Europe city breaks with DC - Amsterdam or bruges?

[thereallochnessmonster]

Or somewhere else? Travelling by train from London. DC are 10 and 13. Plan to go next May. What is there to do in Amsterdam/Brussels/Bruges?
Thanks!

Not been to Bruges. Prefer Brussels over Amsterdam.

Bruges is lovely - and a museum of chips!

I'd say Amsterdam over Bruges.

What kind of things do they like doing? Given their ages maybe tell them to see which suits best?

Amsterdam. If tou avoid the tacky central red light district there is liads to do for families. Especially ones who love eating nutella crepes 😃 The parks are great and the general vibe is chilled but interesting. Took my DCs there and they loved it.

Meant to say, there wasn't much to do in Brugges after one day of exploring, but it was very pretty.

How long for? Bruges is very pretty but once you've done your boat trip, eaten some chips and wandered about a bit, you're done. Am guessing kids are not going to be interested in the Northern Renaissance.

You can easily do Brussels and Bruges together but Amsterdam is honestly much better. Canals, Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt's House, Ann Frank's House, eating rijstaffel and poffertjes, parks. If DC are girls then go to the Rijksmuseum for the amazing dollshouses (I know, terrible gender stereotyping there but DH was bored rigid by them). Jewish Museum and Portuguese Synagogue are really interesting, esp if you have never seen a synagogue.

Thought we'd do a couple of days in Bruges then get the train to Amsterdam. Have asked the dc to google and see what there is to do in both.

Am fairly sure they won't care about the Northen Renaissance

Hmm, lots to do in Amsterdam!

Any recommendations for areas/places to stay/avoid? We're thinking about hiring an apartment, and don't want it in the red light district...

Nemo, the science museum in Amsterdam, is excellent.

The kids would love that, Daffy.

Best beach near Amsterdam?

Holland is generally v easy and quick to get around on the train, all of which seemed to have wifi. It's v close to the Hague where you can get the tram to the mahoosive beach at Scheveningen.

Also if you get a Museumkaart you get entrance to about 400 museums across the Netherlands - we had made our money back in under a day Was probably one of the most cost effective holidays we have done.

2 days in Bruges is prob 1 too many. We did 2, with the art galleries, churches etc. It's boat trip, tower, chocolate, frites and go. Also best if you are old enough to have seen In Bruges and quote all the bits about it being a shithole or wonder where you can buy a machine gun.

My teenage dc loved Amsterdam - Anne Frank house, tour of Ajax/Amsterdam Stadium, Chipsy King, Nemo, pancakes, boat tour, finding the bench from The Fault in Our Stars.

finding the bench from The Fault in Our Stars.

Oh - where's that? DD loves that book!

It's where Herengracht and Leidsegracht meet, very central. It had a plaque and a small, well behaved queue of teenagers from all over Europe.

We also downloaded a PDF of a short walking tour with locations from the book/film which dc enjoyed and took us to some fab parts of the city.

Amsterdam over Bruges.

But have you considered Krakow?

Clayhead, thank you - fab idea. :)

It takes 22 hours to get to Krakow by train (I don't fly.) :(

Hi OP,

Def not Bruges, we use it as a stop over to Efetling and as a couple a great break, romantic gorgeous restaurants, lovely to stay in for a day or two but not really somewhere I would break my neck to get to, eg Venice I would say is a must etc.

Amsterdam without a doubt for those ages, so much more to do - see, different vibes, you can totally avoid red light district, 9 streets is very classy and gorgeous if you can stay near there or near ann frank house area.

I would base myself in amsterdam, then do day trip to hague/beach area and day trip to Efteling theme park which is v easy to get too.

We stayed in an apartment near Vondelpark; walking distance to the centre and close to the museums, but a more upmarket vibe.

"Meant to say, there wasn't much to do in Brugges after one day of exploring, but it was very pretty."

Really

We found loads to see and do in Bruges. One day wouldn't have been enough, but we did spend one afternoon in the brewery, which wouldn't appeal to children.

We went to Bruges for a couple of days with two young DC. It was perfect for us precisely because there wasn't too much to do! Could mooch about, eat and then do touristy child friendly things like the boat trip and horse & cart rides, trip to the chocolate shops and windmills. Short distances so easy to manage with minis. With children your age I would go for Amsterdam.