A Flamingo in Utrecht

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A Flamingo in Utrecht
I'm an American, living with an Italian, in a 2000-year-old city in the Netherlands. I love exploring, with camera and dog in tow, as I learn and share the history, art and contemporary culture of Utrecht.
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  • Follow me to Italy 5 years ago I’ve noticed a number of new followers here on my Flamingo in Utrecht blog recently, and while I appreciate it, it’s kind of pointless. I don’t update here any more as I’ve been preparing for my big move to Italy … Continue reading →
  • A Sad Day for Nijntje 7 years ago I just saw the sad news about Dick Bruna, the creator of Nijntje/Miffy passing away yesterday. Discovering his work was one of the many joys I got out of living in Utrecht. As well as the Nijntje books and related … Continue reading →
  • Centraal and the Moreelsebrug 7 years ago The Utrecht Centraal train station has been undergoing a massive renovation for what feels like years and years. I rarely go to the station, so the few times I do, usually to meet up with visiting friends, it’s been a … Continue reading →
  • Wordless Wednesday: Gezellig 7 years ago
  • Where is the Domtoren? 7 years ago First off, happy new year/gelukkig nieuwjaar! I hope everyone survived and there are no hangovers! The only aches I have are from the two-hour death march Charlie took me on this morning. He never gets tired! As I think I … Continue reading →

Contest Entries »

  • Five Ways Utrecht Combines 2000 Years of History with Modern Culture Writing Contest March 2013 When I moved to Utrecht almost five years ago, I had never actually set foot in the city. Yet I already had a feel for the city after scanning daily photos placed in an Utrecht Flickr group. What I saw in the many photos was a city that was a...

ExpatsBlog.com Expat Blog Awards 2012: Netherlands Bronze Award!

This blog won the Bronze Award for best expat blog in Netherlands!

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Website Reviews » There are 38 reviews on A Flamingo in Utrecht

Hazel
16:44 PM October 21, 2012

5 stars for Alison, Pippo - Utrecht's Canine Ambassador, and some of the most beautiful photographs on the web!

Giovanni
16:48 PM October 21, 2012

I love A Flamingo in Utrecht. The posts are always very interesting and witty. Moreover I love the pictures of Utrecht that are often posted on the site.

Amber Procaccini
16:54 PM October 21, 2012

I always enjoy reading this blog. I take a moment to remember the times that I have spent in Utrecht and our friends there. Alison always shows me something new about the city. She looks at everything from the history to the markets to what song the Dom is playing. It's a delightful way to keep in touch with a fabulous Dutch city.

Verona
17:04 PM October 21, 2012

makes me want to visit utrecht. love the photos

Rob Clark
17:06 PM October 21, 2012

Always well written and interesting, A Flamingo in Utrecht gives a superb illustration of the wonders of exploring the place where you live and celebrating the gap between where you are and where you are from. All ex-pats should read it to realise that living far from "home" just means adopting a new home.

Felicity
19:09 PM October 21, 2012

Beautiful photo and beautiful words. I love Alison's perspective.

Jennifer
22:56 PM October 21, 2012

Always a fantastic read with beautiful pictures! Can't wait to visit Utrecht and see everything in person!

Yexenia
11:58 AM October 22, 2012

Living across the world on the other side of the pond, reading A Flamingo in Utrecht puts me right in the city as if I was living there. The photos are wonderful and bring life to the city.

Mark
14:37 PM October 22, 2012

Best look at my home town through foreign eyes I can imagine! Great insighful stories and beautiful pictures.

Amy
17:20 PM October 22, 2012

A Flamingo in Utrecht is my favourite expat blog!

Kal
21:20 PM October 23, 2012

Always a great read filled with informative and fun details about Utrecht's history and current events. All posts are filled with beautiful photos that make you wish you were there.

Frances
15:11 PM October 24, 2012

Love this blog, live in Utrecht and always find it informative and it makes me look around anew. I always look forward to seeing new views and details of the city and events. Am so impressed with your positive attitude to being an ex pat.

Margo
17:53 PM October 24, 2012

I'm an ex pat living in Canada and a Flamingo in Utrecht takes me back to my Homeland, Alison's photo's are spectacular and I hope to see them published in a coffee table book one day, I have learned more about Utrecht living overseas than I did when I lived in the Netherlands, thanks Alison.

Stuart B
14:50 PM October 26, 2012

A great blog with lots of amazingly beautiful photos of one of Holland's biggest and most interesting cities. Well worth a read.

Dave
23:10 PM October 27, 2012

The beautiful city where I was born. Living here in Canada the pictures and stories make me feel that much closer to home. Thank you. Long may the Flamingo blog live! Flamingo in Utrecht Rocks!

Nicole
16:49 PM November 05, 2012

I love the photos on the site, and it is so interesting to read her stories about living in a different country.

Alison
16:51 PM November 05, 2012

A great blog filled with insights and insider tips to this beautiful little Dutch city. A pleasure to read!

Tricia
16:52 PM November 05, 2012

There are days when I long for the expat life again. Checking into "A Flamingo in Utrecht" and Alison and Pippo's life scratches that itch. I especially love Alison's eye for color, design, and architecture.

Victoria
16:56 PM November 05, 2012

Always beautiful photos--can't wait to visit Utrecht one day and it's all because of this blog!

Neil
17:09 PM November 05, 2012

Lovely insights into a beautiful city and the life of someone exploring it through eyes only an expat has.

Melissa
17:38 PM November 05, 2012

A great blog full of useful information, especially for Utrecht. When I was planning my move to NL, Alison's blog was a big help in understanding the Dutch way of life!

Nina
20:13 PM November 05, 2012

I've lived in Utrecht for many years and I enjoy Allison's blog. It points out places I've been to and places I've misseD. I enjoy reading it all. I also appreciate her research on various aspects of Utrecht life.

Melissa
23:41 PM November 05, 2012

I really enjoy Alison's blog! She is a gifted photographer and writer. I've spent quite a lot of time in Utrecht but Alison always has interesting, new perspectives on the city. She is obviously enamored with Utrecht and that makes her blog a pleasure to read.

Kerryanne
11:16 AM November 06, 2012

Alison knows more about the history of Utrecht than most Dutch people I know! She is dedicated to keeping folks informed on what is happening in the city and her knowledge of obscure and interesting facts and stories about Utrecht is wonderful. I have often referred people planning trips to the Netherlands to her blog as a point of reference. Aside from the blog, Ali is a smart, genuine and lovely person with a great sense of humor.

Cathy Hinek
13:27 PM November 06, 2012

Alison has such a wonderful way of connecting her readers with her new home. I love discovering as she discovers, and learning so much wonderful information! The photos - of course - are breathtaking!

Nicole
14:34 PM November 06, 2012

I love reading Flamingo in Utrecht. As a North Carolinian, married to a Dutchman, I hope to live in the Netherlands someday. Reading Alison's blog gives me a lot of insight on that dream!! :-) And when I'm missing the Netherlands, I can look at the photos and remember all the goods I've had there, and think about the family and friends.

Tiffany
22:22 PM November 08, 2012

Love the photos, love the city (though maybe I'm a bit biased), love the easy-going yet informative tone of the blog. And Turner loves that he's not the only exPet here in the Netherlands!

Ineke
05:05 AM November 24, 2012

I love seeing Alison's blog pop up in my email, and I love the posts about my hometown from many years ago. So many interesting facts. It's great to get a different perspective, and to see my Utrecht through an expat's eyes. Thank you, Alison!

Michael
11:11 AM November 24, 2012

Dear Alison, Thank you for your wonderful blog! Particularly love your authentic style and attention to detail in the story about The Letters of Utrecht. Beautiful pictures. Go orange flamingo! Best, Michael

Pauline
13:35 PM November 24, 2012

I stumbled upon Alison's blog one day, and now I look forward to every new post. As a fellow inhabitant and lover of the city of Utrecht she always surprises me with new little bits of interesting information about fun projects throughout the city, or beautiful photos of little corners I have explored or have yet to explore. Her posts make my city more fun then it already is! I hope she will keep blogging for many years to come.

Aledys Ver
15:09 PM December 03, 2012

A Flamingo in Utrecht is one of my favourite blogs by expats living in the Netherlands. Alison´s posts are an incredible source of information about Utrecht and all things Dutch; living proof that there's a lot more to Holland than Amsterdam, the Red Light District, tulips and mills. A Flamingo... is fun to read and features incredible photos of Utrecht.

Kim
15:12 PM December 03, 2012

I love reading about Alison's adventures in Utrecht!

Michiel
15:22 PM December 03, 2012

This is an excellent blog, not only because Alison writes very interestingly about Utrecht and its people but also because her photos are outstanding.

Susanna
16:56 PM December 03, 2012

I love reading about Utrecht as seen through Allison's eyes. I've learned a lot about the culture of the Netherlands from her blog.

Barbara
00:19 AM December 04, 2012

Love to read Alison's "A Flamingo in Utrecht". She is so generous in sharing both her photos and history of Utrecht with all who read the blog. Five stars to Alison for her blog.

Vania
00:49 AM December 04, 2012

I´m yours fan.

Judith Nijholt-strong
15:09 PM December 04, 2012

I'm definitely a fan of " A Flamingo in Utrecht" and have been for years! Being a fellow ex-pat in NL, also living in Utrecht (albeit the "burbs"), and a fellow Floridian, I've enjoyed Alison's view & photos of inner city Utrecht. Love this blog!!

SteveF325
16:48 PM December 10, 2014

I have been following "A Flamingo in Utrecht" for a few years now and I have to say it is the one blog I always return to. As someone interested in photography, I love the pictures that are posted and the way they tell a story of Utrecht; a city I have put on my bucket list thanks to Alison. Wonderful, insightful writing and visually stimulating...who could ask for more?

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