The weather may not be wonderful today - we actually saw some rain in Leiden earlier - but generally summer allows for outdoor activities on a more regular basis. Beach trips, cycling, and picnics are all possibilities that should be taken advantage of in the summer months - but have you thought about watching a film or enjoying some music in the open air?

If you're near Amsterdam, be sure to check out the Vondelpark's Open Lucht Theater, which aims to entertain visitors all summer long. They have a full summer schedule available online. For example, next week (30 July - 1 August) offers 11 different options for interested attendees. You can see everything from a dance company to films to classical music concerts just during this three-day period. You can even reserve your tickets online.

The Open Lucht Theater runs until the end of August, so be sure to stop by one of their events before or after exploring the lovely Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Now get out there and enjoy the summer!

After many years of living in the Netherlands, I still learn about new possibilities all the time. One of these has to do with online shopping, which can be a dangerous area to become proficient in!

But the options I've found recently in relation to grocery shopping are actually more convenient that expensive. The first is the online shopping option at Albert Heijn. I'd heard about this long ago but wrote it off, assuming the delivery charge would cost a fortune. But recently I found the relevant website and discovered that if your schedule is flexible, it's possible to get groceries delivered for just under EUR 5. What a deal! Beware, though - Albert Heijn asks for a minimum purchase of EUR 70 for delivery, so you'll have to wait until you need a pretty hefty load of food.

Another option I discovered recently may be of interest to eco-food lovers. Odin works in cooperation with ecological food suppliers all over the Netherlands, and offers a service that allows you to shop online for your food and then pick it up at a convenient location (usually one of the relevant supermarkets). There's only a EUR 15 minimum and no other charges. Odin also offers pre-prepared bags of fresh organic seasonal fruit and vegetables. There are five subscription types available from about EUR 8 to 15 per bag.

If you're big on planning ahead or just want your trip to the supermarket to take substantially less time, maybe one of these services is worth looking into.

The American Book Center's blog recently published their Spectacular Summer Reading Extravaganza for non-fiction titles. Despite my love of the novel I always find myself more intrigued by non-fiction, and ABC has done a great job of tempting me into one of their stores in the coming weeks.

If you're interested in learning more about the Dutch, they recommend a number of great books. Under the category entitled "Travel, Foreign Languages & Local Interest," they list the classic The UnDutchables, a must-read for any expat in the Netherlands. But there's also Manners in the Netherlands and the Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch. Don't forget to check out Bicycle Mania, where American photographer Shirley Agudo provides an inside look at the Netherland's unique cycling culture.

It seems that ABC has lots of options to get you through these hot summer months, and help you better understand your host culture.

We here at trippist like to keep you up to date with the latest in the world of tourism in the Netherlands, and as the world of mapping and applications gets better and better, the options just keep increasing.

In a previous post you read as Janelle described a useful google map guide to Amsterdam, well here comes a related item: A new national mapping system dedicated to tourism. It is called Hollandtoer.nl and it provides some extremely smooth panoramic views of must-see spots throughout the country.

Hollandtoer has some very funny and useful menu options for activities in both the day and night, in it does a good job of cutting right to the most important spots in a long list of great cities many tourists come to see. It also makes it easy to save and share through social networking the spots you choose. Here I'll test out their "post this photo on your site" option:

At the moment the site is only in Dutch as far as I can tell. Of course its no good for those looking to get off the beaten path. But if you are making plans to come to the Netherlands or if you're far away and wanting to take a pleasant virtual tour from your office somewhere else in the world, you'll enjoy this site and the images it provides.

Amsterdam-based bloggers keep coming up with great material for visitors and expats alike.

A couple months ago, blogger Lily Margaret (from Wanderlust with Lily Margaret) published a favorite Amsterdam spots map (here's a larger version). She's highlighted the places she loves to go - from museums to restaurants to tearooms to yoga studios. She's even color-coded these places according to category. For example, blue markers stand for places to eat, yellow for shopping and markets, and green for parks.

This kind of resource is invaluable to new and seasoned visitors to Amsterdam. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to decide where to eat or which museum to visit - but maps like this one let you know what an Amsterdam enthusiast has already endorsed.

If you want to make your own map, just visit Google maps and get started.

The Amsterdam local transport company (GVB) has found its funny bone and is using this video to promote their unlimited travel cards:

The video was created with Amsterdam's comedy institution, Boom Chicago, which also produced five unique podcasts for five popular journeys in the city.

One of my favorite bloggers has written a unique book called Amsterdam: Made by Hand. From the publisher's website:

Follow stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk's ten "wanders" through Amsterdam to the places where she sources the props, accessories, and objects that she uses in the sets and photographs she creates. You'll find jewelry, clothing, home furnishings, antiques, collectibles, and more, all made by hand. Along the way, discover the real Amsterdam (Pia lives there--on a houseboat!).

This isn't Pia's first foray into the publishing world. Other than her inspiring blog, she recently published another book called Paris: Made by Hand. I own this one and can say it's full of delightful surprises.

The book launch will be in Amsterdam at the American Book Center (Spui 12) on Saturday June 5th at 3pm. Stop by for a signed copy, then get ready to experience a whole new side of Amsterdam. You can also follow Pia on Facebook for more information.

Sometimes it's easy to get lost in your own little world when your computer is your workspace and you're working all alone. There are times when you want a bit more interaction and perhaps a bit of inspiration. SetupUtrecht has a solution for this problem and they call it Manic Monday. Every Monday through June 28, they are offering a free spot for people working with new media to come and work and maybe get a bit of inspiration or at least a bit more interaction. They provide a spot at the Neude (Neude 4), along with chairs and WiFi, and as they say, "you bring: good humor, passion, laptop (or pencil), and your friends or colleagues." Coffee and tea are available for €1, but you have to provide your own food if you want it. Not a bad deal! The spot is open from 9:30 to 18:00 each Monday, and both Dutch and English are generally spoken.

Planning to move to or just visit the Hague? I've come across another great resource for expats: The Hague Online. This site provides news headlines in English but also goes in-depth on a number of important issues, like finance, health, housing, lifestyle and work.

It also provides a comprehensive business directory, from bookstores to interior design to ski centers.

The essentials tab provides information about free workshops, exhibitions, and concerts.

The Hague Online is a great website for any non-Dutch speaker looking to familiarize themselves with the city.

From the U.S., but now call a Dutch city home? It's possible that you have cravings once in a while for food products more commonly found on U.S. soil.

Thanks to this blog (A Touch of Dutch) and a recently published entry called "The Updated Great American Food Blog Entry," there is now a comprehensive list of where to find or order American food in the Netherlands. And when I say comprehensive, I mean comprehensive. From Amstelveen to Utrecht to Leiden, she has provided information about the stores and contact info. She even has a section on Belgium.

But as she points out: be aware that these products are insanely expensive compared to their counterparts back at home. She also provides some links to shipping services, in case you decide to handle the import yourself.