Making a late switch for our 20th anniversary trip and going to Belgium-Amsterdam. I’ve read through the posts up top and a few others I found by searching and they were super helpful. We will likely have 10 days including travel, we are looking at late spring of next year, likely early mid April which I think puts us a little behind on planning.

My main question is how to distribute the days between Belgium and Amsterdam? I don’t love the idea of moving hotels frequently and the train system plus proximity of cities seems to make day trips a good option. Thinking either Brussels or Antwerp as home base in Belgium but open to suggestions. From what I’ve read Bruges is kind of touristy so don’t think we would stay there.

We are generally pretty laid back and more interested in doing casual dining/drinking than doing super touristy stuff. I love beer so will definitely hit Cantillon but would like some ideas from Zappa or anyone else that’s spent a lot of time in the area. Thanks!

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Posted by Zappas Stache

Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

Member since Apr 2009

42412 posts

Posted on 8/31/24 at 5:51 pm to borrelia

We were in Antwerp last summer and loved it so I would recommend this as your belgian base. Everything is s short train ride in belgium, 40 minutes to Brussels or Ghent and 20 minutes to Mechelen. Some people love Brugges but its too touristy for me. Ghent and Mechelen both have great medieval architecture and are less crowded. Brussels is ok and worth a day trip but unless you want to do something specific there, like visit Cantillion and 3 Fontaines breweries like we did, then Antwerp is a better base. Amsterdam is my favorite european city so I personally would spend more time there but 5 nights in Anterp and 5 in amsterdam would probably be good. Be aware that the weather could still be cold and wet in April so be prepared.

This post was edited on 8/31/24 at 5:52 pm

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Posted by LemmyLives

Texas

Member since Mar 2019

13536 posts

Posted on 8/31/24 at 10:39 pm to borrelia

I'm with Stache, Brussels don't have a lot of appeal for tourists, especially if you're trying to avoid touristy. You can eat delicious Belgian Fries and mussels anywhere, passing an afternoon away per your casual eating/drinking attitude. One of the great things about Belgian is that if you ask for a Tripel, you'll usually get a "Trappist, or no?" sort of response. I can't think of any Belgian/Trappist ales I drank in country that disappointed me.

I'm no chocolatier, but one thing you should be worried about is how you're going to mule back (it is legal) enough Leonidas chocolate for your wife, your MIL, etc. They do sell it at the airport, but you want to "go to the bathroom" in Belgium for 20m and self-select a couple of boxes, and then surprise your wife with them when you get home. I think my last trip back I had five kilos worth. Yes, you can get it shipped to you in the US, but you look more like a hero jumping through hoops to keep a secret for a couple of days, displaying your forethought and caring, than just getting free shipping for orders over $59.

You are *definitely* not behind on planning. Examine the weather closely, though. In 2024, that part of Europe looks like the expectedly drizzly and shitty, until the last week of April. Also, take a look on Viator where you can get personal or small group based tours, etc. They're very relaxed, at least when I used them in Poland. Leave some flexibility, and remember that European concierges are going to do more than US ones do. "Hey, we want a romantic afternoon tomorrow, what do you suggest?"

WRT to hotel switching, I was always in a Marriott. I would leave a big bag in the luggage room in Brussels for 10+ days when I had to go to another country for a few days and just take what I needed, and they were always accommodating. I was in the same hotel most of the time for almost five months, though

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Posted by midlothianlsu

Midlothian, Texas

Member since Oct 2009

1777 posts

Posted on 9/1/24 at 8:08 am to borrelia

We stayed a few days in Bruges last year and would go back. We were there mid-October. It was crowded but not too bad. We saw the churches and took a canal boat ride but did a lot of what you are looking for. We would sit on the square and have a beer and french fries (that’s a staple) or sit in a bar. Very laid back. We stayed at The Pand. It is on a side street but close to the restaurants and stuff. The food is amazing.

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Posted by borrelia

Member since Mar 2009

2061 posts

Posted on 9/1/24 at 9:48 am to midlothianlsu

Thanks all, will likely split it 50/50. Zappa or others any under the radar things to do in Amsterdam? I’m aware of the big ones but would like to do/see some of the less well known but interesting stuff. Bought the Rick Steves guides but don’t want to just use that.

Any suggestions on airlines to look at? IAH would be most convenient but can go MSY since it’s drivable for us. Looks like KLM has a direct flight to AMS. I don’t know which airlines have lie flat seats etc.

Also beer recs in Amsterdam?

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Posted by Zappas Stache

Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

Member since Apr 2009

42412 posts

Posted on 9/1/24 at 3:04 pm to borrelia

quote:
any under the radar things to do in Amsterdam?

NDSM area is on the other side of the Amstel river and you can take the free ferry (906 towards NDSM Yard) from behind Cenntral Train Station to get over there. NDSM is the old main shipyard and wharf but is now full of funky cafes, bars and Art Galleries

If the weather is decent, renting a bike lets you see so much more of the city. Most people never venture out of the city center and canal belt but there are some cool areas that you can get to on the tram but is easier and quicker on a bike. The Pijp neighborhood is a happening area full of bars, cafes and restaurants. Cafe Gollem is a cool beer place that has all sorts of belgian and craft beer. Albert Cuyp Street Market is a huge market full of a lot of crap but also some great street food. Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels is awesome. Fishmongers is good for raw herring, you gotta try it, its pretty good.
Vondel Park is a must, its Amsterdams Central Park. Again, its nice to hace a bike to ride a loop around the park and stop at Blauwe Theehuis (Blue Tea house) which is a flying saucer looking building in the park that Brouwerij ‘t IJ has recently taken over and serves their beer there. They also have their original taphouse in the shadow of a windmill out near the botanical garden, which is nice to check out and then go have a beer. Also in that area is Nieuwe Diep Distillery which specializes in gin but its the setting in a park overlooking a pond that is what makes it so nice.

quote:
Also beer recs

Wildeman in the city center has a fantastic selection of all sorts of beers.
Close to Wildeman but in the canal belt is Proeflokaal Arendsnest which specializes in dutch beers and is an old Brown bar. Its probably my favorite beer place in Amsterdam, especially if the weather is nice and you can snag a table on the canal.
Gollem that I mentioned before has 3 locations with the original being in an old Brown Bar in the city center.
Het Lagerhuys is a gastropub with good food and close by is A. van Wees Tasting Locality which specializes in Dutch food.
Brewery Troost has 2 or 3 locations, the original in the Pijp, but I prefer their location is Westergas Park which is a new park built on an old industrial gas works location. There are several cafes out there and I really like Rainarai Westerpark which is north african food.
The tird Gollem location is on a street named Overtoom which is adjacent to Vondel Park. It has a bunch of restaurants, cafes and bars and is more of a local crowd than tourists. We usually rent an airbnb in this area although the new airbnb restrictions amsterdam has in place now makes it more difficult to find places in this area. Indonesian food is kind of like Indian food in Britain and Kartika on Overtoom is my favorite Indonesian place.

quote:
Any suggestions on airlines to look at?

I'm in Dallas so its usually American for us. I think we have flown KLM and British Air and both are fine. I've never flown Biz class so I don't know about lie flat seats. Seat Guru has a lot of info but you will need to figure out what model jet you are considering flying and look at his chart of which have lie flat seats.

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Posted by purpgold718

Amsterdam, NL

Member since Sep 2008

763 posts

Posted on 9/2/24 at 8:53 am to borrelia

Resident Amsterdammer (just hit my 10 year mark living here last month), added the below list of favorite haunts in another thread and figured copy/pasting would be easier. For Beer the mentioned Aarendsnest, Café Brecht and Brouwerij ‘t IJ are good bets. Sterk Avondverkoop (on Clerqstraat) has a great selection of local and international craft beers many of the refrigerated for immediate takeaway consumption:

quote:
if you’re a confident urban cyclist do rent a bike as it’s the best way to get around, point your fingers intuitively left or right as turn signals (none this weird 90 degrees angle with your left arm shite).

Visit and cycle through the Vondelpark, do some sort of canal cruise - self-piloted with Sloep Delen or Mokum Boot are good bets.

If you’re really an avid cyclist and want a relaxing excursion away from Amsterdam’s hustle and hustle you can cycle northward to the quaint fishing villages of Monnickedam, Marken, Volendam and Edam the whole circuit can be done in a day.

For drinks and food I can throw some tailored recommendations in you let indicate your interests, OP, but a few favorites:

- Aarenssnest a quaint pub in the heart of the canal belt specializing in Dutch beers

- Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Amsterdam’s oldest and most well known craft brewery, there original brewpub is in the shadow of/attached to a historic windmill on the eastern fringes of the city center. They have another location called “Het Blauwe Theehuis” (the blue tea house) in the middel of Vondelpark which I prefer.

- Café Brecht - a Berlin style quirky cafe, modeled after a turn of century living room, they have a good rotating selection of German Beers and snacks, as well as some nicely priced seasonally rotating cocktails and natural wines. Slightly eccentric artsy crowd, but also yuppy-ish and trendy.

- Sins of Sal - trendy cocktail bar with high end bites inspired by latin American fare with a twist (primarily Mexican)

- Hannekes Boom - a favorite of locals and tourists alike, sporting a large waterfront terrace with several docks and lovely views onto the city center , on sunny days patrons arrive on foot, by bike or boat.

- FUKU Ramen - a high-end Ramen joint serving a very excellent value for money tasting menu, and hosting walk-in ala carte days on Sundays.

- Luminair - trendy rooftop cocktail perched atop the Hilton Doubletree next to Centraal Station, unparalleled views over the city center.

- Tales & Spirits - another excellent cocktail bar.

- Blauw - high-end Indonesian cuisine, which the Dutch have colonized/claimed as their own.

- China Sichuan - a formerly Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant boasting multiple locations around the RLD. They may have lost their star some years ago, but the food is still excellent and mouth numbingly spicy in true Szechaun style fashion

- Sea Palace - the big floating pagoda, near the central station, it’s not all gimmick they serve excellent Dim Sum here for lunch (Amsterdam has some top-notch Chinese restaurants if it wasn’t already apparent)

- Mozzico - serving up delicious authentic Italian (Roman-style) pizza, I recommend the Diavola

- Parakeet - a gourmet Nachos bar, American owned, they fry their totopos up in house. Inventive tasty cocktails and homemade salsa queso blanco

- A-Fusion - Asian fusion fare served in tapas style sharing/small plates. Not Michelin starred but accoladed (“Bib Gourmand”)

- Box Sociaal - an Aussie style brunch place with two locations. Good cocktails especially their house bloody mary.

- Plantage - an attractive elegant but not overly expensive institution. French influence pan modern European fare.

- De Kas - haven’t been but it’s a very highly regarded and Michelin-starred restaurant. kas means greenhouse and the idea is that they produce most of their food

- La Oliva - serving the best pintxos (tapas) in Amsterdam

- Café Soundgarden - a divey bar with a lovely canal-side patio/terrace, which is 420-friendly for those so inclined . Vibe is an eclectic mix of local Dutch and internationals, with tinges of punk and grunge. Great place to enjoy the fruits Amsterdam in the sunshine.

- Skatecafé + Garage Noord - two adjacent techno clubs in the North of Amsterdam (Noord), younger-ish crowd but this is one of the more popular clubs or pairs thereof, locally.

Stacks - American owned, the concept and decor is diner-style but it’s more high end with an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients and experimental dishes.