Weekly update 21/52 Rotterdam & Gouda

Christi Himmelfahrt means a nice long weekend in Germany. I had booked a trip to explore Rotterdam a big city in the Netherlands which I have not been to before. We left on the Friday around 11 and headed to Familerestaurant The Clown a Pannkoekenhuis close to Valkenswaard. This is Filip favorite restaurant and a must stop every time we are heading to Holland or passing through Holland. I do like the kids to have a favorite place to come back so the memories will stay strong (especial close to Valkenswaard where i used to live when I was young). Of course it is nice to try new places but the rest of the trips are full of new places and experiences so I do like the routine of making The Clown a good stop on the road.

In Rotterdam we stayed at a hotel in the Erasmus University area. We found a small supermarket and a Starbucks on campus where we had breakfast before exploring the city. Public transport with a tram was a easy and good way to get down-town. I had done some research and Markthal was first on the list. Markthal is a very cool indoor market with lots of food stands. Cube houses, Euromast, Erasmus brugge and more was on our list and most important a boat-ride out cruising around the harbor with a Pannkoenkenboot ( panncake boat).
Rotterdam impressed us a lot. Such clean nice and a very safe feeling of the city. I have been to many dutch cities and I do love them with the canals, townhouses, narrow streets etc. Rotterdam feels so different wider streets and cleaner and much more sophisticated. We can't wait to come back soon.

Gouda only 25 minutes from Rotterdam - the town most famous for the dutch cheese Gouda. I had planned a stop here on the way home. Gouda was founded around the 1100 and the town square is from the Middle ages and the town is super cute and picturesque. We had a walk around and then went to a cheese museum which was great for the children and adults alike and in english. I bought some various well aged Gouda and also a smoked one - ohhh my good the cheese is good and rich in the flavor.
Great trip and so happy for these memories.

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