Six Nights in Bruges & Amsterdam Over Thanksgiving: A Perfect Europe Getaway

We landed in Amsterdam mid-morning, grabbed our rental car, and made the 3-hour drive south to Bruges. After checking into the Dukes Arches Hotel—a charming, quiet, perfectly located historic property—we ventured out immediately to soak in the festive atmosphere.

Our very first stop? The Bruges Christmas Markets in Markt Square. With stalls selling mulled wine, garlands of lights, and a huge Christmas tree framing the medieval backdrop, it felt like stepping straight into a winter storybook.

From there, we wandered to Burgplein, where we grabbed drinks from one of the outdoor pubs overlooking the Statehouse. The golden hour glow, chilly air, twinkling lights, and historic facades set the tone for the rest of our time in Bruges.

We ended the evening at Onslow, a beautiful restaurant with welcoming service and shareable plates. It was our first dinner of the trip and absolutely delicious—only to be outdone by each dinner that followed.

Note: A rental car definitely isn’t necessary for this trip—Belgian and Dutch trains are incredibly easy to navigate, affordable, and very efficient. However, because we were a larger group traveling together, renting a car made more sense for us and allowed for a bit more flexibility with luggage and timing.

We started the morning with a walk to Minnewater Park, crossing Lover’s Bridge and watching swans glide across the Lake of Love—a peaceful, crisp start to the day.

The highlight of the day (and honestly one of the standout moments of the whole trip) was our Waffle Making & Beer Tasting Class. We learned to make real Belgian waffles, tasted local beer, and laughed our way through every minute. This ended up being one of the top activities of the entire trip.

Afterward, we decided to tackle the Belfry Tower, climbing the narrow staircase to panoramic views over the city—it’s touristy, but absolutely worth it.

The afternoon was spent wandering through Bruges’ prettiest corners:

• The Chocolate Line and Dumon for chocolates

• Windmills along Kruisvest

• Shopping around Steenstraat and Zuidzandstraat

Dinner that night was at Quatre Vins, and it was fantastic—creative dishes, a cozy vibe, and great wine.

We spent the morning on a short road trip to Dunkirk to satisfy the history buffs in the family, where we explored Malo-les-Bains beach, visited the Dunkirk 1940 Museum, and reflected on the moving WWII history preserved there.

Back in Bruges, we spent our final evening strolling shops and cobblestoned streets before our dinner at De Gastro, which quickly became one of our favorite meals. Afterward, we headed to Cambrinus, a classic Belgian beer bar, for drinks—a fun and lively way to end our Bruges chapter.

Optional day-trip alternatives:

If Dunkirk isn’t of interest, there are several incredible cities nearby that make for an easy and worthwhile day trip:

• Brussels: Grand Place, world-class museums, waffles & chocolate tastings.

• Ghent: Canals, medieval monasteries, vibrant student energy, great food.

• Antwerp: Fashion district, diamond quarter, bold architecture.

• Lille (France): Underrated French city with beautiful streets & great shopping.

On our way back to Amsterdam, we made two unforgettable stops. Ghent was an instant hit—we all agreed we’d love to spend more time there on a future trip. The medieval architecture and canals are gorgeous, and the sights are all walkable. We visited:

• Saint Bavo’s Cathedral to see the Van Eyck altarpiece

• Gravensteen Castle

• St. Michael’s Bridge for the best panoramic views

After lunch, we continued on to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO site famous for its 18 windmills lining the water. It was a short but memorable stop—classic Dutch scenery at its best.

We arrived in Amsterdam in the late afternoon, returned our rental car, and checked into the INK Hotel MGallery, which we loved. Dinner at Arca was incredible—beautiful plating, bold flavors, and the start of what became a streak of exceptional Amsterdam meals.

We started the morning with a run along the canals—one of the best ways to experience Amsterdam before the city wakes up.

We spent the morning exploring the Rijksmuseum and wandering Ferdinand Bolstraat for cafés and boutiques. Lunch at Kaasbar was perfect, a place where you choose from a rotating conveyor of Dutch cheeses paired with wine. It’s such a playful and surprisingly elevated experience—perfect for a lighter lunch.

From there, we walked over to the Heineken Experience, one of Amsterdam’s most iconic attractions. Even if you’re not a beer lover, the tour is lively, interactive, and really well done. You’ll learn about the brewing process, the history of the brand, and enjoy tastings along the way. It was the perfect follow-up to Kaasbar and a great way to spend the rest of the afternoon.

That night, we split up between the football lovers and the foodies. The football lovers had an eventful night watching the hometown team, Ajax, while the rest of us dined at Mama Makan. This actually ended up being our favorite dinner of the entire trip! The flavors, the cocktails, the setting… everything was perfection.

We began our morning with a visit to the Anne Frank House, always a powerful and grounding experience.

From there, we walked through Jordaan, browsed a vintage market, and stopped at Lourens for one of the best crookies of our lives. Lunch at Box Sociaal was casual and delicious.

In the late afternoon, we boarded an evening canal cruise, which turned out to be another top highlight of the trip. Because we visited during the Amsterdam Light Festival, we cruised past illuminated art installations glowing along the canals—magical, peaceful, and so uniquely Amsterdam.

For our final dinner, we went casual with BonBurger—my husband’s request, and incredibly good—followed by crafted cocktails at Flying Dutchmen, which was the perfect farewell to the city. Fun fact: Flying Dutchmen was named one of the Top 100 Bars in the World in 2025, and once you go, you can immediately tell why—impeccable technique, perfect vibe, and some of the best cocktails in Europe.

We headed to the airport with bags a little fuller, hearts very full, and already craving stroopwafels. This Thanksgiving trip ended up being the perfect blend of festive charm, European history, cozy meals, and bucket-list experiences.