My first solo trip, I plan to visit Belgium and Netherlands, flying in to Brussels (from Los Angeles) Will fly in early morning and was thinking to browse till afternoon, get a train to Ghent spend two nights and do Bruges and Antwerp. Move on to the Netherlands, not sure if there will still be tulips? I'll be there the first week in May. In Netherlands I would like to visit Keukenhof, Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans, The Hague, Delft, Kinderdijk and Leiden. I have about eight days and not sure if this is doable? Is Rotterdam or Dinant worth adding ? Any advice will be appreciated!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16554 posts
2 nights just gives you one full day and I would spend that in Ghent. No way can you really do a day trip to Bruges and Antwerp on your one day. They are not even in the same direction. Bruges is to the northwest feomGhent, Antwerp is to the Northeast. There is enough to see in Ghent to keep you busy for that one day.
How many nights total do you have once you land in Brussels?
Editing to add Ive reported the post above mine which is advertising sweaters.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
i have 10 nights to do Belgium and Netherlands
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5553 posts
We were in Belgium and the Netherlands in October. Here's a link to my Trip Report. Maybe you'll find some useful info.
Posted by
Oregon 🌲
494 posts
The Keukenhof Tulip Gardens are open until May 10 in 2026. Could you swap Netherlands first then Belgium? Then you would be closer to the height of the season, rather than the tail end of the season.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
6961 posts
Are you flying home from Amsterdam or Brussels? It makes a big difference. I'm afraid your trip looks overly ambitious, and really doesnt take into account travel time from place to place. As Pam pointed out, your 2 nights in Ghent will only give you one sightseeing day. That's barely enough time to hit the highlights of Ghent, never mind seeing anything of either Bruges or Antwerp. Similarly, your wish list for places in the Netherlands might be physically possible, but practically leaves no time to see or do much in any of them. And would leave no time at all to explore Amsterdam! I think some editing is required.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8605 posts
Please understand that Antwerp and Leiden are mid-sized cities, with multiple days worth of things to do. No, you don't have to do all of them! But Delft and Ghent are easily done in one full day, by contrast. Mystic Lamb pre-booking is essential. The Hague is also large, but tram-adjacent to Delft. Two big art museums in The Hague could fill an art lover's day.
I would say you don't need both windmill sites, so pick the one with easier travel for your hotels. Note that "tulips" is a broad term, Some posters here demand to bicycle to a working bulb factory (i.e. field) while it is still blooming-but you're maybe late for that. OTOH, Keukenhof is a sophisticated public garden,with rotating displays of pre-started bulbs, and multiply-planted plots, so they have blooms every day they are open. (Weather can affect this, of course.)