Taylor Travels

Travel Photos & Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Family Time in Zuidlaren, Nederlands

July 11, 2014

Ben is half-Dutch from his mom’s side. So after landing in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning, we immediately took a train to Groningen, about two hours away, where Ben’s great-aunt Agnes and her husband Herm Jan picked us up. They live about 20 minutes from Groningen in the village of Zuidlaren. Their house used to be a big barn, but now it’s a beautiful home with my dream backyard.

 

The view of the backyard from our bedroom.

Herm Jan took us on a walk to an old windmill in their village, which Ben was enamored with, and then we stopped by Agnes’s friend’s 90th birthday party. There, we met Agnes’s mom (so Ben’s great-great aunt), who turns 100 next month. LET ME TELL YOU, the Dutch may be the healthiest, happiest people I’ve ever met. Great-great-aunt Djoe is about the spriteliest, most active, jolly lady ever. She kept grabbing my face and smiling and saying my name over and over.

The birthday lady—90 years young.

Great-great Aunt Djoe.

The next day, Agnes and Herm Jan took us on a little family history tour, and we visited the farms where Ben’s Grandma Tena grew up. We did a lot of driving through Holland’s countryside; so many cows, horses, and sheep, and SO MANY CUTE HOUSES. Took way too many pictures of those. The thing I couldn’t believe was how every single house was adorned with the most beautiful flowers and gardens.

Gma Tena’s second farmhouse she lived in.

Half thatched, half tiled.

Herm Jan having a peek inside.

This was about my fourth attempt to get them to look at the camera for the picture.

Pretty and old things inside the building next door.

They have Nova-everything in The Netherlands, too!

We visited Agnes’s cousin’s farm, too. Their house was really old, and they’ve changed almost nothing about it. Also they only speak Frisian, so that was interesting to listen to.

Agnes and her cousin’s wife, Amy.

One of their cats just had kittens. So precious.

This was not a prop.

Agnes’s cousin Reink.

When we got home, Agnes and Herm Jan led us to drinks and crackers in their garden and then treated us to dinner at a nice restaurant in town. Can’t get any better than that.

If you’re still with me, here’s a small sampling of my Dutch houses/flowers photo collection.


Posted by nataliecstaylor 6 Comments
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. brooke: says

    July 10, 2014 at 11:29 pm

    are you kidding me? this is a dream. i love it. sweet pics. also, didn't know you blogged. greetings from your newest stalker 🙂

    Reply
  2. dave sandberg says

    July 11, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    So did Ben's family relatives all speak English? Fluently? Or have you picked up some Dutch?

    Reply
    • Natalie Taylor says

      July 11, 2014 at 8:00 pm

      Yes, yes, and yes. Mostly yes to the first two.

      Reply
  3. cindy sandberg says

    July 11, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Idyllic.

    Reply
  4. Desirée Gómez Hernández says

    July 11, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Woow Natalie, keep telling us about your trip and show us more pics! have fuuun!
    Desi!

    Reply
  5. Victoria says

    July 12, 2014 at 3:46 am

    Loving these pictures!! Looks like so much fun

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Professional dancer, freelance writer and editor, and Type-A travel enthusiast.

SEARCH

Archives

  • June 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (3)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (5)

Popular Posts

Family Time in Zuidlaren, Nederlands

Ben is half-Dutch from his mom’s side. So after landing in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning, we immediately took a train to Groningen, about two hours away, where Ben’s great-aunt Agnes and her husband Herm Jan picked us up. They live about 20 minutes from Groningen in the village of Zuidlaren. Their house used to be…

Continue Reading »

National Parks (April 2016)

I’ve lived in Utah for almost seven years and, until this past April, had never visited any of the state’s national parks. So, Ben and I changed that over the course of two weekends by visiting both Zion (not “Zion’s” or “Zions.” Locals will roll their eyes at you if you say either.) and Arches.

Magical Morocco

Guys, this is a long one. But this trip was one of the highlights of my traveling life and unlike any place I’ve been to before, so I’m not about to skimp on pictures or words. It was my (and Ben’s) first time in an Islamic country, too, so it was extra unique and interesting…

Continue Reading »

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis