We have a 10 day trip planned starting near Brussels and ending around Amsterdam to judge two KCBS BBQ events. What suggestions do you have for where we should go in between. We would like to stay away from big cities and explore less touristy place. Please let us know the city and what activities and best way to travel from place to place.

Unless you want deep countryside trains should work. (We have done road trips in the area but stayed in and visited a lot of smaller towns - mainly in eastern belgium since we had already done western).

In the time you have I would visit Brussels, Brugges (stay here) and Ghent, Antwerp (stay here) and Amsterdam (stay here and do a day trip perhaps).

There are a zillion other great places to stay/visit - but until you have seen the basics seeing a lot of small towns can be disappointing.

We are staying in Mechelen, Belgium, and have heard and are hoping that it is a less touristy version of Brugges. Check it out. Second Ghent as a suggestion. Also try the Hague and Delft--Delft was very crowded with people on bikes but it did not appear there were a lot of tourists there when we were there some years ago.

Concur with ny traveler that you should want to see the tourist things: tourists go to places because those places offer something very special.

Haarlem and Delft are both very pretty towns and not far from Amsterdam. I suggest you try to visit Kinderdijk (windmills-world heritage site) and Keukenhof if you are visiting during tulip time. Both are touristy, but lovely and worth a visit.


We have always driven between Brussels (my husband travels there often for work) and Alkmaar where my SIL lives. The roads are modern and easy to drive. However, the Dutch trains are great-clean, easy to use and efficient.

Hi Katie

Ehiers created this thread and exactly the same on another forum. Been unheard of since.

A case of 'I post my question and byebye' I'm afraid.

Brugge (there is only one Brugge - accept no substitutes)
Ghent
Middleburg
Leiden
Delft

Walk around enjoying the wonder of Dutch/Flemish architecture, eat fries, chocolates, waffles, mussels, and drink beer.