You could add Belgium; Antwerp is closest, but Gent and Brugge are also great if you like art and history.

...and thre is a lot to see in Brussels too

Buy a ticket that allows you to chang ethe departure date.
That way, if you get bored, you can come back early and relax at home.
Another option would be to do whatever in AMS for 5 days and wander aimlessly during the remaining days.

North of Amsterdam there are many Dutch villages to explore like Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Volendam.

Ghent in Belgium is centrally located between Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp, so makes a nice base to visit those cities.

I am about to purchase this one

06/05/2024 - 18:05
Seattle (SEA) Flights: DL0144 06/06/2024 - 13:00
Amsterdam (AMS)

06/10/2024 - 15:15
Amsterdam (AMS) Flights: DL0145 06/10/2024 - 16:35
Seattle (SEA)


Return flight

I purchased it

I’ve done short trips like that for business from time to time. The good news is that by 6/9 your body will be fully adjusted to the 9hr time zone change.

Most our trips to Euriope are about 8 night and usually by the sixth night we have had enough.
There were trips which we cut short.
Five nught are more than enough for one city.

PS. Be prepared to be chastaized on this forum for destoying the planet for the future generations :)

Ok, I extended it for another day :))

hmm, pity, the subject is not political and is science based.

well done

I've never reduced a holiday, I have a very boring home life ;-)
There is so much to do in Europe it is hard to imagine how anyone would lack sufficient imagination to find something to do just about anywhere. For example the Netherlands has a developed series of water fortresses (1600s+) and defence lines which allow much of the southern part of the country to be reduced to a 3 feet puddle. Never used by the Dutch until the last few days of WW2 when it destroyed the German's retreat it is still present and you can visit it or parts of it. Or you could go on a rowing holiday, or a canal barge holiday, or a cycling holiday, or a festival of grass smoking, or visit artists workshops. Two years ago I came across an artist clearing out his art studio of 20 years and I joined him for an hour's humping stuff while chatting about the projects he had done.

Take these concepts and stretch them to other countries, walking and cycling means you get to meet people, learn what they want to do and offer them help or just a chat. I always suggest, don't stay in a car, because you might as well stay at home and watch the TV. Get out and meet people, meet nature, meet the elements, breath deeply of the countryside and of different city scapes. Don't stay in international horrid hotels but book into B&Bs on boats, or converted town houses, or in rural hamlets. Holidays are about experiences.

We often get people on this site who say "we love culture" by which they mean weird things.... like Opera or Fine Art. Both of which are fine but there is so much more to culture, from the idea that the Swiss often don't let you hang your duvet from windows on a weekend to Italians use bidets or the Dutch always have drains and canals running near their houses because so much of the place needs draining.

Nice example Bilbo! Actually the Dutch have used water as a defense since the 16th century, against the Spanish and the French.
This is just in Dutch (google translate it) but has some nice maps.
https://geschiedenisvanzuidholland.n...se-waterlinie/

Ssbbaa77: see if you can go have dinner on Vuurtoreneiland while in Amsterdam. Needs to be booked 3 months in advance. It's one of the places that protected Amsterdam against invaders.

Tulips, you made my day, because I thought that (especially the Spanish as I've seen in old historical novels) but the leaflets we picked up said the final line had not been used, only the earlier defences which were still being worked on.

Consider Brussels with side trips to Antwerp, Ghent or Bruges.

Thank you
I dont like being inside a car on vacation and i hardly ever rent a car on vacation
I agree. I like to mix in with people and get to meet people

If it's in reference to my suggestion, I was not thinking about a car. Train is much better in these instances.

Three tours. Which ones have you done and why did you like it ?
1. Giethoorn Tour
2. The Hague & Scheveningen Tour
3. Countryside ToursZaanse Schans, Volendam & Marken

These tours seem to be designed so you use coaches to access them. I did something like 1 with an ancient relative before Covid and was bored silly, but they loved it.

I have been to the two places named in number 2 and Scheveningen wasn't for me, the Hague I loved but I spent two nights there many years ago.

Number 3. nah, been to one of the towns, all chips and fish.

These are just coach tours for the Friday it must be netherlands crowd

what days are holidays in Amsterdam and what is closed?
Saturdays and Sundays?
Sundays and Mondays?

Are shops, restaurants, museums closed on those days?

Near Amsterdam, don’t forget Haarlem, Delft, Leiden, Keukenhof Gardens, etc., just so much and so many wonderful places very close together. Make reservations for The Anne Frank House. Get a guide book for The Netherlands, not just Amsterdam. Think in terms of what the country has to offer, not just one city.