Points in between Paris & Amsterdam

I would not miss Brugge, Belgium

I agree. Brugge for sure.

Brugge!!! Mmm, waffles, chocolate, frites!!!!

Rotterdam or Luxembourg or Maastricht look good options

As said above, Brugge. Definitely with hot chocolate and a waffle at the Old Chocolate House at 1c Mariastraat ... it just doesn't get any better.

The hot chocolate at this place was better;) http://www.deproeverie.be/ Here's a sneak preview of Bruges: http://youtu.be/s-BYMPMhjpU

Thanks! I've added Bruge to my list. I am toying with the idea of heading into Germany for a day ... any thoughts? Thinking maybe from Paris I could go to Germany then over to Belgium and onto Delft. And then I'm wondering if 3 days is enough for the Amsterdam/Delft area.

I think you could have a good taste of Amsterdam and delft in 3 days- I would not aim at doing any other day trips, there is quite a bit to see in Amsterdam Realistically- i would spend the first two days in Amsterdam, the third day would be "play it by ear" Amsterdam or delft, dpending on whther there were any other Amsterdam "must do's" on my list We enjoyed the trip to Delft, but then we had a full 7 days in Amsterdam and were also able to do some of the nearby day trips

Especially if your trains go through Antwerp, that's a great place for cheap lodging and many sights. It's also a good base for a daytrip to Brugge (or Ghent), which isn't as much fun at night as Antwerp. Lille, France is known as "little Paris", but it's not as important a stop as Antwerp. It sounds like you haven't, at least, been to the library to read last year's "R.S. Fr, Neth, Bel". That is well worth the time, and much better organized than an internet newsboard.

I have the RS 2012 France, Germany, and am waiting not so patiently for the Netherlands, etc., book. Hoping it will come today. I am just curious so like to hear what others who have been there have to say. For me, the books are a resource & guideline, the boards are another and of course, there are other resources. I like to have a lot of information before I make my decisions. These boards are wonderful for getting more personalized information. Takk! (Practicing my Icelandic)

Mainz might be a consideration. We had two full days there, and if you want to feed your brain instead of your stomach the Johan Gutenburg museum of books and printing is very interesting. Not only does the museum have several copies of Gutenburg's forty-two line Bibles, it has dispalys of the history of printiing from around the world. There are plenty of examples of moveable print use in Europe after Gutenburg invented the process of metal moveable type.

Actually, I'm glad to learn how nice Mainz is - we've been to Germany at least briefly several times in recent years. But note that Antwerp has a UNESCO World Heritage printing Site, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, which has food all around it, and a weekly flea market auction in front of it. This Antwerp museum focuses on the time of Mercator's maps and P.P. Rubens. It's just varied enough for children to enjoy as well.

I got my Amsterdam, Brussels & Bruges book in the mail. I'm getting overwhelmed with all the wonderful choices. I was disappointed that there was nothing on Luxembourg. I am enjoying your tips & thoughts and welcome more! I really would like to visit Luxembourg for a couple days, maybe Bruges as homebase for three days and then onto Amsterdam.