jordanalyssa91

Hi! Looking for a little advice on my itinerary. My husband and I will be spending 9 days (2 travel days) in the Netherlands and Belgium. Important notes - we both like to experience local food and culture, we enjoy museums but are generally happy with the "overview" and don't ever spend more than 2-3 hours in a museum, and we are ok with crazy busy days. We would rather start at 6:30 am and end at 11 pm and relax when we get back to the states. We are budget conscious but are ok with spending the money necessary to get the full experience. I also prefer to pre-book anything that can help avoid a line.

Here is what I have so far:

Day 1 (Saturday 4/15)
-arrive at Schiphol around 12:30 pm
-check in to hotel, explore a little and eat
-stand in line for Anne Frank house (I procrastinated and they are out of online tickets).

Day 2 (Sunday 4/16)
-Rijksmusuem in morning (pre-booked ticket or Museum Card?)
-Van Gogh museum in afternoon (pre-booked ticket or Museum Card)
-Heineken experience at night
(I know its a lot of museums in one day, but I think we will be fine - we did the Academia and Uffizi in Florence on the same day and enjoyed them both)

Day 3 (Monday 4/17)
-Keukenhof gardens
-maybe A'dam Tower when we get back?
-enjoy Amsterdam, walking around, etc.

Day 4 (Tuesday 4/18)
-Zaanse Schanse
(we are considering a 7 hour afternoon tour that includes Zaanse Schanse, Volendum and Markem --- thoughts?)
-enjoy Amsterdam

Day 4 (Wednesday 4/19)
-early morning train from Amsterdam to Brussels (considering a 6:30 am - 9:30 train)
-explore Brussels (open to any advice on what to do! Preferably food/beer focused here)

Day 5 (Thursday 4/20)
-Brussels to Ghent in morning
-Ghent
-Ghent to Bruges
-Bruges
-Bruges to Brussels
(would appreciate any advice here as well as to what to do in Ghent and Bruges) - I know it would be preferable to not do these in one day, but we really want to see Ghent, Bruges and Brussels

*here is where I really need some help!*
Day 6 (Friday 4/21)
-early morning train from Brussels to Amsterdam or Hague or Delft??
-Delft (really only want to see the factory I think)
-Hague (planning on a quickish visit to the Mauritshuis visit)
-Madurodam ?
(where should we take the train to from Brussels?? We will likely be based in Amsterdam for Friday and Saturday night, but as of now do not have anything booked. We travel light (carry on only) but will still need luggage checked )
-stay in Amsterdam ??

Day 7 (Saturday 4/22)
-Haarlam
-watch Flower Parade arrival in Haarlem (this part is non-negotiable, I changed the entire itinerary two weeks before our trip to watch this!)
-stay in Amsterdam?

Day 8 (Sunday 4/23)
-arrive at Schipol by 11 am for 1pm flight home


Thanks for any input!

jordanalyssa91

Also - advice on different Museum cards, travel cards, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

spaarne

<i> Netherlands/Belgium Itinerary Advice
Posted by: jordanalyssa91 on Apr 1, 17 at 6:42pm</i>

Skip Belgium. It is a waste of time and one week is hardly enough time for Holland. For Keukenhof ride a bike from Haarlem, as in http://www.enjoy-europe.com/travelog/Keukenhof2008.htm.

<i> experience local food and culture, and we are ok with crazy busy days.</i>
Well, you are missing one of the most crazy days on the planet, King's Day in Amsterdam. Add a week to your trip for an experience you will never forget. http://www.enjoy-europe.com/travelog/QueensDay2008.htm

jordanalyssa91

We would have loved to be there for King's Day! Unfortunately we have tight work schedules and had several things we couldn't miss the following week

janisj

>>-stand in line for Anne Frank house (I procrastinated and they are out of online tickets). <<

It is very likely you will not get in - That is a Saturday and will be very busy. The queue shuts down a couple of hours before the house/museum closes.

jordanalyssa91

Janisj - Even if we get in line right around 3:30? They are open until 10 pm.

Spaame - what would you suggest if we decided to skip Belgium?

janisj

You plan on clearing immigration, getting to your hotel, checking in, >>explore a little and eat<<, and get to the AF House in 3 hours? And then wait in line 3 or 4+ hours more.

jordanalyssa91

@janisj we will likely just go straight there from the hotel. And one of us will get food while in line.

Is there a better day to stand in line?

AndiM

I would not skip Belgium. I once spent a week in Amsterdam and took the train to Bruges for just one night. If you like beer at all, consider Belgium a pilgrimage! I think picking two of the Belgium cities would be more realistic for your time frame. Ghent and Bruges are both beautiful. I would say Bruges feels a little more polished and Ghent, a little grittier. That's my experience. I preferred Bruges. Have you checked on those Anne Frank tickets for the last Friday or Saturday that you're in Amsterdam? If I remember correctly, the experience takes about 2 hours. We also seem to have a 2-3 hour museum cap. Lastly, I recommend checking out Brouwerij 't IJ brewery in Amsterdam. It's unique because it's in an old windmill. And the beer is delicious. Way better than Heineken! It's outside of the touristy area, but not too far. One of our favorite memories from our last trip to Amsterdam. Have fun!

WoinParis

Bruxelles : from Colle, fodors (the guy seems to have disappeared...).
You could easily fill two days in Brussels. There are chocolate stores all over Brussels. I recommend going to the Grand Sablon--many of the well known places have shops there--Pierre Marcolini, Wittamer, Godiva, Neuhaus, Leonidas, Passion (and there are also some other neat art, antique, and home furnishing shops there, too). The hot chocolate at Wittamer is amazing and, on a nice day, it's lovely to sit outside and take in the scene. If you are in the Sablon on a Saturday or Sunday, the antiques market will be going on.
Don't buy the chocolate in the tourist shops where they are offering 10 boxes for a special price or things like that. Most of this is low quality chocolate and not worth it. For another delicious treat, be sure to get a warm Gaufre de Liege--a carmelized sugar waffle.
Besides chocolate (and waffles), there are lots of interesting things to do in Brussels. You definitely have to see the magnificent Grand Place. Even though he's overrated, you should also swing by the Manneken Pis statue/fountain. It's actually fun to see him if you happen to catch him on a day when he is dressed up. If you really enjoy this sort of thing, you can go find the female version (Janneken Pis) and the dog version (Zinneke Pis). The dog version is near the Halles St Gery, which is a beautiful old covered market building that has been converted to a tourist desk/coffee shop and exhibition space. There are usually at least two exhibits going on and they have always been free when I have been there. It is worth stopping by just to see the building. This is also a lively neighborhood for restaurants, especially Asian restaurants, with many outdoor cafes.
If you like Art Nouveau architecture, I suggest getting the map from the tourist office on the Grand Place and following the nice walking route marked for some fantastic examples. You could also go to the Victor Horta House museum. If you are into comics, the same map also has a walking tour of the comic strip murals painted on buildings around Brussels. There also is a comic strip museum.
If you like modern art/surrealism, the Magritte Museum is well worth a visit. This is not my favorite type of art, but I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. The audioguide is very well done and really enhanced my visit. I am not sure I would have appreciated it as much without it.
If you like military history, the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military history is great. I liked it a lot, even though I am not a huge military history buff. It is located in one of the buildings by the arch in the Parc Cinquantenaire. The collection is very impressive--all sorts of military uniforms, weapons, armor, artifacts, and even all sorts of vehicles like tanks, airplanes, helicopters, etc. There is a whole hangar of them. The museum is free, including the visit to the top of the arch where you can have a nice view over Brussels. The park itself is nice for a stroll or a run if you are looking to get some exercise in.
Don't miss walking through the covered shopping arcades of the Galeries St Hubert. These are really beautiful and near the Grand Place. You can also walk through the Parc de Bruxelles and walk by the Palace.
There are many more things to do in Brussels, but this should get you started. Enjoy your trip!
Add-on
You can go and see Autoworld if you like cars : an impressive collection just inf front of the Musée de l'Armée, Cinquantenaire
The Atomium for some is great - and there is a view. Next to it you have mini-Europe, reproductions of Europe main 'attractions' in smaller size.
Le musée de la BD is also great to visit.
Don't forget to drink some beers, my favourites places were close to le cimetière d'Ixelles (L'Atelier has over 800 beers ?)
Le musée des instruments de musique, close to Grand-place is housed in an old Horta building - you get 2 visits in one !
Solvay house is fabulous - must make a reservation long in advance.

WoinParis

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ht-belgium.cfm

menachem

Day 4: consider Enkhuizen and Zuiderzee Museum Village for your excursion. Enkhuizen is a gorgeous city and the Zuiderzee Museum gives you a great, experiential look into the past.

I'd skip Belgium altogether, which gives you the opportunity to either add some time to your Amsterdam days, or take a full day trip to Rotterdam + Kinderdijk (Unesco Heritage windmill site, real windmills, instead of the transplanted windmills of Zaanse Schans)

And do Delft and The Hague in one day. Going there only for the porcelain factory is madness. Delft is beautiful, and well worth a stroll. The Hague likewise: don't only do a flash visit to the Mauritshuis.


Distances are so short that you can use Amsterdam as a base for all of these.

WoinParis

Yes.
Skip Belgium.
More time for NL.

menachem

Hehe! //wink//

hetismij2

Don't bother with Madurodam - go to Panorama Mesdag instead. It isn't far from the Mauritshuis. Don't forget to have a look at the Dutch parliament buildings. The Ridderzaal dates from the 13th century.

Buy your museum tickets online - even with a museum card you need a timed entry for van Gogh really, and you may not be visiting enough places to get your moneys worth out of the card. Do the sums and decide - but don't buy it at the Rijks or the vG, find a smaller museum to buy it.

I agree Enkhuizen would be a nicer excursion than Zaanse Schans and Volendam et al - unless you enjoy crowds and tourist tat that is.

tailsock

Don't listen to the person that suggested you skip Belgium. Trains are easy and efficient. In Ghent take the tram from train station to the Korenmarkt where all the good stuff is located. Canal, castle, and Vrijdagmarkt are all nearby along with plenty of Flemish cafes and chocolate shops along with the churches. You can spend a good bit of time in this section and take a leisurely canal cruise if the weather is nice. In Brussels there's a lot to take in near the Grand Place (which is the only thing I'd suggest you dont miss) there's a Belgian waffle place near Mannequin Pis that's out of this world delicious. Have fun in Belgium

WoinParis

Manneken pis - man = man, 'ke' or 'tje' means small.
Manneke = small man = boy.
MannekeN to make the liaison with 'pis'. Pis = piss.
The pissing boy...

menachem

that was me. If there was more time and the days in NL were less packed, I'd say: go for it.

Anyway, hetismij has the ultimate museum suggestion in the Netherlands, which is Panorama Mesdag. If there is only one museum you visit, let it be that one. It is an amazing, once in a lifetime experience.

Instead of the Anne Frank house (which I hate with a passion), consider the Jewish Historical Museum + Portugese Synagogue and perhaps the Resistance Museum and Hollandsche Schouwburg memorial.

PalenQ

Train info - there are two types of trains linking Holland and Brussels - Thalys trains and IC trains - the latter is pretty much a flat fare and there are no seat reservations I believe - just buy ticket when there but Thalys have a Byzantine fare structure with a few tickets at deep discounts- then up in tiers until each is exhausted. full fare is outrageous - much more than IC trains.

But discounted tickets are train-specific and must be booked weeks in advance to guarantee and can't be changed nor refunded I do believe. If want flexibility the IC is a good stand-by - if wante cheapest www.thalys.com is your site to easily book yourselves on. And look for the ABS (All or Any? Belgian Stations in conjunction with international Thalys trains- meaning you could go from say Brussels - any thalys destination from Holland and then within 24 hours for about 5 euro go by any train to any or all ? stations in Belgium - has to be pre-booked as an ABS fare. Thus could go at least to Bruges for a pittance.

for lots of great info on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. There is a Benelux Railpass that could be of use but to use the Thalys with it incurs a steep surcharge in addition to burning a day on the pass.

Brussels is an interesting city but to me lacking old-world charm - most I believe would find Bruges or Gent to be a more dreamy base. Of course this is subjective but after leading zillions on bike trips involving Bruges and Gent and Antwerp (a very interesting city) but not Brussels nearly everyone simply fell in love with Bruges with some going back there after the trip. Savored best after day-tripping hoards have left.

StCirq

<<Instead of the Anne Frank house (which I hate with a passion), consider the Jewish Historical Museum + Portugese Synagogue and perhaps the Resistance Museum and Hollandsche Schouwburg memorial.>>

Agree wholeheartedly with this.

I'm also very fond of Brussels and Antwerpen, both places to explore for a couple of days.

In the Netherlands last fall, we were totally taken with Rotterdam. Maybe it was the wild and stormy day we were there that practically blew us off our seats at a couple of cafés, but the architecture and innovation and general sense of daring there just blew us away.