Trento is a gorgeous city and besides visiting the city center and it’s castles we just have to recommend MUSE. This state of the art, modern science museum is not only very informative but especially a lot of fun to visit! From dinosaurs to climate change, a wide variety of topics are covered.

When you gaze on the beauty of the Dolomites it’s not hard to image the wildlife that surrounds you. One can not help but wonder how these impressive mountains formed. And as wonderful as it looks now, it hasn’t always been like this. A long, long time ago even dinosaurs wandered around in this region!

Nature and science combined at Muse

The MUSE museum in Trento offers a great insight in the forming of the region, the extinct and existing wildlife. And all of this is in combination with the latest on science. When you visit MUSE you enter a well organized, modern museum.

The artifacts are well documented and the interactive displays make it a dynamic museum. This makes it a great experience for young and old. The information is written in an easy to understand fashion and is therefore interesting for everyone.

Even better, the information displays are not the only way the gather and learn interesting facts. On every floor you meet employees and volunteers of the MUSE museum that will gladly tell you more about the topics. Many of them are actually scientist either working for MUSE or studying at the Trento university.

A 7 floor journey

I recommend you to start at the lowest floor and make your way up trough this 7 floor museum. On level -1 you find exiting information on dinosaurs, DNA and fossils. Reconstructed skeletons of some of the great ones are on display. It’s hard to image having these enormous beast walking around on the planet, but the fossils shown proof they have really existed.

Trough the tropical garden, you make your way to the first floor where you can experience and try exciting science experiments that explain a lot of different concepts of physics. This floor is especially informative and a lot of fun for the younger ones.

On the first floor you learn more about our sustainability and innovation on our planet, the alpine prehistory and a ‘fablab’. In the latter, companies from the region showcase their work. Currently it’s possible to see and try 3D printing. Another very interesting part on this floor are the research laboratories. You can view prehistoric, geological, biological and palaeontological artifacts stored in the hundered drawers of the cabinets here.

Exploring the region, nature and climate

Moving on to the second floor, we learn loads more on the environment you are currently in; the Dolomites. Learn more about the geology and it’s origin, it’s subsoil resources and the environmental risk and civil protecting of the region. As beautiful as the region is, risks of flooding and other natural disasters are always present yet the resources and beauty however make it a region lots of people want to live.

Getting closer to the top, on the third floor the focus is on the biodiversity and changes of season. Discover all the wonderful creatures and nature all season around. It features many of the wildlife you find in the forest in Trentino and motivates you to go out and explore the region by yourself.

Reaching the last indoor floor, have a look at glaciers, climate, exploration and research. It shows the beauty the of the most majestic natural events but also warns about it’s fragile nature. Lots of glaciers around the world are drastically shrinking, indicating the changes to climate that currently have the world by it’s throat. A floor with beauty combined with a reality check!

Consuming it all at the panoramic terrace

And after all these floors of interesting an informative exhibitions it’s now time to take a breath on the panoramic terrace. With a beautiful view trough the valley and from the city of Trento, it’s an invite to go out in the mountains and enjoy the flora and fauna around. With all the newly learned knowledge and information, you look at it with a different set of eyes.

And if there is one thing to take away from it all, it is to enjoy our planet but be more conscious then ever on our role and the ways we affect and can protect this wonderful world we live in!

How to visit MUSE

The address of MUSE is Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 in Trento. It’s very close to the city center, just 10 minutes away from Piazza del Duomo. The museum has facilities and is completely accessible for the disabled.

Buy your tickets online or at entry of the museum. At the moment of writing adult tickets are a well worth investment of 10,- EUR per person. For families with children discount rates apply.

Parking can be done in the parking garage below the museum. Do note that the garage usually closes one hour after the museum does. And if it’s closed it is properly closed. Consequently, if your car is still there, it’s safely locked up from anyone accessing it, including you! Yes, I speak out of own experience…

More, up to date, information on ticket pricing and opening hours can be found on the MUSE website.

At the Pasubio pass, located between the provinces of Vicenza and Trento, the panoramic views are spectacular. It’s looks like a very peaceful place. But history holds a dark story. A closer look reveals remnants of the 1st world war. In honor of those who lost their lives, we visit the Ossario del Pasubio.

When hiking around in this region you will discover many caves. Having a close look during your hike will even let you find artifacts like cans, bottles and even ammunition of the first world war. This is because this area was the front line of the Italian and Austro-Hungarian war. Ossario del Pasubio tells the story and the museum next doors gives a very detailed view on the history.

The Ossario del Pasubio

The Ossario del Pasubio, translated in English as the Pasubio Monastery, has it’s origins in 1917.  The idea was to build a chapel. A monument dedicated to the fallen in the First World War.

Construction started in 1920 at an altitude of 1217 meters. The position was chosen because of it’s beautiful views over the valley and because it allows you to see the shape of the monastery from across the Vicenza plain.

Construction was hard due to the cold, hostile winters and collection of funds. On August 29, 1926 the monastery was inaugurated. It consist out of two parts. The ossuary and the chapel. You find the ossuary in the tower stand and it includes a central crypt and two concentric galleries. In the central crypt the remains of 70 decorated soldiers are kept while in the galleries the remains of another 5146 Italian and 40 Austro-Hungarians are stored. The bones of the fallen are visible which gives it a chilling touch.

The chapel can be reached by entering the tower on the south. Using stairs to the top, you’ll find the small chapel. The inside of the tower is decorated with beautiful frescoes and artistic stained glass.

The 1^st army museum

The museo 1^a armata completes the story that the monastery is trying to tell. In this museum you will find exhibitions explaining the war itself. It’s a modern museum giving a neutral insight with various levels of perception. It displays memorabilia, images, 3D reconstructions and multimedia outlets.

Events at Ossario del Pasubio

Every year on the last Sunday of June there is a celebration in memory of the fallen. This is also in memory of the anniversary of the bloodiest battle fought on the nearby massive on July the second, 1916.

Combining your visit with the outdoors

The monastery and museum are very interesting to visit but truly stand out by the fact it’s can easily be combined with a wonderful hike. You can plan in a visit during the hike. At the Ossario del Pasubio you find a little bar for refreshments.

Personally I’d recommend to park at Pian de Fugazze and hike around Monte Cornetto. There are several signed post paths either taking you around or even to the top of Monte Cornetto. Note that this hike will take you a couple of hours and making your way up to the top requires fitness.

If you want to skip the hike, take a nice 2 km walk. Walk the road from Pian de Fugazze to the Ossario del Pasubio and be surprised by the views at arrival!

How to get there

You can reach the Ossario de Pasubio using the SS46 from both Rovereto and Schio. This drive itself gives you very nice views over the valley and mountains. From Pian Delle Fugazze, the top of the pass, it’s a small 2 km to Ossiario del Pasubio.

More information on the tower, museum and events can be found on the Ossario del Pasubio website. (Italian only)

Have you ever tried skiing? Maybe you have been going down the slopes, tried cross country or even tried snowboarding. It all looks very modern and you might even think it’s a sport invented in the last century. This could not be more wrong. The Holmenkollen ski museum displays the story of human kind picking up skiing much longer ago. As far back as 4000 years!

Located underneath Oslo’s ski jump in Holmenkollen the worlds oldest ski museum can be found. Holmenkollen ski museum has openend it’s doors in 1923 and is therefore the world’s oldest museum specialized in skiing. With several exhibitions it covers a variety of topics. One thing is for sure, if you never considered skiing, this modern museum for all ages will definitely make you do so!

Winter joy at Holmenkollen

Vinterglede, as this exhibition is called in Norwegain, is all about the winter joy. Opened in June 2007 on the 1st floor, you can see the many variations of joy the winter and snow brings. Meet great Norwegian skiers from all ages and get a glimpse of the development of the Holmenkollen ski jump over the last century. Yes, the massive ski jump you are under while visiting this museum started out as just a snow jump.

Many great films will show you the joy people and athletes had in the past and present as well as memorable moments in skiing history.

Freedom on Snow

This exhibition opened in November 2014 and is all about the freedom on skiing and snowboarding. You get to see gorgeous pictures and video on modern skiing and snowboarding, the history of modern ski- and snowboarding and much more. This exhibition is not only fun for adults but definitely for children too. In fact, you can try to snowboard and ski yourself on the indoor gyro boards! Be sure to check out the film made by Field Productions.

Polar exhibitions

In the Holmenkollen ski museum you will find exciting information and artifacts from some of the most important polar expeditions in history. Even before the opening of the Holmenkollen ski museum, explorers Nansen and Amundsen donated much of their equipment from their expeditions to the Association for the Promotion of Skiing.

Imagine, Fridtjof Nansen went across Greenland on ski’s in 1888. During his expedition he tested various equipment such as ski’s, sleeping bags and boots. Between 1893 and 1896 Nansen and his crew intended to sail the Artic Ocean in order to reach the North Pole expedition using a ship called ‘Fram’.

Between 1910 and 1912, Roald Amundsen was in a race to beat British explorers to be the first to reach the South pole. Amundsen reached the pole on the 14th of December 1911 while the British team, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott arrived on the 18th of January 1912. The entire British crew perished on their return journey.

Børge Ousland has undertaken several Arctic and Antarctic expeditions and is a modern example of a polar explorer.

The stories of these explorers are incredible and artifacts from their journey, as well as documents can be found in the Holmenkollen ski museum. It’s hard to imagine how harsh it must have been while we stand in a warm and comfortable modern museum.

Northern Lights

All over the world people are and always have been fascinated by the Northern Lights. It’s a stunning phenomenon that you don’t get to see every day. In fact, you need to be very close to the earth’s pole’s and even then you need a good dose of luck. No wonder visitors from all over the world flock to northern Norway to experience this bucket list natural event.

In the Holmenkollen ski museum you can watch a documentary that takes you on a journey from myths and early science to our modern understanding of the northern lights.

‘Be prepared’

The exhibition be prepared is inevitable and a must for the Holmenkollen ski museum. So far, my stay in Oslo has been snow-less. And while there are some that believe climate change is a hoax created by the Chinese, the fact is that our climate is changing. It has always done, but this time it’s us, humans that cause it. This exhibition show how and what the disastrous outcome can be if we don’t change our ways. The signs are critical and skiing and snowboarding might become a rare sight near Oslo.

Views from the jump tower

Done reading and viewing artifacts behind glass? It’s time to gaze over Holmenkollen and Oslo. And elevator brings you all the way to the top of the ski jump tower. Experience the views an athlete has before he plunges down into the pit filled with people. I’m sure the thought will make you shiver. But I’m also sure you will be amazed by the beautiful panoramic view. See Olso and Oslo fjord in a glimp, look far into the forest, or marka as it’s called in Norwegian and be blown away.

A solid 2 hour drive from Oslo you’ll find a very well know Norwegian city called Lillehammer. With a population of around 20.000 it sure ain’t in the top of Norway’s biggest cities. Yet it’s well known among most of us as the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. I’ve set out to have a look and discover this city.

Located in the district of Gudbrandsdal within the Oppland county, Lillehammer is not only a town. It’s also the name of the municipality of which the town itself is the administrative center.

The, for most of us, small city center mostly consist of a concentration of 19th-century wooden houses. It’s location is wonderful. Surrounded by mountains and with views over the northern part of lake Mjøsa and the river LÃ¥gen picturesque scenes are guaranteed.

Strolling Lillehammer city center

Lillehammer’s city center is quite small, but it sure gives it’s authentic and cozy atmosphere. I’m here during the winter, so I do have to watch where I set foot as it can be slippery. As Lillehammer has been an important trading area since 1300s it does not only offer your average kind of stores.

In the wooden buildings you will find specialized stores with craft products, interior and souvenirs. Besides that, you can visit galleries and museums. But don’t rush! Make sure you visit one of the many cozy and warm cafes or restaurants as well.

Throwback to the 1994 Olympics

Up the hill, not far away from Lillehammer center, you find a place called LysgÃ¥rdsbakkene, the ski jumping hill used during the 1994 winter Olympics. Whether it’s summer or winter time, this is a must visit if you ask me. The fact that sportsman are crazy enough to launch them from these ski jumps is impressive.

Best of all though is that you are more than welcome to walk the 954 steps to the top of the Ski jumping arena. It’s though, but the views over the city and surroundings are very rewarding.

With time to spare

If you have more than a day to spend in Lillehammer, there is actually a lot more you can get out of your trip. During winter time there are loads of winter sports and activities for you to try. The summer ain’t much different, though the type of activity is most likely to be different.

While most of the activities available are on a small to far distance for the actual city of Lillehammer, many of them are must do’s! How about going down the Olympic bob- and lunge track? Or test yourself on the Olympic 50km cross country trail? It’s all possible in this beautiful region by the name of Lillehammer.

It doesn’t get more Dutch. A collection of well preserved historic windmills and houses located in Zaanse Schans make you go back in time and tell the story of the residential and industrial history of the Netherlands.

It’s on a rainy moment of a day in October we arrive at Zaanse Schans, one of Hollands best known tourist attraction. From the parking area and main entrance, the first thing you’ll notice are the windmills on the dyke. And possibly the rather contrasting background of a normal, modern city.

History

This is not a coincidence, the windmills and other buildings at Zaanse Schans have moved to this location between 1961 and 1974. Using lowboy trailers the objects from the region Zaanstreek were placed to create this open air museum of Dutch heritage in one spot.

The windmills, objects and even the inhabitants and employees will remind you of the 18th and 19th century. Most of the windmills and other small musea and shops can be visited throughout the day. And with 1.6 million visitors in 2014, it proves to be a popular place.

Windmills

The most authentic views are made by the windmills placed along the dyke at Zaanse Schans. From different locations you get a view of them which features on the cover of many brochure about Holland. While the Dutch put together this iconic scene to attract tourist, they are real and original windmills from across the ‘Zaanstreek’.

With 3 oil mills, ‘de Os’ (the Ox), ‘de Zoeker’ (the Seeker) and ‘de bonte Hen’ (the spotted Hen) you can get a good view of how oil can be produced using a windmill.

At the 3 saw mills you get to experience how wood can be manufactured into planks. With ‘de gekroonde Poelenburg’ (the crowned Poelenburg), ‘het jonge Schaap’ (the young Sheep) and ‘het Klaverblad’ (the Cloverleaf) there is enough chance to get a look inside and feel the history.

With a dye mill ‘de Kat’ (the Cat) and mustard mill ‘de Huisman’ (the Houseman) you get the idea of all the possibilities. The Dutch ancestors have been able to come up with all kinds of solutions using the wind as energy source. And if you think all this is for show only, you are wrong. Some of these windmills still operate as a business, if not to just have a side income.

Zaans Museum

In 1998 the Zaans Museum was opened with the goal of preserving and protecting the heritage of the Zaanstreek (Zaan area). The museum features two sub-collections: residential culture and industrial culture. Expect to see regional costumes and Zaan-style painted furniture for example.

‘The Cooperage’, the ‘Jisper house’ and the ‘Weaver’s house’ have recently been added as museum locations with living history at the Zaanse Schans. ‘The Cooperage’ features the craft of coopery, or barrel making. The ‘Jisper house’ tells the story of a fisherman’s wife before the industrial revolution midway trough the 19th century.  And the ‘Weaver’s house’ reveals it’s focus in the name, namely the craft of weaving sailcloth in the 19th century.

Plan your visit

If you are planning to visit Zaanse Schans it’s a good idea to quickly check what you would like to see. The different windmills and museums have different opening hours and there are daily demonstrations of professions and folklore to see. For a up-to-date and detailed overview of this you can visit this page.

Zaanse Schans is a stone’s throw from Amsterdam and can be reached by almost any kind of transportation.

Bus

If you are visiting from Amsterdam, a fun way to go to Zaanse Schans is by combining it with the NDSM wharf and a visit to the center of Zaandam. You can do this by using busline 391, also named the ‘Industrial Heritage Line’. For more information, have a look at bus391.nl.

Train

If you plan on visiting Zaanse Schans by train you need to go to trainstation ‘Koog-Zaandijk’. From Amsterdam Central station this will take you 17 minutes. Subsequently you walk to the Zaanse Schans in about 15 minutes.

Car

Of course the Zaanse Schans is also accessible by car. You can use the address ‘Schansend 7, Zaandam’ on your GPS device. Parking is 9,- euro for a day.

Bike

Depending on your location, going to Zaanse Schans by bike is a true authentic and modern day way of transportation in the Netherlands. Ask a local tourist office for advise as he will have some wonderful cycle routes ready for you.

Considering to visit Zaanse Schans?

We at Live & Explore love to help you out creating your custom itinerary. Listing to your wishes and demands we will keep our eyes open and compliment your visit with tips, advises and excursions.

Contact us and let us know your wishes, or leave your details and we will get it touch with you to discuss your itinerary.

Yes, Volendam, even though highly touristic, is often referred to as “pearl of the Zuiderzee”. Not far from Amsterdam you find yourself in a traditional Dutch town where costumes, wooden shoes and clichés are evident. It is though telling the story of a small town with a long history.

No matter when you find yourself in Volendam, it’s always busy with tourists from all over the world. Only 20 km away north of Amsterdam, it’s also one of Noord Holland’s most visited attractions. Yes, it’s a good place the get an idea of the past. The small, rather isolated fishermen’s village has a lot of characteristics reminding of it. There are still a quite a few local inhabitants that dress up in traditional costumes. In fact, it’s one of the best known ancient clothing in the Netherlands.

Over 600 years of history

Before 1357, Volendam was actually the harbor of nearby Edam, in which the mouth of the IJ bay was located. The inhabitants of Edam then dug a shorter canal with a separate harbor to access the Zuiderzee and the original harbor was dammed and used for land reclamation. For this reason, the new community of local fisherman and farmers that formed at this new land called it ‘Vollendam’, which would translate to ‘filled dam’.

Nowadays lots of tourists find their way to Volendam to get a glance of the ships, costumes and local shop. Others take the boat to the peninsula of Marken, a really nice trip in good weather.

Smell & taste Volendam

Besides visiting the Cheese Factory for a more traditional Dutch taste, you should definitely try some typical Volendam fisherman bites. Put your teeth in, for example, raw herring accompanied by freshly chopped onions and pickles. Eat it traditional style by taking the fish by the tail and lower it down in the mouth.

Or what about ‘kibbeling’? This Dutch snack consists of battered chunks of diep fried fish, commonly served with a mayonnaise-based garlic or tartar sauce. Originally made of cod, and in the nineteenth century mainly the salted waste of the cod fishery, rising cod prices changed modern kibbeling to be made of other fish, such as pollack, hake, whiting or coal fish.

Last but not least, don’t miss out on some ‘Poffertjes’, mini pancakes server with powdered sugar and a good lump of butter. All of this can be bought at one of the many stands across the promenade.

Discover the traditions & history

Other than smells and tastes, the rich tradition and history assures there is a nice variety of museums, expositions and touristic attractions to visit. Besides taking the boat to Marken, where you will end up in another fisherman’s town, there are many options in Volendam itself.

Experience Volendam

Right in the middle of the harbor of Volendam you can visit ‘experience Volendam‘. A modern attraction to tell the history of the town. Using holographic technology with the Oculus Rift, you get to experience the wild waves of the Zuiderzee in the year 1916. In this 360 degree spectacle for the young and old, you will meet a young fisherman out sailing, surviving the flood and looking for his bride, all in traditional Volendam.

Volendams museum

The Volendams museum opened its doors in 1977 and had a rough start. Almost 40 years later it’s one of the best museums where you can get an idea of the history of Volendam. With a huge collection of art, ancient clothing, jewelry and much, much more, there is enough to see. You won’t find the museum on the promenade though. Trough a few local streets you find the museum on the Zeeweg, as can be found on the map above.

How to get there

Volendam is a small town 20 km north of Amsterdam. The quickest to get there would be by car. And with sufficient and free parking space available, it’s only in high season it might be hard to park. The nearest train station is in Purmerend from where you can take a bus or cab to Volendam. If you’re not up for using Dutch public transport, a bus tour from the center of Amsterdam will bring you directly to and from Volendam.

Where to stay

We have made a selection of 3 properties either in or close to Volendam where you can stay over for the night. Depending on your budget and wishes, you can get an idea of how a basic, proper and luxurious stay could look like in Volendam. Check out our selection on the right (desktop) or below (on mobile devices).

Considering to visit Volendam?

We at Live & Explore love to help you out creating your custom itinerary. Listing to your wishes and demands we will keep our eyes open and compliment your visit with tips, advises and excursions.

Contact us and let us know your wishes, or leave your details and we will get it touch with you to discuss your itinerary.