Waterland, Netherlands: A glimpse of Monnickendam

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One of North Holland’s gems: Monnickendam—not fully discovered by mass tourism (well, not just yet) but a favourite amongst local tourists passing through the town while on a fiets vakantie (bicycle tour) and stopping over at the haven to have lunch or freshen up with a quick drink.


My pretty view from my terrace seat: Middendam corner Kerkstraat and the Museum de Speeltoren.

I was here in July last year and spent some time sitting outside a Café de Zwaan watching everything and everyone around me while enjoying my Belgian beer. The fried mussels was nothing to rave about and I actually regretted ordering it. Weather was lovely, it’s one of those warm sunny afternoons, perfect to relax, sit outside and watch life go by with a glass of cold Westmalle. Hmm, life must be like this when you are retired...

And funnily, I almost forgot about this visit until today when I accidentally skimmed through the album... oh wow, I haven’t really blogged about Monnickendam yet. In all honesty, I have so much travel blogging backlog, which is the reason why I try to blog every single day. Little by little helps.

I have a LOT of fotos of the town so I need time to sort them out, but for now, let me give you a glimpse of Monnickendam. I’ll leave the rest for you to imagine what Monnickendam is like until my next post.


People watching is a serious and momentous hobby in Europe that I learned to adapt =) rather quickly! This is one of my fotos that I look too sombre, tsk, tsk.


And this is another view of course, the Waag Huis (this is facing the haven), now a restaurant.


Typically Dutch wooden and brick houses on the haven. More of these next!

Travel Period: July 2010
Destination: Monnickendam (Waterland), The Netherlands

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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Location: 1141 Monnickendam, Nederland
Welcome to my world! After years in the fast-paced tech world, I am now in my 50s and embracing a slower pace of life in the Dutch countryside. This diary is a collection of my favorite things: the joy of country home life, my new journey into gardening, and my lifelong passion for travel. Whether I am nurturing my garden, nesting at home, or exploring places locally and abroad, I am documenting it all. Come on in. I hope you enjoy your stay!

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