I was a little alarmed when we turned off the enormous Rotterdam highways to the houseboat - I just couldn’t see how the idyllic houseboat we had booked could be 5 minutes from the motorway in the middle of the city. But I needn’t have worried. It was beautiful. The house itself is very spacious and the kitchen is better equipped than my kitchen at home. The canal itself is peaceful and clean and we enjoyed the greedy swan who left us in no doubt of our duty to feed him. The boat is very near the railway line, but it really isn’t disturbing (although we kept thinking it was thunder). John and Marisa were friendly, helpful and responsive; coming round within five minutes when we locked the baby and the keys in the house. It was a really lovely stay and we hope to return when it’s a bit warmer.