A 7-day trip to the Netherlands and Belgium can be either a seamless introduction to Europe for beginner travelers or a relaxed excursion for more experienced travelers. These two nations are easily navigable and small in size, but big in character.
From my experience traveling to the Netherlands and Belgium, there are a few can’t-miss destinations, but they might not be the exact few you’re expecting! So, let’s get started with our 7-day itinerary to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Day 1: Amsterdam
To no surprise, you need to prioritize Amsterdam when visiting Netherlands and Belgium. It’s an exceptional city that offers something for everyone: world-class museums, unparalleled nightlife, picturesque settings, and great food and beer.
The best part is that Amsterdam is one of the most walkable cities in Europe (and one of the most bikeable). People of all ages can visit Amsterdam and move around from neighborhood to neighborhood with ease. Its public transit system is phenomenal, and you don’t have to worry about constantly dodging car traffic (though don’t underestimate the importance of being cautious of bike traffic)!
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 316 destinations globally through 120 airlines, meaning getting here shouldn’t be difficult to start your trip to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Depending on what time you arrive, you may want to use the first day or night to just take in the city with no agenda.
To do so, prioritize spending time in the Jordaan neighborhood. It’s the most charming in Amsterdam. Here, you’ll find endless hip cafes, shops, and bars, all bound by canals with lush greenery lining the canals’ bridges and edges.
Day 1 Activities: Get Acclimated, Explore the Jordaan Neighborhood
Day 2: Amsterdam
Try your best to battle the jet lag, because Day 2 will be a day full of exploring and sightseeing.
The two best museums in Amsterdam are the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum. You must ensure you purchase tickets well in advance (Anne Frank House tickets go on sale six weeks in advance) if you don’t want to wait in a long line to enter.
These museums will take up to half of your day, if you choose to do both.
Other Day 2 activities can include spending time around Dam Square, the city’s main square. For nightlife, you obviously have the Red Light District. However, if that’s too intimidating for you and your group, try the Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein areas. While the Red Light District mostly caters to tourists, these two are more well-rounded with everything from smaller dance bars, clubs, live DJs, and hole-in-the-wall bars. Regardless, all three areas are within the main “Canal Ring,” meaning you can easily walk from one to the next.
If you’re looking to get away from the tourist hotspots, consider spending time in De Negen Straatjes neighborhood. Here, you’ll find nine streets intersected by canals, with boutique shops and cafes galore. It’s also easily walkable from the city center and Jordaan.
Day 2 Activities: Anne Frank House and/or van Gogh Museum, See Dam Square, Walk Around Negen Straatjes, and Visit Red Light District, Leidseplein, or Rembrandtplein for Nightlife
Day 3: Amsterdam / Day Trip to Utrecht
By Day 3, you might be a bit tired from all the previous day’s explorations (and perhaps beverages). Therefore, a perfect morning activity is heading to Vondelpaark, the largest park in Amsterdam and one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands.
This 120-acre park is about a 30-minute walk south from the city center. Grab a coffee to-go and walk-off the previous night’s food or alcohol while taking in the serenity.
Truthfully, Amsterdam probably warrants 3 full days to get the most holistic experience, but since there are other towns in Belgium and the Netherlands worth hitting on your trip, it might be worth sacrificing a half-day to get a taste of another Dutch city. For that, a good option is Utrecht.
Utrecht is only 25 minutes away from Amsterdam by train, but it’s very much its own city. It boasts the largest university in the country, numerous tree-lined canals, and an even more eye-catching medieval historic center than Amsterdam. Utrecht is a perfect day trip from Amsterdam because of its proximity, activities, and architectural elegance.
In Utrecht, make sure to visit the Dom Tower in the main square. If you’re up for another museum, and one that’s super unique, Museum Speelklok boasts self-playing instruments that date back to the 16th century.
Day 3 Activities: Vondelpaark (Amsterdam), half-or full-day trip to Utrecht, Dom Tower (Utrecht)
Day 4: Bruges
While Netherlands is home to the best big city between these two countries, Belgium, in my opinion, is the preferred country when it comes to dedicating time to a couple smaller cities. At the top of your list has to be Bruges, which I consider the best city to visit in Belgium.
Bruges, home to just over 100,000 people, is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities across Europe. You can get to Bruges from Amsterdam by taking a 1 hour and 45-minute train to Brussels before transferring to a domestic train to Bruges, which will be a 50-minute ride.
Plan to stay overnight in Bruges so you don’t have to rush. It’s definitely a city worth taking it easy in. Every street corner in the massive historic center is lined with brick Gothic architecture, with streets of cobblestone dating back to the Middle Ages. Bruges is also one of the few Belgian cities that has canals cutting through the city.
The Markt-Place is the main square, home to the Belfry of Bruges (Belfry Tower). If you have it in you, make the 366-step trek to the top. The views of the square beneath, the rest of the city, and the surrounding Belgian countryside are fantastic.
In the evening, consider Bistro t’Lammetje for excellent authentic Belgian food and seafood. The Central Pool Bar just down the street is a great place to hang out after, recap your trip so far with your crew over some beers, play pool, or watch a football match. The drinks are cheaper than most places in the city center, and the staff is extremely friendly.
Day 4 Activities: Train to Bruges, Walk Around Markt-Place, Walk to the Top of the Belfry Tower, Have Dinner at Bistro t’Lammetje, Have a Drink at Central Pool Bar
Day 5: Bruges and Ghent
There are plenty of potential things to do and see in Bruges, which you can prioritize based on your interests. If you’re into museums, get the Musea Brugge pass upon arrival (on Day 4), which gets you into all of the city’s 13 museums for just 33 euros. Even if you only make it to 2 or 3, that’s still a great deal! For a city of its size, Bruges has a fantastic variety of interesting museums.
However, Bruges is a good spot to have less definite plans on your itinerary. Here, the experience should be as much about the laid-back vibe and quaint setting as any actual activities.
That said, you should make an effort to go inside the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which supposedly contains the blood of Christ brought back from the Crusades. Even if you’re not religious, it’s worth going inside for the architectural grandeur (it’s free to visit). The Church of Our Lady, the second-tallest brick church in Europe, is also worth seeing.
Chez Albert also has my favorite waffle in the world! It’s on one of the small streets that spill out of Markt-Place (get the waffle with whipped cream, chocolate, and strawberries).
Since Bruges is the smallest city you’ll be seeing on your trip, one day and one night can be sufficient. At some point on Day 5, head to the train station (it’s about a 20-minute walk from the main square) and head east to Ghent.
Ghent is another one of my favorite cities in Belgium. It’s quite larger than Bruges, but it still maintains its authenticity and walkability. They’re both worth more than one night, but most travelers completely skip Ghent for Bruges and Brussels. Don’t make that mistake!
Your first afternoon and evening must entail walking to Gravensteen, a medieval fortress enclosed by a moat that’s actually just the confluence of a canal and a river. You can head inside and peer out the lookouts for only 12 euros. Make sure to stroll around the Graslei and Korenlei area, too. It makes a good case for the most picturesque spot in all of Belgium, with medieval buildings lining both sides of the street once you walk across a bridge over the Leie River.
Day 5 Activities: Wander Bruges, Step Inside the Basilica of the Holy Blood (Bruges), See the Church of Our Lady (Bruges), Have a Waffle at Chez Albert (Bruges), Train to Ghent, Visit Gravensteen (Ghent), See the Graslei and Korenlei Area (Ghent)
Day 6: Ghent
Ghent is a better city to do a relaxed boat ride than Bruges because the Leie River is vaster than the small canals in Bruges. No need to book anything, as you can take hop-on, hop-off rides at your leisure.
A more interesting water activity, hosted by BeerSecret, is the beer boat tour. This 2-hour tour takes you on the Leie River and Ghent’s canals, allowing you to explore the city by boat while sipping on local beer. By this point of the trip, it might be nice to let somebody else show you around! Dok Brewing Company is another solid spot if you’re ready to spend less time sightseeing and more time drinking.
Ghent’s other top sights are mostly in and around Korenmarkt, the main square. These include Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Saint Nicholas’ Church, and the Museum voor Schone Kunsten (an art museum). And other walkable areas to spend time in include Patershol, lined with narrow streets and canals similar to what you’d see in Bruges, and Kraanlei.
Day 6 Activities: Beer Boat Tour, Hang Out in Korenmarkt, Hang Out in Patershol or Kraanlei
Day 7: Brussels
After 36 hours well spent in Ghent, it’s time to hop on the train once more to head back to your final destination — Brussels.
Brussels is by far the largest metropolis in Belgium, the capital of Europe, and home to the EU headquarters. It’s an incredibly important city, especially politically, but for the purpose of this trip to the Netherlands and Belgium, it may have to take a back seat. Amsterdam is by all accounts the better large city to visit, and to get an all-encompassing experience on your trip, it’s important to dedicate time to a couple smaller cities as well. Therefore, you might be best sacrificing time in Brussels.
If you have time to spend 24 hours in Brussels, it’s best to spend most of your time in and around Grand Place. This is the grandest square in Belgium, and one of the most impressive in all of Europe. And if, by the end of your trip, you still have energy to have a night out, Brussels is a great place to do just that. Prioritize the Delirium Cafe, which is nestled on a side street just off Grand Place. This is a hip, old-timey beer bar that holds the record for the most number of beers available for tasting (2,004!).
Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is a massive, modern center for entertainment that is worth seeing if time allows. This is a glass-roofed shopping center and arcade that is a great spot to spend some time with kids.
Depending on whether you booked a round-trip flight to and from Amsterdam, you may have to get back to the Dutch capital by this point. Thankfully, there are plenty of trains between Brussels and Amsterdam, and it’s only a 1 hour and 45-minute journey.
Related: Bruges vs. Brussels: Which Is Better to Visit?
Recap: 7-Day Netherlands and Belgium Itinerary
There are other places worth visiting in Belgium and the Netherlands not listed here that are easily accessible from Brussels, such as the charming cities of Dinant and Namur nestled along the Meuse River.
The best part about traveling to these countries is that the combination of their small size and superb train network makes it incredibly simple to hop between spots. Regardless, I do highly recommend spending time in Amsterdam and Bruges at minimum, as they are very much one-of-a-kind cities.
Visiting Netherlands and Belgium FAQs
When is the best time to visit the Netherlands and Belgium?
The weather in the Netherlands and Belgium can be pretty dreary in the winter and early spring, so it’s best to visit the Netherlands and Belgium between May and October, when it’s warm and not as rainy. However, Christmastime in the cities of Bruges and Amsterdam is beautiful, so don’t be afraid to visit around the holidays if you want to experience the Christmas spirit!
What are the differences between the Netherlands and Belgium?
The Netherlands is an entirely Dutch-speaking country, while Belgium is a trilingual nation with Dutch spoken in the Flemish region, French spoken in the Walloon region, and German spoken in a small section of the far east of Wallonia. Overall, the Netherlands has more of its own culture, while Belgium takes a lot from the French and even German cultures. There’s also the stereotype that Dutch citizens are a bit more outgoing than Belgians, who tend to be quieter, but equally friendly.
What are the best beaches in the Netherlands and Belgium?
The Netherlands and Belgium aren’t known for their beaches, but being located on the shores of the North Sea, there are options for beach-lovers. One of those is Cadzand in the Netherlands. Unlike many resort towns in these two nations, Cadzand has a long stretch of beach with no condominiums in sight. De Haan is one of the best beaches in Belgium that’s not yet littered by towering condominiums.
If you’re looking for both beach and nightlife, try one of the coastal cities in Belgium that also boasts a casino, such as Blankenberge or Oostende, the latter of which is a larger city with more accommodations and amenities.
What are the best places to visit in the Netherlands and Belgium?
Amsterdam and Bruges are the two best places to visit in the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively. Amsterdam offers world-class nightlife and museums and is very easy to navigate around; it’s one of the most walkable and bikeable cities in Europe. Bruges is a small city that is one of the most well-preserved across Europe, with architecture dating back 1,000 years and the entire historic center filled with cobblestone streets and medieval buildings. Other great places to visit include Dinant and Ghent in Belgium, and Utrecht and The Hague in the Netherlands.
