WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TERRACE?

With this weather, I prefer to hop from terrace to terrace. Sunscreen in the bag, hat with me, and soaking up those sun rays. Starting with a brunch in my favorite garden, a coffee at my favorite coffee spot, lunch at that cozy square, and then moving on to a nice plate in the late evening sun by the Amstel. Yes, Amsterdam has plenty of nice sunny spots, but my beloved Maastricht has some too. Last weekend, I found myself again at my trusted favorite, and then I really feel like I'm abroad amidst the French chatter from the table behind me. Now, of course, I'm curious about what your favorite terrace is. It's still early, the week is only halfway through, but the weekend is coming up again. A long weekend even, and the sun will stay with us for a while, so I have all the time to enjoy that rosé with you. I'll kick things off; here we will settle down this weekend:

1. Lilian

Our Lil can't choose, but she definitely prefers to be on the Scheveningen coast. At Indigo for ice-cold coconut water straight from the nut, at Whoosah for the best beach parties, and at Barbarossa because it's just great for your Instagram. On the less sunny days, she looks for a spot at one of the terraces on the Grote Markt in The Hague. Because yes, nothing beats The Hague's coziness.

2. Elke

If you're missing Elke, there's a good chance she's sitting by the sea with her bare feet. And preferably at Branding in Noordwijk, to leave the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam behind and because the service there is just really nice. Elkie, when are we going?

3. Kiki

The Drieharingstraat is definitely the coziest little street in Utrecht. You'll find plenty of restaurants there, but De Kleine Parade is Kiek's favorite. With a tiny, lovely little terrace outside, you almost feel like you're in France, where you can sip on a glass of wine and smoke cigarettes. Yeah, I get that, Kiek. And suppose you have a shopping day in Utrecht and you want to grab a bite or a drink before you get back in the car or roll back onto the train, then Kiek recommends stopping by Se7en for a little drink. They have a lovely large terrace, are close to the station, and it's the place for the small eater (or the indecisive one). The Sam Sam menu features all small dishes to share.

4. May

May has a soft spot for five-star hotels and their dining establishments. The garden of the Hilton is a well-kept secret. You're sitting on a gently sloping green hill overlooking the little harbor where people in Amsterdam-Zuid have their boats. Order a Whispering Angel rosé, look around, and life is good.
Another favorite is that of the Amstel Hotel, overlooking the Amstel with a bowl of bitterballen in front of you (these are the best in the city). May prefers to do this with her once-in-three-years appointment with Beau van Erven Dorens, one of the sweetest presenters she has had the pleasure of working with.

5. Adeline

Adeline prefers to curl up in a warm corner at Slangevegt in Breukelen. Everything there is just as you want it. Lounge chair adjusted to the perfect angle, cushions of the right thickness, drinks at exactly the right temperature, and snacks to keep nibbling on. Yes, by the Vecht. But for the ultimate vacation feeling, she applies factor 50 at Sailor’s Inn by the marina in Bruinisse. Here you feel like you're in Saint-Tropez. They have the most beautiful, sweetest, and most romantic sunset. And oh yes, very nice gin and tonics.

6. Simone

To avoid the suitcase rolling and wandering tourists, I prefer to dive into a quiet terrace when I'm in Maastricht. And you do that at Sofa, an oasis of calm on the edge of Maastricht, next to the fairytale-like Kasteel de Hoogenweerth and the babbling water of the Maas. When you settle down here, you are obliged to order the Domaine Mondivin rosé. Add a plate of fresh tuna with a wasabi panna cotta, and you won't be getting up anytime soon.

Will you let me know what your best-kept secret is? Then I'll make some space in my inbox.