sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Traveling to Brussels and Amsterdam any suggestions for photography?
Thanks

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

The dutch half says take pictures of the tulips. Unfortunately I have no concrete ideas for you except take lots of pictures and share them with us. There will be MANY photo ops where you are going...

dugole Loc: Matawan, New Jersey

Brussels is just simply a great photo stop - architecture. If you have time, grab a train to Bruges, about an hour ride - great countryside and Bruges is a great spot for canal pictures and architecture. I enjoyed a trip there 2 years ago.

Any good recommendations in NJ? I spend a lot of time in various central Jersey parks - Delaware Raritan Canal, Colonial Park but always looking for suggestions.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Headed to those same locations next week. I am communicating with a photographer who lives out from Amsterdam and I'll be glad to share with you what I get from him via pm. When are you leaving? If it's after I get done, I'll have first hand information.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

In both Amsterdam and Brussels you won't have enough time to take pictures of everything that's worthy of a picture.
For both of them: the "downtown" area is where you want to go. Can't remember too much about Brussels, it's over 50 years since I was there.
In Amsterdam it's easy: If you go there by train, get out at the Central Station: The harbour area behind the Central Station is very interesting. The city is in front of the station, The "Dam" with the Royal Palace walking distance.

Depending on when you are going, the "Keukenhof" is open until May 18 - you've never seen so many different flowers together in your life.
On May 3 the flower parade will take place. There's a map here: http://bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl/media/10032/BCB2014-publieksfolder-web.pdf
A bit of text in English in the lower part of this folder.
On the days before and after May 3 the cars will be decorated and on display. Each and every flower is real and there are millions and millions of them.

A visit to the beach is always fun too, regardless of the time of year. Try and find out when low tide is, so that you can comfortably walk on the "hard beach" - the wet part. Some towns are close enough together that you can walk from one to another over the beach. For example Zandvoort to IJmuiden can be done in about two hours. Great photo-ops along the beach as well.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Amsterdam has lovely canals and I have taken shots of them in the past.The best advice you received is get to Bruges.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Hello sueyeisert, In Amsterdam get to the train station simply wander off into the maze of streets on the other side of the canal, be very careful of the cyclists there are 1000's of them and they have their own lanes and will ring their bells if you step onto one of them. As you walk around the streets and canals a new photo op will appear at every turn, you could spend an hour on a canal trip, they are quite cheap although it can be quite difficult to take photographs from them, the same applies to open top buses.
In Brussels, get to the "Grand Place" which is surrounded by beautiful buildings. Explore the side streets and discover the "Mannekin Pis"and scores of other photogenic places.
Time permitting catch a train to Bruges whichis like a mini Amsterdam a definitely worth the effort, you would need to allow at least half a day for Bruges, a whole day for Amerstdam and Brussels.
I hope the helps you,
John

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Thanks for you're responses.

MARTYIV Loc: On the Wabash

We could have a UHH reunion. I also am leaving next week. Amsterdam to Budapest Hungary via river. I'll keep watching for any information you have. Happy shooting!

MARTYIV Loc: On the Wabash

Very good advice about Bruges. Be sure to get some chocolate!

ceh1024 Loc: Lutz, FL

Well I'm new here but I just lurk and acquire such incredible information. When I saw this topic I just had to register to respond.

These along with many other places are some of my most loved. I lived and worked in Brussels for several years. So I will provide you some of the highlights that I think of immediately.

Everything is a photo opp.

Of course the tulips mostly around Amsterdam. Outside the city in the fields you can see any color tulip and hybrids as far as the eye can see from April through beginning of May.

Amsterdam

Train station is great architecture but can be hard to photograph due to the plethora of electric buses and other vehicles along with all the electrical lines.

there is a great Marine museum that is several floors high almost all period models with some ships berthed behind the museum itself. It also houses a great bookstore and a modelers kit and parts supply.

The tour boats off the main street provide a great overview of the city and canals so you can go back later for more in depth.

Several fine art museums (Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk) in Amsterdam along with the Anne Frank house.

Walking the parameter 1 block over from the main street to the train station is a wonderful experience it is mostly shopping but a fun walk where you can find many pieces made in delft and unique stuff from the area.

if you start around the dam which is a large area at the opposite end of the street from the train station and go counterclockwise you wind up at Rembrandt Park where there are a number of indoor/outdoor eateries.

There is also a Hotel on the main street called De Roode Leeuw which has a traditional Dutch restaurant.

Brussels

So many place here.

The Grand Place - wonderful place with many shops and restaurants in and around. See the famous Manneken Pis Statue just off the square.

also around the outside of the square you will find antique shops, crystal, lace and tapestry stores.

Sablon (a section of Brussels) - Chocolate, art, antiques and a flea market although I can't remember what days they have it. There is a really good one about a half mile from there I think on Wednesdays that is more for the locals I used to find things that I remember a a kid.

The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert or just the shopping arcade is a great experience and is surrounded by many small restaurants specializing in various specialties.

atomium bruxelles is a nice short trip to the old worlds fair location. They also have a a Chez Louis there (the greatest place for mussels in the world)

If you are there on May 1st for the following week only the King and Queen open up the arboretums for a really incredible flower and plant exposition. the arboretums are part of the 1934? Worlds fair and are spectacular in their own right.

Brugge

I can not say enough about Brugge. One of my most favorite cities in Europe.

Not to miss.
The market place with its clock tower. If you can climb to the top you will be rewarded with great views of all of Brugge. If you go the extra step you will see the actual mechanism that is used for the tune played by the bells ( it's worth it).

The Merchants house great tour and you will see that he owner had his own balcony to the cathedral.

The cathedral itself is great and has some real mystery attached to it that the locals know. If someone got interested there could be a book similar to to some of Dan Browns works but true.

There is a a small Basilica that was built over the top of an older Gothic Basilica that is worth seeing.

Of course art, antiques and chocolates are always there.

Brugge was originally the center for lace and there are numerous demonstrations and shops for that.

Could go on and on but you should have enough info to do an internet verification for what I am describing.

Everything in Brugge is a photo opp.

Chuck

NCWLinda Loc: North Central Washington State

I am going to Haarlem in Holland and Bruges in June. I am fortunate in having friends who live in Haarlem and they are putting me up for a week and acting as my tour guide there too. Then Off to Bruges for a few days before continuing to England and Scotland. Expect pictures from me. I have not posted anything for a while now, as I have been in a photography slump. I expect this trip to snap me out of it though.

Luvtravlin' Loc: So. Oregon

gosh, heading there myself next week! I'll be looking for lots of tulips and cameras!! Just got a Canon 60D excited to see what it can do! Thanks for your post - I'll be paying close attention! See you in Keukehnhof!

NCWLinda Loc: North Central Washington State

I have friends visiting Keukehnhof earlier this week and they had wonderful pictures to show. You better hurry!! The tulips are in full bloom now. Unfortunately, I will miss the big bloom. But Hey- I am going to Holland!!! I will take what I get! I will still see the canals and windmills.

Luvtravlin' Loc: So. Oregon

Hard to plan it just right with the weather as strange as it's getting! It will be beautiful just the same. Looking forward to Bruges and ending in Paris - Does anyone know where to go to get the perfect shot of the City of Lights??