Mr van Heemskerk and his somehow remarkable comments

Mr van Heemskerk “staatssecretaris” in the Netherlands did recently tell reporters that all Dutch should better stay at home to enjoy holidays as a form of Patriotism. You wonder why he would even consider saying this. But I am sure that our clients do not consider even 1 second to stay in the Netherlands. Even though we also rent holiday homes in the Netherlands. Patriotism is something the French know, we Dutch are proud of our country… for almost everyting. 😉

Finland Ice Fishing

Ever experienced ice fishing ? I have not had the privileged to experience ice fishing.

In Finland and Lapland they have an Ice Fishing competition organized by the local village associations and sport clubs.

Ice Fishing Competition Week consists of 16 competitions held in the following villages: Hetta Näkkälä, Nunnanen, Peltovuoma, Leppäjärvi, Vuontisjärvi and Karesuvanto.

Greenwood will help you to find the most beautiful cottages in Finland

Homepage	enontekio.fi
Dates	04/24/2009 – 05/01/2009
Prices	The admission fee 20 € / competition.
Services	Enontekiö Tourism Information Office Tel. +358-400-556 215 Fax +358-16-521 050 E-mail: matkailu.info@enontekio.fi

New Properties or the good old habit

A lot of our customers tend to reserve the same property the did rent last year. At least if they go to the same country. Why would they do so ? I think that we could find various reasons.

1. When you find a holiday destination that pleases you so much, you need to re-live that yearly experience
2. when you find a property that suits you and your family needs you doubt that any other will do
3. the owners are so nice that you wonder if any other cottage has owners so sweet and forthgoing
4. etc.

But what happens if your favorite holiday home stops being a all that and is sold to another ? You will need to search for a different one 🙂 . And for that reason we try to get you acquainted with new self-catering homes.

BTW have you ever been to Norway ? Or Finland ? You should try Denmark….

The best Complaint ever ?

It is always hard to write a good complaint letter without showing the anger and the frustration you have experienced during your stay. We at Greenwood are very fortunate to let you know that we rarely receive complaints or complaints in the size of the complaint Virgin did get.  I must say that I have never read a so good complaint letter in my life.

Being a top notch company you need to preform in order to keep your clients satisfied. So does Virgin, or they try…

“Virgins in-flight meals which are said to be “award-winning food  and very popular on their Indian routes.”

Complaints however should be accepted with “great joy” . Even though it is never a good thing t receive a complaint. Complaints will help you and your organisation to re-evalue and do better for next time.

Hordaland Fjords and their Ferries

Have you ever been to Hordaland ? Hordaland is a wonderful area in Norway. Norway 🙂 just next to Sweden and Denmark.  Hordaland has many Fjords and so may possibilties to take a Ferry. The Ferry website I tracked down gives a clear overview on the possibilities. The Ferry company has also created a Google Map with all the Ferry possibilities in Hordaland.

http://eng.tide.no/Default.aspx?pageid=1074

If you are searching for a nice holiday home in Norway, Hordaland feel free to have a look at our site.

easybiketours.com

I have discovered this new website that promotes biking in various European countries.

The website provides details about the cycling regions in the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium, how to get there and travel around, accommodation, the tour companies as well as all the information for individual self-contained tours.

Off road and on road biking. I can assure you that biking in the Netherlands is the most easy because there is very little mountains or anything resembling  🙂

And if you are looking for some nice European Musae http://www.europeanmuseumguide.com/

Dutch Royalty buys a ranch in Argentina

In the midst of turmoil in the world we see the Dutch Prince Willem Alexander buying estate after estate. This time it has been a small ranch for approx. USD 3.5 mio . Not too bad .;)

Lets not blame them, with flowing cash and without good ideas on how to spend it you can always buy a house, that for sure is a bargain. I am not jealous, but I simply think that this kind of cash should be spend in a better way. Remembering that it is I who worked for their salaries. Dutch tax Euro’s and Guilders (old regime) paid for the wealth of the Royal family.

I am not against the Royal family but I think they are a big spenders and the we waist a lot money paying the queen and here family.

May God bless the Queeen.

A huge horse ruining the landschape view

Mark Wallinger’s giant white horse has been announced today as the winner of the £2m public art commission nicknamed the “Angel of the South”, intended to mark the building of Ebbsfleet International station in north Kent.

Wallinger’s design was selected from a three-strong shortlist for the Ebbsfleet Landmark Project, ahead of Richard Deacon’s steel latticework nest and Daniel Buren’s tower of stacked cubes.

Once completed in 2012, the sculpture will dominate the north Kent landscape, standing twice as tall as Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North in Gateshead. At 50 metres high, the sculpture is expected to be so huge that a person standing next to it will be no taller than one of the horse’s hooves.

Wallinger, who won the Turner prize in 2007, said it was a “tremendously exciting” project and that he was “honoured that the horse won through”.

Wallinger and Victoria Pomery, chair of the project’s panel, will be working with Gravesham Council to draw up a planning application, a process expected to last up to 12 months. The council will have the final say on whether the project will be approved and constructed. Although local media have reported strong opposition from residents and councillors, Pomery is confident the artwork will be a success and said: “Mark is a superb artist of world renown and his sculpture will become a real landmark for Ebbsfleet and the whole region.”

The horse is expected to be seen by 60m people per year passing through the Springhead Park area. Project leaders hope it will act as a symbol for the new Ebbsfleet Valley development and Ebbsfleet International railway station; planners aim to transform the area with up to 10,000 new homes, offices, shops and community facilities across a 400-acre site.

If you use the Eurostar you will probably see it. Let’s be honest here. This huge horse without clear meaning will ruin the entire landscapes view. But please do not be worried 😉 I doubt that you will be able to see the white monster from the cottages we are able to rent you !

For more information on the “ART HORSE”  (most of the text of this post have been retrieved from the article of the Guardian)

The Holiday dog

Have you ever had difficulties bringing your dog to you holiday destination. ? It is known that dogs are no always welcome at private holiday homes.  The reason for this is most of the time bad behavior in the past which caused the owner to refuse dogs.

Most of the times we help people who have a dog to search for the best holiday home that does allows dogs. We want to provide this extra service because we believe that dogs should not be left at a kennel during the holidays.

Enjoy our holiday homes that do allow your dog. If you have a dog or dogs please let us know the race and if they are educated. Please do not forget that if you want to go to the UK with your domestic animal to assure its passport.  Please have a look at the webiste of DEFRA for the details.

We rent holiday homes that do allow dogs and their owners to enjoy their holiday together.

Denmark, wonderful nature, Daisy Route

The Margueritrute, such as the Danish name is, the main tourist route from Denmark. The route is 3700 miles long and carries the most beautiful sights of the country and by different beautiful areas.

Along the entire route, in both directions can be followed, are brown signs with a daisy as clearly recognizable symbol.
The Daisy Route has been on April 24, 1991 officially inaugurated by the Danish Queen Margrethe II. The daisy is the favorite flower of the queen. It is often bully named Daisy – the English name for the flower.
The Daisy Route is designed for motorists but also cyclists and motorcyclists make enthusiastic use of it. The tourist route is less suitable for coaches, caravans and campers because they sometimes the route has narrow streets and small, narrow bridges.

If you wish to have more information on the Daisy Route please visit the website ofVisit Denmark