Why not consider taking the train from Amsterdam to Brussels as soon as you land, if that was your original city of choice?

Where is yuor flight supposed to go. You can;t just abandon part of your flight TO europe - if you do your return flight will be cancelled.

If all they are offering is a flight to Amsterdam - then they owe you a whole lot of money (have you looked into your rights here?)

And you can;t really fly from Amsterdam to brussels - it's way too close - you should take a train instead.

I would have suggested a train on arrival but you have already booked a car so your best bet to find a hotel at such short notice is to go to somewhere like hotels.com and fill in your requirements there.

Given you will be fed up and jet lagged I would suggest once you have checked into your hotel you just go for a walk around, and maybe take a canal boat tour. Don't try and do too much. It wasn't a planned visit so just relax a bit and get over your jetlag before picking up your car the next day.

If you have booked but haven't pre-paid for the car, just take the train to Belgium instead.

since they cannot provide a connecting flight quickly, they are okay will letting us get off in amsterdam. we were planning to spend two days in bruges and then go to germany. now, if we went to bruge - it will give us only an evening so I have no option but to abandon that part and continue to germany

I have spent 5 hours in united customer service line and over 8 hours on phone since yesterday evening. i don't have time or energy to fight with them right now. i will deal with them when i get back. Right now, I want to get started with the trip that has already been cut short and messed up by the airline.

There seems to be more options since you are arriving so early, but it is not clear from the statement.

Original plan: fly to BRU, drive/take train to Bruges; then drive/train to somewhere in Germany.

Looked at plan: fly to AMS, but nixed due to no connecting flight to BRU within 4hrs. If lucky there is a 10:01 Schiphol - 13:42 Brugge, or 11:01 Schiphol - 14:42 Brugges, both with change in Antwerp.

No Belgium plan: You really have 10hrs or less. If your children have read The Diary of Anne Frank, the Anne Frank museum is a moving experience. You need a reservation to avoid waiting in line. An issue with Amsterdam first is that you might be too early to check-in. Of course, you can leave your luggage at hotel, but you end up walking around town in the clothes you traveled. Going Brugge after landing will get you into Brugge at the time you can check-in.

If want to be sure you are able to check in and freshen up immediately then try one of the hotels out near the airport. I would suggest the Ibis but they don't have quad rooms.

Getting the train to Brugge would still be an option though pricey. Plus as you say you would really not have very long there before heading to Germany.

I think staying in Ams makes the most sense after such a frustrating start to your trip.
You don't say how old the kids are but they may enjoy Nemo or the zoo. Not too taxing on jet lagged brains and good fun.

On the bright side the weather is supposed to be improving, and looks to be better in Amsterdam than Brugge tomorrow.

Stay at the airport hotels or the hotels ringing the airport. I have stayed there many times because they are great for transportation and inexpensive compared to city center. Best deals www.accorhotels.com - either ETAP or Novotel - free shuttles from terminal. Easy for picking up car - go into Amsterdam for the afternoon via trains from the airport.

Hotel in Amsterdam that I like a lot.

http://www.owl-hotel.nl/gb/

Their rates are reasonable,include breakfast and in a great location, about 10 tram minutes from Centraal Station.

Where will you be dropping the car? If not back in Amsterdam, there may be a significant fee to drop in Germany. a You may want to train from Amsterdam to Germany, then get the car if you fly out of Germany.