Best scenic route Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam and back to Brussels?
Feb 24th, 2011, 02:59 PM
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Best scenic route Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam and back to Brussels?
I know a lot of people will suggest doing this by train, but we love driving!
We will arrive in Brussels from London on the Eurostar, we're thinking 2 nights in or near each city. My question is does anyone have any great small places along these routes for sightseeing and pretty towns and nice drives? And with a car we are probably better off staying outside the city's and getting train/bus in, so any great small inns/b&b's/hotel suggestions would be great. I do realize that my driving times are approximate, but we will have a full day to do each leg.
Arrive Brussels 5pm - have that evening and all the next day to sight see in Brussels.
<b>(2 x nights Brussels)</b>
Pick up a car next day & take our time driving to Bruges (1.5hrs), have all the next day in Bruges.
<b>(2 x nights Bruges)</b>
Spend the next day driving to Amsterdam; (3hrs) have all the next day in Amsterdam.
<b> (2 x nights Amsterdam)</b>
We will then have till 4pm the next day to get back to Brussels (2.5hrs) and drop the car off before heading back to London.
We will arrive in Brussels from London on the Eurostar, we're thinking 2 nights in or near each city. My question is does anyone have any great small places along these routes for sightseeing and pretty towns and nice drives? And with a car we are probably better off staying outside the city's and getting train/bus in, so any great small inns/b&b's/hotel suggestions would be great. I do realize that my driving times are approximate, but we will have a full day to do each leg.
Arrive Brussels 5pm - have that evening and all the next day to sight see in Brussels.
<b>(2 x nights Brussels)</b>
Pick up a car next day & take our time driving to Bruges (1.5hrs), have all the next day in Bruges.
<b>(2 x nights Bruges)</b>
Spend the next day driving to Amsterdam; (3hrs) have all the next day in Amsterdam.
<b> (2 x nights Amsterdam)</b>
We will then have till 4pm the next day to get back to Brussels (2.5hrs) and drop the car off before heading back to London.
Feb 25th, 2011, 01:11 AM
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One idea: Brugge - Antwerp- up through Zeeland and Zuid Holland. See Zierikzee and the Delta works along the way.
Or Brugge - Antwerp - Breda, visit Van Gogh country on the way, and Breda too, then with the aid of a good map take the smaller roads up through Brabant and through the Groene Hart to Amsterdam.
Look at a good map - I am sure you can find interesting little roads to follow.
Do allow lots of time for road works and traffic jams on your return to Brussels. Take the motorway for that leg of the trip.
Parking the car in Amsterdam is the biggest problem - very expensive I'm afraid, and few hotels have their own parking. Maybe you should consider staying outside Amsterdam and getting the train in.
Or Brugge - Antwerp - Breda, visit Van Gogh country on the way, and Breda too, then with the aid of a good map take the smaller roads up through Brabant and through the Groene Hart to Amsterdam.
Look at a good map - I am sure you can find interesting little roads to follow.
Do allow lots of time for road works and traffic jams on your return to Brussels. Take the motorway for that leg of the trip.
Parking the car in Amsterdam is the biggest problem - very expensive I'm afraid, and few hotels have their own parking. Maybe you should consider staying outside Amsterdam and getting the train in.
Feb 25th, 2011, 02:55 AM
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Hi.
We were in Belgium and Holland (and France) three years ago, and we travelled by hired car, and did so much sightseeing, we toured by our car Brussels, Anthwerp, Bastogne (it has a war museum and is south of Brussels - we stayed in that town mostly because of Spa where they do the Grand Prix in September) We went up on the Europeon Union monument which are three huge balls and you see the whole of Brussels under you - reminds me of Eifel tower, we made an afternoon visit to Antwerp, and stayed for one night in Bruges and did some sightseeing there the next day, taking a boat tour on its canals and visiting the lovely square and Abbey where there is on display at certain times the Holy Blood of Christ. We stayed in the sweetest and brand new at that time, it had only been open for a couple of months called Yasmine B&B, it is very central, only a few minutes walk to the main square, has best of breakfast and is run by a lovely owner and daughter, who is an artist, in fact the front reception room is like an art gallery, and she also allows you to park your car in her garage very close nearby, just inform her beforehand. She even welcomed us with tea, the most delicious hot chocolate and cake, and she made cooked us pancakes in the morning herself, and makes homemade bread. I would highly recommend it. In Amsterdam we stayed outside of the city, just about 7 km away in a small town, the hotel was called China Hotel, run by Chinese staff, it makes the most delicious evening buffets, very vast with authentic chinese food, and abundant breakfast, very reasonably priced, check it out. We drove into Amsterdam, I do agree, it is sooo hard to find parking there, even for us that we had the Parking card for disability, as our child is disabled and has mobility problems, in fact so many people use bicycles there. Our plane left at 11pm, so during the day we bought a ticket, from a ticketing booth very close to the train station, and with it we boarded a tourist bus that took us round with stops to major sites in Amsterdam, and we also booked a boat ride arouond the Harbour, which is so unique. You can go to the diamond museum and stop there during the bus tour ride, highly recommended as it saves you time. Be careful with pickpockets in Amsterdam, we did not get robbed, but the city somehow does not really feel safe. Enjoy your stay, if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.
We were in Belgium and Holland (and France) three years ago, and we travelled by hired car, and did so much sightseeing, we toured by our car Brussels, Anthwerp, Bastogne (it has a war museum and is south of Brussels - we stayed in that town mostly because of Spa where they do the Grand Prix in September) We went up on the Europeon Union monument which are three huge balls and you see the whole of Brussels under you - reminds me of Eifel tower, we made an afternoon visit to Antwerp, and stayed for one night in Bruges and did some sightseeing there the next day, taking a boat tour on its canals and visiting the lovely square and Abbey where there is on display at certain times the Holy Blood of Christ. We stayed in the sweetest and brand new at that time, it had only been open for a couple of months called Yasmine B&B, it is very central, only a few minutes walk to the main square, has best of breakfast and is run by a lovely owner and daughter, who is an artist, in fact the front reception room is like an art gallery, and she also allows you to park your car in her garage very close nearby, just inform her beforehand. She even welcomed us with tea, the most delicious hot chocolate and cake, and she made cooked us pancakes in the morning herself, and makes homemade bread. I would highly recommend it. In Amsterdam we stayed outside of the city, just about 7 km away in a small town, the hotel was called China Hotel, run by Chinese staff, it makes the most delicious evening buffets, very vast with authentic chinese food, and abundant breakfast, very reasonably priced, check it out. We drove into Amsterdam, I do agree, it is sooo hard to find parking there, even for us that we had the Parking card for disability, as our child is disabled and has mobility problems, in fact so many people use bicycles there. Our plane left at 11pm, so during the day we bought a ticket, from a ticketing booth very close to the train station, and with it we boarded a tourist bus that took us round with stops to major sites in Amsterdam, and we also booked a boat ride arouond the Harbour, which is so unique. You can go to the diamond museum and stop there during the bus tour ride, highly recommended as it saves you time. Be careful with pickpockets in Amsterdam, we did not get robbed, but the city somehow does not really feel safe. Enjoy your stay, if you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.
Feb 25th, 2011, 12:20 PM
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Woh, thank you both so much, this is exactly what I was hoping to hear. (worried I would be told to just catch a train.)
I will follow all your advice, we have no problem staying outside Amsterdam, we're more thank happy to catch public transport in. Anna_Galea I will absolutely look at all our recommendations.
Again sincere thanks
AD
I will follow all your advice, we have no problem staying outside Amsterdam, we're more thank happy to catch public transport in. Anna_Galea I will absolutely look at all our recommendations.
Again sincere thanks
AD
Feb 28th, 2011, 02:42 PM
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<b>hetismij</b> I have mapped out your suggested route
<i>One idea: Brugge - Antwerp- up through Zeeland and Zuid Holland. See Zierikzee and the Delta works along the way.</i>
and it looks perfect. I must admit I had not heard of the Delta, but having researched it I know my DH will love it. Sincere thanks.
<b>Anna_Galea</b> I have booked Yasmine B&B and they have been wonderful to deal with, discount for early booking and arranging a parking garage inside the walls. So my many thanks to you too.
<i>One idea: Brugge - Antwerp- up through Zeeland and Zuid Holland. See Zierikzee and the Delta works along the way.</i>
and it looks perfect. I must admit I had not heard of the Delta, but having researched it I know my DH will love it. Sincere thanks.
<b>Anna_Galea</b> I have booked Yasmine B&B and they have been wonderful to deal with, discount for early booking and arranging a parking garage inside the walls. So my many thanks to you too.
Mar 28th, 2011, 02:03 AM
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Hi aussiedreamer,
I am so glad you managed to book at Yasmine B&B, you will not be disappointed for sure, the host is the most gracious woman I ever met, Give Albina and her daughter who paints the most beautiful paintings my best regards and tell her that I still have that yellow chicken puppet she had given as a gift to my special needs daughter. Enjoy your trip. I am so glad I was of help to you. Do try the mussels, oysters or eel in restaurants in Belgium, they are sooooo delicious, besides of course the waffles. My husband travels to Antwerp very often for business, so if you have any questions regarding that city, do not hesitate to ask.
I am so glad you managed to book at Yasmine B&B, you will not be disappointed for sure, the host is the most gracious woman I ever met, Give Albina and her daughter who paints the most beautiful paintings my best regards and tell her that I still have that yellow chicken puppet she had given as a gift to my special needs daughter. Enjoy your trip. I am so glad I was of help to you. Do try the mussels, oysters or eel in restaurants in Belgium, they are sooooo delicious, besides of course the waffles. My husband travels to Antwerp very often for business, so if you have any questions regarding that city, do not hesitate to ask.
Mar 28th, 2011, 02:03 AM
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Hi aussiedreamer,
I am so glad you managed to book at Yasmine B&B, you will not be disappointed for sure, the host is the most gracious woman I ever met, Give Albina and her daughter who paints the most beautiful paintings my best regards and tell her that I still have that yellow chicken puppet she had given as a gift to my special needs daughter. Enjoy your trip. I am so glad I was of help to you. Do try the mussels, oysters or eel in restaurants in Belgium, they are sooooo delicious, besides of course the waffles. My husband travels to Antwerp very often for business, so if you have any questions regarding that city, do not hesitate to ask.
I am so glad you managed to book at Yasmine B&B, you will not be disappointed for sure, the host is the most gracious woman I ever met, Give Albina and her daughter who paints the most beautiful paintings my best regards and tell her that I still have that yellow chicken puppet she had given as a gift to my special needs daughter. Enjoy your trip. I am so glad I was of help to you. Do try the mussels, oysters or eel in restaurants in Belgium, they are sooooo delicious, besides of course the waffles. My husband travels to Antwerp very often for business, so if you have any questions regarding that city, do not hesitate to ask.
Mar 28th, 2011, 01:59 PM
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Thanks Anna_Galea, Getting quite exicted, we actually leave in 3 weeks although that part of the trip is not until June. I still have to secure Amsterdam accommodation.............but with a car we may just 'wing' it and find something 'outside' when we arrive.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Aug 18th, 2011, 01:32 PM
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I happened to read AussieDreamer's trip report not long ago here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-side-trip.cfm
Spoiler... they did stay at that B&B. ;^)
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-side-trip.cfm
Spoiler... they did stay at that B&B. ;^)
Aug 20th, 2011, 03:09 PM
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Hi there, yes indeed we did stay at Yasmine B&B an absolute highlight can't thankyou enough for a wonderful recommendation. I did mention that it had been suggested to me and also the yellow chicken puppet and she remembered you and your daughter. Sincere thanks, I will also be recommending this B&B to anyone heading there.
lol ParisAmsterdam no spoiler I had actually got to that part of the trip. But you have inspired me to get on and finish it.
lol ParisAmsterdam no spoiler I had actually got to that part of the trip. But you have inspired me to get on and finish it.
Aug 24th, 2011, 06:29 AM
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Hi aussiedreamer, I'm so glad you enjoyed your holiday and your stay at B&B Yasmine. Yes, it is a truly special B&B for its location, hospitality etc, and even I always recommend it to anyone who intends to visit Bruges, in fact a friend of mine is staying there this week. Whenever I go abroad I spend ages and ages looking for good accomodation at an affordable price. Hope you enjoyed Paris and Amsterdam. We had headed there as well on that same trip three years ago, and everywhere was lovely, although we did find Amsterdam a bit too hectic, but we had only stayed there for one night. Its harbour is magnificent though. If you need any suggestions for any particular country in Europe in the future, I will be more than happy to assist you.
Aug 24th, 2011, 08:28 AM
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Just to chime in, I didn't see this post initially, but it provides some great ideas for a trip to the area that we'll be making next year. We enjoyed our time in the Netherlands and Belgium last year, that we've already planned our return, and an itinerary like this would allow us to revisit some of the places we enjoyed, plus some new.
