My wife and I will be over in the Netherlands in May 2010 for my work and we will be taking a side trip.

We would leave Utrecht on a Friday April 30 and have until Tuesday May 4to get to Paris (already have Paris booked starting Tuesday May - Sunday May 9.

We thought we wanted to visit Bruges on another city on the way from Utrecht to Paris.


What would folks recommend for Friday/Sat/Sun? Is Antwerp worht the visit? I thought maybe going to Ghent for a few days before Bruge.

So maybe something like this:
- Friday Leave Utrech for Ghent
- Stay in Ghent Friday/Sunday (two nights)
- Sunday leave Ghent and go to Bruges (two nights)
- Tuesday leave for Paris

Thoughts on this? Or other suggestions instead of Ghent or Antwerp?

Also, what is best train to use get around as it is very confusing to figure out all the train options.

If I stay with above itinerary I need to get from from Utrecht down to maybe Ghent > Bruges > Paris

Appreciate suggestions and advice on above plans.

Leaving Utrecht on Koninginnedag could be a challenge. It is the major Dutch national holiday, and whilst Utrecht has a lot of the festivities the night before it would be a shame to miss out on it.

The best train is the Thalys, if you want fast, but then you have to get to Amsterdam, Schiphol, or Rotterdam all of which would be a terrible idea on Koninginnedag.

You can do both Ghent and Bruges from one or the other.

I loved Antwerp and would move there in a NY minute! There is so much to see and do and it is easy to get around. Then again I do love Belgium!

I should have added that I would visit Antwerp too. Do a day in Amtwerp then get a train and stay in either Gent or Bruges and do the other two.

But do take my suggestion about Koninginnedag seriously. the trains will be packed to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and it would be a real shame to miss out on enjoying a very special day.

Another fan of Antwerp here, and Gent. Less a fan of Brugge.