Sand Dunes and Den Bosch: A sunny day in North Brabant

For the second day of our mini-getaway in February, we visited National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen, what I read was supposed to be the "Sahara of the Netherlands." Well, it did not live up to its name, but it was a nice place to take a walk in the warm sunshine. 

We found these little painted rocks along the trail and on the back was a website link where we learned you can paint your own rocks and leave them along trails for others to find! 

Rock inspecting

The woods opened up into sand dunes

After the walk we drove to 's-Hertogenbosch, colloquially known as Den Bosch, which is the capital of North Brabant. Confession: I'd wanted to visit this city ever since learning that bachelor Arie L. was born here ;) We talked the kids into a city tour with the promise of playground time. We found a very cute one in the sun. 

With only take away available, we hit up McDonalds for the kids (hello bathrooms) and a cafe on the town square for us and found a bit of pavement. Really missing cafes being open! 

We wandered the city center, finding the historic core, which is centered around the Binnendieze river, a small waterway that runs under the old city. In normal times you could take a boat trip. Alas. It was the season of Carnival and North Brabant is usually a spectacle of merriment. It was here where COVID first took off a year ago following the Carnival celebrations and the area was hit hard. The town center was busy, but sadly no proper parties. 

Sint-Janskathedraal

Crocus Break Mini Getaway to Dordrecht

As the lockdown continued through February, it was clear we would not be going anywhere for the Crocus Vakantie. We had booked flights to Malaga in the fall in hopes that things would improve and we could continue our tradition of a Spain or Portugal sun escape. Those tickets have now been exchanged for flights to the UK in October. Will we even get to go there then?!

Needing a change of scenery, we booked a last-minute overnight an hour South in an area of the NL we had yet to explore. We spent a lovely sunny day in Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. It is located where a number of rivers merge and used to be the most important port city. 

We felt the history right away as we entered through a beautiful town gate to reach the harbor. 

As with most Dutch towns, lots of waterways, boats, and cute bridges lined by gabled canal houses. There isn't much in the way of commercialism in the old town (especially in COVID times) so it was a very quiet area to explore. 

Check out that Golden Age Portrait on the wall.

A boat about to pass under city hall

The front of city hall

Real-life Disney Land

We stumbled upon this playground smack dab in the middle of the street and learned by reading the placard that it was the first "speelstraat" (play street) in the NL, which came from a sit-in protest in the street to advocate for a safe place for the local children to play. Power to the people! 

We drove south to our hotel for the night in Raamsdonksveer. We choose it based on last-minute availability of a family room. The kid's loft was so very Dutch up a crazy set of stairs (that did have a child's gate at the top). 

We walked to the neighboring town of Geertruidenberg, which was really charming and had a yummy take away Italian restaurant. Pete scored us some gluhwein while we waited. We were there at 6pm when the three town churches rang their bells. It was extremely peaceful with the sun setting. 

Ministry of silly walks through town

Southern NL is Catholic territory and we were in the reported "Bible belt." I was excited to see the statue of Saint Gertrude (my paternal grandmother's namesake). 

We are still in take-away only land over here so picnic dinner on our hotel room floor it was. Proost!