Hi,
We will be in Amsterdam next week and had planned on traveling to Bruges by train. However; since the tickets are $400 and we will not easily be able to visit Flanders Fields and Ypres, we thought we might be able to rent a car when we leave Amsterdam on Friday, drive to Bruges, park at the train station, and return to Haarlem on Monday. We are in the process of checking prices. We will probably pick up /drop off car at Schipol.
What would the roads be like and the signage?
We have driven in France.
Do we need an international license?
Will we be hopelessly lost on the roads?
Thank you
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Freeway the whole way and well-signed for all turns. The signs probably say Ieper and Brugge vice Ypres and Bruges. You don't need an IDP. Except for getting in and out of the towns/cities, there can't be but about a half dozen turns for the whole trip.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Expect to get snarled in traffic around Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Its actually not completely highway for the entire way if you take the most direct route. The E34 becomes a secondary road a little more than halfway between Antwerp and Brugge. If I remember correctly, there's a roundabout at some point, then eventually you hit the ring road that surrounds the historic core of Brugge. If you take E17 to Gent after Antwerpen, then E40 to Brugge, this route is all highway, but you risk getting stuck in heavy traffic. In contrast, Brugge to Ieper is mostly highway, and traffic isn't usually too bad.
Signage is the same as in most of Europe. As Ed noted, the city names are posted in the language of the region, so unless you get really lost, you'll only see the Dutch version. Ex: Brugge vs Bruges, Antwerpen vs Anvers, Gent vs Ghent, Ieper vs Ypres, Kortrijk vs Courtrai, Doornik vs Tournai, Bergen vs Mons.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
It is easy to drive around.
Drive via Bergen Op Zoom and the Kennedy tunnel in Anterwpen instead of via Breda to avoid some roadworks on the Antwerpen ring road.
If you have some 2 extra hours to spare, you can make your drive to Brugge very interesting by driving via the Dutch road N57 between Rozenburg and Middelburg, which takes you over the impressive Delta Work structures. 2 hours is the extra time it takes for the additional kms and some time allotted for photos and short walks.
Posted by
Austin
976 posts
There are several car companies on Overtoom street, which is a pretty good pickup/drop off, depending on you hotel. Centraal Station pickup/dropoff is doable but the bike and pedestrian traffic can give you heartburn- you don't need to use Schipol unless that is convenient.