2 days between Bruges and Amsterdam..

Drive or take train to Maastricht, stay near square. Visit this cemetery

LINK https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/netherlands-american-cemetery/

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The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands.

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Last September we took a day tour to Bruges from Amsterdam. It was a Sunday so outside of the tourists, Bruges was pretty quiet. Its a beautiful medieval city. We had time for a nice lunch and to see the touristy stuff. Everyone loved it.

If you haven't seen the movie In Bruges, watch it before you go. It'll add so much to your trip.



My uncle is buried at the American Cemetary. It was a bucket list item to visit his grave and the highlight of my trip.

Beer places:

't Poatersgat

Bauhaus Bar

't Brugs Beertje

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My uncle is buried at the American Cemetary. It was a bucket list item to visit his grave and the highlight of my trip.

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That must have been quite special for you. It is a beautifully maintained memorial.

I'm jealous

Bruges is great.

Bars:

Le Trappist
De Garre (personal favorite - make beer in house, they are high abv. But so good)
't Poatersgat
Duvelorium
Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres
2be bar (beer wall) for the in Bruges photo
Groot Vlaenderen
Retsins Lucifernum

The Basilica of the blood was pretty cool as well for touristy stuff
Beer museum was pretty neat.

For a like 3 day excursion, Bruges is one of my absolute favorite cities.

Grab some of this guy if you can

I have an uncle buried there too. My Dad's uncle actually. He made it all the way through D-day, Battle of the Bulge and then got killed in Germany a week before the War ended. They didn't want to bury any soldiers on German soil so they moved their bodies back to the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

My Dad actually remembers visiting with him and seeing him off at the train station to go to war. Then they got the folded flag and letter in the mail. I've tried to talk my Dad into going over there to see the grave but he's in his 80s and not up for the trip.

Some family in that Dutch town has been taking care of his grave for decades. They wrote to us asking for pictures and information about my uncle but we can't find any and the people who would know are dead. I feel terrible that I have nothing to give them and I've thought about just providing a random photo and some made up stories just so they feel like they have a human connection after all the work they put in. Either way, next time I am in the Netherlands I will visit the cemetery and try to contact them.

I've visited a few military cemeteries and they keep those places very well manicured. It's like every blade of grass was clipped with nail clippers and every structure or monument is pristine. It's one of the shining examples of our country and it's international relations.

I’ve not tried the whiskey one before. Triple, classic, and their Christmas one are all I’ve ever had. Classic is one of my favorites. There are better out there, but it was always one I could find everywhere over there. It is surprisingly drinkable for being a strong ale.

Have a beer store here that I’ve been able to get them to start getting some special order cases of Rochefort 8 & 10 for me. That stuff is dangerously good.