Starting your road trip from the Netherlands to France in Amsterdam is a real risk. There’s so much fun to be had here that you might never leave.
With its canals and wonky, timber-framed buildings, it’s a photographer’s dream. And for culture lovers, there are museums dedicated to everything from Van Gogh to fluorescent art. And for those just here to treat themselves, there are restaurants, bars and cafés for every taste and mood.
Hire a bike to explore the old town or hop aboard one of the free ferries to see the city from a different angle. Head to the Jordaan to explore quirky art galleries.
And when night falls, head to a bruin café and put away a few pints in the cosiest of drinking dens. Or, for a touch of sleaze that only Amsterdam could pull off with such charm, wander through the Red Light District. It’s not Amsterdam without a dash of debauchery.
If Brussels is like Belgium’s sensible, strait-laced daughter, then your next destination on this road trip from the Netherlands to France is its too-cool-for-school sister.
Stylish and sophisticated Antwerp is a mecca for fashionistas and partygoers, not to mention diamond dealers – 80% of the world’s diamonds are traded here each year. Enjoy innovative meals in sharp, modern restaurants, peruse elegant boutiques in Nationalestraat, soak up the sparkles in the Diamond District, and at night, catch a show at de Singel arts centre.
Beginning with the Grote Markt, the old town’s main square, stroll the city’s medieval heart and find a charming café from which to people-watch. Visit the extravagant Gothic masterpiece that is the cathedral and spot the Rubens on display inside.
Fancy something more contemporary and cool? Head to MoMu, the city’s Fashion Museum. And when your feet are tired, relax with a drink and a view of the meandering Scheldt. Life could be worse, right?
We are not sure why Ghent hasn’t got more tourists descending on its picturesque streets. But we’re glad they don’t. All the more for you to enjoy on your Netherlands-to-France road trip.
Ghent offers the perfect recipe for an up-and-coming holiday destination. Beautiful historic architecture, a buzzing student population, a trendy post-industrial edge and, for you beer lovers, the highest concentration of top-quality beer bars in Belgium.
Wander the mostly pedestrianised city centre. Discover Graffiti Street, canvas for the city’s artists to make their mark. Stroll the Gravensteen area, with its galleries, antique shops, and great restaurants.
Make sure to catch a glimpse of one of the world’s most famous paintings, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan and Hubert van Eyck, on display at St Baafskathedraal. And end the day in a café on the gorgeous Graslei quay, watching the city reflected back at you in the waters of the River Lys.
Do you believe in fairy tales? You will when you arrive in Bruges. This last stop in Belgium on your Netherlands-to-France road trip looks like it’s been plucked straight from a storybook — think princesses, knights on horseback, and maybe even a dragon.
Picture cobbled lanes, Gothic churches, gabled houses and white swans gliding down winding canals. To really get into the vibe, consider seeing the sights from a horse-and-carriage.
Wander the UNESCO-listed centre, surrounded by a moat. For cracking views, climb the Belfry in the Markt. Check out Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child in the Church of Our Lady. Top up your energy with some crispy, salty frietjes (or fries), and wash it down with a witbier.
Or go one step further and visit the Frietmuseum, the world’s only museum dedicated to fries. Explore the countless chocolate shops or relax at the Lake of Love (no joke — that’s its real name). Later, perhaps catch a show at Concertgebouw, the contemporary performing arts centre.
All the clichés hold true. Paris really is magical. Romantic. Incredibly fashionable. Although there’s also a psychological condition known as Paris Syndrome, experienced mostly by Japanese tourists who arrive and freak out to find Paris doesn’t quite meet their expectations.
In our view, it’s so much better for being slightly gritty, edgy and hectic. So carry on to the final stop of this road trip from the Netherlands to France. You’ll certainly end on a high.
Pick from thousands of sights to see — Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the list goes on. Or just wander the city’s gorgeous boulevards, relax by the river, or enjoy a spot of retail therapy in the elegant boutiques or chaotic flea markets.
Find the neighbourhood you like best, from village-like Montmartre to the mansions of the Marais. Pick up campervan supplies at a boulangerie or fromagerie. And when evening comes, grab a seat outside a café and watch life go by. Paris was made for people-watching.
