Friesland, The Netherlands (2026)

It's always a pleasure to see some red poppies like this one while on a hike in the forest (Rijsterbos) near the town of Rijs in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands.

The red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is an annual herbaceous plant famous for its vibrant scarlet petals. It is universally recognized as a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers, a tradition that originated after World War I when the flowers bloomed across devastated battlefields.

A beautiful view in between the trees while hiking in the forest (Rijsterbos) near the town of Rijs in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands.

The Rijsterbos is one of the most famous and beloved walking forests in this area. It is located in the rolling landscape of Gaasterland, right on the edge of the IJsselmeer lake. This 17th-century forest is known for its historic avenues of ancient oak and beech trees, rich history and unique transition from dense woodland straight into the coastal waters.

We loved our little hike in the forest (Rijsterbos) near the town of Rijs in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. The forest features a vast network of grand avenues and winding paths, perfect for hiking and strolling. Because of some heavy rain in the week before, we had to deal with some puddles which made for a nice forest reflection though.

The bed & breakfast we were staying at in the small community of Eesterga, located in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands had a few alpacas and we loved this cute alpaca.

Alpacas are domesticated, fluffy mammals belonging to the camel family (Camelidae), native to the high Andes mountains of South America. They are closely related to the vicuña and llama, and are primarily bred for their exceptionally soft, luxurious fleece.

While having had some fun with the alpacas next to the b&b in the community of Eesterga where we were staying this particular one couldn't handle the fact that my wife was intensily looking at it so it decided to spit in her face. While gentle and curious, they are prey animals and can be cautious about direct handling. They rarely spit at humans; this behavior is mostly used to establish dominance within their herd.

The Lady of Stavoren overlooking the harbour in the city of Stavoren, located in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. The small statue references a famous local folk tale about a proud, wealthy widow who lost all her riches to the sea.

A very well maintained traditional drawbridge in the city of Stavoren, located in the provinde of Friesland, The Netherlands. This Stadsgrachtbrug (also known as the harbour office bridge) is a classic Dutch wooden drawbridge that spans the town's central canal right next to the old harbour. This white-painted double-beam drawbridge (ophaalbrug) serves as a vital pedestrian link between the historic city center and the bustling harbour area.

One of the small lighthouses at the small harbour of the city of Stavoren in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. This is one of two smaller beacons that sit on the ends of the harbor piers. One shines a red light, and the other shines a green light. These help sailors find the narrow entrance to the port safely in the dark.

A closer look at the water gate in the city of Sneek, located in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. The Waterpoort (Water Gate) is the ultimate icon of the city and while this Frisian city once had five water gates, this is the only one that remains. The monument is famous for its two octagonal towers and the gatekeeper's house on top. It was built around 1492 as part of the city's defenses.

It doesn't get much better when you're having a glass of wine while experiencing a pretty sunset overlooking the meadows in the small community of Eesterga in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands.