Travelling to Belgium and the Netherlands

With the Netherlands sitting just north of Belgium and with great transportation links between the two countries, why not take in these historical and beautiful destinations in one trip and explore more of Europe? Below are our favourite destinations for these parts of north-western Europe.

Bruges

As fairy-tale destinations go, they don't come much more picturesque than the small medieval Belgian town of Bruges.

Like something straight from a chocolate box, the centre is woven with charming cobbled streets and scenic canals, lending it the nickname 'The Venice of the north'. A photographer's dream, pretty market squares are lined with soaring towers and historic churches. The most famous, and the hub of the city, is Markt, a large square boasting open-air restaurants.

While Bruges is small enough to explore on foot, if you want a rest from the cobbles, a boat trip along the canals or horse-drawn carriage tour are both delightful ways to see the city.

Food-lovers will be in their element as Bruges has a well-deserved reputation for excellent eating out - with everything from waffles to five-star gourmet dining.

Although you could easily see the best of Bruges in a day, an overnight stay means you get to see the town at its very best: when the floodlights come on, stunning buildings - like the famous Belfry of Bruges - are illuminated, and the lights dance prettily along the canals.

The only downside of Bruges, in fact, is how busy it gets, and never more so than in the build-up to the festive season, when the famous Christmas markets attract shoppers from around the world. While exceptionally beautiful, they're probably best avoided if you don't like crowds.

Ghent

Arguably as attractive as Bruges, but significantly less touristy, this pretty Flemish city is only half an hour by train from Brussels. With a network of canals criss-crossing the city, Ghent was once a bustling port with plenty of warehouses that have since been converted into restaurants, hotels and apartments. Rent a bike and explore the canal-side pathways or lose yourself on foot, in the maze of winding streets and picturesque squares.

Amsterdam

The Dutch word 'gellezig' could have been created specially to describe Amsterdam. While there's no direct translation, its meaning lies somewhere between cosy and convivial - exactly the warm, friendly atmosphere at the heart of the Netherlands' largest city. A history buffs dream, Amsterdam is filled with 17th century houses, museums and art galleries. Built around a network of canals, it's easy to get around - most locals do this by bike, but a canal boat trip should also be added to any 'To do' list.

While the potential for partying is endless, Amsterdam is also a treasure trove for art lovers - the Van Gogh Museum houses the world's largest collection by the city's most famous son, while the Rijksmuseum has over 7,500 masterpieces, including paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt.

At the end of a long day of culture, head to a traditional Amsterdam brown café or bruin café, so called because of the dark wood interiors and snack on a bitterballen, breaded deep-fried meatballs served with mustard - a local favourite.