We just returned from a great Spring trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. The first three images are from Amsterdam, it is a big city with crazy traffic and dangerous bicycles but great history, tulips in bloom, large museums, and historic windmills.

The next four images are from Bruge a simply magical small town with no end to the number of Belgian beers,
chocolates, and waffles. Museums were world class.

The last three are from Ghent which is close to Bruge but a larger city with even more amazing things to see.

I am glad we spent some time in Amsterdam but the smaller towns in Belgium were more our style. The history of course is incredible, the beautiful churches all had relics and world class paintings and sculptures. The buildings in the old town sections of both cities in Belgium dated from the 1600's perhaps some even older. All three of the cities had beautiful canals throughout with great boat rides. They were all very easy to walk around but I have to admit we felt less comfortable after dark in Amsterdam. In Bruge and Ghent I was out most nights until midnight or 1:00am. The food and sidewalk cafes were wonderful everywhere. It was a great area to visit!

Dave