1. To Amsterdam in Style
We arrived (in business class!) to Amsterdam and had an afternoon to do some sightseeing, going through a bit of the Red Light District (including seeing a hidden church) before heading to find some dinner.
2. Museums & Tea
A somewhat crazy day with visits to four museums: the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk museum, and a special visit to the Museum of Bags and Purses for afternoon tea overlooking a canal.
3. Keukenhof & Leiden
We started the morning in the gardens of Keukenhof with its multi-colored tulips (and more) and then afternoon in Leiden, a pretty university town and the childhood home of Rembrandt. That night, a canal cruise to watch the sunset.
4. Edam, Volendam, and Marken
A trip out into North Holland to see Edam (of cheese fame!), Volendam (a seaside resort town), and Marken (a former island that has kept many of its older traditions as a seafaring town).
5. Amsterdam City Walk
Today we followed Rick Steves' walk beginning at the train station and then down through Dam's square, all the way down to Leidseplein (with a quick stop in the serene Bergenhof). From there, we took the tram back to the Museumplein for the Moco Museum (a modern art museum).
6. To Delft & The Hague
We started the day in pretty Delft with its market, stopped at a delftware factory, and continued to The Hague, where we saw the Girl with the Pearl Earring.
7. Haarlem, a canal mansion, and Amsterdam's Jordaan neighborhood
A morning spent in Haarlem brought us back to Amsterdam with a bit of extra time before our late evening event. We went in a canal mansion on Amsterdam before heading over to see the Jordaan neighborhood. Our last event for Amsterdam had us visiting the Anne Frank House.
8. Antwerp on King's Day
We were in Amsterdam for the big King's Day party, but spent most of the day in Belgium seeing Antwerp. We saw a rich merchant's home and the printing press he owned, as well as Ruben's House.
9. To Bruges
On this day we took a bus to Bruges, and checked in to our adorable hotel. After a visit to a couple of Flemish art museums (including one in a former medieval hospital) we wandered down to the Minnewater with its swans, and took a quick look in the Bergenhof.
10. Exploring Bruges
A walking tour of Bruges, including going up to the tower for views, a walk out to the windmills, and in the Town Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. A few stops for chocolate too of course!
11. In Flanders Fields
We joined a mini-bus tour of different WWI graveyards and battle sites, including a stop in Ypres to see the Menin Gate, memorial to those who died but whose burial sites are not known.
12. Brugge to Bruxelles
A relaxing morning canal cruise in Bruges, followed by a move to Brussels and afternoon sightseeing in Brussel's lower and upper towns, including the beautiful Grand Place.
13. Art & Leuven
A morning visit to the Royal Museums of Fine Art followed by a short train ride to Leuven for a bit of sighseeing, including its Gothic Town Hall and town within a town Bergenhof.
14. Ghent
A visit to Ghent following Rick Steves' walking tour going in Cathedrals, down a street full of graffiti, and even a 12th century castle!
Bonus:
We had upgraded through an auction on the flight to Amsterdam via Icelandair to business class and loved it. We decided while we were in Belgium we'd try to upgrade the return trip and "won" again! It was worth it.
We even talked our way into the premium class lounge (even though we were on economy to Iceland and on business class only for the longer flight). One last Belgium waffle and Kierk.
Then we were in our nice upgraded seats again.
Snacks with a bottle of prosecco.
Our fancy menu and meal on a real plate.
