Culture Tourist

19/12/2025

📱✈️🏝️ Are you planning a trip abroad soon and are wondering what to do about the mobile data?

When I was travelling abroad before, I would either buy a physical sim card when in the destination or I would rely on local wifi spots. And to be honest, I really disliked both for several reasons.

But, during my recent weekend in Basel and trip to New York, I used eSIM and really liked it.

🔗 Read my new article to learn more about why to use eSIM during your next trip and an honest Ubigi eSIM review (including a discount code for Culture Tourist readers):
https://culturetourist.com/traveling-tips/which-esim-to-use-for-travel-ubigi-esim-review/

12/12/2025

New blog post: The Borghese Gallery in Rome 🎨🏛️🖼️

I'm very happy to welcome Carol M. Cram as a contributor to the Culture Tourist today and share with you her wonderful article about the Borghese Gallery in Rome.

Situated in the elegant Villa Borghese and surrounded by the delightfully lush and tranquil Borghese Gardens, the Galleria Borghese is a peaceful escape from Rome’s crowds.

The Gallery is a must-see if you are a fan of Baroque art.

The Borghese Gallery houses part of the exceptional collection started by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, in the early 17th century.

In its day, the villa was a villa suburbana—a lavish retreat for Rome’s elite on what was then the outskirts of Rome.

A century later, in 1808, Prince Camillo Borghese, who was Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother-in-law, was forced to sell many sculptures to Napoleon. That’s why masterpieces such as the Borghese Gladiator are now in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Thankfully, plenty of treasures remain, including Canova’s statue of Josephine Bonaparte and one of the most impressive Baroque sculpture collections in the world.

🔗 Read more about it here: https://culturetourist.com/destinations/italy/the-borghese-gallery-why-take-a-tour-of-romes-most-exquisite-museum/

11/12/2025

Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones? 🎁🤶🎄

Why not get them a captivating book inspired by Van Gogh's life, featuring travels through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, along with great art, museum visits, and some intriguing art crime? 🎨📖

🔗 Follow this link for the Following Van Gogh book ordering options: https://followingvangogh.com/

Order now to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas!

PS. If you order directly from my website, I can sign the book for you and include some bookmarks and lovely stickers as a bonus. 🎄

Visit the link above or DM me for more info!

04/12/2025

The Christmas markets season is starting 🎄❄

Each year, I compile a list of the best Christmas markets in the Netherlands, and it always ends up being my most popular post of the year.

So here it is again, Christmas markets in the Netherlands with the 2025 agenda:

Christmas markets in the Netherlands: 2025 agenda, list of all Dutch markets & special winter events happening this year.

26/11/2025

Here is a short interview with me about the “Following Van Gogh” book at the book event organised at Theater Bellevue in Amsterdam on 22 November 2025 😊

21/11/2025

During my trip to London at the beginning of this month, I attended the .graham.dixon lecture on Johannes Vermeer at the

He has been researching the famous 17th-century painter for the last decade and has discovered some fascinating new information about him. I’m reading the book in a moment and am truly enjoying it 🤩 I’ll probably share more about it as I read through it.

Btw, if you’ve ever attended some of my Van Gogh Museum tours, I often mention his documentary “Stealing Van Gogh” about the 2002 art heist at that museum. You can watch it on YouTube 😉

📚 Check out the book if you’d like to learn more about Vermeer and the Dutch society of the 17th century.

21/11/2025

No plans for tomorrow?

Join me at Theater Bellevue in Amsterdam for this book event. Meet local writers, listen to brief interviews, and pick up some great books.

Am I going to see you there?

14/11/2025

It's that time of the year again! Time for Christmas markets in the Netherlands! 🎄🎄🎄

With numerous festive events, Christmas trees, decorations, and that lovely, cosy feeling, December is my favourite month of the year. A big reason for this is Christmas markets.

Since I'm a massive fan of everything related to Christmas, I did some research again this year, and put together a list of all Christmas markets organised in the Netherlands in 2025. I first compiled this list nine years ago and updated it ever since.

🔗 So, if you would like to visit some Christmas markets in the Netherlands, here is your complete guide to the Dutch Christmas markets in 2025:

Christmas markets in the Netherlands: 2025 agenda, list of all Dutch markets & special winter events happening this year.

16/10/2025

Are you planning to attend the MH Books Event on 30 November 2025?

I'll participate in it, so come by and say hi! 😊

This event is also a great chance for you to get a copy of the “Following Van Gogh” book at a special discounted price. I'll be selling my books for 19,99 EUR. Preorder your copy for the MH Books Event to ensure it will be available (DM or send an email to [email protected])!

More about the MH Books Event: https://www.mhbooksevent.nl/
More about the “Following Van Gogh” book: https://followingvangogh.com/

See you in Tiel!

15/10/2025

A few days ago I spoke with Carol Cram from the Art In Fiction podcast about my ”Following Van Gogh” book.

🔗 You can listen to it on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRfaEU1Nj84

🔗 And you can read more about my book and order a copy through this link: https://followingvangogh.com/

10/10/2025

🏰 Blog post update: 15 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe 🏰

What are the most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe?

⚪ In the past, the Old Continent was home to many Royal families. They married each other, had many heirs, who each needed a home to live in. And, well, a true Royal lives in a palace, right?

⚪ That's why Europe is dotted with stunning royal palaces today. Some are privately owned, while others are turned into museums and cultural institutions. This means you can visit and admire them from the outside and inside.

🔗 Although there are so many of them, here is the Culture Tourist selection of the 15 most beautiful Royal Palaces in Europe: https://culturetourist.com/cultural-tourism/15-most-beautiful-royal-palaces-in-europe/

06/10/2025

On this day... Le Corbusier was born! 🏛🏢🏘

On 6 October 1887, a Swiss-French architect and designer was born.

Famous for saying “Modern decorative art has no decoration,” he left an important mark in the modern architecture.

🔗 To celebrate his birthday, here is the article dedicated to Le Corbusier's architecture in Europe: https://culturetourist.com/cultural-tourism/where-to-see-le-corbusiers-architecture-in-europe/

📸 Images source: Association of Le Corbusier Sites