In the last few weeks, we’ve been talking up the virtues of Bruges, Lille and Strasbourg as great destinations in the pre-Christmas period. This week, we’d like to point you towards the P&O Ferries port city of Rotterdam.

Some people might already be familiar with the weekly Binnenrotte market, where all sorts of delicacies and goods are sold twice a week in the biggest market square in the Netherlands. In the run-up to Christmas, this area of Rotterdam is turned into festive zone full of more than 100 themed market stalls and a smell of mulled wine, sausages and spices. You’ll be able to browse for hours and hopefully head home with some classic Dutch decorations and culinary discoveries.

The Binnenrotte market is a great place to shop for Christmas presents, or just to hang out, soak in the European Christmas atmosphere and come home inspired. Trying out the Poffertjes, a sweet sort of Dutch pancake, is highly recommended.

The Rotterdam Christmas market starts on the weekend of the 12th December, and around the market there will be ice skating rinks set up, as well as a live band belting out all the classics.

To get to Rotterdam for a Christmas getaway, all you need to do is jump on a P&O Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. Tickets are available form only £109 each way, which covers the price for a car and two passengers.

Image credit: Joseph Nadler

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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Next week will see the 19th installment of Crossing Border, a literary and arts festival spanning both Holland and Belgium, tickets are on sale now; we suggest you hurry though this year’s line up is attracting a lot of attention so tickets won’t last.
The Dutch installment of Crossing Border lasts from 16th-19th November and then it moves over to Antwerp over the 19th-20th.
Crossing Border is hosted in multipl locations in The Hague’s Theatre Quarter, comprised of Royal theatre (Koninklijke Schouwburg) and the National Theatre (Nationale Toneel Gebouw). And the festival continues in Antwerp’s Toneelhuis theatre.

This arts festival is true blend of creative disciplines, including film, music art and literature. It encourages flourishing talent, workshops, talks and Q&As are all a part of it. There will also be readings and performances from celebrated artists over the course of the festival.

The lineup has now been confirmed so for more information look at the Crossing Border website, some of the stages that have drawn our attention include this year’s Pulitzer winner Jennifer Egan as well as novelists Ali Smith and Paul Murray. We’re also going to be fighting our way to the front of the crowd to see Laura Marling, Emmy the Great and CAKE performing on stage.

Tickets are selling like hot cakes but there’s still time to get to this amazing festival. P& Ferries is an ideal way to get across the Channel on your way to Holland or Belgium.

Image credit: Ludovic Hirlimann

Tags: Belgium, Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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A canal in Haarlem

No, this is not the Spanish Harlem Elton John sang about in “Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters”, but a city in the Dutch province of North Holland you should include in the itinerary for your next ferry trip to Europe.

Haarlem’s proximity to the coast gives it a vibrancy and variety that many other European cities lack, and there’s a wide range of museums, historic sites and pleasant cafes and bars inviting you to sit down. Only an hour’s drive from P&O Ferries’ Dutch port in Rotterdam, it’s a great stopover if you’re on your way to Amsterdam (20 miles drive or 15 minutes by train) or even as a destination in itself.

The Corrie ten Boom house is a place worth visiting for everyone – it tells the story of the ten Boom family, who during WWII provided a hiding place for Jewish families, resistance fighters and anyone else deemed in danger. This inspiring story should be heard by as many people as possible, and with free guided tours available, you’d be a fool to miss it!

Art lovers will be pleased to hear that the Frans Hals Museum contains a fantastic collection of European paintings. The artist who gave the museum its name lived in the 15th century and is particularly famed for his sumptuous, incredibly detailed group portraits, but the museum features work from other Dutch and European masters as well (e.g. Monet, Pieter Bruegel) and is housed in a gorgeous mid-19th century building. A must for art lovers.

Walking around Haarlem’s canals is a pleasure – trees line many of them, and the atmosphere is a lot less busy than in Amsterdam, leaving you to take in the fresh air, the reflections, buildings and bird sounds. If you’re into your classicist and gothic buildings, you can take a look at the Nieuwe Kerk (based on a Jerusalem temple), and the St.-Bavokerk, located on the main market square.

All in all, Haarlem is like a smaller, more relaxed and less touristy Amsterdam. The local beer is fantastic yet cheap, and all main sights (as well as the hidden ones) can be reached by walking.

To get to Haarlem, you can take a P&O Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, from where it is only a short drive. A highly recommended winter trip!

Image credit: Bogdan Migulski

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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In de Wildeman

With the Dutch Christian Democrat Party pushing for a tougher line on cannabis, many prospective visitors to Amsterdam worry that they might miss out on the coffee shop experience (in Maastricht, all foreigners except German and Belgian passport holders are banned from coffee shops). But even if the ban on tourists does make it into law, there are plenty of other hangouts in Amsterdam that you can relax and have a drink or two in. Here are five suggestions to get you started.

In de Wildeman (Kolksteeg 3, www.indewildemann.nl)
One for the beer drinkers. There are separate rooms for smokers and non-smokers, and again there’s a refreshing (literally) lack of run-of-the-mill beers and annoying music. In de Wildeman is a great spot for stretching your legs over a quiet pint of either Dutch or Belgian beer (there are Beer of the Month and other recommendations if you’re unsure what to go for), maybe accompanied by some tasty bar snacks and topped off by the authentic, cosy pub feel and décor.

Wynand Fockink (Piljsteeg 31)
After you finish snickering, you might be interested to hear that this tiny drinking hole implements a ban on mobile phones and features some of the most professional and amiable barmen in Europe. A place that does away with modern day horrors like TV screens, loud funky house music and coloured cocktails, the Wynand Focking provides what a bar should – a place to drink and chat. The drink selection is focused on sweet brandy liqueurs, and with over 60 to choose from, there will definitely be one that suits your personal taste.

Café Sound Garden (Marnixstraat 164-166, www.cafesoundgarden.nl)
Named after one of grunge’s great bands, this is a great indie/rock bar with a lovely terrace overlooking a nearby canal. DJs spin alternative pop hits (there’s also the occasional live gig), people chat away about music and, after a few drinks, even shake their limbs awkwardly. The beer is good, and there is a pool table. In short, it’s a little bit of heaven.

Whiskycafé L&B (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 82-84, www.whiskyproeverijen.nl)
Punters can choose from more than 1,000 different whisky and bourbon options at this impossibly snug and welcoming bar. You might want to browse the menu (which divides drinks according to country of origin) or you could rely on the barmen’s recommendations – both are fun and rewarding options. Again, this is a place to drink and talk until late (the Whiskycafé is open until 3am during the week and 4am on weekends) rather than drink to oblivion/the point of public embarrassment, so don’t expect blaring speakers and cheesy chat-up lines.

You can get to Rotterdam with P&O’s great current offer of a 3-day minicruise from Hull to Amsterdam, which involves all the comforts of P&O Ferries’ onboard catering and entertainment as well as a night in the great city itself. Go here for details.

Image credit: Finnur Magnusson

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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If you are planning a trip to the Netherlands we’d recommend you look into purchasing an iAmsterdam card. For those of you intending to do a bit of cultural tourism the iAmsterdam association will really help you make the most of your trip, letting you jump the queues to get in to museums free, discounts on food and free public transport. You can order your iAmsterdam ticket online and get a 5% discount or pick one up in the Netherlands’ capital once you arrive. You have a choice of cards 24 hour, 48 hour and 72 hours, considering that this little card puts the entire capital at your feet.

You’ll have free or discounted access to exhibitions, live music, theatre dance and festivals. They also offer access to the canal hop-on-hop-off Bus, which is a sublime way to traverse the city, making the most of this service will add a leisurely pace to your holiday, honestly who doesn’t love a boat trip?

You can also order family passes so if you want to take the children with you it’s a brilliant means for an inexpensive trip filled with the wonderful sights and curios that only Amsterdam has to offer.

If you take a P&O Ferry to Rotterdam, you can use your iAmsterdam card to get to the capital and then all you have to do is flash it at the entrance of all participating venues for access.

Image credit: Μøỳαл_Bгεлл♂_BACK_FROM_PRAGUE

Tags: History, Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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The first Saturday of November in Amsterdam sees the return of Museum Night. This tradition opens the doors of over 40 of the museums in Holland’s capital to visitors in the darker hours. One of the troubles with visiting Amsterdam during the winter is that the sun sets rather early, around 4:30PM, so this is a great opportunity for you to absorb culture in a night time setting. The event runs from 7PM to 2AM, after the sun sets traditionally tourists go for a meal, to a show or out to bars and clubs. With Museum Night you’ll have the option to see exhibits over later hours; it’s an excellent and unique way to while away an evening if you’ve spent the day roaming Amsterdam.

You can pre-book tickets if you want to avoid the queues pre-sales normally run until around 5:30PM and tickets are a steal at just € 17. The museums run events across the night including workshops, live music and unusual tours.

One of the benefits of getting tickets for Museum Night is that it will gain you access to all participating museums, with free transport on trams and the special Museum Night boat. You’ll also be given access to one museum any day up until the end of the calendar year. Unfortunately Museum Year Cards and ‘I Amsterdam Cards’ do not entitle you to entry on Museum Night.

Take a P&O Ferry to Holland for Museum Night, the crossing from Hull to Rotterdam is short and swift and excellent if you’re on a budget

Image credit: p22earl

Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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The tourist season is pretty much finished but that doesn’t mean Amsterdam has shut up shop. If you are after a weekend break or a little time away from Britain there’s always plenty to see in Holland’s capital, and P&O Ferries can get you there for a blessedly queue free, albeit chillier holiday.

October brings a couple of exciting events to Amsterdam including this weekend’s ‘Awakenings’ techno festival and a dance event mid-month which serves as both festival and conference, drawing industry professionals and masses of fans to the city. Of course the end of October brings Halloween so watch this blog for updates on the larger parties and organised events to get you to make the most of All Hallows’ Eve.

Most cafes and restaurants will have packed away their outdoor sections, but there’s plenty to draw you indoors besides the colder weather. Some of the classic tourist attractions include the Van Gogh and Rembrandt museums, as well as the Anne Frank Museum. There are also numerous churches dating back over 500 years, concert halls magnificent architecturally and for the shows that go on inside. You can also get a taste of Dutch culture in the cafes and pubs.

For a relaxed mid Autumn getaway, and a chance to see Amsterdam without too much tourist culture, P&O Ferries can get you across to the Netherlands at minimal cost.

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Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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Runners in the Amsterdam’s Vondelpark

While it might be a tad too late to take part in this year’s Amsterdam marathon, there’s still plenty of time to hop aboard P&O Ferries and go on a cheeky jaunt to the Netherlands to take in this great event as a spectator.

The 2011 Amsterdam Marathon takes place on Sunday, 16th October and will feature runners from over 50 countries. Last year, Ethiopia’s Getu Feleke broke the track record with a time of 2.05.44.

This year’s Amsterdam marathon route (it changes every year) is a great way of discovering the city. Great spots to cheer on the runners include the city’s Rijksmuseum (National Museum) on Museumplein, the Vondelpark with its numerous ponds and variety of trees, and the nature reserve along the Amstel river.

As befits a sporting event like this, the marathon starts and finishes in the Olympic stadium.

You can go to Amsterdam and take in the marathon’s atmosphere by using P&O Ferries to take you to Rotterdam, from where it’s only half an hour’s drive to Amsterdam.

Image credit: donheffernan

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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