Rachel

Hello,<BR><BR>We are travelling from Manhattan to Amsterdam and Brussels near the beginning of April and have 9 days to explore the area. From the research I have done it looks like Bruges might be a nice stop and that driving from Amsterdam to Brussels might be a good way to see some of the country side. Are there any other towns that anyone would recommend stopping at? I don't want to miss something great because of lack of research.<BR><BR>Also, while we are in Brussels and Amsterdam does anyone have suggestions for nice 5 star hotels that are well situated in the city? Any favorite restaurants? And of course, any help planning what to see and do while we are there would be greatly appreciated. We'd love for the trip to be a nice mix of sightseeing and a little artsy shopping.<BR><BR>Thank you in advance for the help,<BR>Rachel

Sjoerd

In the Netherlands, you shouldn't miss De Keukenhof flower gardens which is an easy day trip from Amsterdam. (www.keukenhof.nl)<BR>Also, you could make a day trip to the Den Haag (The Hague) / Delft / Rotterdam area. Those three cities are very close together and all less than an hour by train from Amsterdam. <BR>The 5* hotel that most people like most in Amsterdam and that is very central is the Hotel de L'Europe.

Jack

We stayed in Antwerp for 5 days and it was tremendous. From there we went to Bruge by train. I would recommend stopping everywhere. We stayed at the Hilton in Antwerp and the Hilton in Brussels. Unfortunatly our trip to Brussels was cut short because of Sep 11th. The people are very friendly and want to help. Bring an empty suitcase with you to bring back all your treasures. Enjoy your trip.<BR>

wes fowler

Rachel,<BR>Do, indeed, visit Keukenhof and the Floriade (a once every ten year event)while in the Netherlands. In a similar vein, consider devoting one early morning to visiting the flower auction in Aalsmeer, just a few miles from Amsterdam.<BR><BR>Every morning millions and millions of cut flowers are trucked into a mammoth warehouse and auction rooms, auctioned off, then shipped all over Europe for sale the same day. You can tour the whole proceedings on a catwalk high above the warehouse floor and look down upon millions of cut flowers arrayed in two tiers on carts that are pulled into the auction rooms then linked to other carts and trucked to loading docks. The colors are overwhelming and the fragrances are truly breathtaking. It's an early morning event but well worth every minute of the experience. Check the website: www.user.netland.nl/~hanns/klok.html for more information.<BR><BR>Some ideas on your trip to Belgium follow.<BR><BR>

wes fowler

But first, before leaving the Netherlands:<BR>Many tourists to the Netherlands travel to Volendam and Maarken in hopes of seeing traditional customs and costumes. While you won’t encounter many tourists in either place this time of the year, you also won’t encounter traditional customs or costumes. They’re stored away until the tourist season is in full swing. If you are interested in tradition, both cultural and costumed, you might consider this itinerary in conjunction with a visit to the Kroller-Muller Museum in the Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe between Apeldoorn and Arnhem. Take Route A1/E231 east from Amsterdam. Just before Apeldoorn, you’ll find Route N304, a scenic road leading to the Kroller-Muller. After satiating yourselves with Van Goghs, return to the A1/E231 and drive west past Apeldoorn to Route A50. Take it north to Staphorst, about 36 miles. There are actually two villages, Staphorst and Rouveen that run together on one rural road west of A50 for about 10kms. You’ll find thatched farm houses and cottages and on Sundays the residents wear traditional costumes. While they offer wonderful photo opportunities, the residents frown on cameras. Don’t aim, focus and shoot without asking prior permission.!<BR><BR>You might also consider driiving north of Amsterdam to Enkhuizen on the western shore of the Ijsselmeer, the former Zuider Zee. Take Route A10 north to Route A7/E22 to Wognum and then N302 east to Enkhuizen. Westerstraat, the town’s main street has some lovely 17th century buildings in the Renaissance architectural style. In Enkhuizen you’ll find two related museums; the indoor museum has a collection of the old boats that once sailed the Zuider Zee as well as ship models, exhibits on crafts and fishing methods together with interior rooms in various regional styles and furnishing accompanied by tradition costume displays.<BR><BR>The outdoor museum is comprised of over 100 different building types gathered from a number of Zuider Zee villages that were once fishing villages but have changed their character with the loss of access to the sea. There are houses, shops, gardens and a church all of which have been carefully reinstalled on the museum grounds.<BR><BR>Following the museum tour, continue on Route 302 on the Markerwaarddijk that separates the Markermeer from the Ijsselmeer. When you arrive on the far side of the lakes, you’ll be in Lelystad and Flevoland Province. Look about you. None of what you’re driving on existed 50 years ago. The province is the result of part of a massive dredging project that, when completed, will increase the Netherlands’ land area by almost 10%! Just past Lelystad.you can pick up Route A8 south to Route A1 and Amsterdam.<BR><BR>These itineraries will give you some insights into the distinctive character of Netherlanders and their nation and will give you an interesting perspective of their centuries long struggle against the threat of the sea while exposing you to scenery that is particularly unique .<BR><BR>Now, on to Belgium!

wes fowler

Rachel,<BR>You might consider driving a loop southeast from Amsterdam to Antwerp to Brugge then north via Zeeland back to Amsterdam.<BR><BR>I'd suggest you consider two, ideally, three nights in Brugge rather than in Brussels. You can find charming hotels in Brugge in far more charming settings and at far less cost than Brussels offers. You can also find at least three Michelin starred restaurants in Brugge. Consider day trips to Brussels from Brugge rather than the other way around.<BR><BR>If you intend to visit Leiden, Gouda or Delft on your way to Belgium, you might continue south towards Rotterdam where you can pick up Route A16 south. Continue a few miles to Route A15 and take it eastward to Alblasserdam. There, at Kinderdijk you’ll find 19 windmills that once drained the Alblasserwaard. The windmills, of various types dating to the early 1700s, line either side of a canal and offer a stunning view. One is open to the public to show a miller’s home. It’s interesting to compare the 18th century means of controlling flood waters with the 20th century’s Delta Plan which you can explore on your return to Amsterdam.

wes fowler

In the early 1950’s a massive disaster struck Zeeland. Dikes were breached on over 60 locations as a result of a monstrous North Sea Storm (think of the movie “The Perfect Storm”). Agricultural crops were destroyed by deposits of silt and sand, nearly 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, hundreds and hundreds were drowned. Within seven years the dikes had been rebuilt. Recognizing the dikes’ fragility, the Dutch undertook the Delta Plan, one of the true engineering marvels of the 20th century. In less than twenty years, starting in 1957, all but two of the inlets to the river delta were dammed and an enormous storm-surge barrier constructed. This monster consists of two man made islands and over 60 immense concrete piers between which huge steel gates are suspended, to be dropped when tides and storms threaten the Zeeland farmlands. The Delta Expo exhibit on Neeltje, one of the artificial islands, is situated in one of the barriers and gives fascinating insight into this engineering feat. After experiencing it, you’ll agree with the saying “God made the world, but the Dutch made the Netherlands.” As you travel N57 (and that is the route to take from Vlissingen) through Middelburg to Schouwen island, you’ll find Delta Expo just about in the center of the Oosterscheldedam. Recognize, as you drive through Walcheren, Nord Beveland, Schouwen, Goeree and Voorne, that you are well below sea level for the entire trip.<BR><BR>

wes fowler

The distance from Brugge to Breskens, the Netherlands, is only about 30km. In Breskens you can take the ferry to Vlissingen and pick up Rte N57,drive the Delta plan to Rte 15 just before Vlaardlingen then on to Amsterdam.<BR><BR>If you'd like some hotel and restaurant suggestions for Brugge and some recommended sights to see, feel free todrop me an Email.

Rachel

Thank you for all the great information on towns. Wes, do you think we can cover most of that in 9 days? Also, in 9 days how much time would everyone recommend staying in the cities (Amsterdam and Brussels) versus some of the smaller towns?

que

For a wonderful hotel in Brugge use the Hotel Prinsenhof....a fantastic 4* hotel just off the main square a couple of blocks....it is one of the best hotels we have stayed in bar none. Absolutely first rate and wonderful. So good. They also have free enclosed parking if you need it.

wes fowler

Am I correct in assuming that you will be both arriving in and departing from Amsterdam? If so, I'd suggest that you consider splitting your time as follows: first five days in Amsterdam, followed by three days in Brugge (rather than Brussels) and a final day in Amsterdam.<BR>With a total of six days in Amsterdam you can devote one day to the gardens of Keukenhof and the Floriade exhibit, with time to explore Haarlem, only fifteen minutes from Amsterdam. Devote another day to visiting Enkhuisen and its museums in the morning, then drive across the Markenwaardijk and continue to the charming and unique village of Giethoorn where the only means of getting about the village is via canal or adjacent footpath (cars are parked at the outskirts of town). This lakeside village has a number of interesting museums and a fine lakeside restaurant you might consider for lunch. If interested, I can provide driving directions and information about the museums and restaurant.<BR> <BR>Amsterdam certainly warrants two full days for exploration. On your fifth day, consider driving to Delft and perhaps Leiden, then on to Kinderdyjk and its windmills as you drive to Antwerp and Brugge. Brugge is a truly extraordinary small town, once one of the richest in Europe. That richness, dating to the 14th and 15th centuries is still in full evidence. Laced with canals, eminently walkable, with any number of fine restaurants and shops, it offers far more than does Brussels. This year, Brugge has been designated as the cultural capital of Europe with a startling number of events and museum exhibits to celebrate the occasion. I can recommend two Michelin starred restaurants, one a three star, the other one starred and a lovely canal side hotel with free, safe, street-side parking. It's the Ter Duinen and here's its website: www.terduinenhotel.be I've stayed in the pictured room and it's as charming as shown. The breakfast room is equally charming and the breakfast itself is sumptuous.<BR> <BR>With three days in Brugge, you'll find you'll want to spend at least two exploring the city's delights. Devote one day to visiting Brussels (by train, rather than car because of parking problems). It's about 50 minutes via train from Brugge to Brussels and the Brussels train station is within four blocks or less of Brussels' 'Gran Place.<BR> <BR>While in Brugge, consider dining in de Karmeliet, a Michelin three starred restaurant, or Auberge de Herborist just on the city's outskirts.<BR> <BR>On your last day, return to Amsterdam via the Delta Project, as I mentioned in my earlier postings. You should easily have time to sneak a peak at Leiden, Gouda or Delft as well during your return to Amsterdam.<BR> <BR>Drop me an Email if you've any questions or would like driving directions.<BR> <BR>Wes Fowler <BR> <BR>

Daniel

Brugges is definitely the best spot on your itinerary. Keep in mind that the drive between the locations you mention (if on major roads) can be dull and offer only somewhat industrisal scenery. I did the same basic trip a year or so ago, and wished I had planned more time in Brugges vs. Amsterdam or Brussels. That said, DO see the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and stroll Amsterdam. Brussels, on the other hand, didn't do it for me, except for the Grand Place.

tophat

tp

Janet

Great advice! How was your trip. We are travelling from Utrecht, holland to Paris and have three to four days to do so, where was the moct exciting places you saw in Belgium --we have teens ,anything to keep them from getting bored?