Wonderful, it's summer vacation time. No obligations, carefree enjoyment of sun, sea, beach, a good book and each other. Your purchases in preparation for a relaxing vacation can be found in the center of Dordrecht.
What we bring besides a sunny mood in any case are:
Beach gear for the kids
Fishing nets, kites, buckets, funny watering cans in animal shapes, balls, cheerful sand molds and many more summer toys, can be found at Juffrouw Pollewop. Play naturally is the slogan of this cozy sustainable toy store (also fun for adults) in the Vriesestraat. That is sure to succeed given the large selection. Besides toys, a beach basket from Sun Jellies is highly recommended. These come in all colors and great for carrying beach gear. The colored sunglasses from Izipizi are too cute to pass up. Finally, sales assistants Jeanine Schot and Nieka Meijer have good news: more summery items will be arriving at Juffrouw Pollewop in the near future.
Fine books in the suitcase
Nothing is nicer than relaxing on vacation with a good book. Many vacationers opt for a novel or a thriller, knows Arnaud Makkenze, owner of Vos & Van der Leer. And of course he has recommendations: the thrillers Brandoffer, Black Summer and The Curator by M.W. Craven. "If you can, bring all three. Finally another good old-fashioned thriller with fun main characters, fantastic plot and suspense to the last page." What is also sure to get a spot in the suitcase is a puzzle book, a vacation book (Donald Duck) and a book about the area. In our case, that's France. Besides the occasional brocante market, we like to visit the most beautiful villages in la belle France. Going in July? Then also take the Tour de France guide with you. Super fun to encourage the Dutch cyclists at one of the stages.
Swimwear for the whole fam
Succeeding for a stylish bikini always succeeds at Bots. This year there is once again a unique large collection of bikinis and swimsuits from the most beautiful brands, including Watercult, Maryan Mehlhorn and Seafolly. This summer the one shoulder will be seen a lot, tips owner Magda Bots. And to finish it off, a matching tunic, a beach hat and a nice bag can not be missed. For the kids the choice is endless at Name It in the Drievriendenhof. The cutest and happiest prints and colors are on the rack, but also available in the webshop. Summery men's shorts are plentiful at Jac Hensen in Visstraat. La plage or piscine: we are ready for it.
Trendy slippers
Bathing slippers include Björn Borg, G-Star Raw, Hilfiger and Cruyff. An extensive Birkenstock collection for those who go for comfortable, but Nelson manager Fabian Bootsma's personal preference still goes to the Havaianas. At the spacious premium store on the Sarisgang, these flip-flops are available in all shapes and sizes for men, women and children alike. "Havaianas sit well and go with everything. Great on the beach, with shorts, but also great if you are going out for an evening under jeans or a summer dress. And every year there are surprisingly fun prints available in addition to the many colors." This year, that's abundantly clear again.
Well-protected into the sun
How can we best protect our skin from that wonderful, but also dangerous sun? Skin Defence is the answer to this from Denise Muller, skin care beauty advisor at The Body Shop. The Skin Defence lip balm SPF50+ PA+++ is a must have anyway. Due to the peppermint oil, this cooling lip balm can be used all day long whenever you need some TLC (Tender Loving Care). The balm moisturizes and protects against harsh weather conditions. For optimal facial protection, Denise recommends the Skin Defense Multi-protection Light Essence SPF50 PA+++. This super-light essence absorbs quickly, leaving no traces. The result: moisturized, protected and radiant skin. Both the lip balm and the essence are certified by the Vegan Society.
Dream vacation: the travel consultant thinks with you
Haven't found your dream destination yet? Fortunately, there are several travel agencies in the downtown area, including the Travel Store, TUI Travel Agency and D-reizen, which offer solutions. Patty Helmink, personal travel consultant at D-reizen, is happy to think along with you. For a sunny, relaxing, carefree and child-friendly destination, she recommends a trip through partner D-holidays. This tour operator has a wide range of accommodations around the Mediterranean, as well as long-haul trips to, for example, the Caribbean. "We are currently trying to organize departures to these destinations regionally from Rotterdam or Eindhoven as much as possible, given the crowds at Schiphol Airport." As a nice alternative, though a bit different, she mentions a boat trip to England or Scandinavia. Even though the summer vacations are already filling up nicely, the sympathetic travel consultant is optimistic about the chances of success. "Make an appointment and we'll start looking together. There's always something out there."
More shopping tips and inspiration?
Still missing something on your vacation checklist and so looking for more stores for your summer gear? Then take a look at the store page of InDordrecht. Here you will find a total overview of all stores in the Dordrecht city center. Will you be shopping in the center of Dordrecht soon? See you then!
