7 Day Trip - Is Brussels skippable? Or Antwerp?
May 9th, 2011, 07:23 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
7 Day Trip - Is Brussels skippable? Or Antwerp?
Our famly of 5 (kids ages 20, 18 and 15) will be spending seven days in the Netherlands/Belgium. Mostly Netherlands...or so I think.
We fly into and out of Schipol. I'm tempted to try to fit in Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges before going to Amsterdam. But I hate to do the "spend one night in each city" thing.
I was thinking of going straight from the airport to Antwerp (plane arrives at 8:30 am). See Antwerp in a day, then take a train in the evening to Brussels or Bruges? Or realize that we will be tired and spend the night in Antwerp?
From there, Brussels as a day trip on the way to Bruges? Then two nights in Bruges?
Another alternative: Antwerp all day, then train to Bruges in the evening...two nights in Bruges.
Any ideas? Is Brussels skippable? Or is Antwerp? I"ve been to both but in 1985. Kids haven't been to either.
We fly into and out of Schipol. I'm tempted to try to fit in Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges before going to Amsterdam. But I hate to do the "spend one night in each city" thing.
I was thinking of going straight from the airport to Antwerp (plane arrives at 8:30 am). See Antwerp in a day, then take a train in the evening to Brussels or Bruges? Or realize that we will be tired and spend the night in Antwerp?
From there, Brussels as a day trip on the way to Bruges? Then two nights in Bruges?
Another alternative: Antwerp all day, then train to Bruges in the evening...two nights in Bruges.
Any ideas? Is Brussels skippable? Or is Antwerp? I"ve been to both but in 1985. Kids haven't been to either.
May 9th, 2011, 07:37 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
7 days - at least 3 of which are now being spent in Belgium. Presumably day 7 is the day you leave again?
Doesn't leave an awful lot of time for the Netherlands. Or do you mean by the Netherlands Amsterdam?
Doesn't leave an awful lot of time for the Netherlands. Or do you mean by the Netherlands Amsterdam?
May 9th, 2011, 08:18 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is a bit more info on the trip. Arrive Shipol on Aug 19th. Depart for Zurich on August 26th. So counting the day of arrival, but not the day of departure, we have 7 days in the region.
I was thinking that Brussels was skippable.
What do you think? See Antwerp, then train that evening to Bruges, with one day and two nights in Bruges? Or see Antwerp, spend the night there, then early train to Bruges, with one overnight there? I am very aware that we will want to crash early the first night.
I'd like to see more of the Netherlands than Amserdam, but with day trips.
I was thinking that Brussels was skippable.
What do you think? See Antwerp, then train that evening to Bruges, with one day and two nights in Bruges? Or see Antwerp, spend the night there, then early train to Bruges, with one overnight there? I am very aware that we will want to crash early the first night.
I'd like to see more of the Netherlands than Amserdam, but with day trips.
May 9th, 2011, 08:32 AM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few clarifying questions:
Not counting the flight over, are you staying 6 nights or 7?
What do you plan to see in The Netherlands? Just Amsterdam?
FWIW, I have done Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges as a 7 night (8 day) trip. I have also visited Amsterdam and surrounding area in a week. For your time-frame, I would strongly consider one trip <b>OR</b> the other as opposed to trying to do two one-week trips in 7 days. Just a thought. Also, I don't consider Antwerp, Brussels or Bruges (or Gent!) "skippable". They all deserve to be seen and savored (and not just as a fly-by photo op).
Not counting the flight over, are you staying 6 nights or 7?
What do you plan to see in The Netherlands? Just Amsterdam?
FWIW, I have done Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges as a 7 night (8 day) trip. I have also visited Amsterdam and surrounding area in a week. For your time-frame, I would strongly consider one trip <b>OR</b> the other as opposed to trying to do two one-week trips in 7 days. Just a thought. Also, I don't consider Antwerp, Brussels or Bruges (or Gent!) "skippable". They all deserve to be seen and savored (and not just as a fly-by photo op).
May 9th, 2011, 08:47 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry but I'm with Bardo1 on this.
However if you are set on it then why not stay two nights in Antwerp and do Brugge as a day trip from there? You will be tired on your first day and will barely do Antwerp justice, stay there go to Brugge early the next morning, then maybe look around Antwerp again on day 3 before returning to Amsterdam.
Alternatively go straight to Brugge, stay there two nights and visit Antwerp on your way back to Amsterdam.
What are you hoping to see on your day trips from Amsterdam?
However if you are set on it then why not stay two nights in Antwerp and do Brugge as a day trip from there? You will be tired on your first day and will barely do Antwerp justice, stay there go to Brugge early the next morning, then maybe look around Antwerp again on day 3 before returning to Amsterdam.
Alternatively go straight to Brugge, stay there two nights and visit Antwerp on your way back to Amsterdam.
What are you hoping to see on your day trips from Amsterdam?
May 9th, 2011, 10:24 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am also with bardo - all the places on the itinerary are worth seeing (I really liked Brussels, for the record) - but I wouldn't attempt it all with that short of a trip. I'd probably spend all my time in the Netherlands and save Belgium for another trip entirely.
May 11th, 2011, 10:27 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love Brussels, but your trip is too jammed as it is, especially now that you mention you've got to go to "some little town." Where is the town? Belgium or the Netherlands? Pick one country and leave the other for another trip.
May 11th, 2011, 12:37 PM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the relatives came from Makkum...but I have to check and see. I hate having to plan a trip so quickly, but we couldn't commit until the 18 year old had scheduled freshman orientation at college, etc etc.
May 12th, 2011, 02:39 AM
#17
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maastricht is an easy day train trip from Brussels. A pleasant circular walk of the old town with the assistance of a map (small charge) from the tourist office (walk along main drag from train station over the bridge and turn right). Plenty of touristy looking eateries in the main square towards the end of the walk, but a good alternative is the V&D store's cafeteria/ food section a liitle further on to the right towards the completion of the walk.
May 12th, 2011, 04:02 AM
#18
We just returned from and 8 day/7 night holiday with our children to Amsterdam that included a (very) long day trip to Brugge. In retrospect I wish we had either skipped Brugge and done another day trip based in Amsterdam, or split the trip to base in Amsterdam and Brugge, with side trips from both.
