flygirl

Hello

Still sorting out if I want to devote 8 nights to Amsterdam, or 5 nights with 3 nights elsewhere such as Brussels or Paris.

Should I make a special effort to be there for Queen's Day? The last day of my trip is May 1 when I fly home. It might be easier to secure lodging if I left a few days before it for the next destination, instead of making the other destination the first stop.

If Queen's Day means enormous inconvenience in moving around/visiting sites, that's another reason to leave a few days early.

Thank you

ps. I suppose I could go to London that last weekend and really get into the middle of a big celebration...

Travelnut

Queensday crowds are HUGE, and there is very little movement with public transportation in the center. You'd have to check the major sights/museums to see if they are even open on April 30. It is a lot of fun to participate, but not so much if your heart is set on visiting the major sights. Of course, restaurants bars etc are also very full. Truthfully, though we return fairly often, I think 8 nights is a lot for Amsterdam without doing some daytrips to other parts of Netherlands.

I have done a week similar to this:
Day 1,2,3 Amsterdam, maybe 1 daytrip
Day 4, 5 One overnight Brussels or Bruges
Day 5, 6, 7, 8 Paris

Travelnut

Of course, if you WANT to join Queensday, you could reverse the above, and arrive in Amsterdam on April 28, that would give you time to look around and visit museums, then enjoy the party. If you want to schedule it that way, you had best <blue>get a hotel right away</blue>, as most places are going to be full over April 30 or they are going to have higher rates.

macanimals

Queen's Day is enormous!! Huge crowds in the city, wall to wall people with a totally different schedule for the main sights. Its a party and there can be a million people out and about. Depending on the official day, it can be a 3 day party so be advised that A'dam will not be its normal self.

That is not to say it is bad--just different. We experienced the event many years ago and the trains into the city were shut down--city couldn't handle any more people. The streets were impassible, the revelers were orderly until later on and we didn't even attempt to go to the museums or other historical sights. Quite the event!

flygirl

Many thanks

I'm thinking I should decamp on Thurs April 28 for Paris.

I'm choosing this week to visit because the tulips should be marvelous at that time. Is even Thursday too late to "get out" without huge hassles? I'm now wondering if I should pick 4 nights in Amsterdam, one night in ?? (The Hague? Something on the way to Paris?) and then head to Paris Thursday.

Street parties are fun, for sure, but the above sounds like madness.

suec1

We were there at a similar time several years ago - I think we left town just the day before but two days ahead of time might be more prudent. We were very lucky with the weather and the gardens / tulips were amazing. One day we rented bikes and rode thru the tulip fields - alot of fun. We headed to Bruges after Amsterdam and there the city was full of lilacs. We finished up in Paris - it was a great trip. And just a side note - we checked the weather (weather.com) the day before we headed over - it showed rain EVERY day - total funk-out - but in the end - it only rained one day at the very end. Have a great trip!

PalenQ

Queen's Day to me was in all my dcades of travel one of the most exhuberant, joyful, interestinhg and just fun-filled days as you join zillions of Dutch in the festivites - something for all ages - oommpah and jazz bands on barges going thru the canals - huge concerts in Museumplein for younger folk and the world's biggest flea market where on this one day anyone can stake a space on the sidewalks and sell anything thy want.

Next time I would plan my trip around being in Amsterdam on Queens Day, one of the finest citywide festivals anywhere.

Wll for folks focuses on seing museums and hopping trams instead of walking, etc. I guess it should be a day to be avoided. But for those who just enjoy a Mardi Gras atmosphere and people watching, etc. it a great.