We are arriving in Amsterdam at 1pm on July 21st and depart from Brussels at 10:45AM on 31st July. We would like to depart for Belgium on the 28th (since we are traveling with another family who have already been to Belgium, so they will only join us for the initial Netherlands portion)
So, given these dates, first thing I'd like to get advice on is if we should stay all the nights in one city or split among different cities in Netherlands. If in 1 city, then which one?
We are 4 adults and 3 kids ( ages 10, 15, 16) and love hiking, biking and museums and would like to cover the major attractions.
In Belgium, we definitely want to visit Bruges. So, where should we stay in Belgium, given we have to fly out of Brussels?
Could you suggest an itinerary for us which covers the main attractions in Netherlands and Belgium, given that we would like to spend 7 nights in Netherlands and 3 in Belgium?
Posted by
Boston
66 posts
My two cents…
Split your time in the Netherlands between Amsterdam and somewhere smaller, like Leiden, Delft or Utrecht. Trains in the Netherlands are great and you could easily pick one place and make it your home base for the week if switching hotels seems like a pain, but personally, I liked getting the vibe in different cities, especially in the evenings. Haarlem would also be a great base for Amsterdam and day trips if you want to stay put.
Stay in Bruges! It’s best in the mornings and evenings when the day tripper crowds have thinned out. And easy to get to Ghent and Brussels by train. Don’t miss the free walking tour…my guide was fantastic (just make sure to tip well at the end)
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the suggestion. Is it possible to do Netherlands and Strasbourg in 7 days and then 3 days in Belgium? I ask because the other family is interested in Strasbourg.
While in Belgium, I suppose we stay in Brussels on the night of 30th (since we have a flight to catch the next day). Should we stay in Bruges on the 28th and 29th nights?