Netherlands and Belgium
 

Given the choice which one (or both) would you choose and why. I've always wanted to go to both but not really sure why. Love good food and art, esp. Impressionism. And yes, I've been to Paris and absolutely love it. Anyone been to either country and have a favorite hotel, sites, etc.?

Tough choice. I prefer Belgium, but if you have never visited either, Holland arguably might be the place to start.

Amsterdam is a considerably more popular tourist destination than Brussels (a place that I thoroughly enjoy), and the same is true when smaller towns are compared (e.g., Haarlem, Delft, Leiden, etc. versus Ghent, Antwerp, etc.). The one exception to this pattern is Brugge. There is no place quite like Brugge in The Netherlands (Germany has a few towns that come close).

Belgium is allegedly better preserved than Holland (more medieval structures per unit area), but Holland is a bit more flashy (more colorful buildings, dramatic windmills, beautiful canals, and so on). There are more outstanding museums in Amsterdam alone than in all of Belgium combined.

On the other hand, if you don't like touristy, Belgium is a great place. Much more laid back (even Brussels), not as busy - more of a French way of life than a Germanic way of life.

If it is important, English is widely spoken in both countries.

Just some random thoughts on the subject. Hope this helps.

Wow! Smueller, you have really posted a great reply and I have a lot to think about. Maybe I will do both! I have read a few sites that rave about Brugge. Can you tell me what is so special there? Thanks again for your great reply!

stjohnbound,
You mention 'good food'. Belgium will definitely be your choice then!
There are a lot of nice cities, starting with our capital city Brussels. From there you can easily daytrip to Gent, Brugge, Antwerpen, Leuven ...

Brugge is so often mentioned here as being unique. OK, it's a lovely small town but so overly touristy. Gent and Antwerpen also have a unique historical centre with 15th century houses, cobblestones more than you would like, and far more museums and monuments than Brugge has. AND these cities are not (yet) overrun by tourists.
Also, in Brugge, after the daytrippers have gone, the city is dead. This is not the case in Gent, Antwerpen and Brussels.

Re Holland: I'm not a big fan of Amsterdam but I do like the smaller towns in the Netherlands (Leiden, Delft, Haarlem, Maastricht, 's Hertogenbosch, ...).

What I always miss when I'm in Holland is our good food and our relaxed way of life. Indeed, as smueller says, we in Belgium have a more French way of life.

Enjoy planning your trip and let me know whenever you need more information on Belgium.

Hi

just a couple of points :

Belgium wins for food

The French speaking parts of Belgium are much less likely to speak English than the Flemish area. English is widely spoken in Holland.

Both countries have outstanding medieval towns

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

Holland has more of the "must-see" sights of Europe--the VanGogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House. Also, in the Hague, there is the Peace Palace and the Mauritshuis (where some real masterpieces, like Girl With A Pearl Earring, View of Delft and many Rembrandts reside).

Brussels and Brugge have their own charms, but the major sights there are more the cities themselves--just walking around admiring the arhitecture. In Holland you can take more canal boat rides than you can in Bruissels (no canals) or Brugges(really small canals). I just feel that there is more for a tourist to do in just Amsterdam than there is to do in Brugge abnd Brussels combined. But I know I have a stroing opinion about that, and others will disagree.

For food, Belgium is hands-down the winner.

But you needn't make a choice between the two--you could make a long day trip from Amsterdam to Brussels (2-3 hours train ride) if you really wanted to, or rent a car.

Wow, Myriam, you really dumped on Brugge!! Some of our good friends live on the outskirts of Brugge and we spend a lot of time with them. Brugge is certainly NOT dead after dark! There is a lot going on...also it's so much more than just a tourist town. We have gotten to know if pretty well after dozens of visits and have never been bored there.
We also have to admit that Antwerp has never really impressed us that much. Whatever the reason, it has never "clicked" with us. Of course, that's what many people say about Brussels, so who knows.

BTilke,
We were in Brugge with a group of Fodorites this past weekend. I was amazed to see the amount of tourists in this season. It's not the first time that I stay overnight in Brugge but no matter what season, there's very little to do at night after dinner (unless you want to spend some time in that awful new opera building).
An acquintance of mine, who lives in the outskirts of Brugge as well, also complains about it as he feels obliged to drive to Gent for some liveliness.

We enjoy Belgium. Besides the places people almost always mention, try a drive through the Ardennes forest area. it's very beautiful with lots of cute little towns. We especially liked St. Hubert. Have stayed twice at the Auberge du Moulin Hideaux, an absolutely fabulous place with great beauty and charm and wonderful food. It's a member of Relais and Chateaux so it's not cheap but very worth it.

Myriam, week-ends are always popular with daytrippers to Brugge all year long. There is no getting away from that. But I'm surprised nobody went to any of the jazz clubs or discos or that little grillhouse serving great homemade sangria that puts everybody into a social party mood or....

Three years ago in the first week of November we spent three nights in Amsterdam, our second visit, and 4 nights in Brugge.

Brugge was spectacularly uncrowded and we had no trouble filling our 3 1/2 days. One was spent touring the WWI battlefields with http://www.quasimodo.be/. We walked all over, drank many different brews, ate excellent dinners (Belgians say they taught the French how to cook) and heard some great live jazz at a small club on Langestraat.

I always simply tolerated cabbage until I had Chou a la Creme, creamed cabbage, in Brugge. Now it's a staple in my limited repertoire. A recipe is in "Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook".