text:
Holland, Belgium Tours
Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour 2019
Belgian Chocolate Tasting
Bruges Canals
Spring Flowers in Holland
Amsterdam's Gabled Houses
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
Pickled Herring!
Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour
The cities of the Low Countries are a delight to experience. Beginning in the medieval masterpiece of Ghent, your Rick Steves guide will take you on story-filled walks through the hearts of Ghent, Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam. You'll also visit a traditional Belgian brewery, thought-provoking Flanders Fields, a high-tech sea barrier project, and the world's largest flower auction — ending in Amsterdam with the brilliantly restored Rijksmuseum. Join us for the Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days!
Aug 21–Aug 31 (We–Sa)
Aug 28–Sep 7 (We–Sa)
Sale! Save $300 on new bookings!
Sep 4–Sep 14 (We–Sa)
Sep 18–Sep 28 (We–Sa)
Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Belgium and Holland come alive for you
All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 18 group sightseeing events • Ghent canal cruise • Ghent walking tour • St. Bavo's Cathedral • Ghent Museum of Industry • Flanders Fields WWI sites • Bruges walking tour • Bruges Memling Museum • Chocolate demonstration and tasting • Bruges Museum Pass • Belgian brewery tour and tasting • Deltaworks and Maeslant sea barrier • Delft walking tour • Delft Old and New Churches • Delftware demonstration • Aalsmeer Flower Auction • Anne Frank House • Rijksmuseum • Historic Amsterdam walking tour…and more
All group transportation from Ghent to Amsterdam
Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above
Day 1: Welcome to Belgium
Our adventure begins in medieval Ghent. We'll gather at our hotel at 4 p.m. for an introduction meeting. Then we'll hop aboard a fun and informative canal cruise through the city. Our evening ends with a traditional Belgian dinner together. Sleep in Ghent (2 nights). Boat: 1 hour. No bus. Walking: light.
Day 2: The Medieval Masterpiece of Ghent
This morning we'll meet with a local expert for a walking tour of the historic center of Ghent. Together we will visit soaring St. Bavo's Cathedral, home to Van Eyck's sublime altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, which was stolen and hidden by the Nazis during World War II. We'll also visit the city's newly-restored Museum of Industry. Housed in an old cotton mill, this interactive museum weaves through Ghent's history as an international powerhouse in the textile industry. Your afternoon and evening are free for more exploring at your leisure. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Flanders Fields and Beautiful Bruges
Today we'll meet our driver and board our bus for a drive to the WWI battlefields around Ypres. Half a million soldiers were killed here, making it one of the deadliest — and today the most hallowed — stretches of land along the Western Front. With the aid of a local expert, we'll tour the American Cemetery, visit a thought-provoking museum, and see "the fields where poppies grow." After lunch together, we're off to Bruges and our lovely canal-laced and ivy-draped hotel. After check in and some time to relax, we'll regroup for an orientation walk and dinner together. Sleep in Bruges (3 nights). Bus: 5 hours. Walking: moderate.
Day 4: Gothic Bruges
We'll meet our savvy local guide who will introduce us to the pedestrian-friendly streets and alleyways of Gothic Bruges, including a tour of the Memling Museum — showcasing several of Hans Memling's masterpieces, all housed within one of Europe's oldest medieval hospitals. Our afternoon continues with a visit to a Bruges chocolatier, where we'll learn about the artistry and traditions of Belgium's most mouth-watering export. After a free afternoon, we'll regroup for a brewery tour to learn about what makes Belgian beer famous around the globe and enjoy a taste ourselves. The remainder of the evening is free to find the perfect Belgian dinner. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 5: Free Day in Bruges
Today is yours to explore Bruges. Armed with your Bruges Museum Pass, you'll have free entry to any four museums — including the masterpiece-packed Groeninge Museum. You may decide to go on a culinary scavenger hunt tasting your way through a myriad of Belgian specialties. Or you can hop on a bike and take a wonderful hour-long ride along a tree-lined canal to the nearby small town of Damme. The choices today are endless. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 6: Challenging the Sea
Today we'll discover how a country stays dry when nearly half of its land is below sea level. Over centuries, the Dutch created an immense system of dams, barriers, and dikes for protection from the North Sea — the Deltaworks. We'll explore these feats of modern engineering culminating with a tour of one of earth's largest moving structures — the Maeslant storm surge barrier — and gain a better appreciation of the fragility of the Low Countries. We'll continue on to the traditional Dutch town of Delft for an orientation walk and dinner together. Sleep in Delft (2 nights). Bus: 5 hours. Walking: light.
Day 7: Delectable Delft
This morning an in-depth walking tour with a local will give us a personal introduction to Vermeer's hometown, including the massive, Gothic New Church, where generations of the ruling House of Orange are buried and revered. We'll also visit a workshop to discover the qualities that make Delftware so dear. The rest of your day is free to explore the many other charms of Delft or take a short tram ride to The Hague, where you can get up close and personal with paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Mauritshuis, or travel back to an 1880 seaside at the Panorama Mesdag. No bus. Walking: light.
Day 8: Tulips, Countryside, and Bustling Amsterdam
We'll begin our day in Europe's biggest building — filled with acres of flowers — learning about the worldwide distribution of beauty that begins each day at the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Then we'll stop for lunch on our way into Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we'll dodge bicycles and hipsters on our neighborhood orientation walk, as we adjust to the pace of this progressive world capital. We will end our day with a traditional rijsttafel dinner together. Sleep in Amsterdam (3 nights). Bus: 3 hours. Walking: strenuous.
Day 9: Vibrant and Historic Amsterdam
This morning get chummy with this great city's gabled houses, bridges, and canals while learning why the Golden Age glimmered so brightly here. We'll take an historic walk through the heart of the city, stopping to visit the Anne Frank House for a thought-provoking look at the hideaway of Anne and her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. We'll continue on to a local "coffeeshop" to learn about this nation's creative, pragmatic approach to drug policy. The rest of the day is yours to tackle any number of Amsterdam's wonderful museums. No bus. Walking: moderate.
Day 10: Amsterdam's Art
We'll start the day with a thrill: getting up-close and personal with Rembrandt and Vermeer on our tour of Amsterdam's remarkable Rijksmuseum. You can continue your encounter with artistic genius at the nearby Van Gogh Museum*, home to 200 of Vincent's works, or enjoy the nearby charm of Vondelpark. This evening we'll meet for our farewell dinner, where we'll share memories and toast new friends. Proost! No bus. Walking: moderate.
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is an easy bus ride away. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Tot ziens!
Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…
Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks), on and off public transportation, and up stairways to reach your hotel.
Sleep comfortably in historic canal houses with several flights of steep, narrow staircases to reach your room, with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
Westlake, OH
Low-key, un-rushed experiences in places that were almost always picturesque.
"Hard to pick a "wow" moment from the low-key tour. I would choose between a) the memorial at Tyne Cot Cemetery with 35,00 names (now more than 40,000) of men who were in the battles in Flanders but whose bodies couldn't be located, or b) the tremendous range (in format and time) of works by Rembrandt that were gathered in the special exhibit at the Rijksmuseum."
We thoroughly enjoyed our Heart of Belgium & Holland tour! Each stop and city visit provided new and exciting adventures. The tour was well paced and we'll planned. As promised we returned home ready for a rest after our very busy trip.
"Delft was a favorite of mine. It's a lovely city that seemed to offer a wonderful snapshot of the beauty and culture of the region."
Saw a variety of interesting sites and activities. There was a good mix of historical sites, tasting cuisine of the area by experts, such as chocolate tasting and beer, canal tours, the storm barrier tour, the pottery tour, the textile museum and more. Also enjoyed the visits to some small towns along the way. A very good mix. Enjoyed learning about the 2 countries.
"The storm barrier. It was enormous, I didn't expect such a massive structure and was interesting about the history of flooding in the Netherlands and how proactive the people of this country are."
Overall, it was another outstanding RS tour (my 9th tour). It was just the right mix of history, culture, and free time. What made this tour even more significant was the technology dimension and planning for the future, especially the Deltaworks system and Maeslant storm surge barrier in the Netherlands.
"My "wow" was the tour of the Maeslant storm surge barrier and the Deltaworks in the Netherlands. These are excellent examples of a country embracing science, using technology, and having the political will to wisely prepare for the future. Royal FloraHolland was also very impressive; highly organized chaos!"
Fascinating cities and people. The site visit to the flood gates in Holland was amazing.
"Arriving in Amsterdam was akin to being dropped onto another planet. The energy level was amazing. The ferry, the bikes (and the parking lots for them), the cars, the trams and all the people added up to a surreal experience. Seeing it all from our canal cruise a few days later with all of our new tour friends was icing on the cake."
Had a great guide, Nico, & wonderful local guides. Nice balance between free time & group time. I really enjoyed all of our days except maybe the one looking at all the ways they deal with water. However that is good to know. It was freezing cold so that was probably part of why I didn't like that day; it felt like a really long travel day. Our hotels were all great, except maybe in Delph;it was nice to spend at least two nights in each.They were all well located for exploring the cities.
"The Rijksmuseum and seeing the Vermeer paintings and the Night Watch with our museum guide.Bruges was pretty wonderful, too."
The tour was quite good, in fact outstanding. We had a guide NICO who was by far one of the best I have ever had in the 50+ countries I have visited. He made the trip educational, interspersing lots of cultural, historical, and other interesting details. Nico's language skills added much to the success of the trip, as also did his wonderful interpersonal skills. He is top notch as a tour guide. A real credit to Rick Steves' tours.
"There were many. I recall the guide in the Rijksmuseum going into incredibly detailed insights into Rembrandt's Night Watch. She was so knowledgeable and helped me look at other Rembrandts and masterpieces of the same era with a different perspective."
Good memories of Nico a fine tour guide and Rachel as assistant. The tour group was so friendly and full of fun humor. I really enjoyed the hotels not too fancy, but clean with very helpful staffs. The tour locations and activities were always something to look forward to.
"Right now the wow moment was the traditional rijsttafel dinner with the group. The food to me was unbelievable just wonderful."
It was a great experience, with a great guide and so many interesting sights.. Every trip is a learning experience that gives such great insight into how other cultures live. Loved it.
"My Wow moment was dipping our toes in the North Sea, what fun! Also, Each of the towns we visited had there own unique experience. ."
Shaker Heights, OH
Hilbren is a superior tour leader. The tour was perfectly paced. There was a nice blend of history, culture, art, architecture, food, understanding of the water control infrastructure of Holland, beautiful cities, walking and free time.
"Anne Frank House. The beauty of Bruges. The canals, bridges and boats of Amsterdam. The painting of The Girl With The Pearl Earing in The Hauge,"
It was great! This was our first RS tour but it won't be our last. The mix between group and free time perfect. Travel between cities was seamless and filled with interesting excursions. The bus was great and our driver the best! The group tours were wonderful and group meals were exceptional. Loved the hotels.
"Visiting the WWI cemeteries was my WOW moment. We visited 4 cemeteries but passed countless more along the way. The loss of life is heart breaking, but the honor and respect the Belgians display for all the fallen soldiers is heart warming."
This was the first tour I have ever taken. It exceeded my expectations in every way.
"The tourguide at the Rijksmuseum was awesome - he made the art museum meaningful and entertaining at the same time."
This was the first organized tour for us. We've traveled Europe many times, but always on our own. When we first used a Steves tour book we realized that we travel the way he does. So when we decided to do a tour we went with this Rick Steves tour. We loved it. Very well organized with excellent guides and docents. Bus trips were broken down into visits at local sites along the way. Never boring.
"The sites, of course; but the included meals were beyond expectations."
Red Wing, MN
I greatly enjoyed the tour experience.
"Many great moments. Our tour of Ghent was especially memorable."
Farmington, UM
Enjoyed the free time along with a good selection of interesting sights.
"Seeing the canals and beautiful architecture."
Farmington, UT
This tour lived up to the high expectations we have for the Rick Steves tour experience. Our guide was excellent, our group was fun, and the itinerary included more than we would have ever done on our own, including the storm surge barriers and a chance to dip our toes in the North Sea.
""The Girl with the Pearl Earring" was definitely a highlight. Also, the evening we went to a recommended restaurant and not only had a terrific meal, but enjoyed some wonderful music. Walking back to the hotel afterwards and seeing the lights reflected in the canals was magic. The day at "Flanders Field" was extraordinary."
Fantastic! It was everything I've come to expect from a RS Tour and more. Although the weather was unseasonably cold and wet, our group was in high spirits and my experience wasn't compromised a bit. A truly convivial group, fascinating & detail oriented leader, varied array of cultural and historical experiences and excellent food and treats.
"It's hard to choose just one, but I'll pick the one that was most unexpected...visiting the Watersnood Museum and learning how the Netherlands reacted to a flooding tragedy, embraced their water management challenges (windmills! dikes! storm surge barriers!) and now engineer their way through them. Highly practical and un-political ways of living...."
Lonni
Everything ran very smoothly! All of the travelers were on time and got along well with each other. The amount of time in each location was good, I would have enjoyed one more day in Ghent, when it would be a regular weekday so there would be more vendors open.
"Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier: Really opened my eyes to the realities of dangerous climactic events, and that the government in the Netherlands is really working proactively to take care of their citizens. The engineering feat and the constant surveillance and maintenance was very impressive."
We always find Rick Steves tours a good value for the money. We enjoy interacting and traveling with a group in equal measure to the great sites we see along the way.
"I believe the city of Ghent was a highlight for us. The medieval character and charm of the city was enchanting."
I was hesitant about taking a guided tour, however, the way the tour was structured I am trying to decide which tour you offer I will sign up for next. There was enough guidance given so we could make informed decisions on what we wanted to do in our free time and not be lost. The guides gave us a great overview of the towns and their history to know why it is important to visit them and why they were picked to be included in the tour.
"Our visit to Keukenhof was spectacular. Seeing how very beautiful and different the tulips were was amazing. The theme of Flower Power brought back memories of the 60 & 70's in such a unique way. It was a sensory overload experience I will never forget. My husband is not that interested in art museums, however. he thoroughly enjoyed the Rijksmuseum having the paintings explained by an expert."
I am a traveler who rarely goes on an organized tour and this was my first experience with Rick Steve's. I enjoyed it very much. I thought it was well organized and our tour director and site guides were excellent. I was pleased that the group meals were varied and very good.
"I especially enjoyed the experience at the Netherlands operation for flood control. It was fascinating and since I live in Florida sea level rise is an issue for us."
This was just our second RS tour. After last year's outstanding experience in Ireland, we wanted to confirm that it wasn't an anomaly. Nina was an excellent guide, and in spite of a bit of cold, rainy weather, she made every day enjoyable. Our group got on famously and we all seemed to have a lot of fun. We lived in Germany years ago, but had never visited Belgium and Holland. Now we would like to go back and stay longer!
"Everything about Bruges was wonderful, including the chocolate. The Amsterdam museums were a treat (Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh), but I also loved the Watersnood Museum that we visited on our drive from Belgium to Delft. It taught me something entirely new, and provided excellent background to how the Dutch drew together to solve a huge national problem. The artifacts and later artistic tributes to the victims of the flood were very moving."
Parkland, FL
Our lead guide Nina was excellent, as were all the local guides; they made each day and each experience unique which in my mind is the value-add to any Rick Steves tour. Walking the former World War l battlefields with a Sergeant Major in the Belgium army who took us through the back story and events while leading us personally over hallowed grounds was very, very special. Watching the local business owners demonstrate their craft in the Chocolate tour and Delft Pottery tour was also great.
"Keukenhof Gardens is amazing, 80 acres of nature's beauty up close and personal. It exceeded even my high expectations going in. A close runner-up was the tour and local guide for the Delta Works and storm surge barrier; an engineering marvel that is typical of Dutch ingenuity and detail."
Nina was wonderful- knowledgeable, funny, accessible. The tour had great preplanned tours and events and just enough free time. It was great to not have to wait in lines. The local guides really added to the experience. The hotels we stayed at were clean and comfortable. I would not hesitate to take another tour and will recommend to friends.
"How could you possibly pick one? The day of the cemetery visits to Flanders Field and Ypres was very special, as was the visit to the Anne Frank house."
Fun, informational, relaxing
"Amsterdam - I love that city. Easy to get around, the bikes, the restaurants, Vondelpark"
Great tour itinerary, fantastic tour guide, good hotels, a wonderful experience.
"Seeing the tulips and other beautiful flowers at Keukenhof."
This is our 6th Rick Steves Tour. We always have high expectations from his tours and from the guides. We were not disappointed. The tour itinerary is very good. I am glad we did not visit the coffee shop instead we went on a canal tour in Amsterdam which was enjoyable. Visit to the flood museum was a good addition to the itinerary.
"Every day was a " Wow" day. Canal laced towns of Ghent, Delft and Bruges is like walking back in history. Amsterdam though touristy has retained its Dutch charm."
Guide was very good. Local guides were good as well. Hotels were mediocre. Particularly the stay in Amsterdam was very bad. Breakfast was terrible. Staff were not so friendly
"All the churches and buildings were cxceeptional. The group was very happy people"
Shoreline, WA
I had covered much of the same itinerary 2 years ago on a river cruise. This tour was like a totally different tour: we stayed right in the cities, we ate local cuisine, had great guides at the art museums. Even though we saw several cities ( and stops in between), we stayed at least 2 nights at each place, so we weren't constantly packing and unpacking. Our tour director was with us, and was great fun and a great resource. Comfortable, roomy bus, small group, great included meals!
"Two very different things: attending a free harp concert, and seeing/hearing an "uber" harp instrument created by musician; and seeing, and walking in actual trenches from WW I."
Chester, VA
Rolinka is a fabulous guide. Making sure all members of the tour got the biggest bang for their buck. Saw a lot, did a lot. And had fun along the way.
"Visiting the Keukenhof Gardens, the tulips went on and on and on. I did appreciate the fact that we arrived before the multitudes of visitors descended on the place."
Farmingdale, NY
Our experience was very enriching. We enjoyed everything that was scheduled and we also appreciated the freedom to do our own explorations.
"The tulips in Keukenhof gardens were a bucket list experience that didn't disappoint! Also, our visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam was very moving. But each day was truly special to us."
This is the second Rick Steve's Tour that we've done with our family and it was just as amazing as the first. We picked this particular tour because it's the only one that fit our schedule. We didn't know what to expect in Belgium and Holland but we were blown away. We loved all the art and history as well as the incredible food and beer. The people we met on this tour were delightful and of course Rolinka made the tour unforgettable.
"Hard to choose just one moment, but visiting Keukenhof was pretty amazing."
It was our first time to to travel internationally. Everything was very organized and easy to follow each day. I have nothing else to compare, but I would certainly do a Rick Steves tour again. All I had to do was to show up. I didn't have to stand in lines for tickets etc. It was comforting to know that I was taken care of and I didn't have to worry about where I would go or what to do the next day. Even in our free time, there were plenty of options given, including places to eat. I felt safe.
"My favorite "wow" moment was Keukenhof tulip gardens!! Just as I anticipated and had read about and seen. It also helped that we arrived early before many people were there. I was able to take pictures without strangers in them."
Wonderful and beautiful! We picked this tour so we could see Keukenhof in all its glory! It did not disappoint! All the cute towns we stayed in were really fun to explore! Loved the canals everywhere! Our guide Tim was absolutely fantastic! He really was a fun guide! Our free day in Bruges we biked our to Damme along the canal. So peaceful! Loved getting to know a little history of that area of the world. It was a really nice trip!
"My 'wow' moment would have to be first walking in to Keukenhof. Just seeing all the tulips and flowers with my own eyes! It lived up to my built up imagination! Second 'wow' moment was getting into Amsterdam on Kings Day! Tim took those of us who wanted to go on a little foray into the craziness! How energizing and fun!! He had bought the group all kinds of orange paraphernalia we could wear so we could join in on the celebrations like the locals!"
Good mix of local guides and free time.
"Anne Frank house....seeing the heights of the sisters recorded on the wall....an ordinary event under extraordinary circumstances."
Simsbury, CT
This is our second Rick Steves tour. The combination of Holland and Belgium gave us an intimate look at two very similar cultures. We also favor itineraries with longer stays at each hotel so 4 destinations was just right. The itinerary is an excellent mix of art museums, nature (tulips and canals), and WWI &II history.
"Hard to pick only one wow moment. Flanders Field was the most emotional. We owe the Monuments Men for making it possible for us to see the Ghent Altarpiece and Bruges Madonna and Child. The Rijks museum And of course- Keukenhof!!!!!!"
As usual with RS tours, well-planned, excellent guides, good balance of group time and free time. This tour does not have the "big ticket" draws like London, Paris, or Rome, but has its own charms. Enjoyed the medieval cities in Belgium very much. Our tour include Keukenhof Gardens, spectacular (though very crowded).
"This is not a "wow" moment tour. Many highlights, though. Keukenhof Gardens would be a wow if about 20,000 other people had stayed home. Ghent and Bruges are quietly attractive, the highlight of the trip."
Cat Spring, TX
Tim was a incredible guide and continually looked after the group and adding special items along the way such as regional treats. Always helpful and attentive.
"Keukenhof Gardens was quite a sight."
Very enjoyable are tour guide was very knowledgeable so I'm hoping to do it again.
"The tulip gardens"
I appreciated each of the 4 towns/cities selected on this tour for their unique circumstances. Tim did an excellent job in setting expectations and giving background information on Belgium & the Netherlands which was amplified by the tour guides. There was a good mix of organized time and "free" time. I felt the pace of the tour was very comfortable.
"There were a couple of "wow" moments for me. The Anne Frank Museum was particularly impactful. I found the museum presentation to be very factual and non judgemental. I also appreciated our guide in Delft describing the Dutch social climate and attitudes. It was an insight into at least one person's perspective on Dutch life. I also appreciated the WWI battlefield tours as having relatives who fought at Vancouver Corner and were gassed. We had stayed at Varley Farm a few years ago and so it was A lot of good memories were created with this tour."
Our experience was fantastic! We loved both countries, the people we traveled with and met, the places we stayed, the weather, the sights, the food, the new insights into culture and our great guide and coach driver. The mix of scheduled activities and free time to go and do what we want is perfect for us.
"Its hard to pick just one, because there were many, so I'm going to name two: I fell in love with the architecture of the canal houses in Gent, Brugge and Amsterdam. Especially Gent, maybe that's because it was my first exposure to them and the weather was sunny and perfect. My second "wow" is more solemn. That was the day we visited WWI battlefields, cemeteries, Flanders Fields and trenches. Sobering and important to learn about and remember."
"Keukenhof Gardens.....Absolutely stunning to see how taking a new landscape design each year and sourcing the best bulbs for the look is breath taking. The boat tour through the fields around the gardens is worth it as well."
"Windmill tour."
This was a very pleasant tour. The group of fellow travelers were a friendly, polite, educated group of people as is typical on a Rick Steves tour.
"Catching the first glimpse of the beautiful Flemish architecture in Ghent for the first time, then continuing to see the lovely historical architecture in Bruges and Delft. I have to add the exciting feeling of being so close to one of my favorite artists, Vermeer, and the life of Anne Frank. And, of course, seeing so many windmills up close as well as the Keukenhof Gardens and surrounding flower fields in full bloom."
Oroville, CA
The trip was amazing in every way. It was the perfect blend of art,culture,history and nature Hans was an exceptional guide He was accommodating in everyway
"I loved the tulip gardens The art was wonderful especially the Van Gogh and Rembrandts I enjoyed the wWWI history and the history of the dike system. A highlight was touring the working windmill It is an experience I will never forget. The orientation walks were lots of fun I liked our little cocktail parties"
We had a great experience on this tour! Bruges was a bit overwhelming with all the people since it was Easter weekend, but we were able to get away on bikes to see the windmills for part of the day.
"I would say there were several "wow" moments. However, Keukenhof Gardens was gorgeous! It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth!"
This was my first Rick Steves Tour. It was hard for me to not check Outstanding. In typical Rick Steves fashion it was a well organized tour that was educational and entertaining. It was just too punishing with all the walking and standing. I've reached the point (75 years old) that I am not going to exert myself while traveling.
"Keukenhof Gardens was favorite wow moment. Loved Ghent-just an easy place to walk to all the historic sites. Bruges was marred by the throng of people on Easter but a quaint place. Delft was interesting and enjoyable. Amsterdam was a freaking nightmare. Between dodging bicyclists (who don't obey stoplights), cars and trams I was a nervous wreck for the first couple days crossing the street to Leidesplein from the Hotel Espresso. I never want to go back to Amsterdam."
Elinor
I thought the tour was wonderful. I loved the places we visited, the art, architecture and culture we were exposed to, and the information that was provided by our tour guide and additional guides. The schedule of time worked well - balancing group activities and meals with some independent time as well. The bus was a wonderful enhancement to the trip,making it easy and extremely comfortable to get from place to place.
"Seeing the tulips has been on my "bucket list" for years, so our day at Keukenhof was my WOW moment."
Hollace
We have been traveling with Rick for 20 years. 5 tours and 4 trips on our own. Always educational, varied and with great tour companions.
"Keukenhoff gardens - above and beyond. And all the incredible art."
Arlington, MA
The tour itinerary was great, and I wouldn't change anything. Although I expected the high point to be Keukenhof and the museums in Amsterdam, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Ghent, Bruges, and Delft. These are beautiful old European cities, and each one has a special charm. My partner and I have been on a Rick Steves "My Way" tour, and weren't sure that we would like the increased structure of a fully guided tour. Now we see the value of each style of group travel!
"Definitely Keukenhof Gardens and seeing the massive tulip fields along the road..truly spectacular!"
The trip was wonderful. I'm sorry it wasn't longer and Im very glad that I chose a Rick Steves tour over a river cruise. The only thing I would do different is; I would bring my better camera. With all the urging to travel light I brought my smaller somewhat lighter camera. It is a good camera and I still got plenty of good pictures. But I wish I had brought my better camera. Something to know for next time.
"Its hard to pick just one wow moment. The Anne Frank house was very powerful. Far more moving than the cemeteries in Flanders Field. Seeing the Vermeer paintings in the museums in the Hague and Amsterdam make a trip to the Netherlands all worthwhile. But the high point would have to be the Kuekenhof gardens. I have never seen anything like it. Even their orchid displays are like nothing I have ever seen."
This tour far exceeded my expectations, as did all of our guides, especially Rolinka. Each part of the trip was a treasure. There were times I felt like I had a semester of history in a day: Flanders Fields were incredibly moving; the day of waterworks just blew me away. Brugges was unbelievably beautiful. The food was amazing and such good herring. There was so much to do during free time, I couldn't get it all done. I climbed into a windmill in Brugge and survived. This was my fourth
"There were so many! Learning about how the Dutch have been living with water for six centuries during our waterworks day was one. The incredible storm surge system to protect Rotterdam was built over a period of nine years. Each side of this massive structure is taller than the Eiffel tower and twice as heavy. Imagine the Eiffel tower lying on its side. It takes a total of two hours for each side to be brought in and sunk to the river bed."
tour was interesting,learned many new things. Experiences were varied, in all cases museums were outstanding. choices of cities great, each one unique with its own appeal.
"day touring battlefields. don't know if it is "wow", but certainly thought provoking and reverential.same day touring trenches. i was in awe at what those men went through. talk on water management by the Dutch was very informative. didn't realize how complex it was"
Tour went everywhere in Belgium & Netherlands I wanted to go. Loved the amount of free time we were given & how it balanced with the group activities. The art was sublime and the tulips were beautiful.
"Seeing Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring."
I believe the tour was well-organized, comprehensive, educational as well as entertaining and fun. There was a strong balance between activities that were informative and educational and those that were more light-hearted and fun. The destination cities in both Belgium and the Netherlands all had a lot to offer in terms of places of historical interst as well as a look at the cultures of the residents. The hotels were fine, and the service also fine. The restaurants also did their best to please
"The gardens of Keukhofen in the Netherlands was it. The work and care that went into creationg such a spectacle were extraordinary. I believed we arrived at one of the peak moments to experience it, and we had had a full chance to enjoy it."
We had a wonderful tour of Belgium and The Netherlands! The tour itinerary was great - we saw a lot of both countries with just the right amount of "tour time" and "free time". Rolinka was an excellent tour guide. She was always friendly, well organized and she went out of her way to make sure we had a good trip. The independent guides were also outstanding, particularly Robert at the museum in Amsterdam. We'll definitely do another Rick Steve's tour sometime in the future.
"I had several - the WWI battlefields were sobering and we were reminded of what a horrific war it was. Bruge was probably our favorite city to visit. The tulips were amazing - we're glad we went during the Spring to see them. I also enjoyed the time we spent at the flood control facility - amazing engineering!!"
I chose this trip as a good way to see Keunkenhof Gardens. 11 days was an adequate amount of time for this trip. Rolinka and the lively group made for a pleasant time. There was a good mix of sites, experiences and bus time. I always enjoy the free time. The visit to the Delft pottery did not include a demonstration of the painting, which is what it is all about. That was a big disappointment. I expected a little more demonstration at the chocolate shop.
"The first tulip field we passed! The Keukenhof garden did not disappoint. I would have liked a little more time. Knowing the recent history and seeing the alterpiece and Madonna."
I love traveling with Rick Steves Tour Company. Details are taken care of and great pain is taken to offer travelers an outstanding experience. My daily life is full of responsibilities and seldom do I trust someone else to make plans for me in important matters. I never regret letting this tour company plan and administer my European travel.
"I think this was the visit to the WWI American cemetery. I think people in the States don't appreciate the sacrifices these soldiers made for the safety of the World. There came a hush over our whole group as we learned that this cemetery existed. I personally enjoyed my visit to the Groeninge Museum in Bruges. I learned about Flemish Art in a new and informative way that I had not connected with in any Art Appreciation class I'd taken in the past. Great tour of storm barrier."
Great group to travel with. Belgium and Holland were more modern and upscale that the other European countries visited on my previous 9 trips.
"Bicycles I had only thought of bicycles for use in recreation and exercise. In Belgium and Holland they were definitely for personal transportation. To see thousands of bicycles on racks at the train stations and airports was amazing."
When visiting new countries, I find tours to be the best way to go. You have the safety net of a tour and generally, as was the case with this tour, you get to see the key highlights of the areas being visited. I was motivated to take this tour after watching the movie "The Monuments Men," which highlighted the Ghent Alter Piece and the Bruge Madonna. I would suggest timing the visit to the Church housing the Ghent Alter Piece so that you're there when it opens to avoid massive crowds.
"Keukenhof Gardens. It would have been nice to get to the gardens earlier than we did to avoid the crowd of 50K+. I'd guess part of the crowd issue is we visited on the Saturday before Easter, so not only did we have the weekend crowds, we also had crowding due to those who had the week of Easter off. Weekend visits and these types of European holidays need to be taken into consideration and tour schedules possibly altered as a result to help facilitate the best experience for tour members."
This was a very enjoyable, well-paced tour with multi-faceted experiences in culture, history, art, language, foods, and fellowship. The quality of the expert & personable guides along with the location and charm of the hotels and restaurants allowed for a more relaxed and informative travel.
"A kaleidoscope of wows! To pick just a few, experiencing in person the wonders of the Keukenhof flower gardens with acres of magnificent displays, art masterworks, such as the van Eyck Ghent Altarpiece and Rembrandt's Night Watchman, the human engineering of the waterways & windmills of The Netherlands, and historic sites and museums, the solemn dignity of the Anne Frank house and Flanders fields, and enjoying famous treats such as Belgian chocolate and much more are memories that will endure."
It was a very good group and Nina provided excellent local knowledge and leadership. We had been to each of the cities before but the tour provided a much richer experience getting us into places and events that were very difficult to achieve on our own. The overall pace of the tour was perhaps a bit slower than others we have experienced.
"The Keukenhof, obviously. Incredibly beautiful. I had seen it 32 years before and signed up for this trip just so Nancy could experience it. WOW! But, the timing was great for the "All the Rembrandts" at the Rijksmuseum and the Mauristhuis Museum (on our own). And the Flanders Field American Cemetery was very impressive and incredibly well maintained, as was the UK cemetery at Tyne Cot. Sobering and impressive. The water control project and exhibit at the WaterSnood Museum was quite interesting"
We thought this tour was a nice balance for a spring trip. Distances were not great between towns and stops managed well. The visits to Flanders fields cemeteries and Delta Works storm surge barriers were surprising and interesting. I liked that while we visited some sites as a group, there was time to add extra museums, etc if you wanted. This is a great tour to just decide to visit a cafe, people watch and of course, grab a great Belgian beer or chocolates.
"The Tulips, in their full spring glory at the Keukenhof. The intact medieval towns of Ghent, and Bruges are so charming."
Enumclaw, WA
The tour exceeded expectations in every way. I cannot express enough praise for our guide, Nina, and assistant, Tim. The local guides were excellent as well.
"The Kerkenhof (sp?) experience was unforgettable. So too wwere the battlefields and cemeteries of the Ypres area in Flanders."
Nina and Tim were very efficient in all our scheduling. Since this is our fifth or sixth tour with Rick Steves, it amazes us at the excellent operation and facilities with every tour. We sincerely enjoy the free time to explore on our own. Ernest is 81 years old and surprisingly able to keep up with the group. We were surprised to encounter all the professional people on the tour. All were very punctual and prepared for the day's activities.
"The "wow" was my trip to the Hague to see the portrait of "Girl with the Pearl Earring" and able to view very closely. When I first saw the "Mona Lisa" I was close for years, but now you're much farther away. At the Keukenhof Gardens it was beautiful, and I was able to purchase six pairs of clog slippers which resembled the wooden shoes, for my children. The change and growth in Amsterdam is amazing from when I first visited about 30 years ago, using the Rick Steves Through the Back Door."
Another excellent Rick Steves tour!
"I especially enjoyed the Keukenhof Gardens and also the privilege of visiting the Anne Frank House. Thirdly, the DeltaWorks, demonstrating all the flood and water conservation engineering methods."
Loved this tour. Great experience. Enough down time. Group was larger than I am used to. The guides were amazing. Delivered the amazing experience I have had in past tours with Rick Steve's.
"The Keukenhof Gardens was a must see. It lived up to its reputation. Also, Flanders fields were so instructive and moving."
Excellent tour. Guides were outstanding and very compatible group of travelers. Group meals were wonderful. Good mix between group activities and free time.
"Seeing the tulip gardens outside Amsterdam. Definitely met expectations."
Normally, we do not do tours except Linblad/ Zagrahm ships. With pins in the map of 148 countries, our friends convinced us to try a trip, and it was very well done. Ellen was a superb guide. The material she had to work with was superb, also. IF each of your trips is this good........ Thanks, ARNETTE and Joe
"Each day"
North Hollywood, CA
Went in April specifically because I wanted to see the tulips in Keukenhof gardens. In retrospect, the experience wasn't worth the trade-off of having to deal with the cold climate. Fortunately, at least it was sunny most days. Enjoyed the cheese tasting in Holland, the brewery, and chocolate tours in Belgium. The tour of the tide barrier was something unique that most tour groups, from other providers, probably don't get to experience. I'm glad it was included.
"The World War I cemeteries and trenches were very thought provoking."
Troy, ID
Terrific time for my 11th RS tour! Ellen and Nico were a wonderful team.I particularly wanted this tour this time of year for the visit to Keukenhof and also to visit the WWI area in Flanders. Both, while vastly different, were even better than expected. Ellen was very knowledgeable, organized, efficient, personable and just enjoyable to travel with. Nico will be an asset to the RS team with his depth of knowledge and engaging attitude.
"Keukenhof! Wow...unbelievable. I was so happy we got there early as by 10:30 it was packed. The RS guide (and driver) did a stellar job of planning to get us around the road closures for the flower parade in this part of Holland on the day of our visit. Appreciate the extra lunch to get us out of traffic. Keukenhof was why I took the tour this time of year and it was totally worth it. 2nd Wow experience was the day we did the WWI sights. Amazing in a different way but so worthwhile."
Park Ridge, IL
Tour was extremely well planned. For example we arrived at Anne Frank house at opening and avoided crowds. Likewise w Keukenhof Park. And after tour of Rijksmuseum we took a break for coffee. The line to get a table was long but our guide Rolinka had staked out a table for our group The custom tours such as the Amsterdam waterworks and chocolate store were illuminating
"Canal cruise of Amsterdam"
Port Townsend, WA
started out rocky but rolinka was willing to stick it out so i was to First time traveler so glad we did
"every day had something to wow about"
This was an outstanding tour all made possible by our dear tour guide, Rolinka. She was not only well organized and sensitive to your needs but added charming embellishments everything from interesting and humorous anecdotes to Kleenix. Rolinka's enthusiasm for all things Belgium and the Netherlands was catching. I consider this tour an overview of these two countries, and I aim to return to the cities (and more) that I found particularly inkspiring.
"My favorite "wow' moment was the day at Keukenhof gardens. It was like I had died and gone to heaven. I also heeded Rolinka's warning that "just get lost"...don't worry where you are. I usually hold on to the security of maps and phones but not in this paradise. Fantastic experience!"
This tour, in almost all aspects, was great and met my expectations. The only thing that kept it from an "outstanding" rating was that I found the group size bigger than anticipated. I guess I don"t consider 26 small group. Otherwise the itinerary allowed both the organized and independent time I was looking for when going on a trip to Western Europe. I liked the diversity of what we got to do and see. We had little rain but I should have brought warmer clothes.
"I came mostly for the art and lovely small towns. I think my trip to the Mauritshuis in the Hague was a highlight as well as the Van Gogh Museum. Many things I have never seen in person before. The Keukenhof Gardens were also breathtaking. Seeing Anne Frank's actual diary."
Germantown Hills, IL
Great trip. Well planned and well executed. Great mix of planned time and free time. Great value.
"Just walking into Gent. It is an original city, nothing comparable to the states. Loved Gent."
I was pleased that we not only visited Gint, Brugge, Delft, and Amsterdam but various sites related to World War I and the Dutch efforts to control water levels in the Netherlands and finally the tulip gardens at Keukenhof. These are sites I would not have considered visiting on my own. I would like to compliment our bus driver on his excellent driving, and he was very friendly and interesting to talk to.
"I think the flower displays and tulip fields at Keukenhof were truly breath-taking and a real joy to look at."
I thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary and felt we stayed the right amount if time in each location.
"Seeing the tulip gardens at Keukenhof Tulip gardens was definitely a highlight. Never saw so many beautiful flowers in one day. So glad we were able to go there."
Well planned and interesting itinerary, great guides, great hotels, great food. Overall excellent experience for our first tour with Rick Steves' organization.
"Our arrival at our hotel on the canal in Ghent was our first WOW moment. Each day thereafter we experienced new/additional WOW moments."
Vadnais Heights, MN
It offered a very nice balance between free time and tour time. It presented us with history, culture, art, and food experiences.
"Two surprising moments were: 1) the tour of Flanders Field and the WWI cemeteries and how it is still alive in the residents of the area. 2) was the stop at the flower auction - just the scale and logistics of the operation was truly memorable."
My husband and I were very excited beforehand about our upcoming trip after we had had such a wonderful time last year on our Southern Italy trip.We found on this one that an engaging tour guide can make all the difference in your experience.I don't know if there was a problem back at home for Ellen or whether she was just looking forward to the end of the season or if it's just a Dutch personality thing but everyone got the impression that she was "phoning in" her job.
"I would say the Rijksmuseum was the wow moment for me."
The tour was excellent. The cities that we visited were beautiful. The only comment that I would make is that the first three cities were very similar and looking back I have a hard time distinguishing between them. The food provided at the group dinners was excellent except in Ghent where it was definitely sub-par.
"The tour of the surge barrier was great. The guide gave us an excellent overview of the entire flood control system."
Excellent in every respect---strong but not domineering guidance, thorough daily planning, covered cultural, social, economic, political and environmental aspects of all sites. Good social interactions with guides and fellow tourist members.
"Many although I responded to the Ypres/WWI day---the cemeteries, trenches and artillery craters were moving."
Ellen was a great tour leader. It was a nice variety of experiences.
"American memorial at Flanders Field. Brugge"
The tour was not only fun, but very educational. I especially acquired a new appreciation for art, as the guides explained everything in detail. We had just the right amount of free time to explore on our own. Very well organized & thought out.
"The flower auction. It wasn't necessarily the best, but it sure was a big WOW! Hard to imagine the acres of flowers in that one building , with all the small vehicles zipping around, moving flats from here to there."
I enjoyed every moment. Thank you!
"Many "wow" moments - e.g. Ypres cemeteries; Deltaworks; Aalsmeer Flower Auction; Amsterdam "coffeeshop"; every art museum."
Enjoyable,interesting,organized. Very good group - always on time, mobile, friendly. Guide was very good. Good local guides in Ghent and Bruggs but average in Delft. Too much free time in Amsterdam.
"Water control gates. Also being offered seats on the tram, number of bikes in Amsterdam"
Melbourne, IA
The Heart of Belgium and Holland was a nice blend of museums, local interests and unique learning opportunities.
"There are so many "wow" moments. How do I pick just one? Probably our stop at the North Sea. It was such a nice change from all of our other stops. It was both beautiful and refreshing."
As usual, the right balance of group vs free time, food vs culture, active vs slow days.
"Going through the Rijksmuseum with a deeply engaging guide who brought out the history, social meaning, and technique of the art."
Bowdoinham, ME
We had a very enjoyable and enlightening tour experience. We had a great guide, a good group of fellow travelers and the arrangements were very well organized.
Urbandale, IA
This was a very good tour. I enjoyed stopping in some less touristed cities, I probably would have never seen otherwise, and getting up in close with Ver Meer was a particular highlight as was seeming the Ghent Alterpiece being restored. I enjoyed all of the walks along the canals and seeing the windmills, old and new, as we drove through the countryside. While this tour didn't have the wow factor of the other tours I have taken, I did enjoy the less hectic atmosphere.
"The day spent at Flanders Field was very moving. It was good to be reminded of the war we all forgot about. I found myself tearing up several times throughout the day. Wandering through the actual trenches was an experience I'll never forget."
I don't think it could have been any better [INVALID]-oh maybe warmer weather would have been nice. Ellen was friendly & knowledgeable - perfect really. Ditto for the local guides. Rick Steves way of doing things can't be beat....enough group touring and plenty of time for self 'touring'...doing those extra things, going back to museums etc.
"My favourite was the Van Gogh Museum BECAUSE WE GOT IN EARLY BEFORE THE CROWDS! I'm a huge fan so went straight up to the top where the artwork is - hardly anyone there...most start at the bottom floor, work their way up & by then, the hordes have arrived. By getting in an hour early, heading up to level 3 made an amazing experience. 'Challenging the Sea' was also a VERY unique adventure that I don't imagine hardly any tourist usually see. The feat of this engineering should be a most see."
Tour was excellent. The cities we visited were great, very walkable, with medieval buildings and canals. We learned a lot about history and art, especially with local guides and experts, but we also saw current sights such as the storm surge barrier and the flower market. Also enjoyed free time/lunches in seaside towns. I was more intrigued about Flemish and Dutch culture following this tour than I had been originally.
"Flanders Fields: This was my primary reason for selecting this tour, and I was not disappointed. It was very moving to see the cemeteries, the trenches, and the town of Ypres, and to hear our local tour guide talk about his family's experiences. I also found it very interesting to learn about the Dutch and Flemish artists and to see many of these original paintings in the various museums."
I learned so much about Belgium and Holland, and saw things I wouldn't have seen on my own. There was a tour or two I didn't care for, (the brewery) but it was worth the enjoyment and experience of other tours. Our hotel rooms were comfortable for us, and the other tourers were pleasant. We had mostly good weather,and our meals were good.There were a few missteps, detailed below.
"I was riveted by the trip to the Flanders Field and Ypres area. It brought history to life for me, and the farm lunch there was incredibly charming. I will never forget the "crosses row by row" and being able to walk in the trenches from World War I."
Hilbrun was very well-informed and conveyed his understanding well. He was very charming (perhaps too scripted), and pleasant. On the down-side, I found him a bid negligent. He did not make an effort to account for all the people in the tour, and at several junctures people were left behind, and he did know it. His directions were somewhat perfunctory. Amsterdam has a difficult street layout, and telling us to meet at a restaurant by showing its location on the map, without even a street addre
"The WWI tour. Also the art."
Altadena, CA
Our tour began in Ghent, Belgium, but we flew into Brussels and spent 3 days seeing that city on our own. Brussels is worth a visit. Many of us felt that the tour should have begun there. Our tour was well paced, offered diversity in activities, food, culture etc. and allowed a fair amount of free time. Saw and learned of many things we perhaps would not have even known about had we traveled on our own.
"The Aalsmeer Flower Market was fascinating. Had no idea of the magnitude, nor the speed in which the Europe's wholesale flowers are purchased and distributed. My "wow" moment was at the historical botanical garden in Aalsmeer. I will never complain about the price of lilacs now that I understand the care and labor that goes into getting them to bloom. My spouse would say that our riding bikes in Bruges was his highlight. We took the outside parklike path of the city which had less traffic."
This was only my second RS tour, I am quite sure i rated last year's tour of Basque country as outstanding. this one i would call very good. I did not find tour guide as helpful this time, and perhaps the Basque culture made last year's trip hang together better.
"Hard to pick one: Flanders Field and cemetaries Anne Frank house"
This was a good tour with a nice group of tour members. There was a lot of history and art. We enjoyed our free time at the Hague and in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. It was one of the calmer tours than the others tours we have been on.
"The Flander's field trip was an eye opener. Going through the trenches in the Sanctuary Wood was a very moving experience. The Aalsmeer flower market was a wonderful example of a fun and organized chaos of flowers and their delivery. I learned a lot about Flemish art in the museums."
This was a fantastic trip. Good hotels, good food and a great group of fellow tour members. I enjoyed learning about using the rail system in Belgium and Holland and being more of a "local".
"My "wow" moment was visiting the surge barrier at Rotterdam Harbor. It showed the determination and ingenuity of the Dutch people. It's a also a cautionary tale of preparing for rising sea level."
The Heart of Belgium & Holland was a very good tour for me, a perfect balance of the history and art between both countries. Everyone forgets that Belgium and The Netherlands are two separate countries with a common history. Hilbren did a great job giving us the history from the past to the present on both countries.
"Again, two many WOW moments to choose from on this tour. But being from a technical background, I would vote for our tour of the Deltaworks and the Maeslant Storm Surge barrier. what an engineering marvel! A close second would be the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, I knew that Holland was big on flowers but this site amazed me for it size and the amount of flowers being auctioned and moved!"
This was a great first Rick Steves' Tour experience for me! I had a great time, and as a solo traveler felt welcomed by the other participants in our group who were congenial and generally very compatible. We had a lot of fun traveling together. The tour was well balanced with group and free time, historical & current sites. This tour was very educational, and I feel I know more about world history, art, & culture than ever before. This was a very valuable travel experience.
"Favorites for me were: Aalsmeer Flower Auction - WOW! - so impressive, and truly demonstrated global commerce in a fascinating way. Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier - marvels of engineering & needed technology in many areas of the world today. Beach Stop - putting my feet in the North Sea. Ypres & the war trenches - every person who has the power to send our nations into war needs to tour these places. Ghent - what a wonderful place - glad I had a couple extra days to spend here prior to the tour."
I enjoyed seeing the medieval towns in Belgium. I really loved Amsterdam, though! I found some of the scheduling problematic, especially in Bruges. I was forced to listen to a drawn out, uninteresting to me, lecture on Memlingen (sp?), because I didn't know the location or exact time of the chocolate demonstration. The experience kind of ruined my first day in Bruges because it meant I had to skip some things I wanted to do and rush through others. The problem could have been avoided.
"I would say the flower auction. That was definitely not what I expected."
It was an interesting and enjoyable trip. I felt like I saw a good sampling of Dutch and Belgian history, art, culture, and countryside, and I didn't feel oppressed by too much time spent in transit.
"Strangely, one of my favorite "wow" moments of the tour was standing on the observation deck at the giant flower market, watching dozens of flower carts buzzing around like bees. It was unique and unexpected!"
The tour was very well organized with a terrific guide. All provided meals were excellent, hotels were fun and interesting places with wonderful customer service, local tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and well spoken. Having experts talk about the medieval and Renaissance architecture and art created great learning experiences. Talking with locals and tourists from all over the world was fun, too.
"The visit to Sanctuary Wood was a very moving experience. My grandfathers both served in WWI in Europe and the displays and trenches made me feel a little connected to them."
Weaverville, CA
Excellent. A wide variety of activities with good pacing. Canals, medieval and gothic towns, flowers, art, chocolate, beer, history, pottery. Amsterdam is a great city. Watch out for the bikes.
"It's hard to pick. The WWI memorials and Anne Franks House are at the top of my list. These sombre activities were only part of a uplifting fun tour."
I found the tour to be very educational and informative. The guides were professional and very entertaining.
"My wow moments came at the WW1 locations and the actual trenches used in the war."
Plainview, NY
Even though this area does not have the drama of many other European countries, this was still a pleasant and enjoyable trip.
"The two experiences, while maybe not a "wow", that certainly stood out for me are: 1. the Aalsmeer Flower auction which was fascinating, colorful, and dizzying with it's activity - all at the same time. The fact that these flowers will find there way around the world within 12 hours is amazing. 2. Robert, our docent at the Rijks Museum, brought the paintings alive for me. He is outstanding and probably should have his own television show!"
Superb tour guide! Ellen is an excellent guide & the group responded to her from day 1.
"My favorite "wow" moment was our visit to the Maeslant storm surge barrier. I am somewhat of a geek over projects like this. From the disaster from Hurricane Katrina to the Thames Barrier & now the Maeslent barrier, the world is learning important lessons for the future. I could have spent an entire day at the Maeslent barrier! My thanks to Ellen for insuring that we all had the opportunity to experience it."
Ellen was a wonderful guide. I know all the RS guides are wonderful, so it's hard to say she's the best ever, but I really do enjoy her. The tour was a nice mix of history, art, architecture, engineering marvels, free time, beer, cheese, chocolate, boat tours.
"Nothing really wow, except I loved seeing all the great art. I made the extra trip to The Hague to see "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Vermeer and it was so lovely - much better than Mona Lisa - I highly recommend it. I rode a bike for the first time in almost 20 years - no, I had not forgotten how, and I so enjoyed it. For me, this was really a more calm tour - lots of wonderful things, but not one really great thing (except, as I said, all the art)."
Tour itinerary was quite interesting and a great experience. Belgium and Netherlands are very scenic with canals and abundant seventeenth and seventeenth century architecture. Museums in Ghent and Amsterdam were excellent. Excellent beer. Our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the local guides were really helpful to understanding regional culture and history.
"The Netherlands Delta project and Maeslant storm surge barrier were a real highlight. Also enjoyed Amsterdam with its canals, architecture and museums."
Enjoyed the pace of planned activities and free time. Liked scenery and history lessons. Ellen was so special in giving information and making us feel like her friend. Great sense if humor.
"All the moving carts at the flower auction building."
Thoroughly enjoyed Belgium and Delft. The people on the tour were great, friendly and fun. We had to leave the tour early due to death in my family. Hillbren was very helpful as well as the Rick Steves crew in getting us back to the US 3 days early. Appreciate the thoughtfulness and help.
"The 'oldness' of the country, how they have learned to live under the water table. The storm surge prevention."
It was informative and fun. The group of participants is really what made it a great trip. We all got along so well and many of us stayed together during 'off' scheduled times including after the official tour was over. Most of the chosen touring sites were excellent and well presented. Some could be left out. Had the group not gotten along as well as we did I think the 'off' scheduled times would have been more challenging.
"How social it was."
Loved the variety of activities, the pace, the overall organization of the tour, facilities, quality of bus transport.
"Flower distribution center in Amsterdam"
My wife and I really enjoyed our tour. The mix of art and history kept us both active and involved. The amount of free time was good as well to allow us to explore on our own. Our favorite time though was actually not part of the tour. In both Ghent and Bruges, we bought cheese, wine, and cigars, and sat outside the hotels in the cool shade and enjoyed hours of conversation and visit time with our fellow travelers.
"Many Wow moments. I think the Ghent altarpiece being restored at the museum in Ghent had to be on the top of the list. Van Gogh museum another. Clams and fries. The north sea and the smoked fish sandwich I had while there. Pickled herring. How about most all of the food i general."
Ocoee, FL
This was our third tour with with RS. As with the other tours, our trip to Belgium and the Netherlands this year was full of history and fun. Nina, Jennifer and all the local guides did a very good job.
"Seeing the art in museums."
Larchmont, NY
My recent tour of Heart of Belgium & Holland with Nina and Jen exceeded expectations. The enthusiasm and spirit of the guide and tour assistant helped create a smooth and effortless flow of experiences and a unity among our group. The flow was relaxed and organized. A very nice group pleasure to travel with.
"There were so many wow moments. From the first hotel room with a canal view from sky lights allowing me to see the night lights in Ghent, I was so grateful to have that top floor room. The morning walks tours of each new town allowed a wonderful preview of the beautiful architecture and get a visual feeling of where we were in relation to our hotel. Bike rides in Bruges all over and then to Damme were dreams come true and brought to life photographs that I have collected from the 1990s."
I enjoyed this tour but some of the hotels were not air conditioned and because of the extreme heat it was very difficult to sleep .One of our rooms was on the street with people walking by so we could not leave the window open at night and it was very stuffy and hot. There was a VAST differences in the hotel rooms . Since we all paid the same price , it is very unfair that some rooms were huge with jacuzzis , while some were too small to find a place for your bag. Not big enough for 2 persons.
"I loved the flower auction and would have happily gotten up earlier to see more of the buying action. We arrived when a lot of folks were leaving ."
Carnation, WA
We loved all the places we visited and saw in both countries. Our guide, Nina, made all the stories come to life winding the history and contemporary issues together. The hotels were great and we thought the round bed in the Garden of Eden themed room in Delft was hilarious, yet comfortable! The balance of scheduled time and free time was great.
"So many! We loved the canals and architecture in Belgium, meeting the locals, seeing the Madonna and Child statue as well as the restoration of the Mystic Lamb was FABULOUS!!! I loved seeing the care and precision spent on the Mystic Lamb. Loved wading in the North Sea! I loved the shop with real Delft and the shop with REAL Belgium chocolate. I could roll in that stuff! I loved the reverence inside the Anne Frank house. I loved seeing the real trenches from WWI. Amazing."
This was a great tour. The itinerary far surpassed whatever expectations that I had anticipated. I found the locals in every community we visited to be welcoming. All group tour dinners were excellent. We saw and experienced so much on this tour it took awhile to process it all upon our return home. Things like the day we spent visiting WWI memorials realizing the unimaginable cost to the inclusiveness of Amsterdam. I would highly recommend this tour.
"I would have to say there were 2. The day spent touring and visiting the WWI memorials and battlefields, especially the the American cemetery memorial. Now we know what "In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow...". means. On the free day in Bruges we borrowed bicycles from the hotel and peddled out to Damme. Riding along the canal with old growth trees overhanging both sides of the bicycle path was amazing. It was so much fun taking our time and saying hi and waving to other bicyclists."
Enjoyed most things, including the odd day to do what we liked. Enjoyed the history, guided talks along the way, visits to museums etc. Although our guide was very good and very helpful, sometimes it was difficult to listen to her commentary on trams, or while walking along streets, when a bit of silence would be helpful while trying to concentrate on keeping up with the group, or watching where to get off a tram. 500 characters isn't enough to express what I want to say!
This was an extremely well guided trip led by Nina. She made the trip with her enthusiasm, knowledge of the two countries and their differences, and excellent information on how to get around the cities, what to see, where to eat. She was absolutely terrific and added so much value to our time spent in Ghent, Brugge, Delft, and Amsterdam.
"It's hard to give a "wow" moment. We loved Bruges, Flanders area, Delft, the storm surge barrier in Maeslant, and the museums in Amsterdam. If I were to say just one day, it would be the battlefields around Ypres. Our guide was absolutely outstanding and informative. To see the countryside and know what it had been was a powerful experience."
What a tour! So much to see, so much to do in each of the cities on the tour! Our guide, Nina, made the trip for me. So much knowledge in her brain communicated with passion. Enjoyed the fact there was free time, just enough for us to schedule those side trips we wanted to see. The food was outstanding...one of those important things For me to experience. There was local cuisine as well as an outstanding dinner of Indonesian food. Enjoyed the use of planes, trains, buses, trams, and boats.
"WOW 1: bike ride to Damme. These old bones got on a bicycle cycled to Damme and returned safely! WOW 2: the WW1 battlefields and memorials. This has truly become the forgotten war. The devastation and human loss were shocking and sobering. WOW 3: got to splash about on the shore of the North Sea."
Tour was very good, and guide was very good. Enjoyed the places we visited.
"Enjoyed Ghent and its medieval and renaissance buildings better than the other places we visited."
Overall I loved this tour. The places we visited were just what I was hoping to see, from the picturesque towns of Ghent and Bruges to the larger city of Amsterdam. The pace of tour and the amount of free time were perfect. I'm giving an overall rating of "very good" instead of "outstanding" because of the lousy quality of 2 of the hotels. See that section for details.
"I had several. 1-Seeing the art restorers working on the Ghent altarpiece was amazing. 2-The Aalsmeer flower market was fun. Watching all the carts maneuvering on the warehouse floor was like a live Pac-Man game. 3- Seeing the Anne Frank House was one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Amsterdam. It was incredible and well worth the visit."
Overall, I thought the tour experience was wonderful; e.g. information, tours, etc.
"I would not say, there were any "wow" moments; but I did quite enjoy the following (in no particular order): - Canal/Boat Cruises - Enjoyed ALL the tours; however, I would have liked to have the Van Gough Museum included - Indonesian meal at Kantjil En De Tijger was GREAT!"
Overall it was very good. Nina was a terrific guide and I learned more about art than I ever knew (just to be clear: that's a good thing). The coverage of cultural and historical topics had a very nice balance and we had just the right amount of free time. But, two of the hotels were so poor, that I question whether or not I want to take another Rick Steves tour (and I do not make that comment lightly).
"There were a couple: watching the very patient technicians restore the Ghent Altarpiece was incredible. The Alsameer Flower Auction was hilarious and very fun (rarely see anything that funny on tours). And viewing the excellent Belgian towns, especially Ghent, was very exciting."
Let me start out by simply stating Nina was an amazing guide. Always willing to help, advise, and share her knowledge. Going through the Heart of Belgium and Holland was an amazing experience but without Nina it would have only been a vacation without the "experience". I am so thankful my wife and I were along for the experiences that Belgium and Holland had to offer!
"This is obviously a difficult question because there were so many wow moments. However, Flanders Fields filled me with more emotion than I could have ever planned for. It was an amazing experience to walk through that beautiful cemetery and view the video of the Belgium people adopting and researching some of the fallen soldiers. I had no idea of the appreciation the Belgians felt towards the Americans involved in WWI. Words fall short, but this is something I won't forget."
Ammie
Our guide, Nina, was delightful, informative & fun. She had experience and knowledge to provide us with unique experiences. She knew her history of each area and now I know more of it too! Nina was also very helpful in extenuating circumstances, like a minor cold and offers of where to get help. She was great to talk to and treated everyone individually and showed us some great hidden gems in each city.
"Our herring experience. Nina knew a shop owner and was able to contact him beforehand. We had a unique herring tasting moment. It was a very short visit. I can't say I like herring, but the forethought and her connections made for a great experience."
Nina did an excellent job on this tour. I learned a great deal about the countries and enjoyed the museums.
"The museums were a high point and the museum guides were excellent. The Flanders Fields tour was moving."
The overall experience was outstanding, Nina, being a native of Belgium could deliver an unparrelled perspective of the history and evolution of the Dutch Belgium culture. Every stop offered great points of interest. Nina always gave a good orientation of each town and how to get around on our own. The food was fabulous and hotels we helpful and welcoming. The small group of 15 was perfect.
We were very happy with this tour. Loved our tour guide Nina, the small size of the group, the accommodations and the special experiences throughout the trip,
"The visit to the flower market near Schiphol Airport was certainly a "wow" moment. The variety of flowers and seeing the logistics of moving the flowers was amazing."
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Nina was a fantastic guide, offering insights not only into the history but the culture of both Belgium and the Netherlands. It was a pleasure having her expertise to guide us.
"Most likely the Anne frank house. Such a powerful statement in such a small place."
Totally wonderful tour experience that exceeded all our expectations. Our guide Nina was superb, so generous with her time; learn a lot about the history, culture, and art of the countries. Everything about the tour was great not the least of which were the fantastic and friendly people in our group.
"Standing face to face with the Ghent Altarpiece in the the chapel at St. Bavo Cathedral and then saw the restoration of the some of the panels at the Ghent Museum of Fine Art are memories I'll never forget."
Malone, NY
Great tour. As with all RS tours there was a good balance of scheduled activities and free time, giving both a learning experience and a relaxing vacation amid old world charm. Nina is a fantastic guide. Beyond the usual background & facts expected of a guide, Nina was able to convey the similarities & differences (conflicts?) between Flemish and Dutch culture. A bonus was the small group of 15, which seemed to bond early and well, creating an atmosphere of shared experience.
"Difficult to say. It might be the WWI sites(sobering), seeing this spring's crop of ordnance plowed up by a local farmer (eye opening), the flower market (structured chaos),or the hotel room in Delft (jaw dropping). But it just might be the happy hour arranged by Nina at the hotel in Bruges. The chance to share conversation and laugh with your fellow travelers can be the difference between a travel experience and a travel documentary."
The trip was not as good as my prior Rick Steves trips. Hotels were below standard and one in particular, the hotel in Delft, the staff was downright rude when I asked for a fan in our extremely hot, un-airconditioned room. I was told that "you do not need a fan" and that they "could not wake up the manager to ask for one." I had requested one at 3:00 pm when we checked in. This conversation was at 11:00 pm, and the temperature in our room was well over 80 degrees.
"a 3-way tie. The WWI trenches. The flower market in Alsmeer. The Rikesmuseum in Amsterdam (especially our local guide there)."
Every aspect of the tour was amazing! Except for Amsterdam in 1972, this was a part of Europe that I had never been to so each day was a new experience. I liked the mix of WWI, WWII, and medieval history as well as learning about how canals, dikes, windmills, mechanical pumps, and movable arms can be used to keep the sea at bay, and, of course, the incredible artwork everywhere. I also enjoyed learning about the handicrafts like making beer, chocolates, lace, and Delft pottery.
"I was most "wowed" by the exhibit in the museum in Bruges of the first books printed from 1457 to 1484. The Guttenberg press was first used in Germany in 1455 and by 1457 a Bruges scribe and now printer began to make metal letters using his own handwriting as the font (!) for the letters and then typeset them to print the text in French. For one book in the exhibit, they weren't sure if it was written in his handwriting or had been printed. In all he printed and bound 26 books and most survived!"
I enjoyed it very much. It was a little too energetic for me, but I knew that it would be. Nice group of people. The Rick Steves program has some magical way of turning a group of strangers into friends in just a few days. I also enjoyed interacting with the local people, especially the people in Holland.
"I don't recall a specific moment but I loved learning about and seeing the giant deltaworks flood gates and the Aalsmeer flower auction. I expected to learn how the Dutch protect their land and the people from inundation, but the scale of the flower auction was a complete surprise."
Lake Tapps, WA
Overall I was very happy with our tour guide, the itinerary, the food, culture and friendly locals! Most of the hotels were fun to stay at but I wouldn't have minded paying more to stay in nicer places. This DID NOT change how I felt or enjoyed my experience.
"My "WOW" moment was Flanders Field. I felt I knew a lot about WWII but I didn't know much about WWI. Now I feel better educated about the cause, the struggle, and the reasons."
A wonderful experience - "making memories" for myself and my spouse, my parents and my two college-aged children!
"One moment that has really stayed with me was watching my 20 year-old son contemplate the WWI trenches near Flanders Field - how 100 years ago young men his age were living and fighting for survival there. He told me he learned more about WWI that day than he had ever learned in school."
Liked the small places we stayed and the sites we visited. Thought the folks who guided the visits were excellent.
"Bruge and the lace museum"
The tour was great and we saw things ane went places we would not seen or gone had we been trying to figure it all out ourselves
"Taking a tour of the Flanders Fields cemeteries."
I felt like this was an excellent college course in art, architecture and Northern European history. Our guide was so knowledgable and the local guides were excellent and enthusiastic. They left me wanting to know more. Even our bus driver was an asset, stopping at the North Sea so we could remove our shoes and wade a little. Our guide spoke perfect English and spent time with everyone. Meeting his wife, daughter and "boat" made everyone really connect with our guide. One
"One of my favorite wow moments was the explanation of the dykes system and how willow trees were used in the beginning. Another wow moment was the tour of the war cemeteries."
Potsdam, NY
This was our second of many Rick Steves' tours, and we used the books to plan our Paris vacation about five years ago. Our high expectations are met or exceeded. We embrace the backdoor philosophy so these tours are perfect for us. Wonderful guides and tour members. Saving time is important to us and having easy access to museums and other venues is of great value.
"When my wife and I were alone together in the room with Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring" at the Mauritshuis in The Hague."
Excellent tour. People were friendly (no grumps). Guide (Ellen) was outstanding. I was disappointed that we did not visit an authentic windmill. Otherwise tour content was good. Least favorite stop was the "coffee shop". I hope that stop was made due to popular tour demand instead of Rick's bias for drug legalization. The local guides were all excellent.
"WW1 cemeteries were eye opening and really put a perspective on the horrors of war. The engineering involved with the ship channel closing gate was incredible. Flower market was hard to believe."
A wonderful time with the usual Rick Steves tour crowd. They are enthusiastic, energetic, and deeply interested in the history and culture of the countries we visited.
"Seeing the Delta Works storm surge barrier outside of Rotterdam. It was immense. Learning about how it worked and is used was fascinating to a geeky retired engineer like me."
Our guide, Ellen set a tone of joy and acceptance. Our group was very cohesive and open to all experiences. We not only toured these countries, but tasted the cultures. It was fantastic!
"I particularly like the surprises where we get to taste a specialty of the region (beer, cheese, chocolate, etc.) It is so much more than museums and history (which I love)"
My wife and I had a wonderful time! We had very little idea of what to expect from this region, but we loved everything about the Low Countries. The food was great, the beer quality and variety was second to none, and the places we visited were all so beautiful.
"Our favorite place was definitely Bruges. So picturesque and lovely, and a short bike ride around the city showed even more to appreciate from it. Despite the crowds we competed with, this city was definitely among our favorite."
As in other RS tours, tour was balanced with good mix of organized vs free time, variety of sites, customs or food local to area.
"Delta Works was great, but loved Flanders, Hill 62/Sanctuary Woods, Tyne Cot, and German cemetery."
Scottsdale, MS
Hartsdale, NY
A most enjoyable tour. As with most Rick Steves tours, fast paced, interspersed with free time and time to explore on our own. A good mix of expected traveler's experiences and stuff we would never have thought of or been able to arrange on our own. Going with a RS tour definitely added value to our experiences in Belgium and Holland.
"Always tough to answer. For me it was the WWI trenches and cemeteries. Considering this year is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, seeing the memorials was quite moving."
Enjoyed all of the planned activities and the free time was staggered well.
"Anne Frank House"
Thouroghly enjoyed this tour - Ellen did a fantastic job of putting it all together for us. I especially enjoyed her "history lessons" on the bus and giving us her perspective on the Dutch/Flemish/French/Belgian relationships.
"The Beer!!"
Rafaele
This was everything I would have hoped for and more from this experience. It was my first Rick Steves tour ever and I travelled alone. Everything went so smoothly and every experience was phenomenal. From our tour guide Ellen to each individual local guide that we had, it was a perfect trip.
"Either our canal cruises through Ghent and Amsterdam or our trip through Ypres and seeing all the WWI memorials and graveyards. The German memorial and graveyard site was particularly powerful. The whole town of Bruges as a preserved heritage site was mind blowing and both Belgian cities were gorgeous and interesting."
Overall, very good. Some downsides: - some of the group meals were, at best, okay, e.g., the seaside restaurant at the North Sea. All too loud. - in fact, that entire trip to the North Sea was a junk filler. - only the hotel in Amsterdam had a decent shower. - the strange hotel rooms in Delft hotel fun for ten minutes, then annoying, as not functional - too much tiring standing for long periods. Upsides: good itinerary, though by Delft, I felt I had seen it all already
"Maybe the WWI American Cemetery near Ypres (Flanders). Part of a very moving day. The canal boat ride in Ghent was lots of fun, but the canned spiel of the one in Amsterdam was boring. The MIAT (Museum of Industry and Textile) in Ghent really put the European development of a social contract into context."
Odessa, FL
My husband and I have traveled to Europe many times always using the Rick Steves guidebooks. We were hesitant to try a tour but found it to be absolutely wonderful. Our fellow travelers were kind and like minded as far as the tours emphasis on history and art and our guide, Hilbren, was organized, extremely knowledgeable and a joy to be with.
"As an avid gardener, my favorite was the visit to the Alsmeer flower auction and historical gardens."
Marshall, NC
This was our first trip to Belgium and the Netherlands and I enjoyed the mix of museums, churches, current historical activities and the custom/culture. Too much museum and/or church touring can become stale after a while. I looked forward to the good Belgium beers and was not disappointed. The food was also interesting and good. Enjoyed the Indonesian foods, the seafood, the waffles and frites. All our encounters with the Belgians and Dutch were positive.
"We had many special moments, but my best moment was when we spent some time with a local couple in Bruges, who invited us to join them when we were about to give up looking for a seat at a very popular/crowded Pub. Mikie was tired, exhausted and hungry after walking all morning and into the early afternoon. As we were about to leave the bar, a delightful couple asked us if we wanted to join them. We spent close to 30 minutes talking to them about Bruges and Belgium until they had to leave."
Michaelyn
This was a very balanced tour, with history, art, architecture, food and beer, and even engineering being highlighted at different times. This plus a good group of fellow travelers and a knowlegable and personable guide made for an outstanding tour.
"I can't say that I had one favorite "wow" moment but there were several memorable moments and experiences that I won't forget. The beauty of Ghent and Bruges, especially at night when the buildings were reflected in the canals; seeing Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring at The Hague; having a beer with a couple from Bruges in a pub; seeing the video of Belgian children singing our National Anthem at the Flanders Field American Cemetery (very moving); walking through the Anne Frank House."
Highly enjoyed this tour. Loved both countries. We had surprisingly beautiful, sunny weather. Hilbren was a wonderful guide. The other tour members were interesting, friendly, easy to talk to and often well traveled. Food was delicious especially in Belgium. Enjoyed the typical/expected spots but pleasantly surprised by some extra, more unusual stops a long the way. Appreciated the instruction and guidance that allowed us to be comfortably independent during on our own time.
"Riding a bicycle along a tree lined bike path next to a canal through the Belgium country side from Bruges to Damme. Sitting in an open roof top cafe for lunch to enjoy the sunshine and views. Visiting a working, old fashioned windmill on the ride back to Bruges and climbing a ladder up to the top. A wonderful way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon."
A really good tour with interesting, varied itinerary with several additional activities that were unexpected and added to the whole experience. I enjoyed every one of the tour group participants. Low point was the DePlataan Hotel in Delft (ignoring the quirky décor) that I found to be very lacking in many basics and didn't have a privacy door on the bathroom.
"Wow moments were many, but the WWI sites probably top the list. Others were the Maeslantkering storm surge barrier, Aalsmeer Flower Auction and of course the great art work in the museums."
Even though I traveled extensively through Europe (always using Rick Steves guide books) this was my first tour. I enjoyed the history, the convenience of having hotels and transportation worked out. Hilbren was terrific, as were the guides in the cities we visited; they brought the history alive. I appreciated the mix of scheduled meals and tourist sites with the free time available to explore on my own. I enjoyed meeting and making friends with the others taking the tour.
"The Aalsmeer Flower Market."
The tour was very informative. Hilbren was an excellent tour guide. His knowledge of the history of the two countries we visited and the specific towns was incredible. He laid the foundation of understanding and walked us through the history. The days of travelling on the bus were long but very informative with the places that we saw. We had sufficient time in each location except the memorial to the flood victims after leaving Ghent on the way to Brugge was rushed because of a bridge open.
"The discussion of the Flanders Field battles and how many men all sides lost their lives over very little actual territory. The description by Hilbren while on the bus and at the cemeteries was moving and painted a picture of what it must have looked like at the time. Then seeing the graves including the German mass grave put it all into perspective especially considering the changes in weaponry during the war."
It was a lovely tour. I think my favorites are still the ones in Spain and Italy. Great Art museums and interesting history.
"Flanders Fields"
Well-chosen destinations and experiences. Informative tour guide and local guides. Fun tour group! Tasty food, beer, and chocolate. Observed that many locals get around on bikes. Learned that some Belgians live with daily reminders of WWI and are still grateful to the US. Admired Dutch expertise in controlling water with dikes, dams, and giant floor surge barriers. Experienced the art, history, and waterways of vibrant Amsterdam. And the tulips of Keukenhof - unforgettable!
"Canals. Scenic canal cruises. Views and photos from bridges. Light and reflections on water changing throughout the day. Coffee at a canal-side cafe in Ghent. Art installations along Bruge canals. Leisurely dining aboard small canal barges in Delft. Gorgeous colors of flower beds along the canals of Keukenhof. Walking along quiet side canals in Amsterdam where residents come out to relax in the evening."
I thoroughly enjoyed the Belgium/Holland tour--our guide, the itinerary, hotels, and food.
"So many "wow" moments on this tour - the smells of waffles and chocolate in Ghent, the brilliant engineering of Delta Works dam system and the Keringhuis storm surge barrier, the nine million tulips in the Keukenhof gardens, our visit to the "coffee" shop, even just walking around in a bicycles-everywhere culture!"
Council Bluffs, IA
We enjoyed our first official Rick Steves tour. We've been using Rick's tour books and traveling on our own for several years. We had a small group, so that made our trip even more enjoyable. We had a very friendly and knowledgeable guide in Hans, so we learned so much more than we would have on our own.
"I don't know if this was a 'Wow' moment, but it was surprising to me how much I enjoyed the afternoon touring the WWI memorials. History isn't my favorite subject, but Raoul made learning so much history very enjoyable!"
The trip was fantastic, and I highly recommend all the towns and cities we went to, most of the sights, and our tour guide, Hans de Kiefte.
"We were fortunate to have several "wow' moments. These include: the Keukenhof gardens the outstanding transportation systems in Amsterdam (bike lanes, bike garages, trams everywhere, electric car charging stations everywhere, and of course, the canals) the Harmony hotel in Ghent views from the Bell Tower in Ghent Learning about flooding and water control throughout the Netherlands the art in the Rijks Museum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam"
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed both countries. The history, the culture, the food, and, of course, the beer. We always appreciate the fact that we are given a good overview of a location and then have free-time to explore on our own.
"We had several "wow" moments including the day at the WWI sights, the unexpected tour of the windmill and Keukenhof, and the Guide's hometown."
Great tour. Ellen was a terrific guide. She always had little surprises to enhance our tour experience. The itinerary was all I expected. I liked that we were given the tools to explore on our own like transit and city passes. Also, nothing was skimped on. For example, at the Anne Frank house we had a background lecture as well as the annex tour. Group meals were good and in local restaurants. My only negative is the hotels. Ghent and Bruges were good. Delft awful. Amsterdam barely passable.
"WW1 day. This is one of the reasons I took this tour. All the local guides were very good, but she (Janet?) was exceptional. The tour was very organized chronologically and she made the war come alive. Also the farmhouse lunch was excellent. Other highlights. Smoking a joint in Amsterdam and our meal on our own at the Rock Fort? restaurant in Bruges. One of the owners, Peter, went out of his way to make our meal truly memorable."
This tour was the perfect combination of visual beauty, culture, history and contemporary ingenuity. It expanded my appreciation for these two small countries that often go unnoticed next to their larger, more commanding neighbors.
"Without a doubt, the Keukenhof Gardens. It was even better than my wildest dreams."
Exceeded my expectations...Good people....Good food.
"Children singing USA national anthem at Flanders Field. Waving American flags. I had to walk out of the room...TOUCHING."
Inver Grove Heights, MN
"The gardens were spectacular"
Pontiac, IL
I enjoyed this tour immensely. I loved the canals, bikes, beautiful buildings. Ellen was an awesome guide- funny, knowledgeable, always surprising us with little treats from the area we were in. Flanders Fields was amazing and Deltaworks very interesting. The food was great and plenty of free time to explore on our own. The hotel in Delft was quirky and fun.
"Keukenhof Gardens was completely awesome! The tulips were overwhelmingly beautiful! I would return to that area just to visit there again!"
This was my 5th Rick Steves tour and as always, it did not disappoint. Our guide Ellen was outstanding, the group was congenial, the experiences were exceptional and it left me with memories I will never forget. Can't wait to go on my next Rick Steves tour.
"There were many, but I think the visit to Keukenhof would be one of the highlights of the tour. It was like visiting Disneyland for tulips, and I'm so happy we took the Rick Steves tour at a time when the gardens were open. It is unbelievable how many different varieties of tulips they have, all planted to showcase the beauty of each one. I ordered a package of tulips to be shipped to my home, and I can't wait to see them bloom next year as a reminder of a wonderful trip."
This was my first Rick Steve's tour. I had an exceptional time. Our guide was Alan she was very personable, approachable, and knowledgeable. The hotels were great. It was worth every penny I spent on it.
"My while moment has to be the Keukenhof. We were the last tour to see the tulips and they didn't disappoint. I took so many pictures there because everything was so beautiful"
This was my very first Rick Steves Tour. After viewing his countless programs on PBS stations as well as his DVD's my wife and I were anxious to be able to partake in one. We have done ocean cruising, river cruising, guided land tours and on our own land vacations, nothing is quite the same as Rick's tours. We look forward to another tour in the future.
"The day we spent touring the World War 1 Flanders Fields cemeteries and battlefields. Our local guide was fantastic, knowledgeable and personable. I learned so much more than I already knew. Keukenhof Garden follows a close second."
Very informative and well paced
"The canals were beautiful !"
Another great Rick Steve's tour. Starts with a well planned itinerary and we felt this tour, with the focus on the small towns in the low country (Ghent, Bruges, and Delft), was a relaxing but engaging way to see Belgium and Holland. Of course a great guide makes it all happen, adds the narrative, and turns strangers into friends in the matter of days -- Nina did all that.
"Keukenhof was probably the biggest wow moment (and good planning to get to the park early before the the huge crowds showed up later in the day). Anne Frank house and watching the video of the school children sing at the American cemetery in Flanders Fields were probably the most moving."
We loved the itinerary, the size of the group [20 people was a perfect number], and Nina was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable, funny, tireless and generous with her time. The location of the hotels was very good, although some of the "quirkiness" bordered on "difficult to manage" [e.g. Bruge - the bathrooms were not geared for seniors. We had to navigate high, slippery bathtubs equipped with only a hand-held shower head].
"So, so many... One that comes to mind is seeing the seeing Van Eyck's wonderful altarpiece in St. Bavo's Cathedral, then heading to the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts, where we were able to watch skilled artisans restoring some of the panels of this beautiful medieval work of art. Another: wandering through Keukenhof at the height of tulip season was an spectacular, almost mesmerizing experience. And roaming through picturesque Ghent and Bruge, among buildings that are 500-800 years old - Wow!"
Waukegan, IL
As always, I'm impressed by the Rick Steve's tour experience. They have timing down to a science which allows us to be the first groups in or arrive right before closing when there are the fewest other tourists. I loved my time in Belgium and Holland! Ghent and Delft were my favorite cities, mostly because I really felt like we had a home base in each city. This coziness was provided by exceptional local guides and our incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, Nina.
"The day we spent at the Keukenhof was a WOW moment. The gardens were overwhelmingly beautiful. The different types of tulips and the sheer number that were planted took my breath away. The artistry displayed in flowers really brought tears to my eyes. The other WOW moment was the art we saw. It was simply phenomenal. Jan van Eyck and the Ghent altarpiece was transformational."
The balance of guided time and free time seemed about right. Nina's orientation to things was excellent. She helped create a sense of fellowship among us. There was no problem finding people in the group with which to share time. Bus driver was quite good, both as a driver and personally. We were seeing all these places for the first time and the trip exceeded our expectations.
"One was the day driving along the Dutch coast, learning about flood control, the water surge barrier, etc. Seeing what they are doing to protect the land they have was informative. The Rijksmuseum was a highlight, as was the day in Flanders Field area...sobering but a reminder of what we humans too often do to each other. The American cemetery made me aware of the USA commission that cares for these cemeteries outside the USA."
This is my 6th Rick Steves' Tour and all our guides have been very good. However, Nina was outstanding. I especially enjoyed Nina's humor and organizational skills. Her knowledge of Belgium and Holland was amazing-provided insights that enhanced my understanding of both countries.
"Flanders Battlefields-especially Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial Watersnood Museum and Maesiant Storm Surge Barrier Rijksmuseum-our local guide, Robert, was exceptional. Keukenhof-amazing. Surprise of the Tour. Anne Frank House. Van Gogh Museum"
"Hard to say, each place we went what interesting. Flanders Fields was unexpected and very moving. Guide was great. Loved learning about the dutch environment and technology and their forward thinking ways. Delft and Ghent were small enough that I enjoyed being in those places very much."
It was amaging to visit the medieval villages Ghent, Bruges and Delft and experience the art and history there. Loved the interaction with the other tour guests. The list goes on. The flowers in Keukenhof alone made for an outstanding trip. The museums, the specialty guides and our tour guide Nina all contributed to a very enjoyable 11 days. The WWI visit was moving. Of course Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum were a wow. I could go on writing for hours but you have got to go in person.
"Maybe Flanders field..maybe the Van Gogh art ..maybe the canals..maybe the Anne Frank visit..maybe the beer and chocolate etc."
This was a wonderful combination of a dynamic, unflappable guide, great group of travelers, and a variety of experiences involving history, art, and cultural specialties like chocolate, beer and bulbs, pottery and fabric and how their production have become important to the economy of these small countries. There was a very fine-tuned balance of group time and free time.
"Many wonderful moments on this trip, as I love art history and we saw many treasures in churches and museums and the historic sites of Flanders Field and the Anne Frank house were meaningful and sobering. But no question, the biggest WOW was the Keukenhof Garden. It was stupendous, beyond belief, and the continuing and unfolding displays of flowers, landscape features, and sculptures made it the winner of the WOW contest."
We had a very nice time; good group of people and a great tour guide. We really enjoy these tours.
"tulips!"
Kenmore, WA
The tour experience was very good. Our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, the food was great, the hotels ranged from beautiful to quirky (but good), and the tour sites were some of the best you'll see in Europe.
"We took a side trip to The Hague to visit the Mauritshuis Museum. Standing alone in front of Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earing" without jostling with hundreds of other tourists was a "Wow" moment. Try that with the Mona Lisa. Also, our visit to the Maelant Storm Surge Barrier was amazing."
Ashland, OR
Loved the history of World War I and the trenches. The tulips and the Keukonoff (sp) park was fabulous. Rolinka was outstanding and very much fun as a guide
"The water protection system in the Netherlands"
This tour had so many different places to visit from wonderful museums and art to battlefields to medieval cities and so much more. I love all the history that is involved with this tour and to learn and see in person is so much fun. Also to experience local traditions, the regional foods and mingle with the locals is such a bonus to travel. The guide books are well written and we use the maps,restaurant suggestions and city walks. We had a great group of tour people.
"The Keukenhof Gardens were amazing. I have been here before but still there is this thing about beautiful, colorful flowers in a huge garden that brings so much tranquility to ones self. The day included some rain but that just enhances the beauty of the garden. So glad to have taken the tour when the gardens were in their height of glory."
Belden, MS
It was fabulous!!! Rolinka was amazing! I was not that interested in the water system, but everything else was great.
"Definitely Keukenhof Gardens!!!!!!! It is the reason we went on the trip, and it was MUCH MORE than I expected!I also loved Bruges."
"My favorite "wow" moment was climbing up into a tall windmill in Bruges, which was set up to operate with rigging like a sailboat."
This tour was everything I expected it to be. The distance between all the cities we visited were such short distances. The hotels were all great. The most distinctive décor I had was in our room in Delft. It was decorated with a theme of Delft Pottery. I enjoyed having Rolinka as our tour guide. She is a great guide and provided us with all the necessary learning experiences we could have. She provided excellent information on what to do, where to go, and places to eat when we were on our own.
"I had so many great moments on this tour. I enjoyed seeing the Ghent Alter Piece, Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring, Michael Angelo's Madonna and Child sculpture in Bruges, and I think my ultimate favorite moments were seeing all the flowers at Keukenhof flower gardens. Just gorgeous! The flowers in the field's around Keukenhof were fabulous as well."
Auburn, CA
I enjoyed touring the medieval cities, canals, gardens, museums and sampling the beer, waffles and chocolate. The day at the Keukenhof was amazing in spite of light rain. So much color and variety! Our tour guide, Rolinka, paired me with a wonderful roommate and all the hotels were great, even the quirky one in Delft. I liked the stop in Zeeland and the storm surge barrier was interesting, but very windy outside. The museums in Amsterdam were special. All meals were great.
"Its tough to pick one, but the exhibit at the Van Gogh museum was great. I'm an artist so I loved all the art museums, including the Mauritshuis in The Hague. The guide for the Rijks Museum was excellent also."
Very fast paced , very good history information. There was something for everyone. Limited bus time, which is good. Outstanding tour. Rolinka was very knowledgeable about the con tries, especially the Netherlands.
"The Architecture, especially the Art Nouveau designs in Amsterdam. And of course the acres and acres of bicycles at the train station in Amsterdam and all over that city, fiete!!, Brom fiete!!. Another wow moment was drinking a bottle of Westvleteren 12 beer in Brussels prior to the tour. Have you had one Rick? Another wow moment was seeing all the windmills and thinking about how many there used to be."
"Tulips"
I enjoyed the museums, Flanders fields, and FLOWERS!
"Flanders fields...to my surprise."
Another great tour with a great tour guide and great tourists.
"The tulips at Keukenhof and Flanders' Field."
I had not been on a tour in 20 years because the first one I went on (with another company) was not good. I have recommended Rick Steves' Tours to everyone I know since I returned home. Rolinka was an excellent tour guide. She went out of her way to make the tour special for us. She was always looking for ways to give us the options for more experiences. She was knowledgeable, smart, kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. I would go on another tour with her to anywhere. She is that good.
"There were many "wow" moments so its hard to say which one was the most memorable. I had been to almost all the places we went to before but the additional information, the out of the way places, knowing which restaurants, and the information shared were all very memorable. I was fascinated by the water management system in The Netherlands and that trip taught me a lot about the technical stuff done to maintain land and prevent flooding but the knowledge I learned about culture, values was best."
This experience was another rave for the Rick Steve's model. I do think your tours are developing cult status and deservedly so. I've thought and thought and have no ideas about what could be different. I saw the art I have longed to see. The four cities on the tour were perfect and distinctive and we saw all the must-see sites.
"The Ghent Altarpiece. The Kukenhof Gardens were a bonus."
I really enjoyed this tour. There were so many different things to see, history to learn, food to sample, and very nice group of fellow travelers. Museums, artwork, architecture, Delftware, chocolate, canal cruises, cheese tasting, Flanders Field history, Kings Day celebrations, windmills, storm surge barrier, waffles, Anne Frank house, and much more. Excellent guides brought these things to life, so we could understand why we are seeing these places and things.
"Keukenhof. This was my second time there, and it was just as "wow" as the first time, because different flowers were blooming. My previous visit was earlier in the spring. Even with the mobs of tourists, it was a beautiful place on a drizzly day. The tulips planted with other flowers make wonderful displays. Wow. I said that many times that day! It was nice to explore on our own at our own pace. We saw some big groups in a line going through, which would not be fun. Glad we went early."
Greenback, TN
Always a great experience, we love the RS tours for the complete package - history, art, food, people, Europe! This was no exception. Beautiful canals, spring flowers, King's Day in Delft, a marvelous guide, and Belgian chocolates and beer!
"Keukenhof! Even more beautiful than we expected!"
This is my third RS Tour and it certainly lived up the high expectations I had after the first two. I was particularly interested in the historical aspects, especially the visit to Flanders Fields and was awed by that sobering experience. Nina is a fantastic and well-organized guide and told us many wonderful stories about the people and the culture. We were also lucky to have fantastic weather and the tulips were in full bloom. A good selection of the four cities we visited. Good group too!
"My wow moments range from the sobering, Flanders Fields, to the sublime, Keukenhof Gardens with the tulips in full bloom. Seeing the graves of so many men (and women) as well as remaining trenches emphasized the horror of all wars, but WWI in particular. And a few days later enjoying the splendor of the gardens reminded us of the beauty in our world."
This was my first trip with Rick Steves. I had some apprehensions about the pace of the tour, being a senior citizen, but all went well. Cobblestones and uneven streets are challenging, but I was able to do it. We had a nice mix of educational opportunities and social events. Nina was an excellent guide and very accommodating.
"European churches and their art and statutes. Michelangelo's Madonna was awesome. The ladies in the Lace Center were amazing with their craft. The natural beauty of the area was wonderful. The Keukenhof Gardens were gorgeous!"
This was our first and probably our last Rick Steve's tour. Even though you get a lot of "bang for your buck" on this tour, we need a less structured, more layed-back vacation.
"The museums, the flowers, the dam at Hook van Holland, Flanders field, and the sink at the hotel in Delft (I wish I could attach a photo!)"
We had a great group on this tour, and our guide, Nina, was funny and informative. We appreciated the small towns and out of the way places we visited. It was a great combination of history, science, culture and food in places we had never been.
"It's hard to choose, as always. I thought the Netherlands waterworks was a real "wow" moment, but the Keukenhof Gardens have to be the winner. Over 7 million bulbs, and Nina got us in first thing in the morning and told us to start at the back before the crowds got there. Great advice! We practically had that area to ourselves for an hour. Absolutely stunning gorgeous flower displays."
The tour had an excellent balance of time and activities in each town, and the tours provided an excellent overview of the key things that stand out in the town and area. Providing a full free day half-way through the tour in Bruges (at a hotel that offered cheap laundry service!) was an excellent break in a beautiful city on a beautiful, sunny day.
"Walking through the market square in Bruges at night, past the soaring belfry, and hearing the college cantus in the courtyard belting out international favorites while they drank the night away. Walking through the Anne Frank house was very emotional, especially seeing her room with the photos still pasted on the walls. Keukenhof on a brilliantly sunny day, arriving when the doors opened so there was little traffic, was breathtaking."
My hopes for the tour focused on tulips, canals and art. My experience met or exceeded expectations. And our tour guide Nina was wonderful. Overall another great Steve's tour.
"The Keukenhof Gardens were a highlight for me, but the art galleries were also amazing."
It was an overall great experience. The itinerary was perfect, people in the group fun, Nina always on her toe. I came home appreciating much about Belgium and Holland. The only not-great thing was I thought we were not always good travelers. We were loud in churches; we blocked thruways; we hogged spots in front of attractions. When I am traveling with a group, I pick Rick Steves over other tours because I feel the groups are more aware of the surroundings. This trip I wasn't sure we were.
"There were certainly many memorable moments – the Madonna of Bruges, the Keukenhof – and many moving moments – the Anne Frank House, Hill 62. But if I am to be honest, my favorite "wow" moments involved Belgian beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries, in that order!"
Our second Rick Steves tour did not disappoint. Nina was a great guide with knowledge and experience about Belgium and Holland and gave us the background needed to learn and appreciate these countries. The local guides were also informative and interesting. I enjoyed the cities we visited-- all beautiful and full of character with churches, museums and CANALS and so much to learn about them.! Also enjoyed the company of fellow RS travelers.
"Flanders Fields and Keukenhof Gardens stand out as the most impressive parts of the trip. The cemeteries we visited were sobering with Andre as our terrific guide. The gardens were the reason we picked this tour at this time and they did not disappoint! Absolutely stunning in size and layout of the gardens with the explosion of color and variety. Perfect weather just enhanced the visit."
Experiencing the Dutch and Belgian cities, exploring their numerous museums was wonderful. The food, drink and scenery were all much enjoyed. The local knowledge imparted by the guides was a big plus. Now that some time has passed and I've had time to reflect, seeing Flanders Fields, the trenches and the graveyards was the heart of the tour for me.
"Though the Tulips were beautiful and the museums and streets of Ghent, Bruges, Delft and Amsterdam were wonderful, the time at Fanders Fields will be with me forever. Andre' was the perfect guide for the subject matter."
We had a wonderful time with a good balance of scheduled activities and free time. Nina was an excellent guide and the local guides were also very good.
"Keukenhof gardens was spectacular and our timing was perfect. Nina and our driver, John got us there early before the crowds slammed in. Now if we could just keep the other 100,000 visitors out of garden..."
This Tour easily met the high expectations we had based on our two previous Rick Steves tours. We were incredibly fortunate to have glorious temeweather the entire trip. I particularly enjoyed the quaint, charming architecture and canals, The WWI sites at Flanders Fields, the Delta works, Keukenhof, the art, and all the excint in Amsterdam. (In other words, the entire trip!) There was a perfect balance of structured and free time. Our guide Rolinka was key to our enjoyment of this trip
"We chose this trip specifically to visit Keukenhof at tulip time, but we never in our wildest dreams expected the beautiful warm sunny day we had there! It was truly spectacular."
Our tour was expertly guided by Rolinka. We saw all of the highlights we wished for and many we would have missed on our own. We had adequate time to explore on our own to balance the times we were together. Local guides were all of Rick Steve's tour quality (outstanding). All in all, we enjoyed it very much.
"Walking into the room where Rembrandt's "Night Watch" was displayed. or maybe... The sunny day we spent at the tulip garden. Hard to pick just one or two."
great trip, wonderful guide, interesting and friendly tour mates
"the garden, the North Sea, all the art museums"
Kirtland, OH
Excellent value for the money. Rolinka kept us moving, and we saw/did things we wouldn't normally have done under own power(like the storm surge barrier and Watersnood). But that's the beauty of Rick Steves tours! Fun, learning, experiencing - all good stuff.
"I knew I'd love the Keukenhof Gardens (the main reason for choosing this tour) and the Belgian chocolate tasting. The "wow" surprise, though, was the great lunch at a country inn on the Flanders Field Day. The host was very charming, told wonderful stories, and showed us his museum of war materials pulled from his fields. Plus I adored his friendly dog."
TheWife and I had a GREAT time. She has filled out this questionaire very well, so I can be lazy and just make a few comments, other than I agree with everything she's said.
This was our first tour with Rick Steves, and it was even better than we had hoped! The tour had a nice balance between structured group time and individual free time. Rolinka is a top-notch guide -- very warm, funny, professional, and knowledgeable about the areas we visited. She seemed to know all the hidden courtyards and gardens that we never would have found on our own. The local guides gave us an excellent first-hand perspective on life in Belgium and the Netherlands.
"So many, but the three that made the biggest impression: 1.) The heartbreaking epitaphs on the gravestones at the Tyne Cot WW1 Cemetery, 2.) The "Blue River" of grape hyacinths at Keukenhof Gardens, and 3.) "Still Life with a Gilt Cup" by Willem Claesz Heda in the Rijksmuseum."
Hotels were great. People on the tour were really nice. Rolinka, our tour guide was very informed. Good mixture of different cities and sights.
"Maeslant storm surge barrier, Keukenhof Gardens and the Beer!"
2nd Rick Steves Tour & it didn't disappoint. Rolinka was an awesome tour guide, informative & most helpful. Ronnie our bus driver was most diligent to protect our safety in a timely manner. Our tour of 26 people were well taken care of and enjoyed many fun times together & adventures on our own. Belgian & Holland are lovely countries and we were most welcome by their people. Yummy beer, chocolates, waffles, boat rides, wind mills and tulips made this trip one for the ages.
"Michelangelo's sculpture, Madonna and Child in Bruges. Keukenhof Gardens was a beautiful sea of spring-flowering bulbs...breathtaking! The Anne Frank House with the tour and the 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue on our own were moving beyond words."
The tour guide always makes or breaks a tour. Rolinka made this tour memorable and fun. She's a pro! The itinerary was a perfect blend of geography, history, culture, arts and eats. Well paced and comprehensive.
"What else.....Keukenhof Gardens!"
We had a great time. Rolinka was a great tour guide. Wonderful to have someone who lead us who was a native of one of the countries. She was extremely helpful and caring with any/all personal/travel issues that arose during the trip. She shared her life with us as we shared ours with her. In general the lodging, meals and city & museum tours met or exceeded our expectations.
"Hard for me to answer. Saw and did so many great things. I guess the Indonesian dinner in Amsterdam really blew us away."
Loved the personal touch and attention throughout the tour. Rolinka's knowledge about the places and engagement with the individuals in the group made every day totally enjoyable. The itinerary seemed perfect, with just the right amount of time allocated to each city and activity. Free time was thoughtfully and adequately interspersed. Would like to have had a proper shower in the hotel in Bruges, but this wasn't our first experience with a European style bathroom so we adapted.
"Both my wife and I were stunned by the variety and beauty of the tulips. That was the primary reason for us booking this trip and we were not disappointed."
Enjoyed the sights and the tour guide. I appreciated the choices for hotel and locations. Our guide was exactly what she said she was - informative, direct, and there for us.
"Keukenhof"
The trip was a highly enjoyable experience. Our guide Ellen and her assistant Soraya were both extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Our travel companions were wonderful and inclusive and we all shared lots of stories and laughs. The pace of the trip was comfortable, the learning experiences were rewarding, and the group dinners and lunches were quite good. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this trip.
"My WOW moment was chocolate...I never saw so many chocolate stores! For a chocolate lover, I was in heaven! On a more serious note, seeing the cemeteries in Ypres was very moving. I learned so much about this period in history. The Anne Frank House and the Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam were also very thought provoking. I really enjoyed strolling around Ghent in the evening. The buildings were lit and so beautiful! Lots of wow moments for me!"
Fairhaven, MA
This was our second Rick Steves tour and did not disappoint. We especially liked the diversity of experiences, providing us with a fuller understanding of the history and culture of Belgium and Holland. The pace was excellent, our travel companions were very compatible, and the local guides were universally excellent.
"There were too many to single out just one. Highlights for me included the architecture and art of the region, the lovely canals and the moving experiences related to WWI and WWII, especially Flanders Fields and the Ann Frank House. As always in Europe, love the cafe culture."
Cohoes, NY
The trip to Belgium and Holland had been on my list for quite a while. Arriving in Ghent to our hotel on the canal provided an exclamation point to my anticipation of the trip. I loved the small town feel of Ghent, Bruges, and Delft as well as the architectural delights of the medieval cities. The hot chocolate warmed my heart as did the casual conversations we had with local people. Members of the tour group were so pleasant as well.
"What impressed me was the long term remembrances of the Belgians and the Dutch who have been keeping alive the life experiences of WWI and WWII battles as well as their appreciation for the assistance they received from their allies. Continuing to hold final call in Ypers for 100 years and young people adopting grave sites in Flanders Field was so touching."
"The WWI cementaries and monuments. I have a new appreciation of that part of America history. We found Boulevard Brewing beer sold in Ghent! It's made in Kansas City, MO. That's where we are from. Belgium bought the craft beer brewing company from KC!"
It was good. As usual, a few things I didn't think would be fun (flower market) were a blast. Would recommend it.
"Seeing the Vermeer paintings in the Hague (on free time) and in Amsterdam."
This was a good tour, not exceptional however as were our previous Rick Steve's tours. There were lovely sights to see in Ghent and Bruge. The Delft waterworks were impressive; The Delft hotel Plantaan absolutely was not. All the local guides and demonstrations were terrific. And Amsterdam was very interesting.
"The canals of Ghent and Bruge were lovely, and the Delft Waterworks were impressive."
Dix Hills, NY
The tour was well organized and covered a good cross section of the low country. There were sobering moments as well as moments to appreciate fine art and Dutch engineering. The guide was fantastic and the hotels were comfortable and centrally located within walking distance to all city centers.
"I think my favorite wow moment was the visit to the Anne Frank house. It was a sobering reminder of how cruel and inhumane humans can be to one another. It reminds us that we cannot allow things like this to happen on this earth. I was particularly moved by the video of the woman telling, in her own words, the illicit barbed wire fence meeting she had with Anne while Anne was imprisoned in the camp before she died."
This was a part of Europe that I have not visited before except Amsterdam in the early 70s. The tour guides and local guides were excellent.
"The water control installations in Holland and their enormity."
Guerneville, CA
We went to Belgium and Holland without a great deal of expectations. Belgium was gonna be about the beer and Holland about controlling water. Being canal countries there was lots to photograph. For people expecting to spend a lot of time on the bus, this was a different experience. We were at the same hotel a couple of times for three nights.
"The day we spent in Holland touring the water control facilities was exceptional. There was a problem with the bus in the morning which cost us an hour and a half that could not be made up but this was still the most interesting day of the tour."
Every once in a while, I say we should do a different tour. Well we tried an Alaska tour, and the guides were students for the summer they had boned up. The bus had only one door, the tours were just not inspiring. And I look at the itinerary, they may look the same at first, but seldom have those little surprises - the out of the way farm, or visit. We will be back for our 11th and 12th.
"The visit to the amazing dam in The Netherlands (I still can't figure out the name of it) was a wow moment for me. Understanding the entire water system, how it works, what it does, and how that small country is planning and building for the future. (Although we were disappointed to have so little time at the dam as the bus was lost for an hour). But there were many wow moments in those adorable small towns, Amsterdam was a shock at first after that, but soon became familiar. A general WOW"
Rocky River, OH
Met and exceeded all expectations I had from watching the R. Steves video of this trip. Very well organized. Your company is really selling "Trust". Trust that all aspects of the trip will efficiently occur as planned. Well done.
"This may surprise you but the first image that comes to mind is the charming historical flower farm. I am a landscape artist and avid flower gardener and this farm spoke to my heart. This trip was like a rapidly moving stream of consciousness with visual images that I could not completely absorb. I wanted to see everything I read about and thus find it difficult to rank one sight over others. The great gates that hold back the North Sea; the flower market for its size and scale."
This was truly a wonderful tour, so well-organized and informational. We visited lovely cities and learned so much about the fascinating history and current affairs of this very interesting, beautiful part of Europe. Our guide Hilbren was excellent. THE BEST!!! Being a history professor, he provided such a wealth of cultural and historical background about each location. The local guides were also great, especially: Gabriele in Ghent and Robert Uterwijk at the Rijkmuseum.
"Arriving at Ghent and looking out from the balcony in our lovely hotel room. This is such a beautiful, romantic city, and not as touristic as Bruges. People were very friendly and the food was fantastic. Other WOW moments were: the Delta works in Holland, the chocolate tasting in Bruges and the tour of the Rijkmuseum by Robert Uterwijk. He is so knowledgeable in art history and did such a wonderful presentation. This museum also has a beautiful old library. I highly recommend it for book lovers."
Very enjoyable - a great learning experience - well guided - many times surprising - comfortable, yet challenging - transformative.
"Learning about the history and development of the Netherlands and its culture."
This tour was an valued experience as I learned so much more about the conflict of two World Wars that took a toll on so many. Standing in Flanders Fields on a drizzling afternoon under chilly gray skies gave me the opportunity to thank the many who are memorialized at each white marble grave site. It is honorable of the Belgium and Netherland people to not have forgotten.
"I found my way to Rembrandt's House to visit after seeing his work in the Rijksmuseum. It was amazing to be standing in his studio and actually see how he made his paints by grinding the powders from precious stones, and see the paint brushes that he held to apply strokes of beauty to a canvas. I could not believe that I was sharing in the space that he once occupied."
Very well organized. Yet again a top notch tour guide with a splendid background in history, artchitecture and art. Local guides were very bit as good as our tour leader.
"My "wow" moments are never the ones I expect. They are always the unexpected. This trip, expecting the art to the highlight,I was wowed by the way the Low Countries were able to control the North Sea."
Every day was a surprise and a delight. Loved spending most of our time in beautiful and historical places and not on the bus. This tour has so much going for it. The people we traveled with were the best.
"Anne Frank house was very moving. WWI day in Flanders and Ypres was incredibly informative--seeing the trenches, learning about the war being fought in those very fields should be required for every citizen."
Fredric
Despite some rainy days, I especially enjoyed the company of our tour group, a lot of friendly, open minded and helpful people. The museum tours were great, with outstanding guides and impressive works of art. The trips to Ypres, Flanders' Field, the trenches were all very moving as was the visit to the Anne Frank House. Seeing the challenges that face the Low Countries with managing all the water was very eye-opening, things I thought I realized but not to this extent.
"I would say there were two of them: the Maeslant storm surge barrier and the Alsmeer Flower Auction. The storm surge barrier was visited on a rainy, windy day and made us appreciate the necessity of it. The flower auction was impressive for all of its organized chaos."
Our fellow travelers were the best...no friction, all respectful. Amsterdam was chaotic...no helping that, I suppose. We saw a lot of interesting things, with time provided to explore on our own. Typical of other RS tours we've taken. Would recommend it!
"We have traveled extensively in Europe, so much of their history, architecture and art are shared. We were WOW'd by the Royal FloraHolland and the Keringhuis waterworks visits."
I loved the medieval cities, learning about the culture, history and how people lived then and now. Our guides were a treasure chest of information and such enjoyable company. I enjoyed the pace (2-3 nights in each hotel), the mix of hotels and especially the bikes available for our use at our hotel in Bruges.
"I wouldn't call it a "wow" moment, as in pleasant surprise, but I believe that we were all deeply affected by the history we learned and experienced around Flanders Field and Ypres."
In this tour, I especially valued learning about the complicated history of these two countries. I also acquired a new appreciation for the outstanding quality of the art and architecture of these regions in the late middle ages (in Belgium) and the 17th century (in the Netherlands). We saw and did many things, were on the go all the time, and yet I now have the feeling that we only scratched the surface of the richness that permeates those regions. This tour was an excellent introduction.
"I remember feeling strongly the great beauty of the "night watch" by Rembrandt as displayed at the far end of the long gallery in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I had a similar feeling when I came upon the St John altarpiece by Memling in the former hospital in Bruges."
This was my first time travelling in a group tour and I was amazed at the wide range of things covered to satisfy a diverse group of people. Travelling alone or as a couple, I would not have chosen some of the items on the tour and would have missed out on some wonderful experiences.
"I was wowed by the visit to the Royal FloraHolland. The sheer size plus the hive of activity was unexpected and fantastic!"
Mukilteo, WA
It was a delight to learn about and explore Belgium and the Netherlands [INVALID] especially with such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide from the region. The Rick Steves Tour format affords the best of a social, personal, aesthetic and didactic experience. I liked the variety of activities of this tour, involving not only history, artwork and churches, but interesting current endeavors such as the flower distribution plant, lovely small organic garden, and water management engineering.
"Several... The sheer beauty of the canals with the fascinating houses lining them; the consistently fresh and good-tasting food; and the opportunity to develop new views on the social and political structures, history and artwork of Belgium and the Netherlands. Oh, and our guide Hilbren's mussels cooking demo!"
There were a plethora of pleasures - opportunities to learn. to taste excellent food and drink, to see great art, and to relax, talk, and laugh in good company.
"I had expected to admire the van Eyck and Memling altar pieces but I was astounded by their beauty. There were two Holbein portraits of men with falcons in the Mauritshuis that were stunning. The Vermeers took my breath away, There was a once in five year medieval inspired parade in Bruges that was a spectacular cavalcade of color."
The tour was awesome. Perfect. Hilbren, our guide, was friendly, totally knowledgeable, helpful. Everything one would want in a guide. The tour sites were fantastic, as were the local guides. Hotels were perfect. And my fellow tourists were super friendly. I travel without a partner, but I never was at a loss for dinner partners.
"When I first arrived in Ghent, seeing the 'Dutch architecture'. The narrow canal houses along the canals. Also, the streets of Amsterdam! I live in Manhattan, NY. I have never experienced such difficult streets to walk on and cross! All the bicycles! And of course, the canal rides in Amsterdam and Ghent."
My tenth tour was as expected-great. Nina was a wonderful, extremely well organized guide.We had the right amount of free time which we don't always get. Hotels were small, local, in location close to transportation, which we quickly got the hang of or walk-able to city center. I did not enjoy the Indonesian dinner. It was 75% meat and other members felt the same way. Love getting in early before the crowds or having the pass that lets us in the other door.All guides and Henri were great.
"Bruges is the place to go. Beautiful architecture. Wander around and find more and more houses that are works of art. Canal rides show you scenes you can't see from the street. So old it puts your imagination to work to see the way it use to be."
Lovely trip. Nina was a terrific, knowledgeable and attentive guide. Other guides were great, for the most part, especially those in the art museums. The group was made up of nice people. We visited lots of interesting sites including the wonderful medieval cities in Belgium and the WWI sites, the flood and water management sites in the Netherlands and the contrasting frantic pace in Amsterdam and its fabulous museums. Driver, Henri, was also first rate.
"Hard to choose one, but among the highlights were Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, WWI trenches and Ghent (before it was overrun by the prep for the festival)."
Simi Valley, CA
It was my first tour and I found the amount of time that is scheduled and free to be balanced.
"GHent, the hotel and town were perfect."
Belgium / Brussels
Holland / Amsterdam
In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in your online customer account. About one month prior to the tour departure, in your customer account you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour.
Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you.
Most tour members arrange to fly into Brussels and out of Amsterdam ("multicity" on flight-booking websites). The Brussels airport is a 1 to 1½ -hour train ride from Ghent where the tour begins. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Europe.
We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves guidebook.
Ghent to Amsterdam
This is a moderately active tour! Most days are moderately paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including some hills and stairs.