"Tour Europe" 11-Day Boutique Independent Tour of Netherlands and Belgium
Sister Shan: A beautiful young lady, full-time image spokesperson, part-time food and scenery experience officer;
Sister Shan's Mom: A literary lady, chief assistant, part-time model, travel nagging officer;
Sister Shan's Dad: A science and engineering guy, official photographer, part-time planner, guide, porter, security guard.
2014: Taiwan, China
2015: Japan
2017: USA (West Coast), Czech Republic, Austria, Japan
2018: USA (Hawaii), Germany
2019: Hong Kong, China, Spain, France
2020: Spain, Portugal
Heading North - 8 nights 9 days classic independent tour of Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo
Heading South - 9-day parent-child independent tour of California, USA
"Tour Europe" 11-day parent-child independent tour of Czech Republic and Austria (Prague/CK Town/Salzburg/St. Wolfgang/Hallstatt/Obertraun/Vienna)
Volcano, Sea, Sun, Beach - 8-day parent-child independent tour of Big Island and Oahu, Hawaii
"Tour Europe" 12-day parent-child independent tour of Southern Germany (Munich/Romantic Road/Rothenburg/Würzburg/Heidelberg/Black Forest Road/Schiltach/Schwangau)
"Tour Europe" 13-day parent-child independent tour of Spain (Madrid/Segovia/Toledo/Granada/Córdoba/Seville/Barcelona)
2019 Edition: Barcelona Airport Tax Refund Guide
"Tour Europe" 12-day boutique independent tour of France (Paris/Loire Valley/Lyon/Avignon/Arles/Nîmes/Provence/Cannes/Nice)
"Tour Europe" 12-day boutique independent tour of Spain and Portugal (Barcelona/Porto/Coimbra/Sintra/Lisbon)
Camera: Canon 5D MARK II +17-40F4.0+24-70F2.8 +75-300F4-5.6
Phone: VIVO X90 Pro+
[Visa]: DIY. Prepare and submit the application according to the material requirements and procedures on the Dutch embassy website. With multiple experiences applying for Schengen visas, this visa process was still smooth. Of course, the authenticity and thoroughness of my materials were also essential. Actually, the process was quite thrilling, mainly because the epidemic had just eased this year, and embassy appointment slots were very long. I made an appointment in early May and was scheduled for the end of June, less than two weeks before departure. Considering the embassy's working time, the visa was issued only a few days before departure. Fortunately, the submitted materials were error-free, otherwise we would have been in trouble. Finally, there was a small surprise: I directly got a 2-year Schengen visa. It seems the Dutch embassy was quite generous. 👍
[Airfare]: This time we bought tickets on Ctrip. Since spring 2023 was just after the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, many international flights had not yet resumed. When I booked tickets at the end of March, I could only book Turkish Airlines flights with a transfer in Istanbul, costing 8,800 yuan per person, which was not cheap. Fortunately, in early June, while browsing my phone, I saw news about resumed international flights. I quickly checked Ctrip and found direct flights with China Southern Airlines at 6,200 yuan per person. I grabbed them immediately. Including the cancellation fee for Turkish Airlines, the average cost was about 7,500 yuan per person, and it was a direct flight, which was excellent. The lesson here: when buying tickets, always choose refundable ones, even if slightly more expensive, to handle unforeseen situations.
[Intercity Transport]: Since this independent tour focused on city visits, and public transport in both the Netherlands and Belgium is well-developed, with intercity trains between cities and buses or metro within cities, we decisively gave up self-driving.
This time, there were four main intercity train segments: Amsterdam Airport - Brussels, Brussels - Bruges, Bruges - Delft, Delft - Amsterdam Airport. Of course, these tickets were bought in advance on their official websites, printed out, and carried with us.
[Travel Insurance]: As an independent traveler, each of us still bought a travel insurance policy from AIG (Global无忧 Plan) before the trip, just in case.
[Apps]: Google Maps, Yelp, Google Translate, Uber, 9292 (Dutch public transport query) were basically sufficient.
[SIM Card]: Bought a SIM card on Taobao: 15 days, 10 GB total 4G data, 69 yuan per card, good value for money.
Van Gogh Museum tickets, Rijksmuseum tickets, Mauritshuis tickets were all pre-booked through their official websites, printed out, and carried with us.
[Hotels/Apartments]
LATROUPE Grand Place Hostel
Price: 398 euros/2 nights
Rating: 3 stars
Great location, within walking distance of Brussels Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and Belgian Comic Art Center. Dining and shopping are convenient. However, there were occasional homeless people on the street downstairs, making the area feel unsafe.
Hotel Ter Brughe by CW Hotel Collection
Price: 470 euros/2 nights, including breakfast
Rating: 5 stars
Great location, quiet yet central. The hotel environment is superb. It is itself a historic building, located by the canal. From the window, the view is all scenery.
Hotel Royal Bridges
Price: 342 euros/2 nights
Rating: 4 stars
Good location, everything within walking distance. Initially, the room type assigned was not good; one room could only be accessed through the bathroom. After changing rooms, it was indeed very good.
XO Hotels Couture
Price: 744 euros/3 nights
Rating: 4 stars
Good location, not far from the city center, reachable by one tram ride. The hotel facilities are new. At this price, it offers great value in Amsterdam. I would choose it again next time.
With the gradual relaxation of outbound travel policies at the beginning of the year, we can continue planning our "Tour Europe" journey. There are two reasons why we planned to go to the Netherlands and Belgium this time. First, after three years of the pandemic, many people plan to travel abroad. We didn't want to join the crowds at major European tourist destinations like Italy, France, or Spain. The Netherlands and Belgium are relatively niche for Chinese travelers, so airfares and visas are less competitive. Second, compared to Italy and Greece, the Netherlands and Belgium are farther north, so the climate in July and August is more pleasant. The days are long, and it's still bright until after 9 PM, making it a good season to travel there.
We first took a direct China Southern flight, flying for 11 hours to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. After a short rest, we transferred to an intercity train and arrived in Brussels, Belgium, at 9 PM that evening.
Just after outbound travel reopened, the international departure area of Beijing Daxing Airport was still quite quiet.
The intercity train facilities here are relatively old but well-maintained, and there were not many passengers.
Finally arrived at the hotel. It was 10 PM, and the sky was still bright. The days are really long. Looks like tomorrow will be good weather 😊
Today's itinerary: Tintin comic check-in spots, Manneken Pis, Brussels Grand Place, Brussels City Hall, Belgian Comic Art Center, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, European Commission, and Brussels Arc de Triomphe. Except for the last two, everything else is walkable.
The first advantage of an independent tour is, of course, freedom. We slept in, shed the fatigue of yesterday's journey, had a delicious Belgian breakfast at a street corner café, and then started our stroll. As expected, today's weather was indeed good. 👌
Brussels morning: the streets were still waking up.
Encountered Tintin and his friends unexpectedly.
On the viewing platform of Brussels City Hall, a couple was enjoying the public's attention.
Many corners of Brussels have cartoon characters.
Enjoyed waffles at Maison Dandoy, a century-old dessert shop.
Strolling through Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
Finally reached the Belgian Comic Art Center. The Smurfs in the hall waved to us.
Even the signboards are so cartoonish.
A gift from China placed in a very prominent position.
Saw Tintin and his friends again.
Brussels Arc de Triomphe after the rain.
Evening at Grand Place, the sky was so brilliant.
Today we took a train to Bruges, a small city in western Belgium, to experience this medieval town known as the "Venice of the North." Though it's a train, the journey was only about 40 minutes, more like a suburban railway. But we had already reached the western part of Belgium; a little further and we'd be at the Atlantic Ocean. This country is truly small. Bruges was once a major maritime trading center in the Middle Ages, far more important than Brussels or Amsterdam. But later, with the fragmentation of Christendom, changes in trade routes, and the silting of its port, it became an inland small town. Meanwhile, as Brussels, Amsterdam, and even Rotterdam grew rapidly, Bruges was left far behind. However, precisely because of this, its medieval architecture was perfectly preserved. It has now transformed into a popular European holiday destination, a classic case of "loss in one place, gain in another."
The building with two pointed spires under that white cloud is the hotel we stayed at in Bruges. The two photos below show our room and the view of the canal from the window. When we first stepped into that room, we immediately felt like we were on vacation.
Sitting by the window, having a cup of coffee, just then a swan swam past in the canal below...
After a short rest, we shed our travel fatigue. Then we started our strolling mode in Bruges.
This is the Belfry of Bruges, a World Heritage site and the symbol and center of this small town. As a photography enthusiast, climbing to the top for a bird's-eye view was a must.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, the red-tiled roofs, church, and canal—the entire medieval town spread out before our eyes.
Gradually, the sun set, lights came on, and the bustling streets quickly returned to tranquility. With an unexpected light rain wetting the streets, every corner of Bruges in the evening exuded a serene beauty.
Today we continued our stroll through the old town of Bruges. Of course, it wasn't aimless: taking a canal boat tour, visiting the Beguinage and Minnewater Park, and seeing the St. Salvator's Cathedral were our small goals. Stretching these few goals over an entire day was slow enough 😂
Enjoying Bruges from a canal boat is an irresistible activity. This is truly a 360-degree no-blind-spot town. Sitting on the boat, the scenery changed with every move—intoxicating.
The Beguinage is a retreat for women escaping the secular world. Red roofs, white walls, and plenty of flowers and plants. Even the waterfowl outside the walls were so detached from worldly affairs.
Sitting on an open-air terrace by Minnewater Lake, having afternoon tea and feeding the waterbirds, was very pleasant. Bruges weather is like this: sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy. The air is filled with a fresh scent. The distant clouds constantly changed their shapes reflected in the lake, accompanied by the castle by the lake and the leisurely birds on the water. Time slowly passed. Perhaps this is the correct way to experience Bruges: it's not that it's too slow, but that our usual pace is too fast.
Travelogue Directory:
1. Itinerary
2. Team Introduction
3. Travel Experience
4. Previous Travelogues and Tips
5. Photography Equipment
6. Pre-Trip Preparation
7. Preview of Beautiful Photos
8. Main Body of Travelogue
9. DAY01 Beijing - Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - Brussels
10. DAY02 Brussels
11. DAY03 Brussels - Bruges
12. DAY04 Bruges
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