Last May, I had a layover in Amsterdam while traveling home from two weeks abroad in Greece with CAES. I can remember flying in and seeing lucious fields of grass and tulips from above. Amongst them were little sectors of homes that looked almost like gingerbread houses. With the landscape looking entirely different from that of Greece, I saw a glimpse of the vastness of Europe. Little did I know that in under a year I would be traveling back to Amsterdam with CAES for the trip of a lifetime that I will never forget.
I had the privilege of traveling abroad to Holland, Belgium, and France with Dr. Julie Campbell and Dr. Jessica Holt, where I had the chance to experience the world of horticulture, while also documenting each step of the way through photography. Our first stop was Amsterdam, and after that the city of Delft, and we concluded our time in Holland(what the locals refer to the Netherlands as) in the village of Kinderdijk. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every part of Holland, which is why I have chosen to highlight this portion of the trip in particular. From greenhouse visits to peaceful walks in the botanical gardens, I was totally captivated by the beauty of this country. “Keukenhof” gardens may be the most beautiful place I have ever been, and Amsterdam may have been the most exciting place I have ever been(watch out for bikers!). The quaint, simple beauty of Delft highlighted my trip. As I like to consider myself “well versed” in the world of antiques and collectibles, I had a blast learning the history of Delft porcelain and discovering small, local antique shops in between greenhouse and botanical garden visits. Delft was essentially a smaller, more quiet version of Amsterdam, truly a hidden gem! Each street nestled along a canal, with bakeries and book shops on every corner. It felt like a fairytale village! The windmills of Kinderdijk allowed us the opportunity to learn more about Dutch history, and was a wonderful way to conclude our time in Holland. While I could go on and on and on about the tulips, the architecture, the traditions, and the cuisine in Holland, instead I will share some photos that I believe truly captured the beauty of this country.
