An Amsterdam and Brussels Binge
Place: Europe
Country: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
Towns/Cities: Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg City
Time of Year: April 2026
How we got there: Plane, Buses, Trains
When you think of a binge, what usually comes to mind is binge watching a whole season of a tv show in one sitting or overeating at your favorite restaurant. For us, it was cramming a visit of 3 European countries into a 6 day period! I am a planner and I had already planned our vacation destinations for 2026 in the first week of January! Then, I came across round trip plane tickets to Amsterdam for $450 each. This was a deal I couldn’t pass up, especially when the deal was for dates right smack in the middle of tulip season! I found the deal on https://www.going.com/ where we have a membership. They email deals everyday. Deals that don’t last so you have to act fast. I also found that the same deal was through Brussels, Belgium so we booked a one way to Amsterdam and a return through Brussels. We did not get to choose our seats right away but counted on the fact that many overseas flights aren’t full, so we took a chance.
It turned out great and we landed in Amsterdam on April 8th. After some research and advice, we booked an Airbnb in a town outside Amsterdam called Haarlem. I am so glad we did! We took a 20 minute bus ride from the airport to our Airbnb right on the canal. Haarlem is the perfect “little Amsterdam” with all the charm but none of the crowds. The Airbnb was so cute with a view of the canal and our very own bikes to get around. If we aren’t aware, the Netherlands is a biking community! Most people get around the cities on bikes and it is incredible!
Day 1
After dropping our luggage, we set out to explore Haarlem. We visited the cathedral and the windmill (which was under construction), then took a canal cruise!
We relaxed on a rooftop bar where we had dinner, drinks and a view of the city from above! Then topped it off with some gelato!
Riding around Haarlem was just so peaceful and beautiful!
After a long day of trying to stay busy and awake after our overnight flight, we settled in to our cosy room with a little garden patio for a good night’s rest! Tomorrow would be a big day! We were headed to the tulip farms and gardens!
Day 2
The next morning, we walked about 10 minutes to the bus stop to catch a bus straight into Lisse, Netherlands. Most of the transportation is tap and go. Just tap your credit card and hop on! It was about a 45 minute ride through the most gorgeous little Dutch towns sprinkled with spring blooms and thatched roofed homes. I could definitely see myself living there! We were dropped off right in front of Keukenhof Gardens. But before visiting the gardens, we had planned a bike tour through the growers tulip fields. The bike rental was located right outside the gardens. The growers in this area grow hyacinths, daffodils, and of course tulips!
It was absolutely incredible riding from village to village with rows and rows of colors in every direction! The smell of hyacinths was in the air!
We learned so much about the harvesting of the bulbs which we found was the main industry and not the flowers themselves. We also got to taste a stroopwafel while getting up close and personal with the daffodils!
Our last stop on the bike tour was The Tulip Experience Amsterdam which is a museum and show garden where you can take cute pics with 700 varieties of tulips as well as learn more about the growing process. Our bike tour which I booked through https://www.getyourguide.com/ included entry to The Tulip Experience.
After the 3 hour bike tour, we purchased tickets into Keukenhof Gardens to see the elegant displays of the most beautiful tulips in the world!
We climbed inside of the windmill and tasted the famous mini Dutch pancakes!
When we had our fill of tulips, we took the bus back into Haarlem Central and caught the train into Amsterdam. We haven’t yet seen Amsterdam and my first thoughts were that it looked like a larger version of Haarlem! So many people, larger canals and much more fast paced! I really appreciated seeing Haarlem first to get a feel of a slower paced and relaxed atmosphere. Today would be just a glimpse as we would spend more time here in the upcoming days.
First order of business was to sample the famous Friets with mayo and peanut sauce that Cesar so fondly remembers from his time here while stationed in Germany.
Then we made our way toward the oldest section of Amsterdam near Dam Square in search of the Red Light District! You have to see it at least once!
On the outskirts of Jordaan, we strolled through the canals and stopped for a few treats to take home including chocolates!
Day 3
Our 3rd day was quite a busy one! Bright and early, we made our way to the bus stop to catch a bus then train into Amsterdam Central. There we caught another bus headed to Zaanse Schans. Many people take tours to Zaanse Schans however it is just as easy (and cheaper) to catch the city bus which drops you off right outside the little village of windmills! This 18th century open air village is so cute! We were there early enough to be able to enjoy walking around the village and visiting each working windmill. They have a variety of windmills including sawmills, spice mills and even a paint mill all tucked in at the edge of the water.
It was bitterly cold that day but the scenery was gorgeous!
The wooden shoe making demo was the highlight of our visit!
The little shop smelled of fresh cut wood and I got to try on a pair that actually fit!
Heading back into Amsterdam Central by bus we then took a trolley to the Museum Quarter or Museumplein to visit the Rijksmuseum. It was our plan to visit the Rijksmuseum at some point and we had a few extra hours before our scheduled Anne Frank House Tour so we squeezed it in!
What a beautiful place! The building itself is an 1885 Renaissance and neo-Gothic style. I highly recommend spending a few hours here! I used Get Your Guide again to purchase our tickets which saves so much time because we didn’t have to wait in line! We downloaded the free audio app and did the self guided “Highlights” tour. There were so many beautiful paintings and sculptures that I have a hard time choosing which ones to show here!
At the end of The Gallery of Honour, we viewed Rembrandt’s The Night Watch which was under restoration. Amazing how big it is and how it consumed the entire room! I particularly love seeing a work of art under restoration ( I have fond memories of seeing the Sistine Chapel under restoration as a teen) as you can see the delicate process of before and after.
I absolutely loved the Cuypers Library and the many other objects of Dutch history.
This was my favorite moving display. I could sit there all day just watching!
We had just enough time to grab a bite to eat at a local Mediterranean spot before our tour of the Anne Frank House started. Just a quick note that you MUST book this well in advance! I booked 6 weeks before our trip. There is no leniency in your time spot either, so show up on time! https://www.annefrank.org/. If you get tickets, count yourself lucky because this is a must see. There are no words to accurately describe the emotions and thoughts you experience while walking through this well preserved piece of history. It was an honor to step foot in this home. No pictures were allowed inside so you must visit to get the full experience.
The canal right outside the Anne Frank House is the starting point for several canal boat tours. We elected to book an evening tour right after our visit to Anne Frank. While waiting for our boat, I couldn’t help but think that Anne never got to look out the windows of the home she lived in for 2 years to see the beautiful canal streets and the Westerkerk church who’s bell she could hear chiming each day.
Day 4
Hearing the rain through the night, we woke up to the damp streets of Haarlem. It was Saturday morning and we had heard that there is a Haarlem Cathedral Market every Saturday. We rode our bikes through the very quiet cobblestone streets then secured our bikes under the Cathedral and walked the market. So many good things to choose from! Cesar choose a local soup from steaming pots and I picked out a freshly baked gooey stroopwafel!
Coffee and hot chocolate warmed us up before we hopped back on the bikes to find the old city gate.
Our ride continued up the river across from our Airbnb where we stopped to take a few pictures.
Further up the bike path we entered a neighborhood and soon came across a little sign pointing to a path leading to a community windmill, so we decided to have a look.
We had stumbled upon a working sawmill run by the community volunteers and they offered to give us a tour! It was quite incredible to see how it all worked and while we were inside, the windmill was turning and by the time we came out we were facing another directing!
On the way back, we jumped on a free bike ferry to get back to our side of the river!
A quick rest at our apartment and then we were off again. This time we caught a few different buses (1 hr 20 mins) to reach the gorgeous city of Utrecht. This is a historic city known for its split level canals and university life. It sprinkled on and off through the day but that didn’t bother us! We were just soaking in the vibes! The streets were full of hussel and bussel and the rowing teams were working hard in the canals!
By this time we were starving and just happened upon an Italian sandwich shop that looked like to place to be! We were right! These sandwiches were amazing, so warm and crusty and stuffed with Italian meats and cheeses! We enjoyed them overlooking the canal and more rowers!
Sampling more friets was on the list as well, this time with curry ketchup! Yum!
We made a stop at the Dom Tower which was sold out so we did not get to go up inside and walked around the city absorbing all the beauty.
I’d love to have a swing like this!
We randomly tucked into a quirky museum called Museum Speelklok (Musical Clock Museum) and took a last minute “highlight” tour. Super cool!
Back at the Airbnb, we prepared for our early morning departure by train to Brussels!
Day 5
Saying Goodbye to our bikes and the incredible town of Haarlem, we boarded a bus to the Amsterdam Airport where we caught a Eurocity Direct train to Brussels. It took us about 2.5 hours and $100 each to reach Brussels Airport. We changed trains in Antwerp with its beautiful station.
Once at the Brussels Airport, we caught a bus to our hotel, checked in and were off again on the bus into Brussels! Lunch was our first priority and what a better place than a famous gourmet friet restaurant, after all the Belgians are the ones known for the friets! I had a pesto mayo sauce that was out of this world!
As if we were not full enough, a Belgium Waffle at Dandoy was a must!
We had a few “must sees” on our list so we started checking those things off. You cannot visit Brussels without paying Manneken Pis a visit! It’s amazing how this tiny statue of a boy peeing gets so much attention! Today he was naked but I’ve heard he has quite a wardrobe!
You can get Manneken Pis pastries and souvenirs as well! They are in every shop! Ha Ha!
We literally stumbled through Brussels. I must of tripped 10 times on the uneven cobblestone as we navigated Brussels transportation like newbies! We still managed to see the top spots like The Grand Place which is the central square of Brussels that houses the Town Hall and other city building of Gothic architecture.
As well as the Parc du Cinquantenaire, Galeries Royales Saint- Hubert, and Mont des Arts (Hill of the Arts).
Our last activity of the day was super fun as we got to learn how to make Belgium Chocolates in the Belgium Chocolate Makers Kitchen! We donned hair nets and went straight to work taste testing and customizing our own chocolate bars. We got to take everything we made home with us! This was another activity I booked on GetYourGuide.com. Since cooking and baking is something I really enjoy, it is nice to learn customs and traditions from other countries.
Day 6
Our very last day would be a long one and we would not stay in Brussels for this excursion! Luxembourg is a tiny country bordering Belgium, Germany and France. Since Cesar had fond memories of Luxembourg from his time stationed in Germany, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to visit.
It is about a 3.5 hour drive from Brussels to Luxembourg City so we booked a tour through GetYourGuide.com. On the way to Luxembourg City, we stopped in the picturesque town of Dinant, Belgium which is home to the inventor of the saxophone!
What a gorgeous little town! We toured the tiny Sax Museum, crossed the bridge…
and walked along the Meuse River admiring the beautiful architecture which lined the limestone cliffs.
Above sat the Citadel of Dinant and below the Church of Notre-Dame…
On the drive out we passed the dramatic split rock formation, The Rocher Bayard, which marks the entrance to Dinant, Belgium. I am so glad this was part of our journey because Dinant is truly unique in beauty & history!
An hour and a half later, we crossed the border of Belgium into the tiny country of Luxembourg passing golden fields of rapeseed along the way. It was sprinkling as we entered the fairytale city of Luxembourg City.
The upper city sits high above the gorge where the Alzette & Petrusse Rivers meet.
Down below, on the river’s edge, sits the lower city called The Grund. We visited Melusina the Mermaid who’s legend we had learned about from our tour guide.
Back to the upper city, we visited the Bock Casements which are a series of underground tunnels and galleries built into the stone cliffs. These tunnels used to house soldiers, weapons and horses in the early days and later used as bomb shelters during the World Wars.
There were loopholes carved into the rock face acting as panoramic windows with views of The Grund and the Alzette River below.
Pretty incredible! We only wish we had more time to explore Luxembourg City, but feeling pretty grateful to be standing in such a place!
On the way back to meet our bus, we took the underground path know as “under the bridge”. It is a suspended pedestrian and bicycle passage directly under the Adolphe Bridge.
We even spotted some tulips here in Luxembourg City!
This would be the end of our 6 day binge of Amsterdam, Belgium and Luxembourg! Although we do plan to return someday, the binge was just enough to wet our appetite for the time being! I loved this little “extra” trip we squeezed in and I hope you too get a chance to visit these 3 magnificent countries! Please remember to travel responsibly and respectfully!
