intheTRAVEL
intheTRAVEL
Berlin Hbf
Total travel
time - 6 ho
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
urs and 21
NOTE TO SELF
Must do the Eastern Europe
jouney next. Such an amazing trip.
**don’t forget to buy chocolate!
Central
minutes
, the Nethe
rlands
Because Am
sterdam’s soi
l consists of
thick layer
a
of fen and
clay, all bu
ings are buil
il dt on wooden
pol
fixed in a s
andy layer es that are
that is 1 met
deep on ave
rage. The R
res
oyal P lace
Dam Square
a
at
is built on n
o less than
wooden poles
13,659
.
More than a
quarter of th
Netherland
e
s is below se
a level. In
addition to
that, 50% of
its land
lies less tha
n one metre
above sea
level. Schiph
ol is actuall
y 4.5 metres below se
a level. Luc
kily, the
Netherland
s is not in
a ts
p rone part
of the world unami.
Amsterdam
Total travel
Centraal
time - 3 ho
Brugge
Bruges, Be
lgium
ur and 56 m
inutes
Many disti
nguished hot
els
Bruges but
Hotel T leri overlook the canals in
ui een hol
central
the stars of
ds the bragg
In Bruges
ing rights si
stayed here
the rooftop
nce
. Ralph Fien
room
nes had
skyline, and , with its inspirational
view of the
th
city
inside to p ro ere’s a signed photogra
ph of the st
ve it. If you
ar just
can’t get in
Relais Bourg
ondisch Cru
there, the n
earby
yce is just
Staying in
as splendid
any of thes
.
e
city-centre
hotels, you
have only to
st
and cross th ep outside
e road for th
e
very best vi
ews of Roz
enhoedkaai, th
at dreamy
chocolate-bo
x view of w
ide
water and
ol d Bruges
behind.
In the city
’s north and
east
you’ll find
authentic, li
ved-in
Bruges quie
t, cobbled si
de streets
of stepfronte
d houses in
brick or
a delicate w
ash of crea
m or pink,
front doors
colou
and dark gr red burgundy
een
tained by p , p roudly mainrivate owner
s.
I saw wind
ows of hand
-ma
glass, furrow
ed like ice on de
behind sills
a pond,
crammed w
ith flowers.
Walk on to
find the 15th
Church of J
century
erusalem, a
nd a little
further for
four well-p
rese
windmills n
ext to the ca rved
nal at
Kruisvest.
Amsterdam’s campaign
to rebrand itself!
Amsterdam may be small for a capital but it is one of the greatest small cities in the world and there’s plenty of reason to stop there. From its canals
to world-famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam is one of the
most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe. From its earliest days, Amsterdam has been a bustling hub of commerce that welcomed other cultures
with open arms. Learn more about this lovely canal-side city, including the
rich history and development of its tolerant society, or jump straight to
the modern day and find out about the city’s architecture and its colourful
neighbourhoods. If you’re feeling ambitious, you might even pick up a few
words of Dutch!
Visit the Van Gogh Museum and journey through the works of the famous
Dutch painter or drop by the Rijks Museum with its display of Dutch art
from the Golden Age. Another must-see is the Anne Frank Museum – step
inside the Secret Annex that was the home and hiding place to the Jewish
girl and her family for over 2 years during World War II.
Amsterdam is best known for its luxurious canal houses and charming
gabled facades, but the city has enough architectural treasures to keep
design lovers busy for weeks. From windmills and drawbridges to the Amsterdam School and cutting-edge modern design, learn the stories behind
Amsterdam’s most memorable structures.
Although you see the city’s famed Red Light District lined with coffee
shops, don’t be tricked into thinking that Amsterdam is one-dimensional.
Wander through the cobbled canal-side lanes and stop off at one of the
traditional Amsterdam brown cafés (bruin café) for a local beer or head to
the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) for a spot of retail therapy in the hip and
trendy stores.
Weekendin 114
The historic town of Bruges Belgium (Brugge) is a gorgeous Gothic city
located near the Belgium coast. In the 11th century, Bruges was one of
the world’s largest cities. Today, it is a popular tourist destination that features famous landmarks, tourist attractions and some great museums and
art galleries. It’s a city of colourful bricks and mortar, long in the tooth
but shedding the memory of the terrible wars and revolutions that have
brought death to its streets with an invincible spirit of survival.
Bruges is filled to the brim with wonderful witnesses of a prosperous past,
whether they are peaceful and picturesque, spiritual or, on the contrary,
extremely entertaining. If you’ve got just a short time in Belgium then
the medieval town of Bruges should be your main focus. The location of
movie hit, In Bruges, the city is every bit as enchanting as it appeared on
screen, minus all the drama that unfolded. Ascend the 366 steps of the
Belfry – the medieval bell tower – an iconic symbol of the city.
along dykes, strolls through local parks and shopping throughout the
town.
Bruges is the chocolate city par excellence. Once you’ve seen all there is
to see, reward yourself with a Belgian beer on a sunny terrace or stop off
to buy some handmade Belgian chocolates to take back with you. The city
has more than 50 passionate chocolatiers and acts as a genuine chocolate
laboratory. In Bruges you can both sample the traditional chocolate craft
and boundary-pushing chocolate creations.
With De Halve Maan and Fort Lapin, Bruges today has two working breweries. De Halve Maan has been brewing since 1856. As well as Straffe Hendrik Tripel, Quadrupel and Heritage they are best known for Brugse Zot
(Blonde and Dubbel), which has already won several international awards.
The well-preserved centre of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
it’s easy to see why, once you take a stroll through quaint narrow lanes
and alongside romantic waterways. Visitors to Brugge can enjoy bike rides
115 Weekendin