London - Brugge - Amsterdam - ??? - London
 

Looking at doing a short EU trip this summer, will only be around 10days or so due to work commitments.
Looking to leave London to Dover across the ferry to Calais then off to Burgee for a couple of nights, then carry on up to Amsterdam for a couple of nights.

Then on the remaining days looking to loop back around towards Calais for the ferry home. Any suggestions for interesting places to visit on the way back around?

There will be two of us on an old rattley CB500 and GS500 avoiding the motorways once we leave the UK. We will be strapping a tent, sleeping bag and kip mat to the back (wont bother with cooking kit) to keep our options open but may well just end up finding cheapish B&B’s throughout.

The old parts of Antwerp and Ghent (which are on the way to Amsterdam) are worthy of a look

+ 1 on Antwerp, I also recommend Cologne, Aachen and the Caves of Han-sur-Lesse.

Two good things in Holland - the ferry in and the road out :eek3:

Amsterdam
 

A good place to stay once in Amsterdam is camping Zeeburg, close to the city centre but also nicely located on a lakefront. Check out their site : Amsterdam Camping Zeeburg - Welcome to Camping Zeeburg. Public transport is nearby so you don't have to drive into the citycentre if you don't want to. You probably know Amsterdam's reputation but there is a lot more of course, the city centre is compact and offers for many tastes and don't worry parking your bikes, just park them on the sidewalk a bit on the side so you don't have to pay the crazy parking fees (for cars). Lock them properly to a pole or something and you'll be allright.
Cheers, Rob Smits

But you forgot about all those gorgeous girls riding their bicycles. It cheered me up no end.

Brugge is a real nice place with some cracking bars, try the monks hole, :thumbup1:thats the name of the bar not the position :) depending on what you like but the Menin gate and the Tynecot cemetries are worth a look, Ghent is also very nice, last time i was over i stayed in a B&B in Molem which is handy for the train into Brussels and Antwerpen

Well things are happening :) I picked up the 1998 gs500 (£560 ebay bargin), much better than i was expecting i've put some new avon roadrider tyres on it (£150) and its basically ready to go- just got to change oil and plugs just to be on the safe side and sort the RUBBISH headlight :)
My mates cb500 just needs the disc lock ground off as hes lost the keys!

Have got two weeks booked off in June :thumbup1:

Thanks for the suggestions :)

A nice place to stay in Belgium. A hotel just for bikers.
Groenedijk Motorcycle Loft Hotel - Welcome

Where are you from again Rory....Lewis. ????

Do you even have a road in and out ?????:mchappy:

Steve

apart from the red light district amsterdam has many great sights try the tourist office for a cheap place to stay

Sorry mate but I found Holland very boring.
I’m not into dope and most country roads are alike so it doesn’t do anything for me, but each to there own.
And yes we have a ferry in on the East side and a road out to the South:smartass: :thumbup:

I go with Rory on this one.

Brugge is nice if touristy,Ghent is worth a visit the centre is lovely,Antwerp is fantastic I loved it. I camped in Ghent but if a local had not jumped in his car to lead me to the site I would never have found it! Youth hostel in Antwerp is nice & it has a bar :thumbup1:easy tram ride to the centre. Any town has plenty of bars & the beer is great, Palm is a personal favourite,try a few, after all most are recipes from monks :innocent:
Enjoy

same here
 

We're heading out next weekend for a similar-ish route. Its a dry run for my KLR and kit before a much longer UK - Capetown stretch leaving October.

Brugge is our first destination on the 27th with Paris the next on the 31st. I'll let you know names of campsites etc. if its helpful.

Cheers

Tom

well, I've been doing a bit of map staring and I think that we will be scrapping Amsterdam and heading East from Brugge..... head across Germany in a couple of days to the Czech republic, aiming for Prague. We will then see how we are doing for time and how long we fancy staying in the are before deciding where to head next.... maybe dip into Poland and Slovakia before heading back home by a different route... Italy- Switzerland - France possibly..... hmmmm options, options :)

Prague (Praha) is great,you can see most of the sights in a day at a push though I spent a few days 2nd time around & got a much better feel for the place. There is a row of campsites in peoples back gardens (I kid you not,big back gardens) that have good tram access to the main city,follow the signs for the Zoological gardens & you will be in the right area.

NOW YER TALKING.
Poland is the bis.
Great riding around the Poland/Slovac border (and great people)
Good views around Orava Reservior but that may be a bit far for a 10 day trip.
Enjoy:D

Rory

Gent (Gand French / Ghent English) is far nicer than Brugge - but I would say that as I live here.... also stop off in Iyper to pay your respects.
Antwerp is a great city ... Dutch coast is OK, inland is very boring, as is Belgium ... if you're coming in and out of Calais, there is a great coast road west of Calais, with plenty of camping.

Always happy to offer camping space (and assistance) if needed.....

Cheers
Matt

it's only a few hours ride from brugge into northern germany, monschau, and even the nurburgring are within reach, glorious place

Yes I was in Prague this summer.... however it was the typical 'Britsh lads stag do' :rolleyes2: so most of what i saw was , erm, a little blurry :innocent: will be good to do it properly :)