In researching our options for Open Monument Day, I was reminded of how many castles are in our surrounding area. After our intelligent lockdown and in anticipation of the next one, I was eager to get out and explore some castles this fall.
The first one we saw, Keukenhof Castle, is next to the famed Keukenhof Gardens. I had read a review that the gardens are full of dahlias this time of year and couldn't wait to check it out. We had a beautiful day (a theme of September) and the flowers were breathtaking!
You couldn't visit inside the castle, but there was a lot to do on the grounds- a petting zoo, cafe, hiking trails.
There was a sweet gnome trail where you followed the trail markers and at the end, there was a gnome party in a tree stump!
A night out while we still could...
In mid-September, we got a belated Labor Day. Sunday evening around 9pm we received an email from the school that due to a confirmed COVID case in a staff member (the first instance), the school would be closed Monday while they determined the next steps. Monday and Tuesday were forecast to be in the 80s so we took advantage of a free day and went to Katwijk with friends. One last summer hurrah!
I had plans already to go to the beach with two friends who I hadn't seen since before the lockdown. The stars aligned and school was open again so I got to join. There was traffic like I've never seen before going to Noordwijk, which we later learned was because it was a holiday in that part of the NL (Prinsendag). We circled forever for parking and eventually gave up and went back to Katwijk. At least we got lunch, drinks, and lots of catch up time out of it!
After many sedentary spring months, I am trying to get out walking a few days a week. A friend and I walked to Amstel Park on another gorgeous day.
We biked from our house all the way to Central Station and then took the ferry across to Noord to join some friends at a new bar. Apart from needing masks on the ferry, the city was buzzing on a warm, sunny Saturday. That our COVID cases are now through the roof comes as no surprise.
Castle #2 of the month was a return to Muiderslot Castle, just 22 minutes from home. We'd been twice before, but thought Maeve would have fun there now that she's older. A lot of the interactive kid stuff was taken away due to COVID unfortunately. The waterways through town were jam-packed with boats making their way out onto the Ijmeer.
Jude was really interested in the audio tour and learning about the castle.
This one, not so much.
Just down the road from the castle is the waterfront town of Muiderberg, where there was a beach cafe that had been recommended to me for lunch.
Another long walk, solo this time with a bachelorette podcast, to the Amstel, along the Amstel, past some estates, a windmill, and then a walk through the farm fields back home.
Fall in the city on a long walk around Oud Zuid with a friend.
Jude had his first baseball tournament and it was held in a legit minor league stadium outside of Haarlem.
I remember pizza parties always followed big sporting events growing up. Here it is pancake parties!
And the third and final castle of the month. I couldn't convince the family to go to Groenveld Castle on a Sunday, so decided to visit with friends during the week. We clocked a lot of steps walking all over the grounds behind the castle and then enjoyed lunch in front of the castle. COVID did not seem like a threat, but the wasps sure did! They were all about our fresh mint tea.
The farm next to the castle had an extensive store selling local products.
September filled my soul with enough warmth and good memories to make it through the next few months...
