The Brugges Debate
 

A little over a year ago I was planning a trip. I don't remember if the posts were to my thread or posts to other threads but there was a debate as to the merits of Brugges versus another city. I think it might have been Antwerp or Ghent or . . . but I just don't remember (maybe age is getting the better of me).

Now I'm at it again (planning that is) and would really like to find what was said about each.

Lasts year's trip has come and gone (yes, Bruges was in there as an overnight day trip) but the Amsterdam area may be part of the next trip.

If anybody remembers anything about those threads please let me know.

Thanks.

Gent was a better base than Antwerp because of location and folks liked it better though everyone said both were great. You may search for threads tulips commented on as she probably commented and not that many threads to look at with her.

what is your question - deciding to do what - Amsterdam day trips or about Antwerp or Gent?

Palenq,
You ask a very good question.
I think we might end up Amsterdam as a base for about a week or so.
One of the possible day trips could involve Antwerp and possibly Ghent.
Antwerp would be less of an issue since it's only about an hour from Amsterdam.
However, should we want to visit Ghent as well I would want it to be an overnight day trip. My definition of an overnight day trip is an overnighter in which we keep our base room, leave our luggage and take with a change of clothing and toiletries.

Gent would be three hours each way from Amsterdam, changing at Antwerp. Considering time to get into hotel, etc maybe a day trip is fine. Book the4 cheapest Thalys ticket to Antwerp then use the AGS fare to take any train to Gent and same coming back - explained on official site www.thalys.com. Gent is nice but IMO not any nicer or whatever than several Dutch regional towns like Delft, Haarlem, Leiden and Utrecht. For lots about trains and where to go in this area check www.seat61.com; www.ns.nl - Dutch Railways site - BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. Generally no or litgtle saving for Dutch domestic trains to buy in advance - again no seat reservations even possible.

A search might have been helpful. Here are a couple of threads that I found in less than a minute:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...ruges-1145522/
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...ruges-1008345/

PalenQ,
It's a little over 2 hours to return to Amsterdam from Ghent. Depending on which train Antwerp to Amsterdam take either 1:15 or 1:50.
Given that I Haarlem, Utrecht, Leiden are potentials on my list, Ghent can fall off.
Also, many of the towns/cities can be grouped together. That's good.
Thanks.

kja,
Thanks.
I think that's what I

Rotterdam is far more convenient imo. Also: using Thalys for a daytrip seems quite expensive to me. The regular intl intercity service Amsterdam - Brussels can be used for that, changing trains at Antwerp.

An hour by Thalys. Spending a bit more time will get you the International Service to Brussels. You don't have to reserve seats, it's far cheaper too. Just takes 45 minutes longer.

Not talking about Brussels but Gent to Amsterdam - at least I was - and cheapo Thalys fare of say 29-39 euros Antwerp to Amsterdam with the 7 euro ABS fare would yield a net fare of 36-46 euros - how much is the regular International train? But advantage of regular train is no need to buy early and book into a specific train and not be able to change.

Like anybody I don't like to overspend. But convenience is becoming more and more valuable.

If a train ride on a day trip is an hour one way and 1:15 another way that's a nobrainer. But if it becomes almost 2:00 each way that might not be what we want.

Many tourists want to visit old historic regional towns from Amsterdam but IMO Rotterdam - brashly modern due to war damage to Europe'
s largest port - is a great day out - research it and its many varied attractions - take a ride up in the Maas Tower for a view of the sprawling port area. Kinderdijk - Holland's largest collection of behemoth wooden windmills in a lovely setting can be reached by boat from Rotterdam - also interesting. Indeed a few-day stay could be fun-ful.

Kinderdijk:

https://www.google.com/search?q=kind...ih=625&dpr=1.5

If into biking rent a bike and somewhere and experience the great Dutch cycle paths.

Palenq,
When we were in Bruges in 2006 we rented bikes and rode around the town stopping at windmills, etc.
We were in Lucca in 2006 and we rented bikes there and rode around the wall and had a picnic up there.
We still bike at home so that's an idea.

I did think of biking. Possibly to the Amsterdam Forest. But riding from the city may not be a good idea.

Where do you suggest we rent bikes for maybe half a day.

Rent bikes at the main train station and use pedestrian/bike free ferries from behind the train station and cross the harbor and head to say Holyslot and an area of rural beauty and lovely bike paths. Riding in Amsterdam can be unnerving and life threatening for the inexperienced. Menachem is a wealth of info on this - a local who knows all about biking around Amsterdam.

Like PalenQ pointed out: rent bikes at Amsterdam CS, immediately get on one of the ferries to North, start your biking there. A favorite loop is Nieuwendammerdijk - Schellingwouderdijk - Durgerdam - and then either to Holysloot or Marken, or via Ransdorp back to the ferry via Buiksloot.

Good places for a break are Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk and the Cafe in Durgerdam.

Thanks. This looks very interesting. I'll keep this area in mind.