Cosmodrome Baikanur open again for unfriendly countries and people
Due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, visitors from unfriendly countries—Westerners, that is — were no longer welcome at the Baikanur Cosmodrome starting in 2022. But lo and behold, although the war is unfortunately still ongoing and Western countries haven’t exactly become friendlier to Russia, they are welcome again! So, […]
Journalists and bloggers visit Mangystau in September 2026
Dutch (and other) journalists and bloggers are currently visiting the western region of Mangystau, known for its chalk cliffs, canyons, and surreal landscapes. We’re curious about their experiences and future stories and videos on (social) media! Mangystau is accessible from the port city of Aktau, which even has an international airport. The region is becoming […]
Will Baikanur be reopened for all!?
Indeed, those rumors are going around mid-late March. Because, since the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions, visitors from ‘unfriendly countries’ (read: the West) are no longer welcome at the Cosmodrome Baikanur, a Russian-leased piece of Kazakhstan from which Russian rockets plus international crews are launched into space, mostly on their way […]
Will Baikanur be reopened for all in June 2025?
After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and in response to Western sanctions, Russia banned residents of ‘unfriendly countries’ (read: the West) from accessing the Cosmodrome Baikanur. As is well known, this is a part of Kazakhstan rented by Russia that has an illustrious history and from where launches into space still take place, including […]
New visa options to stay and work in Kazakhstan!
The Kazakh Embassy in The Netherlands announced on February 7, 2025 that new visas will be offered with the aim of attracting talented professionals to the country. Who can then live there and continue to do their work. Why in Kazakhstan? Because it is a pleasant country to stay, and not least in the former […]
Support for Ukrainian schools from Kazakhstan
A beautiful initiative in Kazakhstan to support schools and education in Ukraine. The volunteers of Angels of Freedom collect money to build and repair bombshelters at schools so children can continue to be educated, even in a time of war. Have a look at their website: https://angelsoffreedom.kz/eng It remains very sad that Russia in this […]
Representative of Kazakh Tourism in The Netherlands
On June 5, 2024, I received a plaque from Ambassador Zhumagalev at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in The Hague, The Netherlands. I am appointed by the Kazakhstani Joint Venture ‘Kazakh Tourism’ as its representative in the Netherlands. This is in honor of my efforts for tourism from the Netherlands (and other countries) to Kazakhstan for […]
World Nomad Games in Astana from 8-14 September 2024
The first three editions were held in Kyrgyzstan, starting in 2014 and every other year. In 2022 the event took place in Turkey and in 2024 it will take place in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. We are talking about the World Nomad Games. The Kazakhs expect three thousand participants from no fewer than a […]
Can I still travel to Baikanur?
It’s a niche but a popular one; a visit to the town of Baikanur and the nearby Cosmodrome, center of Soviet space inheritage & travel. And still important for Russian space programl with regular launches of manned and unmanned Soyuz rockets. But then Putin started a war against Ukraine in February 2022. Taking Kyiv in […]
Young Russian men in Almaty
This turned out to be the case during my visit to the city in May 2023. As is known, hundreds of thousands of Russian young men left their country in a hurry when Putin announced a partial mobilization in September 20222. And who can blame them? It is better and, above all, safer to be […]
Recent Comments