Belgium & Holland Trip.

[reservoirfrog]

Just back last night from a few days in Holland & belgium. At the eurotunnel terminal yesterday evening I was surrounded by more Audi RS8's than I have ever seen. All of them had been to Le Mans & that got me thinking that most people seem to get off a ferry at Calais and turn south. For years I have been over to the continent and always going north.
the roads in Holland & Belgium are a pleasure to drive, although the commuter traffic around Antwerp & Rotterdam seem to be much heavier nowadays, and all my cloggie mates are complaining about it.
We spent thursday night in Brugge, stayed at the campanile in St. Michaels about 1 mile outside the main city, cheap clean & comfortable.
Friday I had to go to Den Hagg and made the mistake of following the sat nav directions, although I knew she was talking b*ll*cks but I thought well its motorway, maybe its faster & I have to be there for midday. normally I would have taken the coastal route which is pretty spectacular.
Had lunch in Den Haag , dinner in Dordrecht & then drove back down to Brugge Via the new(ish) westerschelde tunnel which is 6.6 KM long.
Enjoyed every mile of the trip, the car is a delight to drive.
If anyone fancies a trip to Holland let me know, its a great weekend with some excellent driving routes.

Rob

 

[conaero]

Rob, sounds like you had a fantastic time. Maybe tie it in with our Dutch forum members sometime.

We have the Dutch make an appearance to this one:

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/811-Road-trip-to-France-1-3-October-2010

 

[Klive]

RF,
Let me know the route. I'm off to Antwerp on friday via dunkirk.

 

[reservoirfrog]

The route to antwerp from dunkirk is pretty straight forward, E40 to Brussels & take the E17 exit at Gent to Antwerp. When you hit the Ring at Antwerp keep to the right lane as one of the 1st exits is for Antwerp centrum.
Antwerp is a good weekend, the hotel T'Sandt is worth noting as its situated next to the river.
The main road through Antwerp splits the city in half with the old city on the west side by the river & the " new " city on the east. from this road you can take the tunnel over to Linkerover & head west to Brugge on the A59.
The journey from dunkirk will take about 1 1/2 hour, from Antwerp to Brugge about 45 mins.
The new westerschelde tunnel is off the A59 at Terneuzen, its a toll tunnel( 5 euros ) & replaces the old ferries from Breskens & kruiningen.
If you go up that way Middleburg is worth a visit. If you are any where near Brugge you must visit Damme which is about 10 mins outside the city on the main canal to the north.
There is also a small village called Philipine , just north of the A59 near Zelzate, while has absolutely nothing interesting or attractive about it except for the fact that it is known locally as "mussel Stad" due to the fact that it is full of restaurants that specialise in , wait for it, Mussels. Apparently in the 16th century it was a coastal town, now its about 15 mls from the sea.

Hope you have a great trip.

Rob