Waffles, Windmills, and a €150 Mistake: Our Dog-Friendly Tour of Benelux
October 2025 Let’s be honest: summer vacations are overrated. The beaches are crowded, the pavement is too hot for paws, and you spend half your time dodging umbrellas. That is why I have discovered the Golden Rule of Dog Travel: Go in October. From October 1st to the end of May, a magical transformation happens across Europe. The "No Dogs Allowed" signs disappear, and almost all beaches open their sandy arms to four-legged visitors all day long. No searching for tiny, fenced-in "dog zones." No restrictions. Just pure, unadulterated, sandy freedom. So, we loaded up the car, packed enough dog food to feed a small army, and headed northwest from Prague to explore the autumn charm of Belgium and the Netherlands. Here is everything we learned—including the expensive lessons. Part 1: The Journey Begins (Prague to the Coast) It is a long haul from Prague to the Belgian coast—roughly 9 to 10 hours of pure driving time. Since my dogs (and my sanity) have limits, we split th...