Hi- we are flying into Brussels and make our way up to Amsterdam where we will fly out the morning of day 10. We are thinking basing ourselves in Brussels for the first 4 nights and do day trips to Ghent and Bruges and then make our way up to Amsterdam. Should we stop somewhere on our way to Amsterdam for an overnight stay (or two)? In Amsterdam, we want to see the Anne Frank house and the Van Gogh museum but other than that we don't have anything on our must see list. We'd like to experience a tulip garden somewhere. We will be there in mid April. Your suggestions are appreciated!
Posted by
Chicago
8223 posts
I have to Belgium 3 times; I think this is a better itinerary:
Fly into Brussels take the train directly to Bruges
Bruges 3 nights
Train to Ghent
Ghent 2 nights day trip to Brussels
Train to Amsterdam
Amsterdam 4 nights include a day trip to Keukenof
https://keukenhof.nl/en/
Fly home
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34207 posts
instead of staying in Brussels consider staying in Ghent (Gent) and when you are ready to head north there is a convenient train from Ghent to Antwerp (Antwerpen) where you can change to the International train in a really beautiful train station. You could even enjoy Antwerp for a while, a place well worth a visit.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8022 posts
While the museums in Brussels are excellent, the city is often considered less glamorous and touristic than its governmental position might indicate. I prefer to sleep in Antwerp, many posters like Gent. Many also consider Bruges the most beautiful and romantic historic town center (surrounded by banal posrwar sprawl) around. I was satisfied with a simple, unreserved train visit to Bruges from Antwerp.
EDIT: Advance booking absolutely necessary for Anne Frank House. I don't know if the Van Gogh Museum has timed tickets or not. Note that you have to train back to Brussels (or secondarily, to Antwerp) from Bruges to get to Amsterdam. Amsterdam has at least as many 1 hour and under train-daytrips as the cities in Flanders. So it is not absolutely necessary to stop along the way. But (specific exception) Den Haag and Leiden cannot be "seen in one day", and Leiden is an especially good base for seasonal busses to Keukenhof.
Posted by
SoCal
1330 posts
Van Gogh Museum tickets aren't timed (at least they weren't for us), but they should be reserved perhaps a couple of weeks in advance if possible. The place gets many, many visitors (for good reason).
Posted by
The Netherlands
1645 posts
The Van Gogh museum has had timed tickets for several years now, even before Covid. In peak season and especially in tulip time, tickets can sell out weeks in advance. The best time slots, the first ones of the day, are the first to sell out. These could be booked up even a month in advance.
The Anne Frank house is even worse. Make sure to understand when tickets go on sale for your dates and be prepared to set your alarm or you’ll miss out.