A few years ago I visited Malmö for work. It was my first time in Sweden however, you probably know it’s often difficult to have some spare time to explore a city when going on a business trip. Then finally in 2016 I made my first trip to Stockholm for leisure. I was quite excited and didn’t really know what to expect. I only had a slight idea of what Sweden looks like through travel programs. Or films like Millennium and my previous supersonic visit to Malmö. Yet Stockholm still remained a mystery to me.
Biking in Stockholm
Let me introduce you to Stockholm by taking you around the city by bike! Using the excellent system ‘Stockholm City Bikes’ was a cheap and easy way to explore this stunning Scandinavian highlight. Enjoy our travel video and don’t forget to scroll down to my personal tips for your perfect Stockholm citytrip.
CityJet’s inflight magazine ‘Velocity’ recently held an interview with blogger Natalie Siereveld from OrangeSpots.nl. In the January 2017 Velocity edition you’ll read about Natalie’s passion for travel and her favorite hang outs in her home town Rotterdam. Read the full article in this blog and get to know Rotterdam’s must visits according to Natalie!
LIVE LOCAL – ROTTERDAM
Velocity Magazine – January 2017 edition
I’m Natalie Siereveld, a 31 years old passionate traveller, foodie and sports fanatic. Born in Peru, my family and I moved to Rotterdam (the Netherlands) in 1991. What am I doing for a living? I’m a Press Officer for Flanders (Belgium) based in the Hague for 5 years now. It’s great to promote Flanders as a travel destination amongst Dutch journalists. Why? I get to sample, discover and taste the best of Flemish cuisine, beers, culture and heritage! My hobby’s? I have a passion for photography. During my spare time I love to wander through the streets of Rotterdam and capture the magic of the city.
With over 2,8 million inhabitants, Osaka is Japan’s third largest and (after Tokyo) second most important city. The city is only 30 minutes away from it’s refined little brother Kyoto, however there is a world of difference between the two. Osaka is a modern, big and flashy city, with huge neon lit buildings, elevated highways, interesting architecture and… beautiful green parks.
We really enjoyed Osaka (maybe because there are many similarities with our hometown Rotterdam?). Therefore we’d like to share our favorite areas with you!
Shinjuku – electronics and entertainment area in Tokyo
A couple of months before traveling to Japan, we watched a travel program which inspired us to visit Shinjuku ward in Tokyo. We were immediately intrigued by the abundance of electronic shops, entertainment spots, neon lights and busy streets. This was the right place to indulge ourselves in the Tokyo madness, at least for once!
Tokyo is a dazzling city offering its visitors a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining. Orange Spots bloggers Natalie and Geerard were recently in Tokyo and captured some footage of the city to share with you.
Tokyo travel video – produced by Geerard Siereveld
Istanbul is unique for it is the only city in the world lying on two continents: Asia and Europe. The glittering Bosphorus river dividing the city in two is also known as “Strait of Constantinople”.
Istanbul has conquered our hearts with its stunning views on the river and the old town, the friendly people and varied food. We also enjoyed discovering trendy neigbourhoods like Karaköy and experience the bohemian atmosphere in Cihangir area.
Travel video Istanbul Travel along with us to the enchanting city of Istanbul where east meets west… Enjoy this video!
If you’re a fan of architecture, make sure to visit Holland every last weekend of June. During this weekend, The Royal Institute of Dutch Architects organizes the Day of Architecture. Hundreds of buildings are open to the public. You can also enjoy many activities that show you what architecture is all about.
Scotland’s capital city is known to be a vibrant cosmopolitan one, bursting with cultural heritage, many sightseeing spots, splendid architectural gems and restaurants offering sumptuous Scottish and international food on the menu. Did you know that Edinburgh has an Old and a New Town which are both listed as UNESCO World Sites? You’ll find it lovely to walk through these contrasting districts! Edinburgh is also home to some renowned festivals organised throughout the year such as the largest arts festival in the world: Edinburgh Festival Fringe(August) and the world famous Hogmanay taking place in December/January. When in Edinburgh, you can’t miss out on tasting Scotland’s traditional dish: haggis. Almost every Scottish restaurant or eatery serves this stuffed stomach delight. More about that later…
The new indoor market ‘Markthal’ in Rotterdam is even more gorgeous by night than by day! Now the days are getting shorter and darkness is settling in early, this new indoor hotspot is the perfect place to spend your day and avoid the cold weather outside. If you’re in for tasty delicacies, fresh baked pastries, artisanal products, good quality wines and everything else you need in order to prepare yourself a lovely dinner or appetizer, this is the place to be.
Don’t come here alone, bring your friends, relatives or your lover to taste, chat, drink at the bars or even try out a Greek, Asian or Arab dish one of the restaurants that are located inside this huge architectural work or art.
This is how the Markthal looks like at night. Isn’t it just the perfect place to visit during winter time?
When I had the opportunity to travel to Minsk in Belarus, I had no clue what to expect. Without any form of research I left for the capital of Belarus, only to be surprised. The city is buzzing and offers a whole range of entertainment: Karaoke Bars, crowded night clubs, large casino’s, cozy bars, cafes and great restaurants (people really love to go out!). The inhabitants of Minsk are friendly and even though not many people in Minsk speak English, they are patient to help you and with friendly gestures and smiles you will get a long way.
After WWII Minsk has been remodelled to the taste of Stalin: wide lanes with big sovjet palaces and buildings, all of them being lit during the evening, which is an impressive sight.
If I have to capture Minsk in one word, it would be fascinating!
Rotterdam is an exciting and versatile city with a down to earth attitude and a fenomenal modern architecture. Being the town where I live, I’d be happy to show you around the most iconic buildings (Hotel New York, Cube houses), the nicest terraces (Oude Haven), beautiful parks (Kralingse bos) and even an authentic Dutch quarter which you will certainly love (Delfshaven).
I’ve been travelling for many years and I’ve certainly seen lots of beautiful places in various continents around the world. It’s not only breathtaking landscapes that captivated my heart and made me eager to travel more, yet also the fascinating cultures I’ve encountered, the culinary delights of several countries I’ve visited and the architectural gems, both contemporary and historical, that have truly inspired me.
Exactly one year ago I launched Orange Spots, a lifestyle and travel blog where I can share my most memorable travel experiences and inspiring photographs.
