Message: Hi, I would very much appreciate help with Itinerary. We are flying into Amsterdam in mid-April. Plan on spending 2-3 days in Amsterdam and then traveling to Maastricht for a day or wo. (My husbands' uncle is buried in the American Military Cemetary in Maastricht). I am thinking of then traveling to Brussels for a day or two. Any suggestions on places to visit along the way and things to do and/or places to stay in these cities mentioned? WE are planning on visit Kukenhoff (sp?) on way out of Amsterdam. We have two young children, however, fortunately for us, they are enthusiastic travelers!!! I was toying with including Bruges as well as I have heard so many good comments, but not sure if it will make the itinerary too hectic. We were planning on renting a car from Amsterdam, but I have know that the Netherlands has great transportation, so input on that would also be appreciated. Thanks for any help!!<BR><BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR> <BR> <BR>

Mary, Which cemetary do you mean?There are two large cemetaries near by in Belgium. If that is the case, then you really would be better off traveling by car as the cemetaries are in the country side and are not handy by public transport.<BR><BR>That said, my personal recommendations would spend more time in Amsterdam and/or Maastricht and skip the trip to Brussels for another time when you have more time. Maastricht has a bit of French influence and might give you the same type of experience of Brussels without the travel. If you do travel to Belgium, Brussels would be more family friendly. (Be careful of pickpockets in both Holland and Belgium)

In my Michelin Green Guide, there is an area east of Rotterdam that may be of interest to your kids (and you too). It's called Kinderdijk, and appears to be a preserved system of windmills, some of which you can tour. It's apparently like Holland many years ago. We did not have time to visit this spot.<BR>I would think they might also be facinated (I was) with the carillon on the Stadhuis in Gouda, whose small figures come to life each half hour. We watched it twice while lunching in the square on wonderful pankakken.

Oops - In my previous post I meant to say Brugge would be more family friendly and more charming than Brussels. Sorry.

Thanks for all the help. The windmill suggestion is excellent!!<BR>Ron, the cemetary is the American Military Cemetary in Maastricht - unfortunately, that is all I know at the moment. It is not, howver, in Belgium.

Mary, it might be worth stopping in the Hague (30 min. south of the Keukenhof) to visit Madurodam, the Netherlands in miniature - the #1 non-amusement-park stop for kids (and the young at heart)!

Mary: the American military cemetery is in Margraten. Have a look at:<BR> http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/5340/mar.htm<BR><BR>BillJ: you probably were eating pannekoeken on Gouda's square. &quot;Pankakken&quot; means &quot;pan shitting&quot; in Dutch.

<BR>Mary,<BR><BR>Itinerary suggestions for kids, and you:<BR>Madurodam, miniature Holland in the Hague.<BR>Duinrell, water amusement park in Wassenaar, just north of the Hague.<BR>Scheveningen, beach on the north end of the Hague.<BR><BR>Keukenhof is only open appx. March 20 - May 20 for the blooming of the spring bulbs.<BR><BR>Maastricht and environs is nice. There is a regular train from Amsterdam, hourly I believe, that would save you the trouble of driving out of Amsterdam and the bore of driving through Holland. Rent and return the car in Maastricht.<BR><BR>Buy a Michelin Green Guide Holland for mmore itinerary items than you can handle in three months. Holland has a Summer Tour (Zommertoer) rail ticket for July and August which allows 3 days of travel in a 10 day period, individual or paired tickets for a good price in 2nd class. Maastricht is a 3 hour train trip from Amsterdam. Railrunner is a special ticket for kids 4-11 costing one euro per trip. That's a deal.<BR><BR>John Bermont<BR>www.enjoy-europe.com

Sjoerd, you are eagle-eyed to spot that...TOO funny!!!

OOOPs! That is pannekoeken! Very sorry about that.<BR><BR>(Is the term &quot;kaka&quot; or versions thereof, a universal term?)<BR><BR>All I know Sjoerd, I could not get enough of your 'pannekoeken'. My favorites were with apple, but the chocolate came in a close second.