Well this was a surprise indeed! On my way home from my New Years trip to Shanghai, I got stuck in the Netherlands by the snowy conditions. I got off my flight from Shanghai to find out that pretty much all flights out were cancelled, and the app rebooked me for 2 days later. I’m really glad that I’m pretty well travelled and now am a lot more relaxed about things – it wasn’t the end of the world and it didn’t need me to be dramatic about it! Now I did end up being there for 5 days, but I made the most of it, and I know I was in a lucky position being able to firstly get into the country easily (was travelling on my Irish passport luckily, so didn’t have to wait in the crazy long non-EU line), and having funds to hand to be able to survive extra days away from home. To note, it took almost 3 months to get notified that I would be reimbursed, and it was not quite the full amount I submitted receipts for. But it’s fine, and I got to see pandas in the snow!
Ouwehands was lovely in the snow, but so different to when not snowy – when I got there I was a bit disorientated about where I was in the park for a while. But it was so quiet, there were very few other visitors around at all so everyone had free choice for all the good viewing spots! I was pleased it was still open with the weather – I only went for 1 day while I was stuck, I had planned to go the following day but instead attempted to get back to Amsterdam for my rescheduled flight instead – which didn’t end up happening so I could have gone back to Ouwehands after all, but I didn’t really want to be stuck somewhere with no options at all! While there I ended up getting an annual pass as it’s pretty good value (€77.50 vs €31.50 for a day ticket) – so plenty more trips to the Netherlands are on the cards for 2026. Anyway – onto the pandas!
Xing Ya 星雅
Xing Ya 星雅 didn’t appear too interested in the snow or going outside – he said no thanks to the chilly weather! He stayed inside the whole time I was there, or perhaps I got unlucky and just missed him outside. Nevertheless I still got to see him, even though he was sleeping all day, what a cute boy he is 🙂
Wu Wen 武雯 + Lang Yue 朗月
My timing was perfect – I arrived and mum Wu Wen 武雯 and 1.5 year old Lang Yue 朗月 were both outside! Wu Wen was happy to eat outside while Lang Yue was enjoying the snow – she was rolling around and playing, and making good use of the now slippery slopes by rolling down the slopes in the snow, just so adorable^ Lang Yue was keen to get Wu Wen involved so they did interact together for some climbing and playing in the snow – and Wu Wen looking like she pushed Lang Yue down a snowy slope at one point! I got the cutest videos! Even though I only ended up being there for a couple of hours, it was completely worth it! Wu Wen even participated in some of the climbing outside and made sure to let Lang Yue know that it was her turn up the tree. So many great interactions, but perhaps one of the best was near the end of my visit when they were both inside again, Wu Wen was eating bamboo and Lang Yue approached from one of the walkways above, put her paws on Wu Wen‘s head to stabilise herself, then completely threw herself on top of Wu Wen to get down and settle next to her! Such a funny moment, and Wu Wen almost immediately went back to eating after the ‘attack’.
Lang Yue had grown a lot between my last visit and this visit, so much more up to mischief and such an adventurous girl^ But editing these pictures now several months after the event, she’s grown so much just this year, she’s now almost the same size as Wu Wen.
