Out and about in Leeuwarden in the lockdown

We have just come through another tough period when it comes to the Corona measures. Right in that period, our guest blogger Marian went on a break with her family. They decided to go to Leeuwarden and that was definitely not a bad choice! You can read her blog here:

In the honeymoon suite with the kids

Suddenly we had a great idea: staying at our wedding location! During the Christmas vacations, I went back with my husband and our three little sons to where it all started…. Leeuwarden! My college town where my sweetheart from Delft often took the train to. In Leeuwarden we married -almost 16 years ago- in the Stadhouderlijk Hof. At the time we celebrated the entire day there, except for the church service. It is still a beautiful wedding location with a very nice bridal suite.

This time we booked two hotel rooms because of the family expansion. They don’t have rooms for five people there, unfortunately. My husband shared a room with the oldest two and I with the youngest. One advantage of two rooms: a “stay up” room and an “early-to-bed” room. Were it not for the fact that son dearest stayed up chatting until 10:30, but that aside.
This morning I happened to hear from a schoolyard mother that they had also gone to Leeuwarden with their family of five. They opted for Van der Valk hotel Leeuwarden because it did have a large family room including a whirlpool tub. Chill! Anyway, so we were eager to show the boys our wedding venue.

I like to keep supporting hospitality entrepreneurs in the Netherlands, even during the lockdown. Fortunately, there was still plenty of opportunity. in the evening we ordered food at the Restaurant Duco, which opened just before Corona broke out. So sad. We were called to our hotel room when it was ready. Cozy together in the room enjoying a restaurant meal although my preference remains the ambiance of a restaurant.

On tour in Leeuwarden

The boys remembered from the Youth News a miniature tour of Leeuwarden. At the hotel the tickets were unfortunately sold out just that morning but on the site I found that baby and children’s store Vier Seizoenen was nearby. There the tickets were also available.

With the card in hand we could get started. If it hadn’t been a lockdown I would have sent hubby out with our sons and said I would hobble after them. Read: go from nice store to nice store and via “location sharing” I would find them again. I remembered what Floris (12) said about the benefits of Corona: we now do a lot more things with the five of us at the same time. That is also very valuable! We walked about a third of the route because we didn’t have oceans of time but otherwise we would definitely have walked the whole route. Fun for kids and adults alike.

The hidden gems of the city

My tip: score a city guidebook, for example through the hotel where you are staying. We got one from the Stadhouderlijk Hof. You can pick out exactly what your party will find interesting. The Kleine Kerkstraat, for example, is a hidden gem, don’t skip that side street of the Nieuwestad. And while you’re there, walk down that street. Next, you’ll find yourself on the square near the Oldehove. Our very own tower of Pisa. Climbing the Oldehove is something for your to-do-list. And do you want to go even higher? Then go climb the Achmeatoren as well. From there you have an amazing view! I believe the Achmeatoren is the tallest tower in Friesland so guaranteed far views. We did both in our student days, now unfortunately it was not possible due to Corona.

The Zaailand is a nice square with fine restaurants with a view of the Fries Museum and the imposing Court of Justice. From there you can also see the Achmeatoren, walk towards it and you also get to the station area. We were there on Friday, when it is market day on the Zaailand.

Wish list

What I’m going to do when I go to Leeuwarden again: arrive by train since the station area is very nice these days, go to the Fries Museum on the Zaailand and to Trial Leave in the old prison to see the prison inside. Walking in the Prinsentuin with a take-away coffee from Stek and visiting Musical de Tocht also seems like a lot of fun. And I would love to rediscover álle streets of Ljouwert. I saw a lot of nice, hip, new, organic, special stores that I could use for a weekend. There was also a gigantic toy store, Spellekijn. A great place to stroll around looking for a new board game.

Ljouwert, I missed you and I would love to come back soon when everything is possible again! My kids thought it was very special to go to Friesland for the first time and see my old student houses from outside. Wow, did mom live there! A lot can change in sixteen years J. In short: Leeuwarden has quite rightly been declared the cultural capital of Europe (2018)!

Tútsjes, Marian

Credits photos: Marian van Dijk