Netherlands or Belgium?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 343 135
UNESCO listings among them 25 15
Cost level High High
Busiest month in our write-ups May May
Currency Euro (EUR) Euro (EUR)
Plugs and voltage C, F - 230 V C, E - 230 V
Everyday languages Dutch Dutch, French, German
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Western Europe Western Europe
Capital Amsterdam Brussels
Netherlands
Direct, egalitarian and unbothered; the bicycle outranks everything on the road.
What we have written up
- A'DAM Lookout viewpoint
- Albert Cuyp Market market
- Alkmaar town
- Ameland island
- Amerongen Castle castle
- Amersfoort city
All 343 places in Netherlands →
Worth knowing before you go
- Many places are card-only now, the reverse of Germany - but foreign credit cards sometimes fail where only Dutch debit works
- Tipping is optional; rounding up is plenty
- Trains are frequent and punctual; use a contactless card to check in and out
Belgium
Three languages, two halves, one shared devotion to eating and drinking well.
What we have written up
- Africa Museum, Tervuren museum
- Alden Biesen Castle castle
- Antwerp old town
- Arlon old town
- Aulne Abbey ruins
- Averbode Abbey monument
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is not expected - service is included
- Trains are cheap and connect everything; weekend tickets are half price
- Cards work nearly everywhere
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.