Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
great time to visit. It's rarely too hot for comfort. Brussels' fancy
business-class hotels are also deeply discounted in the summer.
Peak Season:
Amsterdam is surprisingly crowded—and hotel
prices can be correspondingly high—in late March, April, and
May, because of the tulip fields flowering in full glory. Seasonal
conferences can also drive up prices in September in Amsterdam.
July and August have the typical summer crowds.
Shoulder Season:
Late spring and fall are also pleasant, with
generally mild weather and lighter crowds (except during holiday
weekends—see opposite page).
Winter Season:
Travel from late October through mid-March
is cold and wet in this region, as coastal winds whip through these
low, flat countries. It's fine for visiting Amsterdam, Bruges, and
Brussels, but smaller towns and countryside sights feel dreary and
lifeless. Some sights close for lunch, tourist information offices
keep shorter hours, and some tourist activities (like English-
language windmill tours) vanish altogether.
Sightseeing Priorities
With affordable flights from the US, minimal culture shock, almost
no language barrier, and a well-organized tourist trade, the Low
Countries are a good place to start a European trip. Depending
on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into
account, the following are my recommended priorities.
2 days: Amsterdam, Haarlem
3-4 days, add: Bruges
5-6 days, add: Brussels and another day in Amsterdam
7 days, add: Side-trips from Amsterdam (e.g., Edam,
Arnhem, Delft, the Historic Triangle, and more)
Travel Smart
Your trip to Europe is like a complex play—easier to follow and
really appreciate on a second viewing. While no one does the same
trip twice to gain that advantage, reading this topic's chapters on
your intended destinations before your trip accomplishes much the
same thing. The Rijksmuseum is much more entertaining if you've
boned up on ruffs and Dutch Masters the night before.
Design an itinerary that enables you to visit the various sights
at the best possible times. Make note of festival weekends and days
when sights are closed. For example, on Mondays nearly all the
museums are closed in Bruges. Sundays have the same pros and
cons as they do for travelers in the US—sights are generally open
but may have limited hours, shops and banks are closed, city traf-
fic is light, and public transportation options are limited. Popular
destinations are even more crowded on weekends. Rowdy evenings
are rare on Sundays.
