The Family Traveler’s Jen and husband Ken explored The Netherlands and Belgium this past July. Their adventure began in Amsterdam, where they stayed at the stylish W Amsterdam which is centrally located to see all the city sights. Although the weather was a little too chilly for them to enjoy the panoramic rooftop pool, they certainly made the most of their time in the city.

Their Amsterdam exploration included visits to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, and the Anne Frank House, which they found especially informative and memorable. They also enjoyed a small-group, half-day excursion to Zaanse Schans booked through Project Expedition, where they saw the Netherlands’ iconic windmills and enjoyed demonstrations of traditional cheese- and wooden-clog-making, along with plenty of delicious food tastings. An Amsterdam canal cruise with an open bar was another fantastic experience and a definite highlight of their stay.

Food was a major part of the Amsterdam experience, too. Jen and Ken enjoyed memorable dinners at Lucius and Bougainville and absolutely loved the pancakes at Pancakes Amsterdam!

From Amsterdam, they went on to Belgium, traveling by private transfer with Daytrip. They stayed at the Ghent Marriott Hotel situated directly along the historic Korenlei quay overlooking the River Lys in the heart the old city center and The Dominican centrally located in Brussels. They loved both properties.

In Ghent, they enjoyed a private walking tour booked through Get Your Guide before heading to Bruges for a private tour with Tours By Locals. Both guides were excellent, but their Bruges guide was an exceptional highlight. His fascinating insights and impressive depth of knowledge brought the city to life. He also recommended lunch at Le Mystique at Hotel Heritage, which turned out to be a particularly memorable meal. They also enjoyed another beautiful canal cruise in Bruges.

In Brussels, Jen and Ken explored independently, taking in the major sights and soaking up the atmosphere of the city. Highlights included a tour of NATO Headquarters and a visit to the Royal Palace of Brussels.

And, of course, the food continued to be a highlight throughout Belgium! They enjoyed memorable meals at Le Homard Rouge and Le Marmiton. Ken especially loved the mussels, while both made sure to indulge in plenty of Belgium’s famous fries along the way.

Throughout their journey in both the Netherlands and Belgium, they also loved sampling the local beers and chocolates and browsing the local shops. One of their most exciting purchases was a piece of artwork by local Ghent artist Johan Lootens which was a wonderful way to bring a little piece of their European adventure home with them.  

The architecture throughout the trip was another highlight for Jen and Ken. They particularly enjoyed seeing the variety of architectural styles across the different cities, from Amsterdam’s distinctive historic canal houses to the beautiful and character-filled buildings of Ghent, Bruges, and Brussels. Each city offered its own unique architectural personality and added another fascinating dimension to their travels.

Breakfast at all of their hotels was delicious and provided the perfect start to each day of exploring. From museums and historic sites to private tours, canals, incredible food, local beer and chocolate, and discovering unique artwork, Jen and Ken’s July adventure through Amsterdam, Ghent, Bruges, and Brussels was filled with memorable experiences from beginning to end.