difficult to find, but you’ll reap the rewards of traveling there.

At an industrial area at the edge of the city near Sloterdijk Station, you’ll find TestTafel, which is part of De Sering. They’re a community kitchen and activists catering service during the week, and experimental kitchen during the weekend.

You’ll receive a delicious, 7-course surprise menu at this all-vegan establishment and movement. Their weekend revenue ensures they can offer high-quality food to the local community at cost throughout the week. It’s a pay-what-you-can system for the 7-course menu, starting at 35 euros.

We had a great evening here and also enjoyed their homemade kombuchas, lemonades, and organic wines. The service was very friendly and allowed us to take our time here.

If you want a unique, tasty, and positive-impact dinner, TestTafel is your place to go for delicious vegan food and a great time!

Concluding thoughts

The museums and restaurants were only part of the reason why I had such a great week exploring The Netherlands.

Reuniting with my grandma after several years apart (physically), was incredibly special.

It’s the conflicting nature of being part of an international family.

You don’t always get to spend time together, but when you do, you truly cherish those moments.

What about you?

Do you have family abroad that you don’t get to see as often as you’d like?

How do you spend your time together when you finally do get to catch up? Do you also savor the experience of being a tourist in your own country, or do you avoid these activities at all costs?

Whichever way you spend your time together, the biggest gift is the collection of new memories you make along the way.

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