Before any trip, most of us like to do a bit of advanced planning. When should I go? What's this trip going to cost? Will there be a holiday when I visit? We'll answer these and other questions for you in this guide.
Taken together, the Benelux nations of Belgium, Holland (the Netherlands), and Luxembourg form a small area -- not much greater than that of West Virginia. But arguably, no other comparably sized place in Europe compresses so many points of interest. Topping the list are artistic masterpieces, cultural events, and substantial reminders of a long and colorful history. Space remains for scenery that, while mostly lacking in drama, can still be lyrically beautiful. There are also the more mundane (but agreeable) advantages of convenience, economy, and friendly populations, not to mention a host of other travel delights -- the exquisite food and drink of Brussels, the exuberant sociability of Amsterdam, and Luxembourg's sidewalk cafes.
The Netherlands is a WYSIWYG kind of country: What you see is what you get. There are no dramatic canyons or towering peaks. The nation's highest point wouldn't top the roof of a New York City skyscraper, and its average altitude is just 11m (37 ft.) above sea level. This makes for few panoramic vantage points; you can't see most of its canals and lakes until you're about to fall into them. Does this mean the views are boring? The answer is a flat "No." As the famous 17th-century Dutch landscape painters showed the world, vistas in Holland are among the most aesthetic anywhere: wide-angle views of green pastures and floating clouds, with tiny houses, church spires, and grazing cattle silhouetted against the horizon.
Destination Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg: Pre-Departure Checklist
- If you purchased traveler's checks, have you recorded the check numbers, and stored the documentation separately from the checks?
- Do you have a safe, accessible place to store money?
- Did you bring ID cards that can entitle you to discounts, such as AAA and AARP cards, student IDs, and so forth?
- Did you pack your camera and an extra set of camera batteries, and purchase enough film or memory disks for your digital camera? All of these items are easily available in the Benelux countries -- but they might cost more than at home.
- Have you booked your tickets yet for classical music at the Concertgebouw, and for opera and dance at the Muziektheater?
- Did you pack an umbrella? You'll likely need it.
Online Traveler's Toolbox
Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Following is a selection of handy online tools to bookmark and use.
- Airplane Food (www.airlinemeals.net)
- Airplane Seating (www.seatguru.com and www.airlinequality.com)
- Foreign Languages for Travelers (www.travlang.com)
- Maps (www.mapquest.com)
- Time and Date (www.timeanddate.com)
- Universal Currency Converter (www.xe.com/ucc)
- Visa ATM Locator (www.visa.com), MasterCard ATM Locator (www.mastercard.com)
- Weather (www.intellicast.com and www.weather.com)
- Holland Tourist Information (www.visitholland.com and www.visitamsterdam.nl)
- Hip Places to See and Be Seen in Amsterdam (www.amsterdamhotspots.nl)
- Virtual Tour of Amsterdam (www.channels.nl)
- Museums in Holland (www.hollandmuseums.nl)
- Reserve an Amsterdam Hotel Online (www.go-amsterdam.org)
- Eating Out in Holland (www.specialbite.nl)
