Europe 2026 - The Netherlands

This story started writing itself long before our planes touched down in Amsterdam.

Arriving from separate countries after two months apart, the moment we reunited at baggage claim felt like the first line of a love story. With one embrace, our time apart dissolved. The noise of the airport faded, and time paused just long enough for us to step back into each other’s lives.

We walked out of the airport hand in hand, still stunned that we were here. Together. In person. Time apart teaches you the weight of small things — the sound of each other's laughter, the way our hands fit together, the comfort of each other's presence. And now, suddenly, it was real again. No screen between us. No reunion countdown. Just us, finally in the same place, eager to write our next chapter together.

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We found our rental car and started making our way to the home of Keri’s relatives in Den Ham, located in a quiet, north eastern corner of the Netherlands.

Our first stop, however, was in Muiden, a small town just outside of Amsterdam. We found coffee and food at a warm, unhurried cafe, sheltered from the rainy afternoon. It was the perfect pause that helped us settle back into each other’s presence. It was also here that we learned, to Ben’s delight, of the Dutch custom of receiving a free, small cookie or treat alongside every cup of coffee.

While we enjoyed our koffie en koekje, Keri pulled out her phone, curious to see what was nearby, and discovered a beautiful castle within walking distance. We finished our meal and stepped outside with Keri as the navigator, zooming in and out of the map and turning a slow circle trying to make sense of the narrow, cobblestone streets. I tapped her on the shoulder and turned her back around — in front of us, rising above the rooftops, was Muiderslot Castle. We both laughed, wondering how we missed something so large when we first arrived, and promised to use more of our eyes and hearts on this trip, and less of our phones.

Muiderslot Castle is a 14th century medieval fortress located just outside Amsterdam. It was once home to knights, nobles, and the Dutch writer P.C. Hooft and is now one of the best‑preserved castles in the Netherlands

By the time we arrived in Den Ham, we were both tired in that long, travel-weary way, but we were looking forward to meeting Keri’s relatives, Henk and Joke, and they were more than happy to open their home as our anchor point for the first few days of our Dutch adventure. They stepped outside to greet us with warm smiles and even warmer hugs. There was no formality, no hesitation — just genuine welcome. 

We settled in, grateful for the hospitality, the friendship, and the feeling of being held by family on the other side of the world. We were also grateful for our small, single guestroom bed — a reminder that closeness matters more than comfort when you’ve been apart for two months. 

For the next three days, we drove, walked, biked, and sipped coffee through many beautiful towns in northern Holland. The landscapes through the countryside and coast were also as beautiful as they were unbelievable. Everywhere we went, we found ourselves learning about the engineering that literally shaped this country. It’s one thing to read about Dutch water management systems and see the North Sea being held back by walls of earth and stone. It’s a whole other thing to stand on the ground that should be swallowed by water, but which has been reclaimed and transformed into lands that are fertile, stable, and alive!

We walked, we rode bikes, we sat in cafés enjoying cups of coffee, and we met friendly residents who made us feel at home. Every town felt welcoming, every conversation easy, and every moment seemed to slow down just enough for us to appreciate where we were and who we were with.

On our last evening at Henk and Joke's, we had a wonderful visit with more extended family who were eager to reconnect with their Canadian relatives. The evening was lively and warm, and filled with a beautiful connection through family bonds and faith ties that have held strong through time and distance.

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The following day brought new experiences and more family introductions. After one more trip across the Afsluitdijk — the incredible 32-kilometer dyke holding back the North Sea — we continued to Den Helder and took a ferry to the island of Texel.

We had been encouraged to explore Texel by bike, as a peaceful and easy way to spend the day. Long, smooth bike paths lead through open fields and quaint towns. We stopped at outdoor cafés, little shops, and a large windmill. It was a beautiful day (after several days of rain) and the 20KM bike ride out was effortless.

The bike ride back was not.

We quickly realized that the easy journey had been thanks to the wind at our backs. Turning around, that same wind pushed against us with everything it had. What had felt light and simple became slow, heavy work, but we kept going, determined to make it back. By the time we returned the bikes to the ferry docks — 2 hours late —  we were exhausted, proud, and relieved that we had not missed the last ferry of the day.

Later that evening we arrived at our next home-away-from-home in the village of ’t Harde, hosted by another set of Keri’s relatives, Verieke and Erik and their children. We settled in quickly and despite being exhausted from the long day of biking, we stayed up long into the evening reminiscing and getting (re)acquainted with this beautiful, faith-filled family whom Keri has not seen in 18 years.

The next day, Erik and Verieke took us by bike to the beautiful town of Elburg, a place with history dating back to 796. Its narrow streets, ancient walls, and picturesque fishing harbor preserve centuries of history and character. We enjoyed lunch in the town square, stopped at a popular ice cream shop, climbed the steep tower steps of Saint Nicholas Church, and biked along the dyke that surrounds the old village walls.

After three days of driving far and wide, this leisurely day was just what we needed. We ended the day with a backyard BBQ joined by even more family members, and we watched the sunset  — just the two of us — cocooned in a hammock under beautiful oak trees, resting in the peace of the day.

Part one of our journey was coming to an end, but our last day was the most incredible one yet! We went with Verieke, Erik, and their children to a Christian revival festival that draws more than 50,000 people together to celebrate Christ and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Surrounded by worship, music, and a crowd united in hope and joy — it was a powerful way to end our time in Holland with family.

But our journey does not end here! In our next blog we will take you to Paris — the city of light, where the pace shifted, the lights glowed a little brighter, and every street reflected the history that shaped it.