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Continue reading →: The Lady at the PierIt was a sunny day in early August of 2024 and I knew resistance was futile. The park and canals were calling out to me — and I knew exactly where I wanted to be. There was a pier just ahead of Park Lepelenburg, closer to Zocherpark which had become…
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Continue reading →: Of the Cosmos and CompanyIt was the 12th of August, and there was a lot of excitement about the day. A total solar eclipse was going to happen, something that, according to what I read, hadn’t occurred in mainland Europe since 1999. I’d never witnessed one before. As if that weren’t enough, Jupiter, Mars,…
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Continue reading →: How I Ended Up Here (And Why I’m Not Done Yet)When I moved to Utrecht in the summer of 2022, I knew almost nothing about the place. Strange, really, for someone who researches every destination and plans out daily itineraries in excruciating detail. But this was different. I had just three months to pack up my entire life and move…
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Continue reading →: DeodaatThis interview was originally published on BirdcageRadio.com as part of their Spotlight interview series. While it’s been only fairly recent and my Birdcage Radio Spotlight “interview victims” count is still rather low, being given the privilege to speak to these passionate and talented folk has been nothing short of inspiring.…
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Continue reading →: Rochelle DietzThis interview was originally published on BirdcageRadio.com as part of their Spotlight interview series. If there’s one thing that you should know about Rochelle Dietz, it’s that she does a lot – particularly in the world of music and arts. “I do a lot. I like to keep myself busy…
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Continue reading →: A Walking Tour of Utrecht for New Visitors (Part 3)We’ve now come to the last leg of walking tour after Part 1 and Part 2. I commend you if you’re still with me! From here, we’ll now wrap up our little Utrecht walking journey through Oudegracht’s shopping street from Twijnstraat. Twijnstraat to Utrecht Centraal (Distance: 1.7km) If you’re craving…
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Continue reading →: A Walking Tour of Utrecht for New Visitors (Part 2)We are on a journey by foot exploring some of what Utrecht has to offer. If you missed Part 1 of the journey where we made our way from Utrecht Centraal to Griftpark, you can catch up on the route here. Now let’s head onwards! Griftpark to Park Lepelenburg (Distance:…
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Continue reading →: Alex van EckIn January 2024, the countless job application rejections continued to pile on, which was disheartening to say the least. I wanted to find a way to be useful while job hunting and upon some digging online, I discovered VCU, a volunteer center in Utrecht. I sent them an email: “Hie…
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Continue reading →: A Walking Tour of Utrecht for New Visitors (Part 1)This article was originally published on DeNuk.nl When I first moved to Utrecht almost two years ago, I knew almost nothing about the city besides it not being as noisy or hectic as Amsterdam (phew), it was quite a sight to behold with its canals and greenery and that I…
Bench Notes
STORIES OF PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCES WRITTEN FROM A BENCH
A lil’ about Bench Notes:
Head’s up! This isn’t going to be a quick read. It was never meant to be.
Bench Notes is an intimate look at the people and stories that make Utrecht what it is. I’ll speak to shop owners, musicians, volunteers, festival folk and everyday characters who probably won’t end up in any travel guide but absolutely should. All written slowly, from a bench, with more context and background than is strictly necessary. Consider that a promise… and a warning.
In a world drowning in clickbait and content built to be skimmed, this is something else. The writing here is experience and emotion-first. It’ll sometimes be longer than it needs to be, occasionally self-deprecating, but always honest.
If you feel something, well… good! ‘Cause that’s kind of the whole point.
People I follow:
