Rijksmuseum

Back in Amsterdam, again, for the holidays this time. Since our house was sold, and the tenant of our other apartment has left, we stayed at our old place in ‘De Pijp’.

It had been two years since I have been here. It felt right at home again, but it also was weird to realize we lived there only four years ago. Just the two of us. Now, four years later, it’s the five of us.

We used to call this place our little farm in the middle of Amsterdam. Our 55 m2 gabled apartment, without curtains because (almost) nobody can see you here

I’ve missed this place and boy did I miss this magnificent view over the Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam at its best

Ökowerk Berlin

Today we went to Teufelssee (translates as Devil’s Lake) I have no idea why it’s called this, but the lake and the surrounding forest are very nice and quiet

The big surprise of this visit was the ecological and educational center placed next to the lake: Ökowerk Berlin. I didn't know it was here, but it truly is a great place to visit. My aunt and uncle run a comparable center in the Netherlands, but this one is at least four times as big and well maintained

We didn’t get to see the whole center because it was pretty cold, but we had a look at the vegetable garden and bee hives. We saw enough to definitely return in other seasons. If not for educational purposes then for their hot elderberry lemonade and seabuckthorn cheesecake

De Hallen

As a small consolation that our lovely home will as of tomorrow no longer be ours we’re spending the night before the transfer in Hotel ‘De Hallen’. A brand new hotel in the old tram sheds at the end of our street. Just the two of us, no girlies around

I have to say they did an amazing job to this place. The tram sheds have been empty since 2005, but now they are full of life and activity. The Hotel is a perfect place to spend the night when in Amsterdam, in the center of the Oud-West district and really close to the Jordaan. ‘De Hallen’ also host three restaurants, a food market, a movie theater, hair dresser, local goods market and much more. Curious as I always am about new restaurants I have had dinner at all three already. All are good but my favorite for now is Halte 3, they have an easy but good menu and a low key atmosphere. Meat West was also very nice, but more of an upscale, white linnen restaurant. Remise 47 is a nice place, but I wasn’t impressed by their steak tartar and it felt like we were lowering the average age of the visitors a bit, both being in our mid-thirties. All three are good though and staff was very friendly

Sleeping in this hotel might just become an annual event for us. Wandering around our old neighborhood, keeping up with all the changes. Eventually, maybe, finding a new place for once we’ll return

Bye bye Potgieterstraat

A couple of weeks ago we made a big decision. We decided to sell our house in Amsterdam. It was a tough decision because we love this house very much. The girls are, not literally but still, born here. We have been dreaming about buying the upstairs apartment as well, one day if we could ever afford, making one big house of it.

Reality is that these 80 meters will not be big enough once we will return. Reality is also we are almost stalked by this sweet lady that would really love to buy our house even though it has never really been for sale. It took me a month to get used to the idea of someone else living there and now the day has arrived. The house is empty, ready for its new owner.

Thursdays

We really did find a Thursday routine. Since I’m in love with the Kollwitz farmers market. Walking up there, buying fresh fish. Thursday fish day. Smoked fish for Friday evening. Buying veg at the smallest stand: beets, every week a big bunch of beets. Eating Thüringer sausages with apple mustard. Drinking coffee’s before heading home again with a stroller full of fish, veg and cheese 

Volkspark Friedrichshain

Oma and opa are visiting, yesterday they went for a tour by bike along the famous Berlin locations. Today we are just going for a stroll through Prenzlauerberg towards Volkspark. Sharing breakfast at Schoenbrunn. Feeding a left over bread roll to the ducks

Tempelhof

While I was running around Berlin with my primary school friends, daddy was taking the girls to Tempelhof. The perfect place for three energetic toddlers and just 1 parent. Running and biking around endlessly, with a minimum chance to get hurt

Father Carpenter

New coffee shop in town. For now it’s just a pop up behind de 14 oz store. New coffee around the corner of course has to be tested and this one definitely is a gain. If not for the coffee, than for the good service or the wonderful location. Perfect for us with an enclosed garden: Girls running around, mum and dad sipping cappuccino’s 

Shopping

On Thursdays we always visit the organic farmers market on Kollwitzplatz. My oldest walked a lot by my side, only to sit in the stroller as soon as she got tired. With the twins it’s somewhat different for they could run in two different directions. They don’t get to walk around a lot by themselves, except for when we visit this market. Today we also had to buy some presents. just around the corner from the market. It was the first time I both had them walk there by themselves. Many, many interesting things to see along the way. Around the corner took me about an hour back and forth

Leaf

An honest confession: I’m not the most creative mum around. My grandma, my aunts, my mum and both my sisters are really good at crafts. Being creative and all. Me not so much. It has been bugging me, but I accepted it about ten years ago. Now, with the girls, I sometimes wish I was this infinitely creative mum, but I have other qualities. And the girls are just as happy painting some leafs we found once in a while.

Little Bike

She can ride her bicycle without the training wheels, since the end of august. Today it’s the first time she may ride on the big road next to daddy. And also the last time for now as far as I’m concerned. Terrifying

Apples and Pumpkins

 

My mum’s garden the fall edition. Pumpkins and apples. Humongous zucchini’s. We’ve been eating apple pies, apple gravy, applesauce, apple clafoutis, pumpkins soup, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin sauce and loads of zucchini soup. Let’s see what it has to offer next spring

Great-grandma’s Kitchen

When we’re in the Netherlands for a longer period we try to drive up to our youngest great-grandmother to have lunch. She cooks in the most old-fashioned Dutch style possible. I always love the food she makes.

When I want to know something about a Dutch stew, meatballs or a vegetable soup the old-fashioned way I always call her. Now the girls can enjoy her old school cooking. Vegetable soup with meatballs, cooked pears, simmered meat, tutti frutti, boiled potatoes and chicory  topped with breadcrumbs. They love it (surprisingly enough even the well-cookes chicory)

Beach

Something we try to do every time we’re in the Netherlands: Go to the beach. We used to go there quite often, walking the dog. I’m not really the laying on the beach, tanning type. Beach walks is what it’s about. What I love most about beaches is the feeling of freedom. With the sea as far as the eye can see on your side 

Today we visited Wijk aan Zee. The the sea on one side, the Tata steel factory on the other. Some find the factory rather disturbing. It never really troubled me. It’s a quiet beach, mostly people with dogs or surfboards. There are two beach bars with a very relaxed atmosphere: Aloha and Timboektoe. Including some live music on this Sunday afternoon.