Meet Martijn Kolkman - a filmmaker and radio professional who recently visited Sofia to capture the city's unique atmosphere.

Describing the Bulgarian capital as an "unspoiled pearl," he shares his impressions of its culture, history, architecture and vibrant urban life.Together, we explore what makes the city distinctive, why the Balkans continue to fascinate traveliers, and how authentic places can shape the way we experience a destination.

Hi Martijn! Where do we find you today?

For a change, I'm in my own city, Amsterdam, where I'm balancing work with enjoying the summer.

You were recently in Sofia, creating a visual story of the city. In your opinion, what kind of people does Sofia attract?

I think people who are looking for something new, something out of the normal travel lines or bubble. You can say, "I go to Spain," and you know what you get, but Sofia is just an adventure because it's not that touristy.

There are a lot of beautiful things besides the cathedrals and, for example, the Royal Palace. There's beautiful history, but also the mountain is so nice. Because I like culture and exercising, that combination was really good for me. It was a kind of unspoiled pearl for me, the city.

It often feels like we lack the confidence to say, "Our city is amazing-come and experience it." How do you think Sofia should be promoted to international visitors?

I think you have to show the beauty of the city. I'm not a marketeer, of course, but when people ask me for travel advice - my friends, my family, and even because I'm working in radio - we talk about it.

When someone asks me what my most beautiful recent trip was, I say Sofia. I think you have to promote it by saying: we are not the biggest tourist attraction, but we are beautiful. You can go back in history with the excavations beneath the St. Sophia Church. There are frescos from the 4th or 5th century. I think that makes it really special.

More people who like culture will visit Sofia earlier than people who just want to go on a party weekend.

What would you say is Sofia's identity? Is it distinctive enough to make it an attractive tourist destination?

That makes it unique. The same as Amsterdam has the canals and the beautiful old houses - people come for that. You have to look for something that makes the city unique itself: culture, nature and history. Maybe you also have to focus on new things in the city.I also saw all those people collecting the warm mineral water. That was surprising for me - people coming and filling bottles with hot water.

We know it isn't a perfect city when it comes to infrastructure. Do you think that's a significant obstacle for visitors?

I didn't have any problems with the infrastructure during my visit. I used a lot of taxis - I downloaded the Yellow Taxi app, and it worked perfectly. The infrastructure in the city - I didn't see any big problems. The roads are okay. Maybe outside the city it's different, but in Sofia it was like a normal European city.

Historically, the Balkans have always stood out for their rich ethnic and cultural diversity. What do you think draws people to the region today?

First of all they're surprisingly cool because there's so much history. I also visited Tirana in May. It's not in the European Union yet, and you see that because there are so many old buildings.

It's raw. It's unspoiled. When you go to the Balkans, it is what it is, and I like that. It's not made for tourism, and I think that makes it attractive for me and for a lot of people.

When you go to Barcelona, for example, it's made exactly for tourists. The same in Amsterdam. Athens is also a bit like that. It's a popular city, but when you walk there, it's raw. You see graffiti, street art. The history of the communist era is still visible, and that's interesting. That's something you have here that we don't have anymore. Maybe it's not the best history, but it's part of your identity.

How did you first discover DOT Sofia?

Actually on Booking.com. Normally, when I go to a city, I stay in Hilton hotels or other big chains because of the status you get after so many travels. But in Sofia I wanted something closer to the city centre. Then I found this hotel. It looked so stunning that I thought, "I'll book this one." It was the architecture, the style, the rooms, the amenities.

And there's also a great restaurant downstairs with excellent food. When I'm travelling alone and working from 9 in the morning until 8 in the evening, I don't have the energy to go into the city looking for a restaurant. So for me it was excellent that there was a really good restaurant downstairs. I dropped my stuff and went for dinner. It was really nice.

Do you think places like this can be a reason for someone to choose a particular destination?

For me, I can only speak for myself. I don't choose a city because of a hotel. I first decide where I want to go, and then I look for the best hotel.

I'm not a person who thinks, "Oh, that hotel is nice. I'll go to that city." But I can definitely recommend DOT Sofia because it's a perfect place.

Which destinations are next on your list?

This weekend I'm going to Eindhoven in the south of the Netherlands to start some recordings because the weather is going to be perfect for outdoor shots.

Then I'll go back in September for the interior shots. Ghent in Belgium is on the list for the end of August. Then I go to Hong Kong in November. That's already booked. Next year I want to go to Vienna and some other places, but it's still a little open.

I've made a lot of content already this year, so right now I'm editing everything.