Bill, Debbie & Chad’s
Utrecht & Germany Adventure
September–October 2026
Debbie and I went to Utrecht to visit Chad, who lives in the Netherlands. Somewhere between the canals, castles, and coffee stops, we walked over 50 miles.
Apparently, we don’t do sitting-still vacations.
With Chad along for the adventure, we explored the Netherlands and Germany, from Utrecht’s canals to the hills above the Rhine. Here are a few of the places—and people—that made those miles memorable.
Debbie, Chad, and me in Utrecht—the visit that brought us here.
Utrecht: Visiting Chad and Seeing His Corner of the World
Visiting Chad was the reason for the trip, and spending this time together made Utrecht more than another stop on a map. It also gave us plenty to point a camera at. The canals. The old buildings. The Dom Tower rising above the city. And, occasionally, each other standing in front of all of it.
There is something about sitting beside a canal that makes a meal feel like part of the sightseeing. You can take a break without feeling as though you are missing anything.
I consider that a very practical approach to travel.
Our Number-One Memory: Dinner With an Unexpected Splash
Of all the adventures, beautiful places, and great food on this trip, our number-one memory is sitting next to the canal, having a great dinner, when suddenly the lady behind us fell into the water.
First things first—we made sure she was safe. Once she was back on dry land, wrapped in a towel and getting some dry clothes, we faced an entirely different challenge.
For the next 45 minutes, we tried our absolute best not to laugh.
You know how the harder you try not to laugh, the funnier everything gets? Now give that situation 45 minutes and an audience of your favorite traveling companions.
We had walked for miles and climbed the Dom Tower. None of that tested our endurance quite like sitting at that table trying to behave like respectable adults.
Keeping a straight face may have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. Apparently, the real test on this trip wasn’t our legs. It was our self-control.
Debbie captured the aftermath in this photo: Chad at our table, and the lady wrapped in a towel behind him.
Chad at our canalside table in Utrecht. A dinner with an unexpected story. Photo by Debbie.
The Dom Tower: Earning the View
We also got to see Utrecht from above, from the Dom Tower. Our tour added 900 steps to the adventure: 450 up and 450 back down. The view came with a workout. Down on the street, you notice doors, windows, and the next place to stop. Up in the tower, the rooftops stretch out in every direction, and the city becomes a completely different picture.
Debbie, Chad, and me at the Dom Tower, with Utrecht spread out below.
Chad’s Office: The Baseball Field
We also visited UVV’s baseball field, where Chad is the head coach. He’s over here doing his Ted Lasso thing—with baseball.
Getting to see where he works was another part of visiting his corner of the world. His office has a pretty good view, too.
Debbie, Chad, and me at UVV, where Chad is the head baseball coach. Doing his Ted Lasso thing.
Kasteel de Haar: Somebody Had a Very Ambitious House Plan
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht, supplied towers, a moat, grand rooms, stained glass, and gardens that made it difficult to decide where to look next.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Towers, flower gardens, and plenty to keep a camera busy.
From the flower beds to the reflections in the water, the outside was already enough for a full afternoon of pictures. Then we went inside.
Great halls. Elaborate ceilings. A dining room that makes setting the table look like a team sport.
I appreciate a beautiful home. I also appreciate not being responsible for cleaning one quite that size.
Muiderslot: Across the Moat and Into the Gardens
At Muiderslot Castle in Muiden, the round towers and entrance bridge gave us another version of castle life. The gardens had their own attractions, including sunflowers tall enough to share a picture with Debbie.
Muiderslot Castle in Muiden, Netherlands. A moat and round towers—the full castle package.
Some of my favorite pictures from these stops are much simpler: Debbie among the flowers, the two of us beneath a willow, and a few smiles with Chad along the way. A castle makes a fine background. The people are what make it our picture.
We saw some beautiful places on this trip. My favorite view was usually standing right next to me.
A Little AI Time Travel
After touring enough castles, we decided we needed the proper wardrobe.
A little AI fun: Debbie, Chad, and me with a medieval wardrobe upgrade. The castle theme may have gone to our heads.
Amsterdam: Canals and a Place at the Table
Amsterdam added its own scenery to the collection: canal views, beautiful buildings, and the grand exterior of the Rijksmuseum.
And then there were the café stops.
You can spend a lot of time planning what to see on a trip. Looking back through the photos, a table with Debbie and Chad deserves a place on the list too.
Debbie, Chad, and me at Café Hans en Grietje in Amsterdam.
Drachenfels: A View Over the Rhine
At Drachenfels, above Königswinter in Germany, the views opened up. The Rhine stretched through the valley, the hills filled the horizon, and the ruins of Burg Drachenfels added another castle to our collection.
Debbie and me at Drachenfels, overlooking the Rhine near Königswinter, Germany.
Schloss Drachenburg: Worth Another Look
Schloss Drachenburg sits on the hillside below the Drachenfels ruins. Its pointed towers, fountain, roses, and stained glass gave us a reason to slow down and look closely.
It looks ready for a medieval adventure, but this elaborate residence was built in the 1880s. Somebody had a very clear idea of what they wanted their house to look like.
Schloss Drachenburg in Königswinter, Germany, with its fountain and pointed towers.
Then there were the musical instruments.
You can take a songwriter sightseeing, but put instruments in the room and they are going to end up in the photographs.
Historic instruments at Schloss Drachenburg. This songwriter had to stop for a closer look.
At the Nibelungenhalle on the Drachenfels, Debbie and I also posed with the stone dragon. As travel companions go, he was very cooperative.
Didn’t move once.
Debbie with the stone dragon at the Nibelungenhalle, Königswinter. A very patient photo companion.
Light Through the Castle Windows
Some of my favorite photographs from this adventure are the stained-glass windows inside the castles. These are details many people may never get to see in person, and I wanted to give them a little room of their own here.
The colors, the figures, the patterns, and the way the light comes through them deserve more than a quick glance. These are three of my favorites from Kasteel de Haar and Schloss Drachenburg. Click any image for a closer look.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Stained glass above the carved gallery in the great hall.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. A circular stained-glass window filled with color and intricate detail.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. Tall stained-glass panels reward a closer look.
Over 50 Miles—and a Few Well-Earned Stops
Between the castles and grand views were dinner tables, a toast, coffee and cake, and a little time at a ballpark.
Those pictures matter to me too.
Coffee and cake between the sights. I think we earned our seats.
They remind me that a trip is made up of more than its landmarks. There are the places you go, and there are the moments you share while you are there.
Debbie’s smile shows up in a lot of these photographs.
That is not an accident.
Our Last Utrecht Dinner: The Dude Abides
Our last dinner in Utrecht was at Grand Café Lebowski. After the castles, the canals, and all those miles on our feet, it was a fitting place to sit down with Debbie and Chad.
Our last dinner in Utrecht at Grand Café Lebowski. Even the table had a little Dude attitude.
There was a little connection to home, too. My Guild 12-string guitar is named THE DUDE. So a place called Lebowski already had something going for it.
Then there was the rug.
“That rug really tied the room together.” The sign at Grand Café Lebowski, Utrecht.
The rug tied the room together. A last dinner with Debbie and Chad tied this adventure together pretty well, too.
Home With More Than Pictures
Debbie and I went to Utrecht to visit Chad. The castles and views gave us plenty to remember, but spending time together was the best reason to make the trip.
Looking back, I’m glad we have the grand views. I’m just as glad we have the little moments: a table for three, a laugh, and Debbie smiling beside me.
Two countries and good company along the way. I’d call that a trip worth taking.
Thanks for coming along. Until the next adventure…
Bill
Our Trip in Pictures
Click a photo to see it larger and read its caption.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Debbie in the flower gardens. One more reason to slow down and enjoy the view.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie framed by a garden archway. Sometimes the picture almost arranges itself.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie in a centuries-old doorway. My favorite part of this view is her smile.
Chad at our canalside table in Utrecht. A dinner with an unexpected story. Photo by Debbie.
Our last dinner in Utrecht at Grand Café Lebowski. Even the table had a little Dude attitude.
Chad at Grand Café Lebowski, Utrecht, where we had our last dinner of the trip.
Grand Café Lebowski, Utrecht. “That rug really tied the room together.” A fitting last stop for the owner of a guitar named THE DUDE.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. The two of us in the castle courtyard. Yes, we found room for one more picture.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. My turn at the hilltop monument. Somebody had to stand there for scale.
Dom Tower, Utrecht. Debbie, Chad, and me above Utrecht, with the rooftops spread out below us.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Towers, flowers, and a lawn I am very glad I do not have to mow.
Dom Tower, Utrecht. A gargoyle keeping watch over Utrecht. He has a pretty good view.
A historic interior washed in blue light. A different mood for the Utrecht album.
Dom Tower, Utrecht. One of the tower’s great bells. Impressive even when it is standing still.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. Debbie beside the hilltop monument, with a little sky to spare.
Coffee and cake. An essential pause in a very busy collection of photographs.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. The music room and its window. A room with more than one kind of beauty.
Nibelungenhalle, Königswinter. My turn with the dragon. Neither of us had much to say.
Nibelungenhalle, Königswinter. Debbie with a stone dragon. He was remarkably patient about having his picture taken.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. An ornate stained-glass window. There is a lot of work in a little bit of light.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. Historic musical instruments. Of course these made it into a songwriter’s photo collection.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. Color and detail in the stained-glass panels. Worth a closer look.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. An orange rose in front of the castle. Sometimes the smallest detail gets the spotlight.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. The great hall. A room with considerably more headroom than we require at home.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Debbie and me in the castle gardens. A pretty good place to stop for a picture.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. Castle towers against a blue sky. Germany supplied another reason to look up.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. The castle dining room. Setting this table looks like a team project.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Stained glass and a grand gallery. There was something to see in every direction.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Debbie, Chad, and me in a castle selfie. We managed to get everybody into the picture.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. Another overlook, another picture together. We were not running short of scenery.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. A castle seen from above. Even the impressive buildings get a little smaller from up here.
The two of us beside an Amsterdam canal. Another corner worth remembering.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. The river winding through the valley. A view that needs a little room in the frame.
Debbie, Chad, and me beneath Utrecht’s Dom Tower. Everybody look up—after the picture.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. Debbie and me on the hilltop, with the landscape stretching out behind us.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Chad and Debbie outside the castle. People make these places part of our story.
An evening toast from the two of us. Here’s to another adventure together.
Dinner on the terrace with Debbie. A fine way to give the cameras a short break.
Drachenfels, above the Rhine at Königswinter. A river, a wide-open view, and my favorite traveling companion.
Light through a church window. Some details ask you to stop and look.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Debbie in the flower gardens. One more reason to slow down and enjoy the view.
Dom Tower, Utrecht. Debbie and me high above Utrecht. The city looks a little different from up here.
Debbie and me with our tour guide at the café bar in Utrecht. He was a lot of fun—and good company belongs in the travel album too.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. Debbie and me beside the carved coat of arms on the castle grounds. Even the stonework has a story.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. The castle reflected in the water, with the fountain adding a little movement to the picture.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. The flowers deserved a picture of their own. The gardens had plenty of color to spare.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. A smile from Debbie, surrounded by the garden’s colors.
Debbie, Chad, and me at Café Hans en Grietje. Sightseeing works up a perfectly reasonable thirst.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie among the sunflowers, with a castle in the background. The garden had competition.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. A moat, towers, and plenty of reasons to keep the camera out.
Debbie, Chad, and me at UVV’s baseball field, where Chad is the head coach. Doing his Ted Lasso thing—with baseball.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie and Chad beneath the garden arch. The people in the picture are part of the adventure.
Debbie at a table beside the canal. Lunch with scenery included.
Debbie and me with Utrecht’s Dom Tower behind us. Hard to fit all that history into one frame.
Schloss Drachenburg, Königswinter. A castle and a fountain in the German sunshine. Apparently one impressive feature was not enough.
The grand exterior of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. The building itself gives you plenty to look at.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie, Chad, and me inside the castle. A little history and a few familiar smiles.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie and a golden lion. He seems to be taking his duties very seriously.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. The bridge to the castle entrance. Even the walk to the door has a view.
Kasteel de Haar, near Utrecht. The two of us beneath a willow. Some backgrounds feel especially appropriate.
Sailboats gathered in the harbor. A quiet change of scenery between castle pictures.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Castle towers through the branches. Another angle, another photograph.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. Debbie framed by a garden archway. Sometimes the picture almost arranges itself.
Muiderslot Castle, Muiden. A castle in the sunshine, complete with its own moat. The full package.
Our Medieval Makeover — A Little AI Fun
Lady Debbie, courtesy of AI. The garden was real; the royal wardrobe got a little digital assistance.
Sir Bill, courtesy of AI. I suspect that suit of armor would complicate playing the guitar.
Debbie, Chad, and me, courtesy of a little AI time travel. Two suits of armor and one very well-dressed lady. We may have taken the castle theme a little too far.
Debbie and me in our AI medieval makeover. Apparently the dress code was more formal than we expected.