As I clicked the latch of the old wooden door open, I was instantly flabbergasted by the interior of a hidden gem – a Bed & Breakfast tucked within the hustling and bustling city center of Haarlem, Netherlands. With its blend of timeless elegance and quirky Dutch charm, the B&B wasn’t merely a place to rest your head, but a sensory experience to remember. The intricate 18th century Delft tiles reflected the subdued light from a vintage chandelier and the scent of fresh tulips wafted from a vase on a mahogany table. Fresh fruit and croissants, seemingly plucked straight from a still-life painting, adorned the communal table preserving the warm and welcoming Dutch tradition.
With each step on the creaky wooden floors into the heart of this Haarlem B&B, I found myself more in awe. Initial bewilderment turned into admiration for the thoughtful nourishment of authenticity, love, and culture. In each corner, there was character – from the decorative wooden shoes by the mantlepiece to the antique porcelain tea set, everything spoke a certain language of the Dutch Golden Age. Much like the city of Haarlem itself, the B&B was a blend of comforting familiarity and awe-inspiring history, a symphony of the senses that left me utterly flabbergasted; giving rise to the realization that travel is not just about changing geographies, but time too.
