HannahFeb 5, 2025
Looking back at a wonderful September holiday in Alkmaar, Netherlands! πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

The charming streets, stunning architecture, and friendly atmosphere made it a trip to remember.

#TakeMeBack #Netherlands #Holiday #Bike #Architecture #Alkmaar #Travel #Wanderlust #EuropeTrip #DutchVibes #Cityscape #HistoricTown #Canals #AutumnTravel #ExploreMore #Adventure #CultureTrip #ScenicViews #CharmingStreets
AgentMarjeticaAug 10, 2023
Easygoing afternoon in the Dutch countryside πŸŒΏπŸ“Έ Taking in the laid-back beauty of the landscape. #DutchVibes #CountrysideRamblings #ChillAfternoons
Erich ZJul 6, 2023

Random #dutchvibes thought

The locals in Amsterdam were just impossibly hot. Gorgeous people, men and women alike. All of them impeccably dressed, fit, tall, and beautiful.

It gives you the feeling of, "I could live here. I could be hot too."

That's an illusion.

Show threadErich ZJun 29, 2023

York is probably the closest thing we have here to a Brown Cafe. It's very popular because the courtyard is away from traffic noise, and it's a good place to spend time with friends.

The new place in Lowertown might get some of the same vibes, though traffic noise from Plymouth will always be an issue.

If I were King of Ann Arbor I'd allow these anywhere. Requirements would be: zero off street parking, must have a shaded patio, must not be directly on a main road.

#dutchvibes

Erich ZJun 29, 2023

One awesome thing in the Netherlands is the Brown Cafe. Essentially a cafe that serves beer and bar food.

Find them inside a neighborhood, on a low traffic street so it's quiet, for easy conversations. They have limited menus and drink selections. Prices are low, service is very slow, and staff morale seems high. If it's busy you walk down the street to the next one.

We could do these here but our single family zoning doesn't allow them. We should fix that.

#dutchvibes

Erich ZJun 29, 2023
I'm gonna start hashtagging my vacation thoughts #dutchvibes for easy muting. Just a heads up
Show threadErich ZJun 29, 2023

*but not everyone can ride a bike*

First of all, not everyone can drive a car. But our current system forces car driving on everyone.

Second of all, there are ways around it. In the Netherlands, folks with disability permits use trikes, or these tiny low speed cars that are allowed to use the bike lanes and park on the sidewalks.

Or you can use the bus, or a tram, or if you really need to, a cab. If you really want to drive yourself, fine. But it isn't the right choice for most. #dutchvibes

Erich ZJun 29, 2023

One joke that kept coming up in our trip was that it would always take 10 minutes to get anywhere in Amsterdam by bike, no matter where it was or what time it was.

It was always, *always* the fastest way, and that's before you took parking or missed transit into account. Also the least expensive and most convenient.

If biking is safe, convenient, and easy, then people choose to bike. It's not rocket science. It's not even that expensive. Could do this here easily.

#BikeTooter #dutchvibes

Erich ZJun 27, 2023

In my short escapades in the Dutch and Flemish cities I feel confident in ranking the car-brainedness of these cities as follows, from least to most:

1) Amsterdam
2) Rotterdam
3) Delft
4) Brussels
5) Ghent
6) Bruges

Amsterdam is bike brained to the point of being a bit hostile to newer riders. Bruges allows cars everywhere including in the central square, and doesn't have a streetcar line. It really spoils the romantic feel of the place - Delft was far quieter and more relaxed.

#dutchvibes