Four low-key nights on the Continent between London and Amsterdam
 

Work is taking us to Amsterdam for three nights and London for three nights -- then we have four more nights before returning to Amsterdam for the flight home. We'd hoped to spend a few days in a smaller (cheaper) place, an easy triangle between London and Amsterdam. But where? Our ideal was St. Malo, France, but travel logistics from London and to Amsterdam seem daunting. Having lived many years in the UK, we would prefer the continent. We love history, architecture, art, fresh air. It's looking like flights more convenient and cheaper than trains. So we could go as far as Salzburg, perhaps. We'd love an overnight boat trip -- but the ferry to St. Malo we'd originally hoped for from Weymouth only goes once a week...
Thank you for any suggestions, Fodorites!

Bruges would be logistically an ideal destination if your stay is during the weekday. Prices skyrocket on any weekend.

If you fly, you can access practically any European lower cost destinations, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, etc.

Brussels & Bruges seem the obvious choice.

1) www.eurostar.com for London-Brussels/Bruges from £41 upwards.

2) www.b-europe.com for trains Brussels/Bruges to Amsterdam from €25 upwards.

St Malo?

1) Train London-Portsmouth www.nationalrail.co.uk taxi from Portsmouth & Southsea to the Continental Ferry Port. No reservation necessary, train every half hour from London Waterloo.

2) Overnight cruise ferry Portsmouth to St Malo www.brittany-ferries.co.uk - it's a wonderful evening departure from Portsmouth past the naval dockyard, Nelson's HMS Vistory, the Victorian ironclad HMS warrior, the new spinnaker tower, dinner in the restaurant, retire to private en suite cabin, wake up in France.

3) St Malo to Paris by train from €20, www.capitainetrain.com

4) Paris to Amsterdam in 3h20 from €35 www.capitainetrain.com

Middle of no where Veere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veere

Thank you so much! Man in Seat 61, this is great information and the St. Malo Ferry sounds perfect....but it seems to be sold out in our early October dates. Now we are determined to do it next time! It looks like London-Brugges would work. (I'm also honored to hear from you, as you keep popping up in my searches.)

Greg, yes it would be week days, so again, Brugges might be the answer. I also have the vision of a small Austrian/Alpine village, so will look into Salzburg and other easyjet locations - thank you.

And Biboburger, thank you for Veere suggestion! I grew up with "Van Loon's Lives," so how perfect is that?

I'll post back when I figure it out. Really appreciate your help so much!

J.

I just came back to thank you all, and to report we ended up in the Hague for the last few days. Lovely city with the a top museum, the Mauritshuis.

Next year, St. Malo.

J