Holland & Belgium

[northantsandy]

Our first trip to the Netherlands in the summer. We are heading for Amsterdam for 3 days and then working our way back through Holland to Belgium and then onto Calais. I was hoping for some little gems of campsites or places to visit on our way back from Amsterdam. One suggestion is to visit Ghent and especially the old town and to avoid Brugge (too touristy) Views?????????

Thanks in advance

Northantsandy

[Ian Hulley]

Bruges is fine, LOVELY old town streets full of choccy shops .... drooltastic

[northantsandy]

Thanks Ian! I have been looking at Bruges on t'internet and it looks gorgeous but busy in August. I don't mind a bit of busy so Bruges it is and probably Antwerp too which looks and sounds great.

Northantsandy

[horns]

Yep, Bruges is lovely - and there's a overnight section for campers in one of the big car parks, a short walk to the centre.

We were there last August - it wasn't especially busy.

[Ian Hulley]

We were there in August a few years back and on a showery day it still wasn't unpleasantly busy ... nice carousel in the town center for the girls too.

Ian

[trucker]

Ypres is worth a visit, lovely town and the Menim gate at 8pm when they close the road for the firemen to play the last post is truly unforgettable.
I really like Bruges also. Great beer in Belgium too

[Ian Hulley]

Great beer in Belgium too

Aye ... DO NOT do the raspberry one though ! Wrong in so many ways

[Ralf85]

Bruges is fine, LOVELY old town streets full of choccy shops .... drooltastic

Now if it is chocolate you are after buy that in French supermarkets - better chocolate and loads of different flavours. I have just run out of my supply. Thank goodness I will be back in France (and Belgium) to stock up with more at Easter. The other thing I have noticed is how expensive chocolate is in Belgium. Try buying a chocolate easter egg there. Outrageous prices.

Patrick

[Ian Hulley]

I have just run out of my supply.

Likewise but we're going back to Interlaken so I'm looking forward to the aircon choccy shop there

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Maastricht worth a visit,

Lively university town, great squares, good camping just by the river, 5 mins walk into town past the bombed church memorial.

Cordialement,

[northantsandy]

Thanks for all the ideas. I think it is definately Antwerp and Bruges for us with a little stop at CitiEurope before the tunnel.

Northantsandy

[Ralf85]

Weather here has been iffy. Was in Bruges again yesterday. Had to go as the last time I took my daughter she wasn't well so we didn't stay long. Weather there yesterday was sunny and we did the full walkabout. Not so crowded this time around and we had a fantastic lunch there. She took photos of the easter eggs and choc boobies, choc willies etc in the choc shops. Why do they make these?

Today back in France. Went into a Hyper Intermarche and have now stocked up with 11 different flavoured choc bars ummm and some cheese and belgian beer. Home tomorrow.

Patrick

[Ian Hulley]

Git

[maarten]

Depends on what you want to see, do you like little old towns, or modern stuff.
I say skip the north of netherland and start at the south,
Maastricht is very nice,
DONT do liege/luik
Bastone is worth the visit

Even Luxemburg is worth a visit

Near maastrich threre is a nice campsite called Camping Mooi Bemelen, it's a lovely environment. It's very near the town of Valkenberg. (nice town but very much tourists)

If you want to know someting more let me know. I live around Maastricht

maarten

[Lanciaman]

Can't offer any suggestions re camp sites but I lived in Antwerp for a few years and found it a lovely, friendly town with lots of excellent restaurants (NEVER had a duff meal there) and a fantastic range of bars. Belgian beer is unique and superb (and I say that as a Camra member, kind of the opposition really given the types of beer there). Make sure you see this town and seek out the Pilgrim bar on Pilgrim street. One of many worth going to Belgium for.
We went to one unique bar there that sold only sherry, from the wood, in carafes. A few of us went there one evening and ordered a carafe, which was brought to our table (this btw is typical of Belgian service, none of the stupid English fighting at the bar for your order) together with some olives and nuts. We were just about to move on, when another carafe was brought up with the explanation that this one was on the house, 'as they hadn't seen us before in their bar'!
I mean, really, can you imagine that happening here? Of course not. I am genuinely ashamed sometimes - often - to be English.
Oh and report back afterwards!!