Maartje

Maartje's enthusiasm and curiosity knows no bounds. She loves museums, nature, food, walking, architecture, history, animals. Writing and photography is a big passion and she has been writing about cooking, minimalism, food, hotspots and travel for many years. Above all, she has a special place in her heart for castles, royal jewels and ancient Egypt. Maartje gave up her job as a lawyer to bring more balance to her life: less work and more life. Besides to The Orange Backpack, she works as a legal entrepreneur.

Recent Posts

Planning a family vacation can feel like trying to please a dozen people at once. The good news is that there are destinations out there that truly offer something for everyone. Whether your kids are into animals, adventure, food or history, the right trip can keep everyone

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Sicily is made for a road trip. The island is wild and full of contrasts, with dramatic landscapes, ancient cities, active volcanoes, and beaches in every imaginable color and shape. Here, Arab domes, Baroque cathedrals, and Greek temples appear side by side, while along the way you

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Hamburg isnโ€™t the kind of city with one single center you simply have to see. What makes it such a rewarding place to explore is the variety of neighborhoods, each with its own character and charm. From the elegant Altstadt to the creative energy of the Schanze,

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From towering harbour cranes to glittering concert halls, and from historic brick warehouses to immersive digital art installations, Hamburg is a city full of fascinating contrasts. It blends the old with the new, the rough with the refined, and the creative with the corporate. One moment you’re

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As soon as you walk into Speicherstadt, it feels like stepping back in time. The tall red-brick warehouses, with their iron balconies and quiet canals in between, create a special atmosphere you wonโ€™t find anywhere else in Hamburg. This district was built in the late 19th century

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Namibia might be the most varied country in all of Southern Africa. One moment youโ€™re driving through vast, towering sand dunes, and the next youโ€™re following winding roads through lush river valleys. Youโ€™ll pass endless open plains, dramatic mountain ranges, and a powerful, restless ocean. Along the

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Hidden deep in the Namibian desert lies a ghost town that was once so rich, champagne cost less than water. In the early 1900s, Kolmanskop was one of the wealthiest places in Africa, founded by German settlers who built a thriving town on land where diamonds were

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Most travellers exploring Namibia head straight for the well-known highlights like Etosha, Sossusvlei, or the coastal stretch near Swakopmund. But if you travel a bit further south, youโ€™ll discover a place that feels completely different: Lรผderitz. This remote coastal town is tucked between the desert and the

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