The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals explained
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are the UN’s answer to climate change, poverty and all those other problems that keep us awake at night. In the coming time I’ll make a humble attempt to explain each goal and give tips how we can use them…
How to discover hidden gems for your staycation bucket list
The corona pandemic has made our world much smaller, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change soon. So this year’s holidays are most likely going to be staycation. But if you have lived a long time in one place, it can be hard…
Corona is a wake-up call to rethink traveling
Corona has caused the world to pause. When everyone is forced to stay inside, we will inevitably start thinking. A good moment to think about the footprints we leave behind on this earth. A good moment to rethink the way we travel. Corona quarantine: a…
Places that impress: Christchurch 8 years after the earthquakes
Eight years after the Canterbury and Christchurch earthquakes Christchurch is far from being rebuilt. It’s not a big, busy, buzzling city like Singapore or Melbourne either, quite the contrary. It’s calm and relaxed. Some might even call it boring. Why would you want to visit…
Fascination down under – Australia’s migration history
When the first Europeans arrived in Australia in the beginning of the 17th century, the indigenous population counted approximately 750,000 people. Four hundred years later more than 25 million people live in Australia. I was wondering what has fascinated people so much about this big,…
Is Hoi An worth visiting for you?
We stayed three nights in Hội An. Although we were not a big fan, it might be different for you. We saw many different types of travelers there and they seemed to be having a good time. This is a quick guide for whom Hoi…
4 administrative things to arrange when moving to the Netherlands
Moving abroad, either for work or study, is an adventure. It can be exciting to start a new life in a new country – but it can easily get frustrating when you can’t find your way around. As I’ve gone through the same hassle, I’ve…
The pain of having international friends
Last Friday I officially graduated with a master’s degree in my pocket. And while part of me could not wait for this day, the other part wished it would never come. Because while celebrating this milestone I knew that too soon I’d have to say…
What internationals student should know about starting a job abroad
Virtually all international students around me are currently trying to find a job which allows them to stay in the Netherlands or another different European country. We will hopefully (knocking on wood – so German to do) graduate in February, so the next two months…
What the Catalan Referendum really was about
Since I spent one year of my life living in Spain, of which 6 months in a village close to Barcelona, the videos and images of the violence during the Catalan Referendum last Sunday shocked me. While I have been following the development and, unfortunately,…
Antwerp in one day – walking and (almost) free
Antwerp, you are looking beautiful today! This is the caption I used for a photo I posted on A Highwaygirl’s Facebook page a while ago – and it is so true. Antwerp is perfect for a day-long walk through the city. You can see so…
How to crowdsource your next trip
Since Queen Beatrix resigned four years ago, we celebrate King’s Day already on April 27, which is the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. However, it happens every year that some lonely tourists still believe that the Dutch celebrate Queen’s Day on April 30, so they find…
I AM A HIGHWAYGIRL

HEY THERE, I'M ALEA SOPHIE!
I want to inspire other open-minded highway men and girls to live and travel consciously and apprectiate our planet, its cultures and people.Currently
at home
Next stop
discovering our hometown Hamburg (when Corona has passed, of course)
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