Aachen? (Coreene, help!)

[draftxfan]

I just read an old post of Coreene's touting Valkenburg as the place to stay and hagelslag as the thing to eat (though the latter's probably not on the skinny girl's diet, I'm guessing?). I'm thinking of going to watch this year and want to do it up right! Any thoughts? How about hotels in Aachen proper? (Most seem to be booked solid for Saturday night but bookable otherwise.)

Many thanks in advance, o wise COTH travelers.

[Coreene]

If you stay in Valkenburg, no nightmare traffic driving into the showgrounds like you get from the other direction (like 2km on the motorway); just a quick hop over the border. OMGiH, Aachen was without doubt the most amazing fantastic divine superb ooh-la-la horse experience of my entire life. Much, much better than the Olympics or anything else. :yes:

[Coreene]

PS you can pop into town after the show to check it out, it's such a historical place and well worth seeing. Are you going for the whole show or just the weekend? Remember, the shopping is so incredible that you must build in extra time for that. I mean, really, it's like you hit the motherlode. No exaggeration. Even Aunt Esther raves about Aachen vendors!

[freestyle2music]

PS you can pop into town after the show to check it out, it's such a historical place and well worth seeing. Are you going for the whole show or just the weekend? Remember, the shopping is so incredible that you must build in extra time for that. I mean, really, it's like you hit the motherlode. No exaggeration. Even Aunt Esther raves about Aachen vendors!

Who is Aunt Esther :D

[Cooper]

We stayed in Maastricht, I think it was about 30 km away from the showgrounds. Very sweet town with lots of good options for hotels and restaurants.

And yes, the shopping at Aachen is amazing. Your visa is going to be smoking!! Even the horse show food was good, much better than the junk we have in the states. The sausage with curry sauce was addictive.:yes:

[Phyxius]

I just read an old post of Coreene's touting Valkenburg as the place to stay and hagelslag as the thing to eat (though the latter's probably not on the skinny girl's diet, I'm guessing?). I'm thinking of going to watch this year and want to do it up right! Any thoughts? How about hotels in Aachen proper? (Most seem to be booked solid for Saturday night but bookable otherwise.)

Many thanks in advance, o wise COTH travelers.

I'll be in Amsterdam in 9 days. I'm bringing an empty suitcase for all of my loot. Yay! Hagelslag is great, but I like the sprinkles. It's always nice to see those little boxes from De Ruijter. The milk and dark chocolate (chocoladehagel) are good, stay away from the colored stuff (vruchtenhagel) and the flakes. It's good on regular bread, but for a yummy tea time treat try it on dutch rusk (beschuit).

We'll be travelling all over and I'll be with ex-locals but if you have any suggestions on where we should go post some info!

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Who is Aunt Esther :D

Theo, I am aghasted!!!

[Coreene]

Maastricht is such a great place, and it's only a few minutes further from Aachen than Valkenburg, so go for it.

Um, Physiux, hagelslag is sprinkles. ;) De Ruijter is just one brand of hagelslag / vlokken / muijsjes.

[kashmere]

muijsjes instantly transport me to baby-hood. the original anise on toast with butter! and the de ruijter chocolate is amazing.

[Coreene]

Chocopasta, extra puur. :D

[freestyle2music]

While you all were discussing Hagelslag etc.. I did some shopping for you and Aunt Esther. Please take in consideration that you can also wear this at competitions.

www.topdressage.tv/HereWeGo.jpg

Theo

[Coreene]

Te gek! Actually, I love the boots and the tailcoat, but Aunt Esther might faint. OP, don't forget that the hottest schooling look right now is denim breeches with BROWN boots, so be sure to nab some of both!

[Miss Dior]

Chateau St. Gerlach in Valkenberg is the best !!!!! Wonderful. The Dorint Quellenhof in Aachen proper but will always be booked so impossible to get in. I'm there too this year again....luv it!!!! Vendors here I come....love Rompe esp....

[eurodressage]

Don't forget to check out the Dutch town Heerlen, right across the border in Holland and close to Valkenburg. It has a huge Van der Valk hotel where usually some of the Dutch riders stay. It's a great hotel, clean, nice breakfast, and it's 15 minutes from the show grounds (and you won't get stuck in traffic)

http://www.valk.com/pages/Default.aspx?ID=3376&propertyCode=HEE

[Coreene]

Euro, you are absolutely right, we were going to stay there until we made evening plans with friends in Valkenburg for a few of the nights. OP, be sure to squeeze in a trip or two to some of the big tack shops in Holland and Germany. The choices there will blow you away, and it's a wonderful addition to your Aachen shopping.

[ridgeback]

Why did Steffan take himself off the Elite European Grant list for Aachen?

[Phyxius]

Um, Physiux, hagelslag is sprinkles. ;) De Ruijter is just one brand of hagelslag / vlokken / muijsjes.

Yes, but you can get the flakes (like in the third picture with the dark (puur) flakes)...and they're disgusting, in my opinion! What's funny is that as I child I don't recall ever being told that they were also muijsjes, but I had trouble saying hagelslag and since they looked like mouse droppings I called them mouse turds. Sue me...I was a kid, but I can just imagine what other people thought when I asked for mouse turds.:lol:

[Coreene]

Muisjes are yummy, and then there are also gestampte muisjes, or powdered muisjes. Vruchtenhagel is yummy as well.

Hagelslage and vlokken are the same chocolate, just one is flakes and one is sprinkles.

Heel lekker, hoor! :D