Travelling with Van Gijn

Simon van Gijn made dozens of trips between 1850 and 1907. He kept a record of no fewer than 30 of these trips. He noted where they went, how much the trip cost, where they ate and what they saw. Join van Gijn on his travels.

On holiday

Van Gijn was not an adventurer; he followed Baedeker's advice to the letter. Yet his travelogues read like a novel. They paint a fascinating picture of a world that is so different from ours, but at the same time so familiar. Even today, we still visit churches and museums on holiday, take a trip on Lake Como, and visit the Tower of Madame Tussaud in London. But who stays in first-class hotels for five weeks? Who still travels in a frock coat and top hat these days? And who hires a 'servant' to carry their coats while walking?