I hope I haven't bored you all with my recent trip to the Netherlands - because there are plenty more pictures to come!!))

First of all, I should say that one of my primary motives for going was to visit the AHOY Doll & Bear show in Rotterdam.  Now, to be honest, this is not a great show for selling at, but it is wonderful to wander around as a customer.  You see all kinds of things that are just not available at UK or US shows - such as a stand selling whole leather hides, and a chap who was carving the tiniest wooden bears in the world. 

It is also great for antique dolls and bears as many dealers from all over Europe converge on this show and it is possible to see items you might otherwise come across only in a museum.



You will be able to read the full show report in the next issle of Teddy Bear Club International Magazine.

After a happy day poking around the show we went for dinner at our favourite restaurant in Rotterdam; De Twaalf Heeren, which is handily close to the main railway station.

On this trip we chose to base ourselves in Delft since it is only ten minutes away from Rotterdam and we picked a Best Western hotel because we get loyalty points, yaay!!  The BW in Delft is called the Museum Hotel - and it is mad bonkers crazily stuffed with art and sculpture.  These pictures will give you a flavour:
 

  These were in the reception and dining area, but all the bedrooms had art and ceramics hung on the walls too (happily, not scary sculptures though!).  The hotel is housed in a 17th Century canal house and is right in the centre of the old part of town - perfect!