Fodor's To Europe!
Highlights of the Netherlands and Belgium
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Fly into: Amsterdam
Fly out of: Brussels
Total Duration: 11 days
This trip, true to its moniker, gives you all the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Start among Amsterdam's canals, see the seaside by The Hague, and check out Rotterdam's busy nightlife. In Belgium, you'll see Brugge's medieval splendor, the artistry of Ghent, and the street life of Brussels before heading home.
- History
- Food and Wine
- Natural Beauty
- Nightlife
- Architecture
This Trip's Top Experiences:
Days 1-3
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1 Amsterdam
Canals and Culture
- Wander around the Jordaan, a charming neighborhood with narrow alleys and leafy canals
- The Rijksmuseum holds works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and more while Van Gogh has his own separate museum
- Explore Anne Frank's House for a moving introduction to the young girls' story
Day 4
GAPS/istockphoto
2 The Hague
Diplomacy by the Seaside
- Have a peek at the trippy Escher Museum
- At the Mauritshuis, see Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring
- Learn about the Dutch government at the Inner Court and Knight's Hall
Days 5-6
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3 Rotterdam
An Artsy Port City
- The Museum Boijmans van Beuningen has a trove of old Dutch masters
- Walk among the shops and archways of the Beurstraverse
- At Delfshaven, see the last remaining piece of "old" Rotterdam
Days 7-9
Belgian Tourist Office NYC/USA
4 Brussels
Beers and Beauty
- Wander the Grand'Place, Europe's most ornate and theatrical town square
- It's toon-time at the Maison de Bande Dessinee, a museum celebrating famed Belgian cartoonists
- Take a peek at the Manneken Pis, the statue of a little boy peeing from 1377
Day 10
Eric Gevaert/shutterstock
5 Ghent
Flemish Art in a University Town
- Ponder the mysteries of van Eyck's beautiful Adoration of the Mystic Lamb in St. Bavo's Cathedral
- The Graslei is a showcase for Ghent's finest features; this row of guild houses dates to the 1500s
- At SMAK, you can see the rotating displays of post-1945 art, including works by Panamarenko
Day 11
morriedin/Fodors.com member
6 Brugge
A Medieval Gem
- The Groeningemuseum has work by many of the Flemish Primitives and their ilk, from Bosch to Bruegel
- Walk along the Burg, which is beautifully illuminated at night
- Explore the Markt, one of the liveliest places in Brugge, as it fills with people and horse-drawn carriages
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