My roommate and I are going to Europe we would love to stay for weeks but only have two. we are trying to decide between Amsterdam and Brussels. we like sipping coffee, scenery, beautiful architecture and drinking beer. Between the two which would you choose??

In two weeks you could do both.

I know. But for that part of the trip we can only choose one we think. Should have clarified that!

You can justifiably visit both for the interests you cite - but I think the architecture in Amsterdam is more consistently attractive. On the other hand, I think beer drinking is better in Belgium (try www.deliriumcafe.be), and there is the Grand' Place, which is quite a spectacle, very beautiful. In Amsterdam visit a bruin café (brown café) for alcoholic drinks and coffee; in Brussels the name is also 'un café'. The area around Place-St-Gery in Brussels has many cafés and nightspots and is wonderful for people-watching.

What is your itinerary like? Can we squish both destinations in?

Lavandula

Not the first time for this question - and the responses are usually about 10-1 in favour of.....Amsterdam

None of my business, but why do you have to pick just one? The distances aren't far at all and you could easily take trains and spend time in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem...

But if it has to be one city only for two weeks, I'd pick Amsterdam -- and I'd get an apartment instead of hotel.

Bluestar said just what I was thinking. There is so much more to see in Belgium/The Netherlands than just Brussels and Amsterdam, and the train system is excellent and not expensive. Personally I think Brussels is something of a disappointment these days, for some reason it's become much dirtier/scruffier than it used to be.

I think the OP is saying they are taking a two week trip, and have a few days within that trip to choose between Amsterdam and Brussels. If that is the case, KSC, it would be helpful to know what the rest of your trip looks like, because transportation into or out of each city may play a role. Generally speaking, I would choose Amsterdam for the city itself, but Brussels if I was interested in doing several day trips (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, etc.).

The gardens at Sissinghurst would be beautiful in June. Looks like train to Staplehurst then taxi for last 5 miles:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle/

Cathinjoetown - I think you're on the wrong page!

msteacher said << <i>I think the OP is saying they are taking a two week trip, and have a few days within that trip to choose between Amsterdam and Brussels.</i> >>

I'm sure you're right -- I just read it wrong. In that case I'd still go with A'dam.

Much of the specialty craft beer on sale in the Netherlands now comes from Belgium anyhow. But both places are congenial for lounging and sipping. Thanks to its canals, Amsterdam is more picturesque while Brussels has more international government agencies. The restaurants show regional variations of course. Amsterdam's colonial history has flavoured the cuisine with Indonesian influences. Either choice won't disappoint.

In two weeks you could do them both, but if you have to choose, I'd recommend Amsterdam. Brussels is nor that nice, and has become less attractive somehow in the last years... I would only use Brussels as a base to visit Bruges, Antwerp, Gante...
On the other hand, Amsterdam is gorgeous by itself, and you can also visit amazing places from there (Alkmaar, Rotterdam,...)

OOPS

Definitely Amsterdam, Brussels is ok, but we could have done it in a day. Very low down my list of places to visit in Europe!

Having visited both this past month, I would definitely choose Amsterdam over Brussels. There are so many great cities nearby Amsterdam for day trips if you wish and Amsterdam is such a vibrant city to visit.

I am overwhelemed with the awesome responses Thank you all!!!!

Should have been more specific, though! We are beginning in Stockholm, heading to Berlin then making the jump West to Amsterdam. We are traveling from Amsterdam to Paris...and I know Belgium is in the middle...but we are just worried we are spreading ourselves too thin and don't want to be exhausted, etc.

I am all for going to both, or stopping in Belgium but just in case we cannot fit them both in, I want to make sure we chose the right stops.

And we are traveling by train! Any advice? or tips? (I've never traveled by train in Europe.)

THANKS AGAIN! this is so much help!

If you are doing all that (Stockholm to Paris) in two weeks then you will not have time to stop in Belgium. In fact, you may not even have time to stop in Amsterdam.

But if you mean that you have two weeks for the Amsterdam-Belgium-Paris leg of the trip, then yes, it would certainly be worth a couple of days.