Eisinga Planetarium: where curiosity and reason challenged superstition and ignorance

In the Netherlands, Franeker is one of 11 historical cities of the northern province of Friesland. 1,200 years ago, it was a stronghold for the Carolingians, (the family of Charlemagne & co, remember?) Today, it is the kind of place where you park the car along the canal, hoping you’re not so close to the …

Dubai Travel Tips

Dubai attracts over 17 million international visitors a year, with countless visitors flocking to its luxury shopping playgrounds, resorts and electrifying attractions. Plan the ultimate getaway to the most populated city in the UAE, and arm yourself with essential tips and tricks for navigating your metropolitan adventure. Packing For Your Desert Paradise Situated in the …

Colonies of Benevolence: an 18th century social reform experiment

Hello again, folks. Last week, I talked about all the World Heritage sites in northern Netherlands that celebrate the country’s long history of reclaiming land. Well, it’s more to these parts than water. There’s also colonies of benevolence. And a planetarium! (We’ll get back to that in a later post.) Colonies of Benevolence: Frederiksoord The …