Seek and find
Your Little Black Book's Green Policy
{ My Green Policy comes from my book Feed Your Wanderlust.
For Your Little Black Book I edited it to explain it to you even better
how I approach life and which choices I consciously make
– Last updated: March 2024 – I know that air travel is very taxing on the environment. And yet I do it. I don't have any plans to travel less either. I can be completely honest about that. When I shared a photo of my son Manuel on Instagram in 2019 and mentioned in the caption our first flight together, I got a comment from someone who thought it was ridiculous to fly with a baby. Too taxing on the environment and not what we should be teaching our children as something "normal."
Regarding the first point, that's absolutely true. And I think it's impressive when people stop flying entirely. Personally, I don't think that's feasible for many people. Certainly not in my line of work. But finding a middle ground and taking the train more often when possible... of course, you think about that. Just like eating less meat. Ten years ago, we also thought vegan food was for a small group, and now it's the most normal thing in the world. Or at least the norm to eat less or no meat. While I believe everyone should do what they feel comfortable with, it's important to be conscious of the choices you make. On Your Little Black Book, as a flexitarian, I'm a big promoter of vegetarian and vegan food among non-vegetarians. But I'm also very honest about the fact that adopting new patterns and habits is much easier than breaking old ones. For example, when I'm on the go, I sometimes eat at McDonald's, and I'm very honest about that. On the other hand, the next day I cook at home with vegan minced meat and we eat as much meat as possible at home that we order directly from the farmer via Koopeenkoe.nl of Koopeenkip.nlYou may have your own opinion about that, but I personally believe that if you slowly introduce change into your life, you will maintain that change in the long run because it's a new pattern.
Something else I'm gradually exploring is switching to an electric car. I still have so many questions about it, but this fall, my partner Peugeot and I will explore what switching to 100% electric will mean for the road trips and weekend getaways we take for Your Little Black Book. First with the E208 and later with the E2008, which is more spacious so we can easily take all our belongings (read: stroller).
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
The most important things to do are done by the community through this Nederland and in Amsterdam?
The May holidays have begun, and that means: quality time with the kids. From creative workshops and fun playgrounds to new museums, kid-friendly festivals, and adventures in nature.
On 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸.𝗺𝗲, you will find two comprehensive guides with more than 50 tips! Believe me, you won't be bored anymore ;-).
Take all tips via the line in my bio. Have fun!
I'm curious: what do you have planned for this holiday?
PS: We are doing a road trip from Barcelona to Valencia this year and you can travel along via stories.
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟲, 𝟭𝟳, 𝟭𝟴 & 𝟭𝟵
Your Amsterdam weekend, sorted. 🖤
Baby lambs, spring markets, new restaurant openings and more events not to miss, this week's Amsterdam Weekend Guide is packed.
💬 Comment 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗 and I'll send you the full Amsterdam Weekend Guide with 81 tips straight to your DMs.
Have fun making plans!
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
| PS: Follow @yourlbb for the best Amsterdam hotspots, new restaurants, weekend tips and travel inspiration in the Netherlands and beyond. Only Amsterdam tips? Then check out @yourlbb.amsterdam.
PUUR YONNIE, an ode to Jonnie Boer.
Today I had the honor of being at @delibrijezwolle for the book launch of @jonnie_en_therese.
I spent the whole evening reading and flipping through the pages.
WHAT A BOOK.
What stories.
WHAT AN ODE.
Love, Nature, Pioneer, Fatherhood, Music, Jonnie's Foundation, Friendship, Suppliers, Local products, Relaxation, Entrepreneurship, Humor & The pure human being.
Everything passes by, beautifully written by @joel.broekaert.
With contributions from, among others, @nelsontanate, @rekkebus, @ronblaauwtje, @jorisbijdendijk, @sidney_schutte & @hvw043.
Thanks for the lovely afternoon @jonnie_en_therese 💚
PURE JONNIE,
From 14 April
at your local bookstore
(and online)
🖊️ @anne_de_buck
This is your ticket to Japan without taking a plane 🥢
@tewatashi.ams in De Pijp serves an authentic Edo-Mae Sushi Experience and is super consistent in their quality.
It's the place we keep going back to when we have something to celebrate <3.
In this video I'm sharing the 2 hour experience in 60 seconds.
Still dreaming about the buttery ika nigiri. 🤤
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
{ one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam serving premium sushi omakase in De Pijp }
𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟵, 𝟭𝟬, 𝟭𝟭 & 𝟭𝟮
This is one of those weekends that's packed with cool events!
Catch the last cherry blossoms, hunt for vintage treasures or feast on oysters.
💬 Comment 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗 and I'll send you the full Amsterdam Weekend Guide with 71 tips straight to your DMs.
What's your vibe this weekend… vintage, culture, markets or a new hotspot?
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Follow @yourlbb for the best Amsterdam hotspots, new restaurants, weekend tips and travel inspiration in the Netherlands and beyond. Only Amsterdam tips? Then check out @yourlbb.amsterdam.
𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗲́ 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆?
@eetcafe_de_reiger is the spot to remember.
Cozy, casual, and a seasonal menu. This one was on my list to share for a year and finally it's (almost) asparagus season again! 🤤
Another plus? Prices are very reasonable here!
📍 Eetcafé de Reiger
Jordaan, Amsterdam City Centre
Save this spot for when you're craving warm Dutch traditional dishes in the heart of Amsterdam.
And did you hear the same team took over Eetcafé van Beeren? I can't wait to go there too!
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
A cookbook from Grandma. Three Michelin stars. And a beautiful 70s villa in a quiet neighborhood in Bangkok, where you are welcomed as if you were at the chefs' home.
The Sühring brothers do not cook based on trends; they cook from memories. Of their grandmother's farm, of the flavors of their youth in Germany, and of techniques passed down through generations.
@relaischateaux invited me to experience Sühring during a solo lunch, and this is truly my ultimate definition of culinary self-care.
This was a surprising afternoon in Bangkok, where I ate the best German food I have ever tasted. And that in a city where I normally avoid European restaurants. Well, for @restaurant_suhring, you really want to make that exception.
Signature dishes that I still think back to regularly?
🍴 Labskaus with caviar
🍴 Enleta waffle with Pfalz vinegar
🍴 Game pie
🍴 Dry aged Duck
TIP: If you go to Sühring, reserve the seats at the kitchen bar so you have a view of the chefs at work!
Follow @yourlbb for more tips you can trust.
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
#prinvited #bangkok #michelin #relaischateaux
In this reels I take you along for fine dining in Bangkok at the three Michelin starred restaurant Sühring.
This is one of the nicest free outings in the spring! Did you know that you can gather (or pick, for the connoisseurs 😉) oysters yourself in various places in the Netherlands? I’m in Zeeland for a bit this weekend, and if we can, we’ll go again.
📍In this video, I show where you can fill your bucket.
Comment oester for the comprehensive guide with all details about all 8 locations + handy tips and rules.
Important to know:
– Max. 10 kilos per person (≈ 1 bucket)
– For personal use only
– Do not scoop or scrape the soil
– Go at low tide
Handy to take with you:
Bucket, screwdriver, boots, work gloves, tea towel, clean clothes and garbage bags (for the oysters and dirty clothes).
And of course: also bring an oyster knife, lemon and champagne 🍋🥂Because you want to taste something right away!
The oyster season runs from September to about April / early May, so now that the water isn't so cold, this is the perfect outing.
In the full guide, I share exactly where you can easily find them without much effort. Leave a comment and I'll send it to you right away!
Who do you want to go oyster collecting with soon?
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Happy weekend in Amsterdam! I made a list with 79 (!) fun 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯, 𝟰, 𝟱 & 𝟲. This week's guide is packed because of Easter weekend and I saved the best tips for you in the guide on 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.𝗺𝗲.
💬 Comment 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗 and I'll send you the full Amsterdam Weekend Guide with all 79 tips straight to your DMs.
What's your vibe this weekend? Markets, Easter lunches, or a festival?
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
This is the time to make plans for Easter in Amsterdam 👀🐣🐰
Are you team lunch or dinner?
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Ps: More tips for Easter in Amsterdam, from restaurants to markets, on WWW.YOURLITTLEBLACKBOOK.ME
Anti-Guide, going around to God that a good thing is!
So close and perfect to go by train, with endless great places to visit.
Think: delicious food, nice hotels, coffee shops for your matcha ;-) and wine bars you actually don't want to leave. During our last trip, we added a few new favorites to the Antwerp Little Black Book once again.
Save this guide for your next city trip to Antwerp. Have fun!
**
⦁ @osakaantwerp
⦁ @mea.antwerp
⦁ @glouglouborgerhout
⦁ @le_pristine_antwerp
⦁ @hertog_jan_at_botanic
**Illegible**
⦁ @hotelfranq
⦁ @viaantwerp
⦁ @hoteldewittelelie
𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦
⦁ @millesime.antwerp
⦁ @dogmacocktails
⦁ @cafe.bobby
⦁ @cafezeezicht
⦁ @billiesbierkafetaria
𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘 & 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗦
⦁ @bakkerijfunk
⦁ @polly.antwerp
⦁ @cafe.betty
⦁ @tinsel_antwerp
⦁ @caffenation_coffee
I
⦁ Roof farm @paktantwerpen
⦁ For thrift store finds: Antwaarpe Goeiemorgen
⦁ Shop at @frnchparisofficiel
⦁ For all fashion lovers @momuantwerp
⦁ Must-visit museum @rubenshuisantwerpen
💌What is your favorite hotspot in Antwerp that I absolutely have to visit next time?
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺
These are those few magical weeks each year when the city suddenly feels different. Everything is in bloom and all you want to do is be outside. Coffee to-go in hand, and just head out as soon as the sun shows up.
𝗕𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺
📍 Bloesempark – Amsterdamse Bos (the classic, yes it gets busy, but totally worth it)
📍 Rijksmuseum
📍 Fruittuin van West
📍 Westerpark
📍 Jozef Israëlskade
📍 WG grounds
📍 Nelson Mandela Park
📍 Bos en Lommerplantsoen
📍Amstelpark
By mid-April most of the sakura will already be gone, so if you want to catch it: this is your moment.
I'll definitely be doing a few more rounds before it's over.
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🖊️ @anne_de_buck
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🌸 Discover the best places to spot cherry blossom in Amsterdam and enjoy the sakura in full bloom. 🌸
Choose consciously & choose greener
I won't stop flying, but I do try to make "green" choices during my travels and contribute in other ways. Last year, I delved deeper into this because I believe I have a responsibility as a professional travel blogger with my company, Your Little Black Book, and I'm eager to take it on. Now that I'm a mother, I also believe it's important to instill these values in my son.
For example, once a year I offset the CO2 emissions of all our air travel. I ask the partners who invite me to go on press trips to do the same. CO2 offsetting may sound like a distant prospect, but I believe there will come a time when it will be standard practice. For example: HEMA is already making great strides by making it a standard aspect of booking travel, not just a choice. More and more airlines allow you to indicate your carbon neutrality during the booking process, and this is immediately reflected in your ticket.
I'll tell you more about offsetting CO2 emissions later in 9 "simple" tips for greener travel that I always try to implement whenever possible. These are things that, on their own, seem to have very little effect, but if we all do them together, we can make a real impact.
9 Simple Tips for Greener Travel
✘ I mentioned it briefly, but you can offset your CO2 emissions for your travels by plane, car, or train. Airlines often offer this when you book your ticket, but you can also do this through, for example: Treesforall.nl, Fairclimatefund.nl, Climateneutralgroup.com & Greenseat.nlEvery organization works with different types of projects, and you can choose which one appeals most to you in terms of how your money is used. I initially used Greenseat.nl, then mainly Treesforall, and now I choose to offset the CO2 directly with the airline when I book a ticket. This option wasn't always offered before, but thankfully it is now! It immediately saves me a lot of paperwork.
From research among my readers, I know that many of you unfortunately don't compensate for the flights you take. I don't want to force anyone, but I've decided to raise this awareness more often. Hopefully, it will eventually become a new habit for you too. One of the reasons you give for not compensating is doubt about whether the money is being used properly. A follower recently advised me to pay extra attention to the Gold Standard or Voluntary Standard certification so you know the money is being used properly.
You can easily calculate how much CO2 emissions you should offset with most of the organizations mentioned above. For example: you fly two people round-trip from Amsterdam to Bangkok. The emissions are then 2,95 tons, and you can offset this with €29,45. That money could then support 3,07 families in countries like Cambodia, India, or the Netherlands. Uganda be supplied with green energy for a year.
I believe we all need to start seeing this as the new standard. As something normal. Something you shouldn't even question whether we do at Your Little Black Book, and something I think many other travel bloggers are still neglecting. But unfortunately, you can never please everyone online. What I find disappointing is that whenever I share something about CO2 offsetting on Instagram Stories, I always get a few DMs saying that offsetting is just a way to buy off guilt. Honestly? Then you really haven't understood anything. Doing nothing isn't an option for me. But it's always easy to shout something down. Personally, I'd like to examine the behavior of these people. There are so many people who have an opinion about something, but then don't take any action themselves. Fortunately, I also have really interesting conversations with followers, and we exchange tips that I share with you as much as possible! Like the tip to pay attention to specific labels.
✘ Are you going somewhere easily accessible by train? Or do you have plenty of time and your travel time doesn't really matter? Traveling by train is greener than flying. Destinations like Paris, London, Berlin, and Hamburg are easily accessible from Amsterdam by train. For long-distance travel, you can also easily take a night train in most countries, for example, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Also on Java For example, I traveled most of the way by train. A fun adventure too! And a big plus: kids can stretch their legs more easily, and there's more to see.
Wondering whether your destination is easily accessible by train? Then take a look at the NS International website >>
✘ The most hotels They list their vision on sustainability on their website. There are various labels worldwide that indicate how 'green' a hotel (chain) is. Think of Green Key, for example, which is particularly well-known in Europe. And did you know, for example, that in Tulum most hotels are eco-friendly and generate their own green energy?
✘ Also consider what small things you can do yourself to travel greener. For example, reuse your towel, don't shower for too long, take a refillable bottle – like a double – that you can fill with water, do not have your room cleaned every day and perhaps the most important thing is always take your own jute shopping bag You can also use it as a beach bag. Personally, I get really annoyed when I forget to do that, because it's so simple.
✘ My boyfriend and I were recently talking about trying to avoid single-use plastic for a week and see what we run into. Personally, I find this to be one of the hardest things. Simply because it's everywhere, and sometimes you just don't have an alternative when you're on the go. I've started bringing my own reusable straw for things like my iced coffee. collapsible straw in a case I ordered from Bol.com. Unfortunately not really cheap (€13,95), but I'm just going to try it out and see how I like taking it with me. For home use, bamboo or metal straws A good alternative, and they're also inexpensive. Something you fortunately also see in many hotels in places like Bali and Tulum.
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✘ Eat and drink as much as possible using local products or at local restaurants. Immersing yourself in the local food culture is often not only tastier and more fun, but also better for the local economy.
✘ Looking to buy souvenirs? Shop at a souvenir shop certified as locally made. You'll often pay a bit more for them, but you'll know your purchases are being put to good use. Personally, I prefer to shop for souvenirs at local craft markets, where you buy directly from the artisans. You'll also get a great story behind the product!
✘ I'm a huge fan of safaris and wildlife encounters. When it comes to wildlife, opinions vary widely on what's acceptable and what's not. You can only determine what feels right for you by doing your research beforehand. What kind of wildlife project are you visiting? What organization is the organization affiliated with? Do they have any international certifications?
And above all, use your common sense. You might have, like me 17 years ago, ridden an elephant somewhere. Something I would personally never do again, knowing what I know now. What did I find unforgettable? One of my most beautiful experiences with animals abroad was the gorilla tracking which I have done in UgandaThis is very strictly regulated, and the money you pay for tracking is invested in protecting these giants. Number two is seeing a turtle nest hatch at a wildlife project in Sri Lanka. So special!
✘ And finally, when booking tours and excursions, pay attention to the itinerary and book with a local guide. There are many smaller companies offering eco-tours, or you can go on a tour with a local through platforms like WITHLOCALS.COM en TOURSBYLOCALS.COM.
Do you have a good tip yourself?
I always enjoy hearing from you.
Anne
Sri Lanka
