Both of us: "Remember, we only have four days."
Also us: "Eh, it's fine. We can squeeze it in."
We took a whirlwind tour of Northern Europe as an early 30th celebration for me. It wasn't enough time to "see everything," but we were certainly able to experience most of the major aspects in each region. We rented a car to see as much as possible in the time we had. We would have preferred to take trains at a slightly slower pace! Nick planned an "aggressive tourism" itinerary that took us between the valley city views of Luxembourg, the windmills and canals of The Netherlands, and the street art of Belgium (with a cold pint always near). It was an unforgettable trip.
And, in case you missed it, check out Part 1 of our trip when we visited Abu Dhabi.
Pre-Trip Notes
Amsterdam
As expected, parking in Europe is a bitch. We opted for the rental car to have more freedom with our schedule, but definitely take public transit if you can. We managed to find general parking garages most of the time, but Amsterdam was a slightly different story. Thankfully, Nick was able to find P1 Parking (situated in the heart of the city) for only €20 per day. Also, in general, we had no trouble hailing Ubers, even in Eindhoven. And, if you can, stay in one of the many house boats in Amsterdam!
What We Did
Luxembourg
Walked the city: The main city center is best viewed from above, and you won't regret taking the extra time to walk the cobble streets to pass buildings such as the Grand Ducal Palace.
Esch-sur-sûre Castle: We didn't actually visit the castle, but it was a nice castle photo stop during our drive from Brussels to Luxembourg.
Casemates du Bock: Centuries-old military tunnels built into a natural hill near the city center. You can walk the tunnels for €14.
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Starry Night Bicycle Path, Eindhoven: This was the real reason for our stopover in the quaint town of Eindhoven. Words of wisdom: see the path not long after sunset, because you won't see much of the glow-in-the-dark effect late at night!
Kinderdijk, Netherlands
Windmills: A UNESCO world heritage site. We walked a little over two miles roundtrip along the canals lined with windmills. Definitely a must-see!
The Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands
Binnenhof: Roamed around the iconic building. Great views from the internal courtyard and across the vast pond out front.
Mauritshuis: So happy we stopped here. We were able to see famous works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and many others. Worth the €15,50.
International Court of Justice: Unfortunately, tours are only available on Sundays, but it's still an impressive building to simply visit from afar.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anne Frank House: Famed for a reason. Everyone learns about Anne Frank at some point in school, but actually walking the Frank hideout is both surreal and sobering. If you can, book these tickets WELL in advance. Tickets are only available online, and 70% are available two months in advance, with the last 30% sold day-of. We were able to get tickets morning-of at 9 AM by waiting in an online queue (€10,50).
Rijksmuseum: Another amazing Dutch museum. This one showcases historical artifacts from military hardware to ship models to Delft pottery, as well as famous works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Worth a visit for €19, but try to order tickets online so you don't have to wait in line.
Walked the canals: One of the iconic aspects of the region, so walking these throughout The Netherlands was pretty awesome.
Bastogne, Belgium
Bastogne War Museum: Visited en route to Luxembourg and really learned quite a bit for €14.
Brussels, Belgium
Street art: The city is brimming with diverse and breathtaking street art. We started at the Comic Strip Wall and wandered from there (seeing Zinneke Pis along the way).
Atomium: Built for the 1958 World Fair, the structure is a representation of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.
Grand Place: Classic European city center with gorgeous and ornate architecture.
Bruge, Belgium
Using the Trainline EU app, we booked a roundtrip train for half a day. We took a rickshaw to get from the train station to the city center. There are also buses and taxis if you don't want to walk. As usual, we checked out the city center and generally walked much of the main part of town. The highly recommended Belfry Tower had a line that was too long for us, so that's something to be aware of. We meant to see the Basilica of the Holy Blood, but we were so tired at this point that we forgot... however, the beer and chocolate were great company!
London, England
The Chunnel: Again, using the trusty Trainline EU app, we were able to book these tickets with ease. Leaving from Brussels, we routed through France and proceeded under the English Channel to get to London for our morning flight out of Heathrow.
Big Ben: I mean, I knew it was under construction, but this thing has some serious scaffolding on it! We only had a couple of hours, but I"m glad we took the time to walk to see the iconic clock tower and the Eye of London.
Food
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Down Town Gourmet Market: A recommendation from our Airbnb host, and we were so glad it was still open when we arrived late in the evening. You can find food and beverages from all over the world in an indoor food-truck-style venue.
Vascobelo V-bar: Really great place for a quick coffee and croissant.
The Hague (Den Haag), Netherlands
Angie's Kitchen: Great food with an even better outdoor seating area.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Drie Fleschjes (Three Little Bottles): Really small and historic bar known for its atmosphere and aging barrels. Make sure to order your first kopstoot here!
Van Wonderen Stroopwafels: SVery delicious stroopwaffels, and it is well-known... so expect a line of tourists.
STACH Food: A simple corner store, but it had surprisingly great sandwiches for on-the-go.
Winkel 43: We stopped in for a quick breakfast to taste the aptly labeled "best apple pie in Amsterdam." Voted the best by several people and websites, and we definitely agree!
Proeflokaal A. van Wees: MORE KOPSTOOTS. Great bar with a great vibe.
Recommendations from friends: Cafe Thijssen & Brouwerij Het Ij.
Brussels, Belgium
Delirium Cafe: Such a cool place with the world's largest beer selection (2,000+). It was much larger than it seemed at first, and it certainly has something for all alcoholic preferences!
Ballekes: Traditional Belgian meatballs with veggie options, too!
Dali's Bar: Cool artsy club, but it also seemed like a place where the 16-18 crowd liked to hang out, making us the old people... LOL.
Nostalgia Club: '80s house mixes - YES. This club was so much fun and a perfect end to the night.
Bruges, Belgium
Huis Craenenburg: Really good lunch spot, especially to enjoy some beer and people-watching in the main square.
London, England
Koha Restaurant and Bar: We arrived very late, but we took up on this recommendation from our host. Pretty great for a quick meal in the heart of London.
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