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- Sep 2, 2002
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mochiko42|1404810395|3708808 said:Paul-Antwerp|1404808754|3708805 said:kama_s|1404744749|3708159 said:mochiko42|1404737771|3708119 said:Thanks so much for the beer tips, MishB! Also yes Prague is quite far from Belgium and Netherlands.... Decision, decisions!
Seriously, you have plenty to see in just these two countries!
Amsterdam: 3-4 days
Hague: 1 day
Rotterdam: 1-2 days
Brussels: 2-3 days
Ghent: 1 days
Bruges: 2 days
Ghent: 1 day
Instead of flying around and spending time in transit, why not take it a little slow and enjoy the feel of these two countries? Your interests seem very aligned to myself and my husband's. The best part of a city is to walk around, take in the culture, eat and drink and sit around people watch. Add in a few historic sights, museums and shopping. I know plenty of people want to maximize their vacations, but checking off cities is hardly fun. I know many who do Provence, for instance, in 2-3 days. We spent just over two weeks and we still had much more to see and do. But we definitely did have a great understanding of life in that part of the world.
As a local, I am with Kama on this, but would slightly adapt recommendations.
Skip Brussels, or keep it to 1 day, and although I know Americans and Asians love Bruges, I regard it as an overrated tourist-spot. You have to visit, but 1 day will probably do.
Instead, add Ypres (nearby) for a 1-day-visit, and experience 100 years after the start of World-War I, the misery of war and the revival afterwards. Then, add Lille, as a French major city with Flemish history. You will enjoy.
Finally, this is a diamond-forum, isn't it? And nobody realizing that Antwerp is smack in the middle of all these cities, and definitely worth a 1 or 2-day-visit, at least?
Live long,
Thank you so much for the suggestions. I had been interested in Lille so I will keep it on the shortlist. We will probably shorten our Brussels/Bruges stay and may either wander around the north of France or else spend a few days as a side trip in Copenhagen.
As for diamond shopping in Antwerp, is it actually any good for the retail consumer? I live in Hong Kong which is a regional jewelry hub however the retail choices are not that great (and I am planning to go to the trade show in September anyway); I figured Antwerp and Amsterdam would be tourist traps in terms of retail. If I were to look at diamonds I would be looking at OEC or vintage cuts anyway, it seems at least from online shops that the US is better for that. (caveat: I am normally a CS person so my knowledge/experience of buying diamonds is somewhat limited.)
Not suggesting diamond-shopping in Antwerp, but visiting our city. We have fashion, museums of all kinds, history, great restaurants and great pubs, not to mention special arts-festivals during the summer-months.
And we are halfway between Amsterdam and Bruges/Lille.
Live long,