Belgium and Amsterdam

In February 2025 we spent a winter week in Belgium and the Netherlands: the Grand Place and the chocolate shops of Brussels, the medieval towers of Ghent, the station and the cathedral of Antwerp, and the canals of Amsterdam, with a bike ride out to the windmills.

Each city has its own guide, linked below. This page is the overview.

Our route

• Brussels: the Grand Place, the cathedral, the Atomium and a lot of chocolate.
• Ghent: a day among the castle, the canals and the three medieval towers.
• Antwerp: the railway cathedral, the Grote Markt, the river and the Port House.
• Amsterdam: the Jordaan, Anne Frank House, the museums and a bike ride to Zaanse Schans.

Tip: The four cities are close together and well connected by train, so you never lose much time traveling.

Where we slept

• Brussels: Hotel des Colonies Brussels by Mercure.
• Antwerp: Astoria Hotel Antwerp.
• Amsterdam: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam North Riverside.

What to eat and drink

• Belgian chocolate, from Neuhaus and Leonidas in Brussels to Chocolate Nation in Antwerp.
• Traditional Belgian dishes on Rue des Bouchers in Brussels.
• A Bolleke, Antwerp's local beer, or a Tripel d'Anvers from the same brewery.
• Stroopwafels and Dutch apple pie in Amsterdam.