UCLL Leuven, Belgium

Surprise! Easter holidays are right around the corner. Unlike in Germany, not only students, but also all university students in Belgium enjoy two weeks of Easter holidays. The lecture-free period is therefore the perfect time for traveling. There are many attractive travel destinations both within Belgium and in the neighbouring countries. The plan: A trip to the neighbours in the north -> a 3-day trip to the Netherlands. The preparations for the trip are neither complicated nor time-consuming, as there are many connections with Flixbus from Brussels or Antwerp to the Netherlands. Together with a friend from my Erasmus group, we decided on Flixbus No. 813: Brussels-The Hague.

The city on the North Sea coast offers a lot, which is why our plans for each day were always very diverse. Starting with a very large selection of museums, which have works from the Golden Age (17th century) but also modern art and works from the 19th and 20th centuries. In the "museum" category, our decision fell on the Escher Museum, which shows a permanent exhibition of the most famous works by M.C. Escher in the former winter palace of Queen Mother Emma. In addition to the exhibited works of art, information boards tell about Escher's history and the development of his typical art style, which is characterized, among other things, by illusions, metamorphoses, and reflections. Not only the exhibition itself, but also the free audio guide and the ambiance of the palace made the museum visit a worthwhile attraction! 

Also, while strolling through the city center and alleys of The Hague, we quickly fell under the charm of the Dutch city. At every turn, there is always a new statue, a new square, or backyard to discover. So we also stopped at the Peace Palace and the Paleis Noordeinde, the latter being the official residence of the Dutch monarchy. Another must-see that we definitely want to recommend to everyone visiting The Hague is the Hofvijver (castle pond) next to the Binnenhof. The avenue next to the castle pond invites you to take a break on one of the many benches and enjoy the view of one of The Hague's most famous backdrops, which shows the characteristic skyline with the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, and the modern architecture in the background.

Extra Tipp: The Hofvijver is a must-visit at day or at night!

Last but not least, a trip to the beach cannot be missed. In addition to the amazing sight of the Hofvijver, the beach is definitely also part of the top backdrops and photo spots in The Hague. With the pier, which extends from the beach into the sea, and the Ferris wheel, you could almost think you are standing on the famous Santa Monica Pier in California. A walk along the beach promenade, eating and drinking in one of the many beach bars, a ride on the Ferris wheel, or the free ascent to the platform of the observation tower at the end of the pier - you can easily spend a few hours at the beach of The Hague. The icing on the cake - clearly the sunset behind the dreamy pier.

On our way back home, we also made a stop at Keukenhof. Keukenhof describes itself as the most beautiful spring park in the world and is open from late March to mid-May. The walk through the park is more than impressive. The meadows on the left and right are covered with the most beautiful flower beds you have ever seen. Flowers blooming in all colours, shapes, and variations that one cannot imagine. Radiant sunshine not only provided us with the optimal conditions for a visit to Keukenhof but also a beautiful conclusion to our trip to the Netherlands.

And with the images of the colourful flower beds in our heads, shining brighter and stronger than the sun, we returned to Leuven.