Valencia With Koen

10/10/2024

🤝Teambuilding🤝

Recently the lovely team of POC Real Estate visited Valencia with a group of 25 colleagues! I was happy to create a tailor made program to make their company outing & teambuilding trip extra special!

🚲 On the first day we did a customised bike tour focussing on local architecture and gastronomy! During the bike tour we made several stops to enjoy a:

* 🎻 Private guided visit in the Valencian opera House ‘Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia’

* 🥂 Delicious tapas lunch finishing with, what else, the local coffee ‘cremaet’!

* 🏠 Pitch-stop at Makelaar Valencia for a presentation about the Valencian real estate market! Special thanks to Erwin and his team to make this possible!

🍊 On the second day the group enjoyed our fun-filled Culinary City Game, created with the The Orange Guide, to explore and learn about Valencia’s old town, earning points by working together in small teams answering questions and tasting different local products!

🥘 Last but not least, we finished the day by visiting the beautiful Albufera Natural Park! The group enjoyed a paella cooking competition in the afternoon and finished with a glass of cava on the boat while enjoying the sunset. A great finish to a wonderful trip! 🥂🌅

⭐️ The group left a beautiful review:

‘’In a word: TOP! We were with a large group of 25 colleagues for whom Koen organised a truly customised team building. No question was too much for him. Incredibly enjoyed and really be able to let go by his organisation. Everything was arranged to perfection. We can recommend Koen very warmly!’’

Muchísimas gracias to the whole team of POC and especially Lien for making it all possible! 🙏🏼

18/03/2024

🧨🎇 Las Fallas 2024 🎇🧨

Valencia completely transforms from the 1st to the of 19th March, it’s time for Las Fallas! This traditional Valencian festivity combines local traditions, fireworks, art, social criticism and plenty of humour & satire in the papier-mâché sculptures and pieces of art! But where does this festivity really originate?

Although there are different stories, it’s often described as a celebration of the beginning of spring! ☀️ It goes back to a local carpenter tradition to burn old leftover materials from winter they didn’t need anymore on the day before the day of San Jose (Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the city’s carpenters and is celebrated on March 19). 🔨🪵

Apart from the old leftovers, they would also burn the wooden instruments used to hold up the oil lamps they needed to use to work at night, called ‘fallas’ (torches). Since we’re gaining hours of daylight in spring again, the torches are no longer needed. 🔥

Over the years, old belongings and rags were added to the bonfire. The figures and wooden structures appeared more human each time and this is where we can see the first versions of the niñots (dolls) we know today! With a pinch of humour, irony and social criticism this tradition evolved into the creation of impressive temporary works of art each year by very talented and creative fallas artists! 👨‍🎨👩‍🎨

Last but not least, true to tradition the Fallas are burnt on the 19th of March during La Crema, a spectacular sight! 🔥🧨

☕️🍫 Don’t forget to try the buñuelos! A typical sight on the streets of Valencia are the ‘buñuelo’ stands, selling hot chocolate with buñuelos. These fritters are made with pumpkin and best enjoyed dipping them in hot chocolate, delicious! 😋🎃

06/03/2024

🍻Macro Beer Tasting🍻

Throwback to our biggest craft beer tasting to date when in collaboration with & we hosted a Valencian craft beer tasting for 42 members of ! ⚽️🍺

The group tasted 4 different craft beers each paired with local tapas & typical Spanish montaditos! 🥖🧀🥓

Interested in organising your own Valencian Craft Beer Tasting? We host smaller private tastings as well as tastings for big groups in both Dutch, English and Spanish! 🇳🇱 🇬🇧 🇪🇸

Tastings are tailored to your group! Taste 4-6 local Spanish craft beers paired with montaditos, local tapas or a complete lunch or dinner package with Paella Valenciana or homemade sandwiches! 🥘🥖😋

Interested? Contact me for more details & prices! 🙋🏼‍♂️

📸

06/01/2024

👑¡Feliz Reyes!👑

On the 6th of January Reyes Magos, or the Three Kings (Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspard), are celebrated! They came to baby Jesus to offer him gifts, 12 days after his birth. It’s an important festivity in Spain. On the night of the 5th of January, the Three Wise Man deliver gifts to Spanish children 🎁

The Three Kings festively enter the city in a ‘Cabalgata’, a traditional parade where they ride floats through the streets of the city center, as their little helpers throw candy at the excited children. Reyes is officially the last day of Christmas season, time to say goodbye to the Christmas tree! 🎄

On the 6th of January, it’s common to eat a Three Kings Cake (Roscón de Reyes)! 🍰 This round-shaped cake is garnished with glazed fruits and flaked almonds and filled with cream! 😋

It contains two little figures inside, a figure of the King 🤴 and a fava bean! 🫘 If your slice includes the king figure, you’ll become the ‘king’ or ‘queen’ of the celebration and get to wear the paper crown! 👑 Found the bean in your slice? You’ll have to pay for the Roscon cake next year! 😅

19/11/2023

🍴Get a taste of Valencia🍴

A Market & Tapas experience that immerses you in local Valencian life. Get ready to discover the impressive modernistic Central Market of Valencia inside out, just like a local we’ll do our groceries and enjoy tastings of fresh and seasonal products at different market stalls! 🍊🥓🫒🍅

We’ll save the best for last and end with a delicious tapas lunch on a sunny terrace right outside the market, with great views! ☀️

A unique and personal way to get to know more about local life, to enjoy local gastronomy and have great conversations! 🤩

In about 3,5 hours we’ll enjoy:

⛪️ A guided visit to the Central market, a combination of tastings of local food & drinks and groceries 🍷🧀 🛒

🍽️ A tapas lunch with typical Valencian dishes, fresh seafood, fish and meat from the market 🥂🫒🍤

🤩 A fun-filled local experience with stories about this city & the Valencian way of life ☀️

Hope to welcome you soon, hasta pronto! 👋🏼

📩 More information & bookings: [email protected]

25/10/2023

🐟Casa Guillermo🐟

Cabañal-Cañamelar, former Fisherman’s quarter, is known for the colourful facades decorated with ‘taulellets’ (tiles), typical in traditional modernism houses from this neighbourhood! 🏠

This ‘barrio marinero’, or former fisherman’s neighbourhood also has its very own authentic gastronomy! 🎣

In Casa Guillermo you can try homemade ‘Titaina’, prepared with tomato, cured tuna belly, garlic, peppers and pine seed. A true delicacy! In season, you can also try the Valencian mussel ‘clochina’. 😋

This restaurant is known for traditional Cabañal and local seafood dishes and especially their anchovies! I tried the almuerzo sandwich with cheese, ham, anchovies and albacore. A great, local place for a nice meal and a glass of wine! 🍷

08/09/2023

📸 Received a nice photo from yesterday’s fun-filled private Gastro Bike tour with the brothers from my birth town Kampen! 😎🚲🥖🍻🍹

Private tours offer an even more personalised experience, connection and full focus on the needs of your group with plenty of room for improvisation. Always with a ‘tranquilo’ mindset! ☀️

18/08/2023

📯 Just opened! The gorgeous new location of the specialty coffee roastery Ikore in Valencia! 🍾

My dear friends at put in a lot of effort to open their beautiful new location for their micro specialty coffee roastery in the middle of the city center! Enjoy some of the best coffee in town & delicious brunch! 😋

📍 C/ de Pascual i Genís 3
☕️ Cortado

Pd. Don’t worry! Their market stall with specialty coffee in Mercado de Ruzafa is still open as well! ❤️

14/07/2023

Looking for a nice and original souvenir from Valencia? Make sure to check out ! 🎁

They have shops in El Carmen and Ruzafa and sell amazing prints from different local artists🖼️, unique Espanista t-shirts designed by showcasing typical Valencian traditions👕, awesome Valencian caps from .locals.lifestyle🧢, books 📚 and last but not least, a variety of local delicatessen! 🍸

Want to surprise someone at home? You can even create a nice giftbox combining different products! 🎁

In this photo I’m in front of the shop in Calle Caballeros 8. I bought the book about Valencian Almuerzos (mid-morning meals) by . A great book to learn & tell you more stories about this unique Valencian tradition in my Gastro Bike Tours! 🚲

Thank you very much Daniel & team! 🙏🏼

21/06/2023

27/05/2023

A top trip indeed! 🤩 It was my pleasure to organise and guide the TOP trip for over 70 members of the Business Club de Wetering from Genemuiden last week. During our 3-day program we’ve enjoyed a:

🚲 Custom bike tour with lunch at the beach & beautiful views of the Malvarossa ⛱️

🏟️ Visit to the stadium of Valencia C.F.⚽️

🚶‍♂️Walking tour through the city center🚶‍♀️

🥘 Paella cooking workshop at Albufera natural park🌾

⛵️Relaxing and fun boat trip on the Albufera lake! ☀️

And of course, amazing local and Spanish cuisine at different restaurants, including a pintxo standing cocktail! 😋🥘🍤🥩

I want to thank the organization of and the whole group for the great atmosphere and all the positive and enthusiastic responses! See you next time in Valencia! 🍊🙏🏼

12/04/2023

🚲🍴Gastro bike tour🍴🚲

A great way to discover Valencia, its gastronomy & local traditions! During this easy-going bike & tasting tour you’ll use all of your senses! Expect:

🛒 A central market visit & tasting tour 🍹🧀🥓🍷🫒🍫

🚲 A guided bike tour through part of the old city center, the Turia park and City of Arts & Sciences! ☀️🦜🌴

📍Gastronomic stops at authentic local places & hidden gems, for example to experience the typical Valencian ‘Almuerzo’ (brunch) tradition🥖🥜🫒🍻

😋 Tasting surprises throughout the tour to get to know more about local food, culture & traditions 🍊☕️🥛

Definitely a fun and dynamic way to get to know the city and its vibrant way of life! 🤩

31/03/2023

🦐Dénia🦐

A hidden gem among gastronomy destinations in the Valencian Community! This authentic Spanish beach town on the coast of Alicante was designated ‘Creative city of gastronomy’ by UNESCO in 2015 and is famous for local seafood delicacies such as its delicious red prawns & dried octopus (‘pulpo seco’) as well as rice specialities. 🦐🐙🥘

One of my personal favourites near the beach to have lunch is . The ‘arroz con Bogavante’ or Lobster rice is spectacular! 🦞

Do you want to visit the fourth best restaurant in Europe? Denia is also home to the 3 Michelin-star ⭐️ restaurant of Valencian chef Quique Dacosta!

Too far away to visit during your stay in Valencia? Don’t worry, has several other restaurants in Valencia city such as , , and for you to enjoy! 🍽️

26/02/2023

💥Mascletá💥

Today marks the start of the spectacular Fallas festival in Valencia! A large cage is built on the town hall square for the very first Mascletá fireworks show (named after masclets, very loud firecrackers🧨).

🕑 At 14:00 sharp, after two warning fireworks are shot at 13:50 and 13:55, both ‘Falleras mayores’ wearing traditional Valencian dresses give the sign to the pyrotechnic (the creator of the Mascletá):

📣 Senyor pirotècnic, pot començar la mascletà (Mister pyrotechnic, you can start the Mascletá!)

From this moment, a rhythmic noise symphony is slowly building up. 🎶 It’s not too much about the visual aspect, you have to feel the Mascletá in your body! You might think it’s just a series of explosions, however, the masclets create a rhythm of explosions that gradually intensify into a climax. Make sure not to close your ears for the full experience! 🎇

16/02/2023

👨‍🎨🍻El Carmen - Street Art, local drinks & tapas tour👩‍🎨🍷

Excited to announce this new experience! There’s a blooming street art scene in Valencia where creative and gifted urban artists are responsible for giving life and color to the most degraded corners of the city. 🎨The murals often also show social topics and political criticism. It is simply spectacular to see how the El Carmen neighborhood turned into a 24/7 open-air street art museum! 🤩

So, would you like to discover the oldest neighborhood in Valencia through a street art route, enjoying two local drinks & tapas? 🍻🍷

For the first edition we’re organizing an exclusive event only for co-workers & co-livers from & on Saturday the 25th of February from 17:30-19:30.

✍🏻Sign up before the 22nd of February, limited spots available!

16/02/2023

👨‍🎨El Carmen - Street Art, local drinks & tapas tour👩‍🎨

Excited to announce this new experience! There’s a blooming street art scene in Valencia where creative and gifted urban artists are responsible for giving life and color to the most degraded corners of the city. 🎨The murals often also show social topics and political criticism. It is simply spectacular to see how the El Carmen neighborhood turned into a 24/7 open-air street art museum! 🤩

So, would you like to discover the oldest neighborhood in Valencia through a street art route, enjoying two local drinks & tapas? 🍻🍷

For the first edition we’re organizing an exclusive event only for co-workers & co-livers from & on Saturday the 25th of February from 17:30-19:30.

✍🏻Sign up before the 22nd of February, limited spots available!

17/01/2023

💎☕️ A great little hidden gem☕️💎

One of my favourite places to do groceries is the Mercado de Rojas Clemente. I usually end up at Brenda’s little coffee place inside the market, .cafe.de.especialidad one of the few places where you can try an authentic Italian Macchiato. 🤤👌🏻

Unlike the Spanish ‘Cortado’, or ‘Tallat’ en Valencian, this coffee is made with just a drop of milk and with a small spoon the cream is added on top afterwards. This way you get the great intense espresso coffee flavours and the creaminess of the milk! A must try and so delicious! 😋

Outside you can also find a great place for Valencian ‘almuerzo’, or brunch on this cosy and sunny square! 🥖🍷🍻🍹☀️

31/12/2022

🎆🥂 Feliz año Nuevo! 🥂🎆

In Spain it’s common to watch the official countdown for ‘Nochevieja’ on television, broadcasted live from Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Once 12 o’clock 🕛 strikes, you’ll hear the sound of the ‘campanadas’ (🔔bells🔔), the last 12 chimes of the year.

The Spanish have their 🍇 grapes 🍇 prepared, 12 in total, eating a grape with the sound of each bell ringing. But be careful, first you’ll hear 4 ‘cuartos’ (fourths) that warn us for the upcoming 12 chimes. Don’t start eating your grapes too soon and make sure to buy seedless grapes! Truly a unique (and tasty😋) tradition for luck and prosperity in the next year!

Of course, a bottle of local Cava is also opened 🍾 for a toast to the new year!

🥂 To a happy and healthy 2023! 🥂

24/12/2022

🎅🏼🎄Wishing you a merry ☀️‘sunny’☀️ Christmas from Valencia! 🎄🎅🏼

Just a few impressions from the Valencian streets, where it feels like spring during the warmest Christmas Eve in history (☀️24 degrees!)

During Christmas Eve, Spanish families gather to celebrate Christmas having dinner, a true feast enjoying delicious local food such as Jamón Ibérico, ‘marisco’ (seafood) or ‘cordero’ (lamb). When dessert comes to the table, suddenly an extra space opens up in your full stomach for local ‘Polverones’, ‘Turron’ and chocolates!

After that, it’s time for the ‘sobremesa’, where everyone long past dinner time still hangs and chats around the table to enjoy some drinks and good company! 🥂😋

I hope you all have a happy & healthy Christmas shared with your loved ones! 🤩

04/12/2022

🖤🐓La Gallina Negra🐓🖤

Be prepared for a unique dining experience! No frontiers, or ‘cocina libre’ means it’s impossible to label their unexpected fusion of different kitchens and Valencian roots. Creative combinations of ingredients and flavours, all made with fresh seasonal products. A true gastronomic trip, there’s really no other way to describe it! 💫

Chef Javi, the hostess Alba and the rest of team really make you feel at home. Just be surprised: choose from the 5 course (cobardes y gallinas) or the 8 course (huevos de oro) menu. And feel free to ask Alba to suggest some of their tasty and quite unique (local) wines to pair with the dishes. 🥂😋

I’ll be back soon, that’s for sure! Great hidden gem in Valencia old town! 💚🐓🖤

13/11/2022

🥘 Paella Experience 🥘

Did you know the Paella Valenciana was typically made on Sundays for lunch? Traditionally the man was working on the land or in industry during the week, while the lady would be taking care of the household and cooking. On Sundays the roles would be reversed. It was the only day the man cooked ‘para ella’ (for her), hence the name of the dish! 👨🏼‍🍳🥘

These and other fun facts, tips & tricks to prepare the best paella were explained by our chef Pepe last Tuesday during the Clandestine Paella Experience. 🤫

That’s right, you can become the next great Paella chef!👨🏼‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳 Check out the Paella Experience for a daytime rural cooking class in the Valencian Huerta (fields) or our afternoon Clandestine Paella Experience in the city center, where we’ll dive into the kitchen of price-winning chef David to make our own paella and Sangria! 🥇🥘🍹

03/11/2022

🍺 Valencian Craft Beer Tasting 🍺

Beer is, just like wine, an important part of Valencian culture. Having a ‘Cerveseta’ as an aperitif or combined with gastronomic traditions such as the almuerzo is very popular! However, beer is so much more than the refreshing lager drink you find in most local restaurants and bars.

So let’s discover local beer culture during the Valencian craft beer tasting! We select 5 different Valencian/Spanish craft beers and pair them with local food, fresh from the nearby market! We’ll discover the versatility of beer, learn about beer history, styles, ingredients, the brewing process and how to taste beer like a pro of course! 🍺😋

Craft brewers produce small batches of fresh (seasonal) beer and experiment a lot, so there’s always something new to try in our custom tasting! As a former professional brewer and craft beer enthusiast, my mission is to introduce you to the local beer culture and show you the versatility & quality of Valencian and Spanish craft beer combined with local gastronomy. And who knows, maybe you’ll also find a new passion for craft beer! 🍻

🍺 5 Valencian/Spanish craft beers
🥘 Local food pairing
🙋🏼‍♂️ Lots of info & small beer quiz
📍 or

🏷 Send me a DM or click the link in the bio for more information & bookings!

22/10/2022

Looking for a nice spot to have a late breakfast or brunch? Look no further!

offers delicious specialty coffee combined with fresh juice, homemade toasts or bagels and Alfajor, a traditional confection typically made of flour, honey and nuts.

☕️ Flat white
🍊 Orange juice
🍞 Toast with hummus & avocado
🍪 Alfajor with coconut & dulce de leche

I’ll definitely come back to try the other dishes and enjoy the great atmosphere with a terrace outside, super friendly staff and great music! 🎶

20/10/2022

🥘🥬🍊Huerta Experience🍊🥬🥘

Recently I had the pleasure of organizing a team building event for Realizon. What a great & sunny day exploring the Valencian orchards (‘huerta’) together! ☀️

Valencia is literally surrounded by orchards and agricultural fields, a unique setting to be found only 6,5 kilometres north from the city! The quietness, fresh air and relaxed atmosphere was the perfect setting for the team to connect while enjoying good company, local gastronomy and nature. 🚜

The experience started with a welcome coffee with Valencian orange cake, followed by a Central Market visit and bike ride through part of the city center and the agricultural fields. Our destination was an authentic Valencian farm to enjoy local products directly from the field to our plate, the so-called ‘kilometro 0’ products! 👨🏻‍🌾👩🏻‍🌾

The team got a real taste of rural Valencian life by participating in the preparation of their own Paella Valenciana on orange woodfire, enjoying local tapas, a ride in horse carriage and visiting the family-owned ‘barraca’ (typical Valencian farmhouse). 🥘

On our way back we stopped at another farm to try their fresh ‘horchata’ (plant based drink of the local earth almond’).🥛

A day to remember! Special thanks to and for making it possible!