Amsterdam / Belgium Itinerary
Apr 22nd, 2014, 03:17 PM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
asI said on a similar thread I have taken over 1,000 people on trips to Bruges and Gent and Antwerp - all on the same trip and we stayed two nights in each and 99% of these Americans loved Bruges - totally loved Bruges and some even went back there after their overall trip had ended.
They also like Gent and Antwerp but not nearly so much as Bruges, which fulfilled their idea of an old-worldish Europe much more than Gent or Antwerp - Gent has some vest-pocket areas like Bruges overall town center but foreigners will certainly mainly love Bruges and like the other two.
Locals I understand have a different criteria.
They also like Gent and Antwerp but not nearly so much as Bruges, which fulfilled their idea of an old-worldish Europe much more than Gent or Antwerp - Gent has some vest-pocket areas like Bruges overall town center but foreigners will certainly mainly love Bruges and like the other two.
Locals I understand have a different criteria.
Apr 23rd, 2014, 05:11 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone for your really helpful ideas. Right now, I think I am going to do Amsterdam (3 days), Ghent (1 day), Bruges (1 day). What is the fastest way do you think to get from Bruges to Amsterdam? Train? I think that's what I'm going to use for everything. Thanks all! 
Apr 24th, 2014, 01:02 AM
#24
Dubrovnik and Bruges, not really,
Bruges has been a back water for many years, with canals, a major player in the lace industry (pre-industrial era) and is in the wet cold north, made of dark stone (or dirty by smoke) on the flat with some massive buildings, with a fair bit of traffic running through it, a big place of roads and small canals.
Dubrovnik is ex-venetian republic, on the sea, walled, and was shelled during the Bosnian, Serbian war, its business was trade, far smaller and with one big plaza of marble, a place of alleys and steps.
Bruges has been a back water for many years, with canals, a major player in the lace industry (pre-industrial era) and is in the wet cold north, made of dark stone (or dirty by smoke) on the flat with some massive buildings, with a fair bit of traffic running through it, a big place of roads and small canals.
Dubrovnik is ex-venetian republic, on the sea, walled, and was shelled during the Bosnian, Serbian war, its business was trade, far smaller and with one big plaza of marble, a place of alleys and steps.
Apr 24th, 2014, 04:54 AM
#25
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>Bostonblondie226 on Apr 23, 14 at 9:11pm
What is the fastest way do you think to get from Bruges to Amsterdam? Train? I think that's what I'm going to use for everything. Thanks all! </i>
There are a number of train options for Brugge -> Amsterdam Centraal which take 3 to 4 hours, involve 1 to 3 transfers, and cost $50 to $100. See the NL International site for schedules and prices, http://tinyurl.com/b59adz9. For an illustrated introduction to train travel see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. When traveling from city to city, as opposed to exploring the countryside, trains are usually the most convenient way to go.
What is the fastest way do you think to get from Bruges to Amsterdam? Train? I think that's what I'm going to use for everything. Thanks all! </i>
There are a number of train options for Brugge -> Amsterdam Centraal which take 3 to 4 hours, involve 1 to 3 transfers, and cost $50 to $100. See the NL International site for schedules and prices, http://tinyurl.com/b59adz9. For an illustrated introduction to train travel see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. When traveling from city to city, as opposed to exploring the countryside, trains are usually the most convenient way to go.
Apr 24th, 2014, 08:21 AM
#26
I just returned 4 days ago from touring Belgium and the Nethrtlands for 13 days.
was in Brussels, Waterloo..Antwerp..Ghent nd Brugge.
I had private guide in Brussels and to Antwerp.
I would perhaps stay in Amsterdam and take a few day trips.
The Kuekenhof Gardens will still be open and you want to see this
Then there is Trip to the Hague if you want.
Yes Brugge is very nice...but save it for another time.
Post Trip Report and let us know what you did and what you liked.
was in Brussels, Waterloo..Antwerp..Ghent nd Brugge.
I had private guide in Brussels and to Antwerp.
I would perhaps stay in Amsterdam and take a few day trips.
The Kuekenhof Gardens will still be open and you want to see this
Then there is Trip to the Hague if you want.
Yes Brugge is very nice...but save it for another time.
Post Trip Report and let us know what you did and what you liked.
Apr 24th, 2014, 08:27 AM
#27
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PalenQ, the difference in preferences is mostly due, I think, to having a clear cut "tourist" goal n a city like Brugge, but not in Gent, or Antwerp. For that you'll need local knowledge, and not "tourist knowledge" . But, the reason I post about these places is because they are off the beaten track and -after a little research - offer many surprises.
I mean, consider your own ongoing thread about things to do in Amsterdam. These too are not the obvious tourist things.
http://www.visitgent.be/en/home
I mean, consider your own ongoing thread about things to do in Amsterdam. These too are not the obvious tourist things.
http://www.visitgent.be/en/home
Apr 24th, 2014, 08:52 AM
#28
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
menachem - I agree with you and what you say - I am just reporting what the overwhelming % of folks I have taken thru all three cities - not in the past few decades however I doubt if that much has changed in comparative terms) - what they liked - the all loved Bruges much more than the other two, which they liked very much.
To see Gent or Antwerp and not Bruges IMO would be a mistake - seeing them all would be best as each is different - and Gent and Antwerp as European cities go are gems - too bad there is the Tuesday It's Belgium attitude and folks do not devote much time to this tiny country with so many neat cities - heck Saint-Niklaas - in between Gent and Antwerp has the largest town square in Belgium I understand (we went thru Saint-Niklaas but did not stay overnight - though it could well be a nice really off the beaten path place to stay but in any case well worth a stop for its imposing main square.
https://www.google.com/search?q=St+N...=1600&bih=1075
To see Gent or Antwerp and not Bruges IMO would be a mistake - seeing them all would be best as each is different - and Gent and Antwerp as European cities go are gems - too bad there is the Tuesday It's Belgium attitude and folks do not devote much time to this tiny country with so many neat cities - heck Saint-Niklaas - in between Gent and Antwerp has the largest town square in Belgium I understand (we went thru Saint-Niklaas but did not stay overnight - though it could well be a nice really off the beaten path place to stay but in any case well worth a stop for its imposing main square.
https://www.google.com/search?q=St+N...=1600&bih=1075
Apr 25th, 2014, 08:53 PM
#29
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, I see what you mean.
And if people go to Brugge, please please please go see the Memling paintings.
http://www.hansmemling.org/
And if people go to Brugge, please please please go see the Memling paintings.
http://www.hansmemling.org/
