subject: Benelux - Europe in miniature [print this page] Benelux - Europe in miniature Benelux - Europe in miniature
Two-centre incentives could well, for instance, combine the art and culture of Amsterdam with the glorious North Sea beaches of Zandvoort or Scheveningen where the imperious Kuurhaus, setting for the drafting of the Hague Convention or the spectacularly-wooded Ardennes can be combined with the mediaeval treasures of Ghent or Antwerp. But, just as appropriately, borders can be combined with Luxembourg City, Delft and its blueware china be matched with Burges canals, and Maastricht, home to the treaty, can be combined with the neighbouring and fascinating German-speaking part of Belgium, taking in Spa, the town which gave its name to an entire health culture. The conflicting aspirations of Flemings and Walloons has, this year, let the Belgian tourist board to split itself in two not exactly helpful for incentive organisers who want their trips to take in both the north and the south of the county with Brussels, even more confusingly, coming within the orbit of both offices.
Dutch Flanders first. These may be flatlands but there are plenty of high spots. Antwerp is undisputed diamond capital of the world and visits can be arranged for groups to see the precious gems being cut and polished. Others might prefer a brewery tour and with some fiercely independent brands all pushing hard for business, these are easy to arrange.
Ostend offers a major casino and bracing sea airs, plus steaming bowls of mussels and frites; Bruges and Ghent are among Europe's finest mediaeval cities; Ypres commemorated the First World War with its award-winning Flanders Fields museum in the lavishly- restored Cloth Hall, already a major group attraction. French-speaking Wallonia concentrated more on outdoor experiences. Events can be staged in the caves at Hamm, or how about centering an incentive on picturesque Durbuy, the world's smallest chartered town? Ballefield tours are an important growth area for groups and the Ardennes showcases memories of 1944's momentous Battle of the Bulge.
To browse our collection of hotels in Belgium, please visit: http://www.ghotw.com/results/country/belgium/getrates/false/search.htm
It may be small, but the Duchy of Luxembourg is a delightful place, packed with variety through group visits tend to concentrate on its elegant capital city, which is now served by direct flights from many key departure points.
Amsterdam and the Hague might well argue over which is the true capital of the Netherlands (for the record, the Dutch royal family live in the former, but parliament sits in the latter) but there's no disputing that Amsterdam has the edge with visitor attractions. There's a danger of culture overdose with the wonderful museums, galleries and concert halls the concert halls the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk and the Concertgebouw head a list of universally-recognised addresses.
A canal cruise is obligatory, likewise a stroll through the infamous and oddly quaint red light district, a visit to one of the masses of atmospheric brown cafes and extensive research of Dutch cuisine spanning herrings sold on street stalls and opulent rijstaffel banquets which evoke the county's colonial links with Indonesia.
In Spring, bulb-fields and parklands extending as far as the eye can see, are a fabulous draw, a blaze of colour, set against spirit-level horizons and timelessly turning windmills. Visit the traditional cheese market at Alkmaar and see the cheeses being produced in Edam, a delightful village packed with traditional wooden houses, or hire a private canal barge with on-board accommodation, for a special incentive gliding along some of the Europe's finest never-ending waterways.
To browse our collection of hotels in The Netherlands, please visit: http://www.ghotw.com/results/country/netherlands/getrates/false/search.htm
