Well, well, well...It has only taken us 10 years to get to this point; some may say it has been something of a whirlwind romance...!
We initially met each other back in 2012 whilst travelling through Vietnam, which was followed by another (not so chance) encounter in the Netherlands a few weeks later. Whilst getting to know each other in Groningen (Lotte's university town), we soon found that Lotte was to be studying for her Masters in Manchester whilst Ross would be studying Medicine in Birmingham. This set the foundations for many train journeys between the two cities in that first year and the rest is, well, history....
Fast forward several years, including two where Lotte lived in Africa and a further four in Amsterdam, and we decided to take the plunge and move in together. With Ross working in Epsom training to be a GP and Lotte securing a job in sustainable finance in London, we settled upon Surbiton to be our new home.
What followed was a wonderful year and perhaps some long over-due 'normal time' together. Thankfully we both survived to tell the tale, and so less than one year later we bought our first home just down the road from Surbiton in Esher.
And finally, after 9 patient years, Ross decided it was time to 'put a ring on it' and proposed whilst on holiday in Mallorca back in July of last year. After a slightly hairy moment, when he was unable to recite 'the question' in Dutch, she said YES!
Which leads us to this moment...for which we are very excited; both to commit our futures to each other and to celebrate our love with all you wonderful people!
We are very grateful so many of you have decided to join us on our special day. We know for many it is a long trip and so we wanted to share our tips and favourite places in and around Nijmegen - if you find yourself with half a day to spare.
Nijmegen is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland, on the river Waal close to the German border. Nijmegen is also the oldest city in the Netherlands and in 2005 celebrated 2,000 years of existence. Unfortunately a large portion of the city was destroyed during the second world war, but a good portion of the old town has remained intact and retains much of its charm.
If you find yourself having some spare time, we suggest having a look around the main square called the Grote Markt with its many terraces, cafes and pubs and is often the focal point of the town. The Waalkade, the area down by the river, is also well worth a stroll, particularly on a sunny afternoon. Late night bars are found in the Molenstraat (El Sombrero, Drie Gezusters) and Koningsplein (Sjors &Sjimmie).
Whilst most of the Netherlands is known for its pancakes and stroopwafels (and you certainly won't be short of these here), some of the local delicacies are best sampled from the pop-up food stalls dotted around town. Look out for Kibbeling (the dutch answer to fish and chips) or fresh raw Herring with onions (probably not one for the morning before the wedding..).
There are several excellent cafes/pubs all around town too. We particularly like the Grote Markt, where you can find Eetcafe Camelot whose terraces catch the late evening sun - perfect for an afternoon tipple. And of course an essential accompaniment to any beer are the dutch bitterballen (trust us on this one!).
There are also many wonderful restaurants catering to all preferences and tastes. Bistro Flores is a wonderful boutique restaurant nestled in the street opposite Valkhofpark, particularly if you are looking for something a little more special (reservations required). Other highlights for dinner include WERF Bar & Diner BV and Vief restaurant. For brunch and lunch Cafe de Blonde Pater, Down Town, Cafe The Lobby and De Fabriek are firm favourites.
For culture vultures there are plenty of theatres and arthouses - in particular LUX which is the largest arthouse in the Netherlands with diverse range of programmes throughout the day. There are also several museums including the Museum Het Valkhof where you are thrown back into Nijmegen's Roman past, whilst also being able to enjoy contemporary art.
For shopping go to Marikenstraat for higher end shops and Broertstraat for all mainstreet shops, as well Plein 1944.
If you are keen to sample the Dutch sauna and spa experience (strictly pants off before you ask!) - the new Thermen Berendonck is one of the best in the country and would be an excellent way to wind down after the wedding party the night before.
For those interested in branching out further, there are some lovely walks in Berg en Dal a short 15 minute drive from the city. Here you can find trials through the woodlands, with some lovely pancake houses around. We also encourage you to cycle on the Dijk along river Waal, crossing the cycling bridges, just to Lent or all the way to Ewijk.
Amsterdam is such a beautiful city and definitely worth a visit before or after the wedding. Here’s a list of our top-ten tips to enjoy your stay.
1. Wondering which area to stay in?
The Pijp, Jordaan or Oud-West are cool local neighbourhoods with good connections to Central station, station Zuid and Amstel station (easy to reach Nijmegen from there).
2. FOOD!
There are loads of great options on this front. Our favourites include Café Klepel (reservation necessary and they don’t have a menu), La Perla (great vibes, even better pizza), Toscanini (best Italian restaurant), Panache (amazing cocktails too), The Plantagen and Scheepskameel (kinda fancy). In Amsterdam North (you have to take a ferry to get there) there is Stork for fish, the Hangar for industrial vibes or Skate Cafe for casual.
3. Pubs, cafes and drinks
Local pubs/bars really depend on the neighbourhood, but some good ones are: Gollem, Café De Tuin, Café Bax and Café ‘t Paardtje. If you want to feel like a local, but still get your touristy fix, visit the Brewery ‘t IJ. The house-brewed IJwit is a favourite beer amongst the Amsterdammers.4. Getting Around
Uber works well in Amsterdam, but prices have shot up recently. Public transport (tram or metro) is cheap and pretty easy to navigate. For trams you can buy a ticket with cash or card in the tram itself. For the metro, you’ll have to buy an OV card at the ticket station (that can be used for tram as well). Of course cycling is a must, and there are numerous bike rentals dotted around the city.
5. Boating
For the adventurous, one of the best ways to see Amsterdam is by boat. There are several operators around the city. If you are thinking of hiring a boat we suggest checking out MOKUM Boat.
6. Brunching
Try Bakers&Roasters, Staring at Jacob, Morgan&Mees, Lavinia, Dignita, Bar Bonnie, Libertine or Bufette van Odette. Alternatively, instead of doing a touristy canal tour, try G’s brunch boat! (On Saturdays and Sundays only)
7. An afternoon (or morning) in the sun
If the sun’s out (fingers crossed!), best places for a refreshing beer are Hanneke’s Boom, the Waterkant, Meneer Nieges, the Marie Heinekenplein or anywhere on the Amstel (like Weesper or tHuis aan de Amstel). Or take a stroll in the Vondelpark and get a coffee to go at the Blauwe Theehuis. If you feel like going a bit out of your way, Pllek is a really cool spot on the water in North (you get there by ferry).
8. Museums
If you’re feeling like stepping up your cultural game, Rijksmuseum is a must. Other cool museums are Van Gogh and Foam (photography).
9. Apple Pie (Yes, it needs its own category)
Winkel 43 is known for the BEST Dutch apple pie. The Noordermarkt nearby is good for vintage shopping.
10. Shopping
If you want to do some last minute shopping for the wedding, avoid Kalverstraat and go to the Nine Streets instead. Gives you a good opportunity to roam the pretty canal streets too.