The Week
Sun, Jul 26
De Prutsens — Fly to Paris
🚗 Flight to Paris
Air France, confirmation X9OUPO. Overnight flight — arrive Paris Monday morning.
Mon, Jul 27
Paris — Arrival, Eiffel & the Seine
🚗 Arrive, drop luggage at hotel
Explore the Marais & eat while waiting for check-in.
🚗 14:00 Hotel check-in
Rest at hotel / explore.
📍 Eiffel Tower base
Transit: Metro Line 9 toward Pont de Sèvres to Alma-Marceau.
📍 Seine River Cruise
Bateaux-Mouches. Reservation made — valid anytime.
Tue, Jul 28
Paris — Le Marais
📍 9:30 Notre-Dame
📍 10:30 Conciergerie
Reservation at 10:30 AM.
🍽️ 12:00 Lunch at Le Rempart Bastille
Reservation at 12:00 PM.
📍 14:30 Split afternoon
Kristy & Eden: shopping. Jordan & Adler: 2:30 PM Le Peloton Café bike rental (reservation made). If raining: La Tête dans les Nuages arcade.
🍽️ Dinner takeout — Marché des Enfants Rouges
After a hotel break.
Wed, Jul 29
Paris — Rodin, Orsay & the Catacombs
📍 9:30 Musée Rodin
Transit: Metro Line 8, Filles du Calvaire to Invalides (~32 min).
📍 11:00 Musée d'Orsay
Tickets purchased (combined with Rodin).
🍽️ 12:30 Lunch at Les Antiquaires
Reservation at 12:30 PM. Then Bus 68 toward Châtillon-Montrouge to Denfert-Rochereau–Froidevaux (~22 min).
📍 15:00 The Catacombs of Paris
Reservations still need to be made.
📍 Musée de la Libération & Jardin du Luxembourg
Transit back: Metro Line 4 from Odéon to the hotel.
🍽️ 21:00 Dinner at L'Alivi
Reservation at 9:00 PM.
Thu, Jul 30
Paris — Louvre & Latin Quarter
📍 Café Charlot
Then walk Rue Vieille-du-Temple to Rue de Rivoli (~30 min); stop at Domaine National du Palais-Royal.
📍 Louvre Glass Pyramid courtyard & Tuileries Garden walk
Then Bus 24 from Musée du Louvre to Pont Saint-Michel–Quai des Orfèvres (~15 min).
📍 Odette cream puffs & riverside bouquinistes stalls
📍 Boulangerie Moderne, the Panthéon & Rue Mouffetard
📍 Jardin des Plantes
Pass through the Arènes de Lutèce Roman ruins on the way. Transit back: Metro 7 Jussieu→Châtelet, then Line 11 to République/Filles du Calvaire (~34 min).
🍽️ 19:00 Dinner at Café des Musées
Reservation at 7:00 PM. Hotel break first.
Fri, Jul 31
Arrive & Settle In
🚗 10:30 De Prutsens: Paris hotel check-out
Breakfast first at Café de la Poste or Immersion République. Metro Line 4 from Strasbourg–Saint-Denis to Gare du Nord (~15 min).
🚗 12:55 De Prutsens: Eurostar Paris → Brussels
Security & border check-in 11:30–12:55. Tickets purchased.
🚗 15:30 De Prutsens: pick up rental car, drive to Ghent
Voucher D014612454. Drive from the station to the Ghent Airbnb (Drongen area), ~50 min.
🚗 Arrive at the Airbnb
Each family arrives on their own schedule — see Transport for per-family plans.
🚗 Groceries & Ghent City Cards
Marty picks up groceries and Ghent City Cards for 11. Jake, Ben & Emily buy their City Cards at the train station.
🍽️ Dinner at the Airbnb
Frozen pizza and bagged salad from Aldi (Marty picks up).
Sat, Aug 1
Explore Ghent — Jake, Ben & Emily Arrive
🚗 Jordan picks up Ben, Emily & Jake
From the train station, morning. Need rough arrival times so their luggage can get to the Airbnb.
📍 Neighborhood bike ride
Everyone else rides around the Airbnb neighborhood while pickups happen. Stop at De Waele-Haenebalcke Bakery. (Waiting on bike delivery time — Beth coordinating.)
🚗 11:00 Travel to Ghent
Together by public transport, or drive and park. ~11ish.
📍 Huis van Alijn
Museum of daily life. Open 10:00–18:00.
🍽️ Lunch — no reservation
Options: café at the Huis van Alijn; Frites Atelier (usually lines, but fries!); Panotto Sandwiches.
📍 Canal cruise from Graslei
Hop on at Graslei. Runs 11:00–17:00. The Ghent City Card includes a 40-minute cruise. No reservation needed.
📍 Graffiti Street
📍 Warhammer Shop
For Ben — near the historical sights.
📍 Candy & chocolate stops
Idea: Confisserie Temerman for "little noses" and/or dedicated chocolate shops.
🍽️ 18:00 Dinner at Mémé Gusta
Reservation made. Travel back to the Airbnb afterwards.
📍 Baraboire — late-night bike ride for drinks
From the Airbnb after getting back from Ghent.
Sun, Aug 2
Ghent — Gravensteen & the Altarpiece
📍 Flower market at Kouter
Morning stop after traveling into Ghent.
📍 10:00 Gravensteen Castle
Booked. Make sure to grab the audio guide. Open 10:00–18:00.
🍽️ 12:00 Lunch at Artevelde Brewery
Reservation made.
📍 Belfry of Ghent
Explore after lunch.
📍 15:50 Saint Bavo's Cathedral — Ghent Altarpiece
Reservation made. Arrive 15 minutes early.
🍽️ 19:00 Dinner at Noordhof
Reservation made. Travel back toward the Airbnb first.
Mon, Aug 3
Local Bike Ride & Ghent Evening
📍 Bike ride — local area
Morning / early afternoon. Kristy & Jordan leading.
🚗 Public transit into Ghent
🍽️ 18:00 Dinner at 't Oud Clooster
Reservation made.
📍 Dulle Griet — post-dinner drinks
If it's very busy, send half the group to Bar Albatros.
🚗 Public transit back to the Airbnb
Tue, Aug 4
Van Opdorp Ancestral Day — Small-Town Hopping
🚗 8:30 Depart the Airbnb
📍 Bassevelde — Patisserie VanZele & cemetery
A town with many De Roo connections. Sweets and coffee at Patisserie VanZele, then find the cemetery.
📍 10:30 Sint-Laureins
Leave Bassevelde at 10:00. Cruise down Dorpsstraat; perhaps a quick waffle at Carpe Diem, a renowned waffle establishment. More dead people, anyone?
📍 12:00 Sint Margriet
Quick stop — no time for food here, just more of the un-alive.
📍 13:00 Hoofdplaat
Beer? Food? Ghosts not an option. VanOpdorp roots.
📍 Sas van Gent
VanOpdorp transport-group history.
📍 Van Steenberge Brewery (optional)
On the way back — an option if the group chooses.
Wed, Aug 5
Bruges Day
🚗 7:30 Depart the Airbnb
About a 1-hour drive.
🚗 Park outside Bruges
All 3 vehicles park at one of the numerous facilities outside the center, then walk or shuttle in (both available).
📍 9:00 Belfry climb — Market Square
13 tickets bought. Allow 45 minutes, though the climb up takes 10–15.
📍 10:00 Canal cruise
No advance tickets for small groups — get in line right when they open at 10:00. 5 docks, all the same company, same loop, ~30 minutes. If lines are too long, retry late afternoon (last trip 17:30).
📍 Market Square & Burg Square sights
Church of Our Lady (Michelangelo's Madonna and Child), Basilica of the Holy Blood, and more. Snack on frites, waffles, or chocolate — lots of food carts.
🍽️ 12:00 Lunch at De Garre
Opens at 12:00, no reservations — get there early. Great beer variety and toasted sandwiches, mid-priced; the only place in the world with Tripel van de Garre on tap. All the VanVoorens adored it. We may want to linger.
📍 14:00 ChocoStory — chocolate museum
Tickets bought — they include museum entry and the workshop.
📍 15:30 Chocolate-making workshop
1 hour, at ChocoStory.
📍 16:30 Open time
Maybe the canal cruise now if morning lines were too long; or relax at the Begijnhof or Minnewater.
🍽️ Supper — TBD
With 3 vehicles there's flexibility in how long people stay. If energy allows: Historium or the De Halve Maan brewery tour (both cost money and probably need reservations).
Thu, Aug 6
Free Day
Fri, Aug 7
Check Out & Depart
🚗 Check out of the Airbnb
🚗 Per-family departures
Jordan & Kristy drive to Brussels (lunch stop in Mechelen), hotel overnight, fly out 8/8 at 9:45am. Marty & Lin fly out of Amsterdam 8/10. See Transport for the rest.
Day Trip Options
Dinant Day Trip
tentative 🚗 8:00 Depart Ghent
Stop halfway for bathroom
🚗 Parking in Dinant
📍 10:30 Dinant Old Town
Explore on your own, get something to eat. Charles de Gaulle Bridge and giant saxophones, riverside promenade, birthplace of Adolphe Sax.
📍 12:00 Grotte La Merveilleuse
Group meets here at 12. Closed Wed/Thu.
📍 Citadel of Dinant
Buy general admission tickets 24 hours in advance (no time restraint). Entrance behind Collégiale Notre-Dame. Take stairs or cable car up.
📍 Château de Freÿr
Optional — don't buy tickets, just walk the outside. Can skip.
🍽️ Abbey of Maredsous
Late lunch or early dinner. Tours available.
Historical Ghent Walking Day
tentative 🚗 9:00 Parking at Parking Reep
Biking optional if bikes rented
📍 9:30 Ghent Walking Tour
Self-paced. Stops in order: Geeraard de Duivelsteen, Saint Bavo's Cathedral (optional paid), Het Belfort van Gent (ticket required — city views), Ghent City Hall, Saint Nicholas' Church, Sint-Michielsbrug, Korenlei, Gravensteen (€15)
📍 Chocolatier Walk
Chocolaterie Vandenbouhede, Chocolatier Deduytschaever, Neuhaus Chocolates. Alt: afternoon Gravensteen visit (€15) then continue exploring.
📍 17:00 Meet at Rode Vrouw / Coyendanspark
Decide on dinner, head back to Airbnb
Bruges and Damme Day
tentative Best: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
🚗 Parking in Bruges
📍 Explore Bruges
On your own
🍽️ Lunch at Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan
Need reservations
📍 Rent bikes and ride to Damme
Adventure Bike Rental Koffieboontje. Route: Canal Path (Damse Vaart-Zuid) — at Dampoort, cross to Noorweegse Kaai, a car-free paved greenway along the water.
📍 Explore Damme
🍽️ Dinner at Simon Stevinplein
Multiple options on the square — everyone picks individually.
Flemish Ardennes & Deinze — Bike Ride
tentative 🚗 Departure from Adolf Lootensstraat 14
Head out via northern canal path
📍 Stop 1: Baarle Click
River banks — morning coffee pause
📍 Kasteel van Ooidonk
Main castle stop — stretch legs, historic coach house tavern
📍 Stop 3: Sint-Martens-Latem
Affluent art village along the river — ice cream, local bakery, or full lunch terrace
📍 Stop 4: Veerboot Afsnee
Small river crossing point with waterfront cafes at the dock
🚗 Return to Adolf Lootensstraat 14
Short final ride through nature reserve pastures
Flemish Ardennes & Deinze — Hiking Day
tentative Best: Sunday (recommended), or Tuesday–Friday
📍 9:30 Kluisbos Hike
2.5–3 hours. Blue loop (5–7 km) through forest and ridge viewpoints.
🍽️ 12:30 Lunch at Le Rubin
Belgian brasserie overlooking Market Square. Make reservation.
📍 13:45 Explore Oudenaarde Old Town
Town Hall, St. Walburga Church, surrounding streets
📍 14:45 Koppenberg Scenic Stop
Famous cobblestone climb from Paris-Roubaix, panoramic views
📍 16:15 Kasteel van Ooidonk
One of Belgium's most beautiful castles — explore grounds
📍 17:30 Dessert at De Schipperin
Pancakes, waffles, desserts, ice cream
📍 18:00 Drinks at De Wachtzaal
Relaxed, family-friendly café with indoor and outdoor seating
🚗 19:15 Return to Airbnb
Meetjesland & Eeklo Bike Riding Trip
tentative 🚗 Departure from Adolf Lootensstraat 14
Head via northern countryside roads toward Lovendegem
📍 Stop 1: Kasteel van Lovendegem
19th-century castle park with scenic tree-lined perimeter pathways
📍 Stop 2: Eeklo Town Center
Markt square — local bakery terraces, tea rooms, or lunch brasserie
📍 Stop 3: Het Leen
Large forest and arboretum — waffles or coffee at the waterside cafeteria
📍 Stop 4: Kasteel van Wippelgem
Neo-classicist castle surrounded by square moat — cycle across stone bridges, walk open estate grounds
🚗 Return via Ringvaart Canal
Flat final stretch along the wide Ringvaart canal towpath