• Ghent
  • Belgian Chocolate Tasting
  • Bruges Canals
  • Delft
  • Spring Flowers in Holland
  • Canal bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Amsterdam's Gabled Houses
  • Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
  • Pickled Herring!

Tour Questions? See our FAQ | Email [email protected]

Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour

from $3,795 per person + air

Single Supplement $875

See Dates & Prices

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 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 spectacular Rijksmuseum. Join us for the Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days!

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Dates & Prices

2024

    • Jun 26–Jul 6 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • Mar 20–Mar 30 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Mar 27–Apr 6 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 1–Apr 11 (Mo–Th)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 3–Apr 13 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 8–Apr 18 (Mo–Th)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 10–Apr 20 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 15–Apr 25 (Mo–Th)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 17–Apr 27 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 22–May 2 (Mo–Th)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • Apr 24–May 4 (We–Sa)
    • $4,145 + Air

    Visits Keukenhof Gardens in lieu of Aalsmeer Flower Auction

    • May 22–Jun 1 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • May 29–Jun 8 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • Jun 5–Jun 15 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • Jun 12–Jun 22 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • Sep 4–Sep 14 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

    • Sep 11–Sep 21 (We–Sa)
    • $3,795 + Air

What's Included

You'll get at least 19 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Belgium & Holland tour:

  • Ghent canal cruise
  • Ghent walking tour
  • St. Bavo's Cathedral
  • Ghent Museum of Industry
  • Flanders Fields WWI sites
  • Bruges walking tour
  • Church of Our Lady
  • 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 (when available)
  • Delftware demonstration
  • Aalsmeer Flower Auction
  • Amsterdam canal cruise
  • Historic Amsterdam tour
  • Anne Frank House
  • Rijksmuseum

Plus you'll get all this, too.

  • A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
  • 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 group transportation from Ghent to Amsterdam
  • 10 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
  • All breakfasts and 5 other meals
  • All tips for guides and driver
  • A tour kit including a guidebook (when available) and a moneybelt
  • Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
  • Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
  • Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

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.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Belgium

Our adventure begins in medieval Ghent. We'll gather at our hotel at 3 p.m. for an introduction meeting, then hop aboard a fun and informative canal cruise through the city. Our evening ends with a traditional Belgian dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Boat: 1 hour. No bus. Sleep in Ghent.

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'll 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.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Ghent.

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.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Bruges.

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 visit to the towering Church of Our Lady. Our morning 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.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Bruges.

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.

Light to strenuous walking (your choice). No bus. Sleep in Bruges.

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 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.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Delft.

Day 7: Delectable Delft

This morning we'll take a walking tour with a local who will give us a personal introduction to Vermeer's hometown, including the massive, Gothic New Church (when available), 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 to take a short tram ride to The Hague — where you can view paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens at the Mauritshuis — or travel back to an 1880 seaside at the Panorama Mesdag.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Delft.

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'll end our day with a traditional rijsttafel dinner together.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Amsterdam.

Day 9: Vibrant and Historic Amsterdam

This morning, we'll get chummy with Amsterdam's gabled houses, bridges, and canals while learning why the Golden Age glimmered so brightly here. We'll take a historic tour 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. The rest of the day is yours to tackle any number of Amsterdam's wonderful museums.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Amsterdam.

Day 10: Amsterdam's Art

We'll start the day with a thrill: getting up-close and personal with the Dutch masters 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!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Amsterdam.

Day 11: Tour Over After Breakfast

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!

 

*Reserve a time before you leave the US

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Physical Demands

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…

  1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks), on and off public transportation, and up stairways to reach your hotel.
  2. 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.
  3. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Reviews

Kevin

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed with 2 things - we went places that I would not normally go and really enjoyed them, and the quality of the individual tour guides, they were all exceptional, well-informed, and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of great moments but the "attraction" that I was most impressed with was the flower distribution center, once again a place I would not normally stop at but it was very interesting to see."

Mike

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Vary enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of the Holland flower exchange"

Kristin

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, outstanding RS tour. Loved Belgium and Neatherlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gosh, so many. Always “wows” around the next corner, next location or next local guide."

Deborah

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nico was an outstanding guide. He was so responsive and encouraging as a tour leader. He really took time to get to know everyone personally.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I came on this tour for the art which was a wow but have to say seeing the flood risk gates at the port of Rotterdam was an unexpected wow."

Lucinda

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is Barry Dreher, husband of Lucinda Dreher. I am wondering why Lucinda (Cindy) was invited to complete a tour survey, but I was not. Cindy WILL be completing her survey, but I copied it over to my email so I could participate in my own words. I really liked this tour and learning of the history of Belgium, Flanders fields, and parts of The Netherlands outside of Amsterdam, although getting to know Amsterdam better than in my previous visits was interesting as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The WWI fields of Flanders and the Ypres area. The various cemeteries, and what WWI did to the countryside."

Jan

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Interesting sites to visit, great group of people to travel with, guide was awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to Anne Frank home"

Marta

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed all of the tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields. Didn't expect to be so moved."

Karen

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We participated in 11 days in Belgium and Holland. Our tour guide was Nico. The overall experience from the minute we signed up until the last day was exceptional. We were advised what to do when to prepare, we saw things I never thought I would enjoy seeing, we met amazing people, the pace was great, and Nico was absolutely stellar. He made the trip for us. We are in our early 50s and the average age of this tour was much higher which worried us at first, but proved to be no problem at all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We saw so much it is hard to remember. The overall beauty of Ghent, biking to and visiting Damme from Bruges, the lunch in Flanders and the impact of the cemeteries (which surprised me), and the flower factory! Nico as well was a "wow" moment overall."

Elizabeth

Tour: 09/13/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nico was an excellent guide, and I appreciate a wide variety of things to see beyond the normal tourist sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields and the excellent local guide we had. "

Patricia

Tour: 09/06/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is a less showy tour than some of the RS tours that have outstanding scenery, castles, and sites so famous they seem familiar but an excellent and enjoyable tour nevertheless.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the day devoted to Ypres/Flanders Fields and having lunch at a local farm and seeing the artifacts of war the farmers have collected from their fields over the years. The Maeslant storm surge barrier was an engineering marvel and much more interesting than I anticipated. An even bigger wow moment was the flower auction - watching people and tow motors scurrying around the vast floor full of flowers - I could have taken that in all day. "

Scott

Tour: 09/06/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I am unable to give an overall tour experience, as my tour was cut short due to an Covid outbreak. I was able to enjoy Ghent and Bruges-to an extent, as the last 2 days in Bruges, I was ill with Covid. Overall, it was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mystic lamb and the church it was located in was my "wow" moment. "

Caroline

Tour: 09/06/23

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

Well it started off great. Group was really coming together and have fun - despite the unseasonal heat in Belgium and lack of AC in 2nd & 3rd hotels. But sadly, COVID was there from the beginning and by the end took out 15 of the 27 people on the tour. First 2 couples left the morning of day 4 and it just got worse from there. Our guide, Ellen, tried to help as each of us were dropped from the tour but she had a lot on her plate. Some older, less tech-savvy, people had a really hard time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group meals that we were able to attend before dropping out were very, surprisingly, good. I loved the 1st hotel in Ghent as it was new and had wonderful accommodations. Sadly, the fun bar where many of us got to know each other was probably one of the early superspreader locations."

Harriet

Tour: 09/06/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Unfortunately, I was only on the tour 3 days due to COVID.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the walking tour of Ghent. Our tour guide was very informative and the sights in Ghent were varied. The textile factory we toured was very interesting. I like how all aspects of the industry were covered, including a modern loom programed with a computer. The guide did not shy away from subjects like homelessness and other social issues that cities face. It seems like the people of Belgium take care of their own. "

Wendy

Tour: 09/06/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved this tour! Beautiful countryside, architecture, museums, food, medieval towns, canal boat tours, and the North Sea. What's not to like? Ellen was an amazing guide and Rene was a skilled driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A definite wow moment and personal triumph for me was climbing the Bell Tower in Bruges. The views! "

Shannon

Tour: 06/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall we were very impressed with the tour. The activities were a good mix of history, art, science, and food (very important in Belgium!). Everything was superbly organized and our guides were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not exactly a "wow" but we got so much more out of touring the WW1 sites with a knowledgeable guide than we ever would have on our own."

Edward

Tour: 06/26/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

In a word, great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really do not have one wow moment, but many. If I had to pick just one thing, I would have to say the surge barrier. Being an engineer, seeing it up close and hearing the details on how it operates was great!"

Paul

Tour: 06/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our tour guide! She was humorous and very informative. We loved especially the small towns of Belgium and the Netherlands. We were so glad to have the boat tours in Ghent and Amsterdam to orient us. The tour was a wonderful explanation of how people in the Low Countries live (chocolate demonstration, Delft pottery, holding back the water)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved exploring Brugge. It is a charming city. We had a free day to walk around and visit the back streets. "

Dianne

Tour: 06/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Compatible group, knowledgeable guide with a sense of humor, great art, interesting local visits to working establishments, limited bus time, and appropriate amount of free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No wow moment, just an equally enjoyable tour."

Patricia

Tour: 06/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruby was an outstanding guide. I appreciated her insights into the Dutch culture and her unfailing cheerfulness.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments, but seeing several Vermeer paintings was a highlight."

Heidi

Tour: 06/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was fantastic! The sights visited were clearly well thought out. The mix of guided tours and free time to explore what interested us was perfection. Our tour group was one aspect that made the trip memorable. The daily interactions included many laughs and banter!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day had a "wow" moment--from the quaintness of Ghent to the sights in Amsterdam. Our tour guide, Ruby, exceeded our expectations. She was knowledgable and personable. She was quick with her wit and quick to answer questions. The surprises that she threw in made the trip even more memorable and enjoyable. If given the chance, in the future, I would choose a tour based on her leading it!"

Emily

Tour: 06/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide and driver were wonderful, as were our city guides along the way. The group seemed to bond pretty well and we looked out for one another as we crossed busy streets in Amsterdam. The cities we visited were lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the quiet countryside bike ride my husband and I chose to do from Bruges to Damme. Beautiful scenery and a peaceful, easy morning ride. The Anne Frank house was a meaningful visit for me."

Jenifer

Tour: 06/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Dawn

Tour: 06/21/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Full disclosure. I’ve been to Europe multiple times. I signed up for the tour as part of a 50th Birthday celebration with friends.I think if you are going to Europe for the fist time this may be a great option.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the trip to Flanders Field "

Kenneth

Tour: 06/14/23

Lee

Tour: 06/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very friendly group of travelers. Enjoyed learning about the history of Belgium and The Netherlands. Guide Nina was wonderful. Not too much time on the road.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed at the water control gates and technology in The Netherlands. The flower market was also pretty amazing. The biggest moment was seeing all the WWI artifacts dug up by local farmers in Belgium."

John

Tour: 06/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour. Nina was outstanding and fun. The food was outstanding and we were exposed to wonderful meals and friendship It does have a lot of free time, I would add tours to the Mauritshuis Museum at The Hague and tours of the Van Gogh Museum. Some did not get to see the Van Gogh as they had not pre-ordered their own tickets. Less time in Bruges and more in Delph and Amsterdam. Anita and the tour of the Rijks Museum were just outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Mauritshuis Collection blew me away. The new Rembrandts at the Rijks ! The Van Gogh Museum ! Vermeer and Delph. This was a wonderful tour !"

Theresa

Tour: 06/14/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I am answering for my husband, John, as well as myself. Overall we enjoyed our trip. On our previous RS trip (Best of Venice, Florence, Rome) we found the cities each to be unique and we learned much at each city. On this trip, Ghent, Bruges and Delft were all the same...canals, cobblestones, belfry, town hall, etc. with Amsterdam being a larger and busier version. Nina was a knowledgeable guide sharing her Belgian heritage. The bus transportation was smooth in the capable hands of Rene.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were most moved by the cemetaries and trenches of Eiper. This was not history from centuries ago, but in our parents/grandparents lifetime. We also were impressed with the hospitality of many. While in Amsterdam we were waiting for a tram which was very delayed. Luce, a retired local woman, took us on the metro, escorted us to the Resistance Museum, and then indicated where to pick up the tram on the way back."

Steven

Tour: 06/14/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful trip although it was not as wonderful as some of the other Rick Steves trips we have enjoyed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't any typical "wow" moments on this t rip for me, but I did enjoy the town of Brugge very much."

Steven

Tour: 06/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jno

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

RS Tour went places and had experiences I never would have planned on my own. Our tour guide, Jody, was outstanding and made the tour special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the city of Ghent--unexpected beauty and charm."

Bill

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jody Engelsdorp was excellent and there were several surprise stops along the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several: the flower auction in Aalsmeer, lunch in Passchendaele farm, Mystic Lamb in Ghent, Michelangelo sculpture and chocolate demo in Bruges, Watersnood museum. Lunch stops in Zierikzee and Monnickendam."

Patricia

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour! Fascinating cities and beautiful countryside. Our guide Jody was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Amsterdam canal cruise was great since it was my first time there. "

Carl

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and very interesting history lessons

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flood damn gstes in Antwerp "

Tom

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Prompt, with interesting planned stops, enough time for individual site investigation, and a very competent and encouraging tour guide (Jody Engeldorp).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WW1 sites. "

Ellin

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Good experience but I wish the tour guide, Jody, gave us more information about Belgium politics and government and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flower market."

Timothy

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide- Jodi from Haarlam Holland. Good local guides. Interesting venues.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders American Cemetery"

Anne

Tour: 05/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had just enough on our schedule each day, lots of interesting things to see but still enough time on our own to relax and do a few things we wanted to do. It was a very nice group and our tour guide was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed by the flower auction outside of Amsterdam."

Dalton

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My husband and I had a very good experience on our tour. This is our 3rd Rick Steves tour so we do have something to compare it to. Our guide Ellen Janzing was the best guide we have ever had. She did a marvelous job explaining and giving us worthwhile details that help to enhance our trip in City/country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick because there were several but my first wow moment was Van Eycks's altarpiece, The adoration of the mystic lamb."

Deborah

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although we have traveled on our own using the Rick Steves Travel books, this was our first small group tour and we loved it. We became a family and during the times that we gathered for meals or on other occasions, we had lots of great conversations of our day and lots of laughs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband and I enjoyed so many aspects of the tour but our favorite moment was "biking in Bruges." We took the bikes offered from the hotel and headed to Damme but continued further into the countryside."

Chelsea

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' Europe tour and my experience was incredible. The tour was very well organized, the guides were extremely knowledgeable and engaging, the places we visited were beautiful, and the company of my fellow travelers was wonderful. Each destination had so many remarkable and memorable traits, and the food was delicious. I also appreciated the free time to go out and explore on my own. I would absolutely book another Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history of the places we visited! I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the history of each city and country, including exploring a castle in Ghent built in the 1100s, visiting WWI battlefields and trenches, learning about the region's vibrant art history, and more. The historic aspects of the trip were truly a highlight, as I am not sure I would have learned as much had I booked this trip on my own and not with the Rick Steves' group."

John

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I had an incredible time! It was a wonderful way to experience two similar yet different countries with plenty of guidance to carry me through when exploring on my own. Our main guide, Ellen, bus driver, Rene, and every local guide were wonderful and always happy to help! We were unable to make the flower auction due to an observed holiday and instead were treated to a local canoe trip North of Amsterdam - truly an unexpected highlight!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed all the historical aspects of the tour. The afternoon spent with Andre in and around Ypres is an experience I've been retelling countlessly, as is the sheer size and engineering of the Deltaworks, the art museums/belfries/churches/guild houses - all of it was exciting to learn about and to soak in each day. The smaller museums in the Netherlands were great supplements to the main tours, such as the Dutch Resistance museum in Amsterdam and the Vermeer Center in Delft. "

Cynthia

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Exciting, enriching, unique experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bikes, and bikes and bikes. Loved Bruges. Anne Frank house. The Van Gough exhibit The Aalsmeer flower market (we went on our own) Fantastic! My early morning quiet walks. "

Meishan

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful experiences with great tour guide and several local tour guides too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I learned many cultural distinctions and experiences with local people."

Dennis

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour, and it was outstanding. Our guide, Ellen, was wonderful and our group clicked right away. She was a wealth of knowledge and oriented us to each city on the tour. The tour was well organized. We were able to tour an authentic chocolate shop, brewery and Delftware shop...not some place that imported the items from somewhere else. The mix of group time and on our own time was perfect. It was a perfect blend of culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day in Flanders Fields cemeteries and battlefields and the Anne Frank house."

James

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Ellen did a great job in leading our tour and in both her insights & comments regarding the differences in history & culture between Belgium & The Netherlands. She was competent, efficient and professional in leading this tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Flanders, Y'pres & talking to Andre. I was named after a great-uncle who was "gassed" during The Great War and I have memories of him as a little boy. To see the actual trenches, shell craters & lines of defense reminded me of walking the Gettysburg, Vicksburg & Shiloh battlefields."

Meishien

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The trip was great, Ellen had been very helpful throughout the trip, very nice group as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bruges is an awesome city"

Lincoln

Tour: 05/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A good trip (our third Rick Steves tour)! A high level of quality throughout. HOWEVER, not being able go to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction (closed on Pentecost Monday) was a big disappointment. I think the RS staff should have known about this way in advance and rearranged the dates of the whole tour if necessary or swapped some dates within the tour itself (use one of the Amsterdam days to go). The substitute activities were nice (canoeing, visiting the little Dutch town) but not very exciting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1. The Deltaworks on the North Sea. The Maeslant storm surge barrier was a feat of modern engineering and a work of art. It was thrilling to see human ingenuity used to solve real-time problems as well as possibly problems related to climate change in the future. 2. Art in Amsterdam: (1) The Van Gogh Museum (saw its special exhibition on the last two months of Van Gogh's life--76 paintings in 70 days); (2) the Vermeer exhibit. Would recommend that RS tours specifically include the VG Museum."

Sarah

Tour: 04/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Really good guides at every place, and every detail ran smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhoff tulip gardens though every place was beautiful, charming and interesting."

Pat

Tour: 04/26/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overlooked for more "popular" counties, the lowlands of Belguim and Neatherlands are an absolute must see with the centuries old connecting canals and dedicted paved bike trails / lanes in both rural and urban areas.. English is spoken everywhere. Two of the 4 hotels are located on canals. Keukenhof Gardens (south of Amsterdam) is the Tulip capital of the world, and are stunning in beauty and content. Chocolates / beer / friies (french fries). My 6th RSE Tour and rated #2 (N. Italy is #1).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Moments - The connecting canals in Ghent, Bruges, Delft; Flanders Fields with the preserved WWI British front line trenches / tunnels / bomb craters; massive Maeslant Storm Surge Gates; Anne Frank House Tour, and Neatherlands Resistence Museum in Amsterdam; the excellent small chocolatier shops in Brussells (not on the Tour), Ghent, and Bruges; the multi-room buriel chamber for the Royal House of Orange (New Church in Delft; 46 interred / not open to public / detail model on Church floor above)."

Richard

Tour: 04/26/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fine introduction to the Low Countries with affable companions and a first rate guide. The timing of the trip was great for weather and crowds (or lack thereof).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking in Bruges at dusk with Hans along the canals and quiet back ways to the hotel. One of the most scenic strolls I've ever taken."

Gloria

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was wonderful! History, Art Museums, Keukenhof Gardens, food, chocolate, beer, fabulous photo ops, and even time to explore on your own. One suggestion would be to add a couple days and make it a 14 day tour. The tour did not visit very much of the Netherlands (possibly include Haarlem, The Hague or Rotterdam).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s a tough one. But we hit the Keukenhof Gardens at the perfect time and they were spectacular. The Anne Frank house and Flanders Fields were moving. In general I also loved all the towns in Belgium, all the wonderful architecture and the people. "

Kriste

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Nico was outstanding. Love the size if the group. Learned a lot of history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the flooding and prevention of future flooding."

Sharon

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was exactly what I had hoped to see/do in Belgium and the Netherlands. Nothing disappointed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh, had to be the Keukenhof gardens. They have to be see in person to be believed!"

Susan

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first guided tour ever although we always used Rick Steves guides. Tour exceeded my expectations in every way. Our time was used wisely, we covered a lot in usually short, varying visits to itinerary places AND unexpected add-ons. Lots of walking which is how I like to spend my days, blocks of free time to continue that with a like-minded person I met on tour. Nico is an exceptional guide and even though the Rick Steves ethos is you're responsible for yourself, made me feel taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulips in full bloom at Keukenhof and tulip fields, climbing the Belfries in Ghent and Bruges, the beautiful canals, particularly in the smaller cities. The trenches in Flanders Fields. I could go on but I guess I've exceeded my limit already of one "Wow""

Gregory

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. Nico our guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable. Very personable. Food,local guides, & lodging all wonderful. All the sites we visited were informative & accommodating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips in The Netherlands by far. "

Mary Christine

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip to Belgium and Holland was everything that I had hoped for and more! I liked the variety that this tour offered, It included everything from history, culture, art, architecture , water control and beautiful tulips. Of course, I can't forget the bicycles, chocolate and beer. It was such fun to share all of this with a great guide and group of fellow travelers from the US and Canada.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to name just one WOW moment for this tour! I expected the Anne Frank House and the Keukenhof Gardens to be my big WOW moments. Both of these experiences fully lived up to my expectations! A WOW experience that took me by surprise was an amazing tour of Rembrandt paintings given by an art historian at the Rijks Museum. Her presentation gave me a better understanding and appreciation for the Dutch Masters. "

Tammi

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved everything about this tour. As a first time to Europe and first time on a tour, it was the perfect fit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention!"

Jerry

Tour: 04/24/23

We had a great time visiting Belgium and the Netherlands. Our tour group was very positive and got along well. The tour its self was well paced with good guided trips and adequate time on our own to explore. We had too many adventures to recount here, but everything was well planned and positive. Our guide Nico, was outstanding. Our meals were yummy. We found the people very friendly and ready to help tourists. What beautiful scenery, etc. Delightful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Keukenhof Gardens was my favorite "wow" moment. Over 70 acres of the most beautiful tulips and other flowers I have ever seen. Pictures can't fully convey the sights and atmosphere of this wonderful place. "

Suzanne

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

With no preconceived thoughts on what to expect, I fell in love with the Netherlands and Belgium. We have friends who have traveled parts of these countries, but none of them saw and experienced all of the intricacies of the towns, the way the people live, the priorities of the cultures, the details and stories of the WWI and WWII times. The tour allows time to mix with locals in small cafes, shops, and the hotels. Because we spent 3 nights in several hotels, the staff became part of experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maeslant barrier tour. The realization of what the brilliance and ingenuity of the Dutch is amazing. The young man who spoke with us and toured us was excellent. This experience made me aware, at every canal, at every turn where water is contained or land reclaimed …..how brilliant the Dutch are. The lands of Belgium and Holland are beautiful. That’s my every day WOW."

Kornelia

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, Rick Steves Europe exceeded our expectations. Nico did a fantastic job not only educating us about each place we visited but also making it very memorable and having a good time while doing so. Each of the local guides were fantastic as well. They were all very knowledgeable about their local history and they made it so interesting for all of us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof was breathtakingly beautiful. I was worried that we might be there too late in the season but I think we were there at exactly the right time. I was also very moved by the visits to Flanders Fields and to the Anne Frank House. It really made me stop and think about what was happening in the world at those times in history and how careful we need to be to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again."

John

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderfully designed tour of the highlights of Belgium and the Netherlands, including not just the medieval and early modern heritage but achievements or episodes from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was most affected by the haunted lands of the Great War battlefields around Ypres in Belgium, especially the American cemetery with its men with such familiar names buried on foreign soil they fought to liberate."

John

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was great, a good balance of seeing Belgium and Holland in 11 days and getting a good feel for both countries and where we might want to return on our own. Nico, our overall guide, was great, and the individual guides that handled each area of the tour were also outstanding. The balance was good with riding on the bus, staying a few nights in each location, the hotels were well situated and for the most part we would return to those hotels. We would prefer a bit smaller group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Van Eyck's "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" (Gent Altarpiece) and knowing more about its history and restoration; along with other outstanding art work by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Flemish painters; and Michelangelo's "Madonna and Child"; all in one great tour of two great and friendly countries."

Lynn

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is outstanding and exactly as advertised. Nico, our tour guide, was extraordinary. The group was just the right size and and everyon was a pleaseure to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This tour provided time to experience and appreciate other cultures and make new friends. However, the "wow" moment was somber effect of visiting the Anne Frank House."

Margie

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was wonderful!! Belgium and Netherlands was not on my radar of places to visit but I’m sure glad I did. I loved the smaller cities of Ghent and Bruges especially.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields - although a sad time in history, I was amazed at the actual trenches that were used during WW1. I was doubly wowed by the amount of wartime artifacts that have been and are still being dug up in the area. The American cemetery - was very touched by the program they have there where locals can “adopt” a grave and come in and visit and take care of the grave. "

Lori

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the itinerary of this tour. I thought the local guides were all great and I enjoyed all of the activities planned. Nico was a pleasure to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens were by far the most spectacular place I have ever seen - truly."

David

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience was emotional. There were moments of intellectual stimulation, excitement, curiosity, uncertainty, anxiety and joy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The “wow” moment came listening to a concert performed by a solo harpist in Brugge. The tranquility transmitted through the music inspired inner thoughts on how extraordinarily fortunate I was to be on a wonderful European tour."

Mary

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Lisa

Tour: 04/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The locations, accomodations, and guides were fabulous

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking along the canals in Ghent"

Sandra

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the beautiful architecture and canals. Great group and wonderful guide, Tim Tendick. Enjoyed the Belgium beer, chocolates and waffles. Local guides great as usual. Kings Day brought out our orange in Zierikzee for lunch and in Delft. Keukenhof Garden was amazing. Vermeer exhibit at the Rijksmuseum that Tim was able to get us tickets for even though it was sold out. Anne Frank House. Lots of laughs and cool old pubs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband and I took the hotel bicycles and rode along the canal to Damme on a free afternoon in Bruges. Peaceful and relaxing with windmills and a lovely lunch outside at De S Misse."

Marilyn

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great sights, interesting history, lots of fun moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Anne Frank house. A very moving and sober experience. "

Mark

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our sixth Rick Steve's tour and it was one of the best. The itinerary gave us a real appreciation of the Low Country--its unique beauty, strong culture and heritage, and its embrace of life and living. Our guide, Tim, was great! He was not only knowledgeable, but engaging and fun. His alchemy brought out the best in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulip festival in Keukenhof was amazing. We timed our tour dates so we could see it, and it didn't disappoint. Kudos to Rick for giving us plenty of time to see everything. An unexpected second "wow" moment was our briefing at the Maesland storm surge barrier--what could have been wonky and boring was brought to life by an excellent local guide."

Courtney

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It far exceeded my expectations. I didn’t expect to see so much, and learn so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the mid evil buildings in Ghent. "

Mark

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great itinerary, great walking tours with local guides, enjoyed the food, competent tour guide, average hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the storm surge barrier holding back the sea in the Netherlands and learning about the extensive network in place to keep this remarkable low-lying country safe and dry. "

Susan

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fun, learned so much, great group of people and amazing guides. Superior chocolate and beer, lovely cities and towns and canals, tulips, what more could you want.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our amazing guide, Tim got us all tickets to Vermeer. "

Lawrence

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Europe. I was really amazed with how little space Europeans lived in, how many people rode bicycles, the architecture, history, canals, flood prevention engineering, food, beers and celebrations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the Netherlands flood gates facility was amazing! "

Chris

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Meeting our fellow group members and Tim, our exceptional guide, made for an outstanding experience through Belgium and Netherlands. Really liked Tim’s idea of learning names of our members by video-ing our faces as we introduce ourselves….it really helped gel our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What stood out was visit to Flanders Field visit to WWI cemeteries, lunch at a farm and seeing what artifacts have surfaced in their fields from the war. We also visited trenches and saw photos from that era. The visit to Deltaworks learning about the flood of 1953 and how the Dutch are reclaiming land from the sea. Can’t say enough about our visit to Keukenhof….stupendous!"

Laura

Tour: 04/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As expected, the tour was wonderful! Great lodging and group meals. Tour guide, Tim, and the local guides were extremely knowledgeable and personable. Great time was had by all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed everything the tour included, but the visit to tulip garden was incredible! Being able to see the special Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam was pretty special as well."

Joanne

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Canal cruises, castles, sacred burial grounds, rooftop views from bell towers and brewery, somber museum, spectacular tulip gardens, open air markets & delicious pastries and chocolate...a delightful adventure!!! I loved the charm, warmth, history and beauty of all the towns we visited. The architecture was amazing! Our guides and bus driver skillfully and cheerfully led us along our magical journey. Many laughs and fun times were shared with our fun group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two...Flanders Fields and the sincerity of the superintendent of the American Cemetery. The Anne Frank House...both very somber, moving experiences."

Melinda

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour and it exceeded my expectations by a long shot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Garden"

James

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruby van Engelsdorp Gastelaars was an optimistic and energetic tour guide who was ably assisted by Thomas Cole. Her suggestions for food options led us to enjoy unfamiliar items and the tour's rijsttafel was outstanding. We found time to see "Girl With a Pearl Ear Ring" at the Mauritshaus Museum and obtained the 9 AM Time slot for the Vermeer retrospective as well as a first entry visit to the Van Gogh Museum. We accompanied Ruby and obtained fresh stroopwaffles at Rudy's in the street market.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our day trip to Brussels allowed us to see "Death of Marat" and several fine Breugel the Elder paintings."

Sandra

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Greatly enjoyed the quaint towns of Ghent, Bruges and Delft. Ending the tour in busy Amsterdam was a bit jarring, especially because we were unaware that King’s Day festivities coinciding with our tour. We were pleasantly surprised with the visits within Flanders Field and to the Deltaworks storm surge barriers. We selected our tour date based on optimal tulip bloom. This year was unseasonably cool and this tempered our enjoyment a bit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens in full bloom. "

Julie

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing! The tour was like a time capsule, from ancient times to modern day wonders!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to see and experience the annex where Anne Frank and her family hid brought the history you learn about in school to life. Unforgettable. "

Sheila

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such an efficient and enjoyable way to visit Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens Tulips!"

Michael

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour! Finally got to see tulips after several canceled trips. Good mix of guided tours vs free time. as well as number of days spent in each location.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulips, tulips, tulips. And storm surge gates."

Barbara

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Unfortunately, I did not complete the tour due to Covid. Wished we had known more about the current openness (no masking and no isolation) in this part of Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Best moment was canal boat tour we took independently in Bruges. "

Francis

Tour: 04/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall experience was great. Our tour guides Ruby and Thomas (tour guide in training) did a fantastic job the knowledge that both have is second to none.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many Wow moments from Flanders Fields,Anne Frank house and the tulip gardens loved all of it"

Richard

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall this was a worthwhile and enjoyable tour that gave some insight into the history that developed the culture of Belgium and the Netherlands. There was a good mix of walking tours, visits to working establishments, and art in museums and churches. However, the visit to Keukenhof gardens on the Saturday of the 'Flower Parade' was a dumb move. Total gridlock of people and a horrible experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were 2 moving events of the tour: 1) visit to Ann Frank's House and 2) tour of Flanders Field and the American, Commonwealth, and German cemeteries. I am also glad that we took a side trip from Delft tot the Hague to see Vermeer's "Girl with the Pearl Earring"."

Julie

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. It was an even better than I expected, and that is saying a lot! I had been waiting to take this tour for more than three years. I traveled solo, and it was an amazing trip! My tour guide, Nina, was excellent, as were most of the local guides. My tour companions were fun and interesting people, and I met new friends. The bus and hotels were comfortable and convenient to the sites. I can’t wait to take my next RSE tour and would highly recommend this company.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof gardens in its full glory! That, too, was even better than I could have imagined. The sheer numbers, colors, and varieties of tulips just blow the mind. Another “wow” moment was seeing Van Eyck’s newly restored Ghent altarpiece at St. Bavo’s…it was truly magnificent, and I wasn’t expecting that. Another “wow” moment was getting to see all of Vermeer’s work in the special exhibit at the Rijksmuseum. That was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "

Nancy

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was so glad to be on a tour to see Belgium and the Netherlands. I knew so little about the region that having guides to show me what and where to look was important. Nina, the tour guide was so knowledgeable but also amiable and funny to listen to and kind and helpfull I found the fellow travelers to be interesting and fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment was unexpected to me. It was seeing the Rotterdam Surge Barrier. I am amazed at what humans produce through ingenuity, art, architecture and engineering. This was one such amazing feat of ingenuity and engineering. AMAZING!"

John

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The people on the tour, were great and enjoyable to be around. The hotels were interesting and near what we wanted to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hearing about the Paintings in the museum. It made the experience come alive. "

Darrell

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Met and exceeded all expectations. Guide was exemplary, as we have come to expect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in the space occupied by the Frank family while in hiding was a profound experience. "

Ellen

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

After trying for 3 years to get to Belgium and Holland, I finally made it. A tour to remember.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Kukenhoff Tulip gardens and Ann Frank House and the Ghent altarpiece, Mystic Lamb. "

Gail

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful sights, cold & windy weather with infrequent sunshine

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing The Girl with the Pearl Earring competes with Keukenof Gardens with most of the tulips bloming in the sunshine."

Jeffrey

Tour: 04/15/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is a wonderful tour with knowledgeable guides, but do your homework before you go as there is more on your own time than I expected. Plan ahead on public transportation options and how it works because that's the way to get around on your free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how our military cemeteries are cared for in Belgium."

Patricia

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 2nd Rick Steves tour and guides Ellen and Thomas were great. It was very interesting to see and learn about Belgium and Holland's history and culture from all the guides. Most people had been on multiple RS tours previously and all were enjoyable to have as travel companions. I had signed up for this tour specifically because of my family history, chocolate and tulips and it exceeded my expectations as it was such a wonderful trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Ghent and walking through Keukenhof Gardens. We had a bright, sunny day with perfect timing for the tulips blooming - it was amazing! It was a once in a lifetime experience however I hope I can go back and do it all again someday. "

Nina

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my eighth RS tour and I have never been disappointed. Whenever I return home after a RS tour my head is so full of information that even have difficulty sleeping from thinking about all of it. I had been to several of the sites visited years ago on my own but I learned so much more about them this time with the tour guides. One can visit the various places, like Bruges, Ghent, etc. and enjoy them for their beauty, but to learn their culture and history made this trip so worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"KEUKENHOF!!! Our tour visited Keukenhof Gardens and the flowers were at their peak. It was amazing - a total sensory overload. This was the mission of my trip and I was not disappointed."

Jim

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another very enjoyable tour group and guides, Ellen & Thomas , were superb. All the cities and sights were interesting although the WWI afternoon was way too much time and information for my interests. The local guide was interesting and passionate. Our Rijksmuseum guide was exceptional. All the local guides were top notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to see the North Sea water barrier system and the new innovative swing gate. Timely for me as my city in Texas is working with the Dutch group to implement such a barrier to protect Galveston Bay from storm surge."

Mary

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, we had great guides and fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulip fields and the bulb gardens that were everywhere."

Karen

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I truly felt immersed in the cultures of Belgium and Netherlands

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Ghent Altarpiece was amazing. I've been wanted to see that for decades. Truly enjoyed all the museums, churches and architecture. Bruges Bell Tower climb was memorable. Also, this was a simple thing, but my coffee drink at the Stads Koffy Huis in Delft was so delicious after our morning walking tour. "

Frances

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had so much to offer! History, art, gardens, food, fabulous photo ops, climate change solutions... In fact, my suggestion is that it is too short. The tour never visited French-speaking Belgium, Antwerp or most of the Netherlands. You should break the trip in two and have one trip for Belgium and another for the Netherlands. Coordinate the schedule so that enthusiasts could take them back-to-back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group dinner at De Kurk in Delft was stunning. Smoked herring with cucumbers and cucumber foam; Sea bream with roasted potatoes and radishes; Side dish of beets roasted with black sesame seeds; Cheesecake/custard with cocoa nibs, sea buckthorn berries and a granita made of sea buckthorn berries. I was so enthusiastic about the meal that the chef came out and shook my hand."

Susan

Tour: 04/12/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Eric

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nico was a fantastic guide and we enjoyed all aspects of the trip.

Kara

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Active, interesting tour with excellent guides. Our group was a lot of fun and everyone got along extremely well. I appreciated learning about the history of each town and the varied activities we were able to do (beer tours, chocolate tours, museum tours, etc).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were lucky enough to see the tulip fields in bloom which was outstanding to me. A site I will not forget."

Terry

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour leader Nico was outstanding. He planned many "happy hour" get togethers with our group, got us cookies from Van Stapele Koekmakerij, gave us treats on the bus and souvenir tote at the end of our trip . Other guides were very informative and often humorous as well. There were a few disappointing moments that were due to our own misadventures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was Nico getting tickets for the sold out Vermeer exhibition for us. For my husband, it was visiting Hill 62. It brought together the reality of events of WWI combined with our visits to the memorials and gravesites of fallen soldiers. "

John

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our 3rd Rick Steves tour in Europe. Like the first two, our guide and all local guides were outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the gardens at the Koukenhof was most memorable!"

Tina

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Going to the Netherlands has been a bucket list item for me and this tour was a great introduction to it. Enjoyed both countries and Nico was a fantastic tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite WOW moment was in Ghent when Nico took us the long way to the planned dinner and told us to find our way back to the hotel. During the walk, he had told us to discover the city, walk down some quiet streets and see what you discover. By saying that, he instilled confidence in being able to walk and not worry exactly where you are at. This confidence continues to today, where I can just put the phone away and walk, explore my surroundings and see what treasures are found."

Deborah

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itself was excellent with the perfect amount of structured and unstructured time. I learned a lot about the two countries visited. The tour guide, Nico, was also excellent. The group got along great with one another. Unfortunately the weather could have been better, so I will always remember the area as being cold and windy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the visit to Keukenhof gardens. Even though the tulips were somewhat behind schedule as they were having a colder than normal spring, they were still outstanding and better than any that I have ever seen before. My husband's favorite (and my second favorite) was learning about how The Netherlands is managing the rising sea."

Karen

Tour: 04/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our experience could not have been more wonderful. Riko was an unbelievable guide, and always exceeded expectations. All the extras he provided were much appreciated and helped us form a cohesive group of travelers. Every day was well orchestrated, and I really appreciated the free time to explore on our own. The local guides were informative, friendly, and fun. There is not a single area that I think needed improvement.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens was magnificent, and beyond my expectations."

Kathleen

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Besides the cold, windy weather, which was not under Rick Steves' control, we had a wonderful experience on this tour. Our guide, Nina, was one of the best guides we have had. She was friendly, informative, helpful, and upbeat. She often made us laugh and genuinely cared about all of the members of our tour. Having a free day in Bruges on Easter was especially nice, and the weather cooperated for a change!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens were amazing!! It was all so beautiful. Bruges was our favorite city, along with Delft (but not enough time there to really appreciate it). "

Earl

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Patti

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides were very knowledgeable. They told us about the culture and the historical events that shaped the country. The tour was a nice balance of structured tour time and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kuekenhof Gardens! "

Bobann

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, great guide, great travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens was definitely a highlight especially since we had a sunny day! "

Ann

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great trip with many wonderful moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof is stunningly beautiful! "

Amy

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was absolutely wonderful! I had the best time in Belgium and Holland! The tour guide, Nina, was the best! The cities were fabulous. I especially loved the history that was shared from our tour guides. Very knowledgeable!! My favorite part of the tour was the tulip gardens. I’ve never seen so many different colors of tulips!! I would definitely do this tour again!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulip gardens were my absolute favorite part of the tour!! The dinners provided to us were spectacular too! "

Douglas

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great hotel locations, knowledgeable tour guides, comfortable bus transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens...there were many, especially in Ghent, Bruges and Delft."

Althea

Tour: 04/05/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time with a group of compatible folks. I saw amazing art, thought provoking museums, lovely gardens, beautiful small towns and cities and over the top engineering feats. It was all I had hoped for and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nothing can compare with the Keukenhof gardens. It was the reason I chose the dates and though the weather was not always the best I would not change a thing. I have seen the tulips in the Skagit Valley in WA and they do not hold a candle to these gardens. Keukenhof is beautifully landscaped and maintained."

Ed

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A very good tour based on the variety of experiences available to us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The expansive gardens at Keukenhof."

Paul

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We knew our trip was going to be outstanding when our group met our tour leader, Ruby. She set the whole tone by being fun, flexible and always able to answer a question or handle a concern. When I realized I had booked Vermeer tickets as well as Van Gogh on the same day and time, she immediately called and was able to switch one tour to a different time. Our guides in Bruges, Ghent and Amsterdam were very good as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Though I enjoyed seeing the tulips blooming, my Wow moment may been visiting Flanders Field in Belgium. May we never forget the soldiers that died so long ago. One advantage of a RS tour is the free time. The once in a lifetime Vermeer tour should have been on the company’s radar. Once people signed up they should have been advised to go to Rijksmuseum website to buy the Vermeer ticket. Also, very few people knew to buy Van Gogh tickets in advance. Our tickets were purchased in February."

Gene

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and it was more FUN than previous tightly orchestrated tours of Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Rembrandt tour at the RiJks Museum in Amsterdam was amazing!"

Cynthia

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From beginning to end our tour of Belgium and Holland was a delight. We had a wonderful guide who was so knowledgeable of the area and our local guides were top rate. Such a fun group of people, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “Wow” moments. The charm of each city was wonderful. Being immersed deep in each town was special. I was deeply moved by Flanders Field and what I learned about the local people and how they still honor the soldiers to this day. "

Charlotte

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed our experience. Our guide Ruby did a fantastic job. All the activities were enjoyable and what we expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof was my favorite experience! It did not disappoint!"

Jane

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens"

Stephanie

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a lot of down time on this trip. Too many days to figure where to go and what to do on our own. It was Very cold 4/1-4/13 and needed a winter coat ! The hotels were not comfortable and very small and many times lighting was poor. We saw too many cemeteries in Flanders. Ypres was not part of tour nor was Brussels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful cities along canals."

Kathy Padgett

Tour: 04/03/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I have traveled with Rick Steves for 5 tours. I've added my husband now for 4 tours. But this time we both got sick with Covid on our way home (me) and after getting home (husband). It' not RS's fault, but we feel travel in groups is not safe. Don't know when it will be safe to travel with groups or in cities. Maybe we caught covid in the crowded Museums or Amsterdam. We know 3 people left our group early with covid so we were worried.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sadly, we didn't have a wow moment. I thought Keukenhof was going to be it, but it wasn't. Keukenhof was extremely crowded and commercialized. I think our favorite wow moments were by ourselves. "

Robert

Tour: 03/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guides, interesting overall itinerary including WW 1, superb art history, beautiful street and landscape scenes, and a good balance between group activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the WW 1 sites and memorials in Flanders Fields."

Scott

Tour: 03/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, this was my ninth Rick Steves’ tour after a hiatus of about ten years, and my first without my wife who was with me on the previous eight. The great thing about the Rick Steves’ tours are the people; from the wonderful guides to the other members, first timers and seasoned travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The engineering and construction of the massive moveable barriers that the Dutch have built to keep the waters of the North Sea out of their kitchens and backyards. Most notably the one at Maeslantkering that we visited enroute from Delft to Amsterdam."

Elena

Tour: 03/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour! So many different places/experiences. Visiting beautiful cities in Belgium and Holland, WWI battlefields and cemeteries, great art museums, brewery, chocolate making shop, the Keukenhoff, etc. Lots of history and art, great food, friendly locals, outstanding guides - I enjoyed it all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the iconic old houses and canals in the cities we visited. I had seen them in pictures/movies, it was wonderful to see them in real life."

Joanne

Tour: 03/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful way to see 4 lovely ancient towns, have access to museums and incredible local guides and travel with friendly people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the African Spoonbills nesting in Holland and the Storks nesting in Belguim"

David

Tour: 03/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great-all guides were wonderful. Nico and Jody were really great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Flower garden-so great that we had over 4 hours there. We also did our own bike ride to Damm and also outside of Delft-really nice bikes. And the Rik is amazing-guide was also really good."

Melody

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two: Keukenhof Gardens and flower show - gorgeous park, and unbelievable variety of tulips displayed in a huge pavilion. Other pavilions also contained beautiful floral arrangements. Then, visiting the WWI memorials and cemeteries around Ypres was a sobering and moving experience."

Mary

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my husband and my first Rick Steve tour and we were skeptical about how it would be. The tour turned out to be wonderful. Our tour guide Ellen was perfect. She was organized, attentive, made sure our time was not wasted and was constantly adding to our experiences with explanations about history and customs. I would not change anything about the tour and feel it was well worth the cost. My husband and I are already talking about going on another tour next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the North Sea seeing the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier. "

Greg

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anne Frank Museum and the Vermeer exhibit"

Ryan

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a fantastic tour. We were impressed with all of our guides. We really appreciated getting so much great detail about the history and the culture of Ghent, Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam. We appreciated getting to see Flanders Fields and the Anne Frank house. The restaurants picked for our tour all served wonderful food. The hotels ranged from adequate to wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite wow moment from the tour...well we had several, but maybe the best was the opportunity we had to see both the Vermeer exhibition in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the permanent collection at the Van Gogh museum. "

John

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized. Smooth. Our tour guide (Ellen Janzing) was professional, pleasant, helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many "wow" moments. "

Jeffery

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful group and tour guide! Ellen was the best guide I have had so far, this was my third tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably viewing the "Mystic Lamb" painting in St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent. It was absolutely stunning!"

Laura

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time visiting Belgium and Holland - both wonderful countries to visit offering interesting museums, sights, fantastic architecture, charming cities, good food, friendly people, and very good local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW - Keukenhof Gardens in bloom!"

Kathleen

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Below is positive review. On the negative side, the hotels in Delft and Amsterdam were not adequate. The "quirky "was worn and dated. Our room was minimal and no place to put things. Rooms were not serviced. Plumbing problems for some rooms. The Hotel Espresso was a dumpy youth hostel! Not charming, comfy and especially not clean. Threadbare, frayed towels, bare rooms with no space to put things. Glasses didn't look clean. We put our suitcases on the floor and tried to not look.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide, Ellen, was great, very good leader. The individual guides along with the tour were great. The tulips and Anne Frank House were wow. The vermeer exhibition was memorable. All the group dinners were delicious. The first 2 hotels in Ghent and Bruges were very nice. The itinerary was excellent with enough free time. "

David

Tour: 03/27/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed many of the venues we went to but wished we had a few more personal venues like the chocolate shop which gave our tour a person presentation about chocolate making and a tasting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had two favorite "wow" moments: 1) Flanders Field and the 2 wonderful guides we had there at the US cemetery and the cemetery for all other armies, 2) The Vermeer exhibit which was not part of the tour but we were able to get tickets while we were at the Rijkksmuseum which was part of our tour."

Lisa

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved the places we visited. Guide was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The storm surge protector - awesome! (Water works)"

Howard

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall it was a nice trip. Ghent, Bruges, and Delft were beautiful and charming. There were also a couple of lunch stops in small towns that were also very nice. Ellen, our tour guide did a workmanlike job of guiding us and keeping us on schedule. There were a couple of misfires, though.The day we spent touring WWI battlefields and cemeteries needs to be reworked with more tim touring the actual trenches and museum and a more engaging local guide. A couple of the hotels were not up standards.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I discovered Vermeer. The Vermeer Center in Delft was excellent. It helped me really understand his gift for using light and composition. There were other wow moments: In Ghent and Bruges the scenery along the canals in the early morning and late afternoon was magical. There is just something special the way the light hits the water and the old houses."

Lavinia

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I liked learning about a wide variety of stuff: WW1 cemeteries, the Deltaworks, the Flower Auction, the art, and Anne Frank's House. Ellen was a good guide, especially early on making the paper with our photos and names.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of the above."

Steve

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was an immersive experience and I enjoyed seeing all the different cities we toured.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's a tie between the Royal FloraHolland international marketplace and the DeltaWorks . "

Kenneth

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

good guide makes all the difference, local guides and tours were good. Nice distribution on free time and guided tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Holland Flower market"

Patrice

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The countryside of Belgium is just beautiful. Bus trips for this particular tour were never very long, and there was always something to see along the way. The towns of Ghent, Brugge, and Delft were charming and bursting with interesting history. The tour experience was enhanced by having delightful weather the entire trip, not the many rainy days we anticipated.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many interesting things on this trip. I enjoyed learning some of the World War I history, but I think my favorite part was visiting the Royal Holland Floral Market. It was just amazing to see this place. It gave me a whole new perspective when I purchase flowers for my home!"

Heather

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good tour guides with one exception.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty and charm of the smaller towns we visited."

Gail

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the start, Ellen, our tour guide, was organized, helpful and caring. The areas visited were as described on the tour information and did not disappoint. Ellen also offered opportunities to try local foods and beverages that we would never have known about without her expert guidance. Belgium and the Netherlands were beautiful and examples of being proactive with climate change.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Bruges was like being on a movie set and was fun to walk around. I loved Delft for much the same reason. And the Delta works and storm surge barriers were incredible examples of engineering. Oops, that's 3!"

Patricia

Tour: 09/14/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was interesting to see those old cities with canals and charming old buildings. The pace of the tour was good. I would like to have spent an additional day in Delft. I don't think one day was enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't think of a "wow" moment. Going to the WWI cemeteries was an emotional experience. The trip to the water control equipment to protect the land was very interesting."

Barbara

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tim was a wonderful guide, knowledgeable and patient. He facilitated many thought provoking discussions which added to the richness of the tour. If I was rating Tim alone he would get 5 stars. Loved the historic sections of Bruge and Ghent and the totally different vibe of busy Amsterdam. We were pleasantly surprised by the delicious cuisine of both Belgium and The Netherlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Aalsmeer flower auction building and the Rotterdam Storm Surge Barrier were both fascinating. My favorite view was early morning from our room in Bruge looking out over the canal"

Susan

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was amazing. So many great people on the tour. Tim was an awesome tour guide. His enthusiasm, knowledge and love for the job was clearly evident. We would hope to have him again as a tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is hard. But for me, I think the Aalsmeer Flower Auction place was my wow moment even though since Covid they do it online. The driving of those vehicles on the floors were amazing to watch. It was obvious they knew what they were doing without any accidents or very few. A well oiled production. I could or want to work there."

Pam

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of interesting people, all of whom like to travel in the same small group way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't rate one over the other: Flanders Cemeteries Water Barrier in Rotterdam Aalsmeer Flower Auction (my reason for the trip)"

Virginia

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed both Belgium and Netherlands. Tim, our guide, did a great job of setting us up for each new adventure. He made sure to point out sights, or ideas that gave us insight into the society and culture of each place we visited. The local guides were also outstanding. Each one was a fount of knowledge, while presenting to us in an interesting way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Delta Storm Surge Barrier surprised me at how interesting it is. Our guide there explained it well. Seeing the flood museum beforehand drove home its importance to the safety of local residents. We also appreciated the amazing artwork in the museums. It was quite an experience to be able to view so many renowned works in the various small cities, besides in Amsterdam. "

Malcolm

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide (go Tim!) providing worthwhile insights and information. The pacing was excellent; felt comfortable at each focused mini-tour/walk. Only caveat: could have spent an extra day in Delft.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed Delft far more than expected. Finally seeing Vermeer’s Girl with Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s Night Watch—wow! "

Randy

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Tim was awesome! He went out of his way to make everything interesting and fun. The local guides were quite knowledgeable and very informative. The places visited were great selections and the time spent in each place was adequate although an extra day in Delft would have allowed people to spend more than a few hours visiting The Hague. And the bus driver was amazing and was so personable that he became a member of the group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flower market in the Netherlands was amazing! Observing organized chaos in action made us wonder how so many people could be doing so many different things so fast across each other's paths without crashing into each other."

Sinde

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a fantastic group of people on our tour. Tim was wonderful and was very helpful and listened to what we wanted to experience on this tour. Hotels were nice and our group dinners were yummy. Loved the choices of food at group dinners. Our bus driver John was very nice

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Delft, Holland."

David

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much to see in a small area of Netherlands and Belgium. Nice combination of history and modern technology. Great trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As usual with RS trips, there were many. Aside from the beauty of Ghent, Brugge, and Delft, the Rotterdam storm surge gates and the Amsterdam flower exchange were very impressive."

Monica

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Tim, was extremely knowledgeable about the area we were traveling in. The local guides (Mieke, Raoul, Danielle, Anne, and Saane) gave excellent and lively commentary that held our attention during the city walking tours of the different cities. We were given a lot of information about the cities and towns we visited and are still processing a lot of it after the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, there were several wow moments. The various war memorials in Flanders and Ypres. The storm barrier system near Rotterdam. The Mauritshuis in Hague and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam."

John

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour guide (Tim) Local tour guides were very knowledgeable , could speak good English, very entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ww1 experience. Cemeteries, trench fields, lunch with the folks that owned the farm "

Anindya

Tour: 09/07/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were lucky to have Tim Tendick as our tour guide and a very positive, educated, curious bunch of travelers with us. The tour was extremely well planned but it also had unscripted moments like amazing pianists playing in Ghent city hall during our post dinner walk. The staff at different hotels, local tour guides, the driver - people made a big difference to the tour. This is in addition to the choice of the food, route, venues/themes, city walks, rest stops - intense, yet relaxed feeling.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was the first day when we met our fellow travelers. I usually travel just with my family because I am not sure about what others might bring to the travel. Here we had a surprisingly nice group of folks - positive, curious, well read people - and many of them have been regulars at Rick Steves tours. They were least bit surprised at how good the group was - in fact was expecting to meet similar minded folks in the tour. We learnt a lot from them and had warm conversations. "

Thelma

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The North Sea barriers"

Linda

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour!! Really enjoyed Bruges and Ghent and appreciated ("enjoyed?") the battlefield/cemetery tours.

Paul

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the variety of experiences, the tour group size, the knowledge and care provided by our tour guide and the individual event guides. I liked the balance of group time and individual time. Not needing to manage all aspects of the day was beneficial and the tour provided opportunities to see parts of cities that we might otherwise not have been exposed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but the opportunity to experience the I-Storm Network of Storm Surge Barriers was truly unique and a favorite for me. It was unique in terms of the solutions, the technology, the ability to see it up close, and for its relevancy to the time we live in."

Richard

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jeff

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour. We were initially interested in Holland but delighted to find out how much Belgium had to offer. The pace was perfect, with just the right amount of time in Ghent, Bruges and Delft. Amsterdam, with countless bikes and a faster pace than the smaller cities, was exciting and offered a wealth of interesting sites. We enjoyed the balance between time with the group and time on our own. We would recommend this tour to anyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The museums of Amsterdam are incomparable. The Rijksmuseum has so many treasures including "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt and several paintings by Vermeer. We gained a new appreciation for the humanity that Rembrandt brought to his portraits and marveled at the depth and beauty of "The Milkmaid." Perhaps overlooked but definitely worth a visit are the Dutch impressionists. And what can one say about the Van Gogh Museum. It was a long time goal to visit here and it was outstanding. "

Heather

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed Belgium and The Netherlands. Our guide, Nico, did a great job orienting us to each city and providing historical and cultural information. We felt like we were able to jump in and start experiencing each city right away because we didn't have to figure things out on our own. There is an excellent balance between group activities and free time! It was wonderful to be traveling again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many "wow" moments from this tour - there is really nothing we did not fully enjoy. One highlight was biking from Bruges to Damme on our free day. We enjoyed engaging in the bike culture, exploring the town of Damme, getting close up with a canal and a windmill!"

Christine

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Bruges with all the canals and beautiful architecture "

Roderick

Tour: 06/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third tour, each one has gotten better than the last one. I have been very lucky with quality of tour guides plus very good groups of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The very talented city guides that Rick gets for his tours! Plus Nico was absolutely awesome."

Lori

Tour: 06/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves' tour but it will not be our last! I especially appreciated all the "extra" things our guide did for our group: hosting group happy hours, giving us snacks on the bus, giving each person a small gift of candy, a snack, or a beer by pulling names out of a hat. It was nice that she took care of all our admission tickets, and she even purchased us 3 day tram tickets for Amsterdam.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wows" that I don't think I can choose just one. I will say that when I looked over the tour itinerary, there were some things that I thought would be boring, like the tour of the textile museum in Ghent, but I ended up really enjoying it! I especially liked the city walks with the local guides. I learned so much about the food, history, art, religion, and culture of the area."

Kenneth

Tour: 06/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour stops, guide, and group were fantastic. We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick a favorite...perhaps the tour of the Rjksmuseum in Amsterdam. The local guide's enthusiasm for the art and his thought-provoking commentary on the works we viewed were fascinating and really added to the experience viewing the masterpieces in the museum."

Emma

Tour: 06/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruby was our tour guide and she was amazing! She made everyone feel incredibly welcome and was always surprising us with gifts and fun facts. Etelka was the assistant and she was the sweetest person I have ever met. The toe of them working together made the group feel like a family and they didn't everything they could to make it the most amazing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the views of the small towns. I loved that we went to smaller cities and the canal cruises were breathtaking. I enjoyed that we got to do more than one canal cruise."

Danny

Tour: 06/15/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Cemetery day in Ypres was too much cemetery (we went to 4 or 5) It felt like a wasted day capped off with what seemed to me a poorly reconstructed small trench system. Our day at the beach was not on the published itinerary and was again a time waste for me. I would have preferred more time in Bruges, Ghent, or Delft

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the art. The local guide at the Rijksmuseum really broadened my understanding of the paintings "

David

Tour: 05/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour provided an excellent insight into the cities of Ghent, Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam, as well as the history and everyday life of living in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Anne Frank House and Museum in Amsterdam gave visitors a chilling reminder of how hate and nationalism have dangerous and deadly consequences."

Janis

Tour: 05/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great stops and guides. This was our first RS tour, although we have travelled with your books for 33 years. I still prefer independent travel, but the switch to group travel is helpful as we age.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Ghent"

Thomas

Tour: 05/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was pleasantly surprised with the richness of Belgium and the Netherlands. While these countries are small the feature some of the best western art in the world and played a crucial role in WWI and WWII.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the annual Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges."

Joan

Tour: 05/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized; knowledgeable take-charge leadership by Nina; respectful group of people on tour; learned a lot about art and the culture of the communities visited

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Holland dam structure; world-famous art I could walk up to (ex., Girl with the Pearl Earring)"

Jeannette

Tour: 05/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great! Very enjoyable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Royal Floral Auction - so huge and bustling."

Todd

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great trip. We learned so much about Belgium and the Netherlands and both World Wars!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is impressive how the Dutch have combatted the sea. We loved the flexible dykes and Sea Surge Protector. We loved the art and learning about the areas artists. And Brughes!"

Judith

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was my fifth Rick Steves tour. The guide was great but needed an assistant. It is impossible to walk through a city as a unified group of 22 in the rain and crowds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The coffee shop in Delfts with friends. "

Serge

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour met all expectations and then some. The tour was well organized and expertly run. Prior to the tour I knew little about. europe’s Low Countries. So this tour was educational from start to finish

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dodging bicyclists in Amsterdam"

Deborah

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Another wonderful Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Aalsmeer flower tour was outstanding - so incredibly interesting"

Jacqueline

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The well-balanced itinerary offered something for everyone: splendid architecture and art, good grounding in history and culture, and free time for exploring and mingling with locals, and breathtaking views. We appreciated both the abundant opportunities for "customizing" our experience and the planned stops and visits.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is a tough question to answer, but I'll pick one at random. Simply waking early (on purpose!) to watch a dozen or so swans gliding in the canal in front of our hotel in Bruges -- against a background of 17th-century buildings -- was as magical as it was peaceful. And while I was appreciating that view, I was greeted by a pleasant elderly nun who shared the weather forecast and wished me a happy day. "

Carol

Tour: 05/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was an excellent balance of education about what makes the Low Countries unigue, their culture, their amazing water engineering, their art and the beauty of their cities and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The surge protector and the WW I battlefields. "

Mary

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great leader and participants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof"

Brian

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We've come to expect excellent tour guides when traveling with a Rick Steves tour and Nico Favoreel exceeded expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day at the Keukenhof Gardens was spectacular. I can't imagine that there is a more brilliant display of flowers anywhere. We also ran across Rick himself and enjoyed getting to talk with him. In spite of what was an interruption to his itinerary, he was very gracious. "

Marc

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Throughly enjoyed our small group tour. Nico went above and beyond to educate us about some Belgian traditions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick just one. As a Puget Sound native I enjoy boating so our private boat tour with sunny weather sticks in my mind. I also enjoyed the quiet Sunday with Ann taking a minutes to enjoy a hit coco on a cool morning. Our picnic that moved under the windmill was another highlight. Last but not least we enjoyed spending a few minutes with Rick Steves in a Belgian brewery."

Richard

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. The weather was good most of the time. We were prepared which really helped on a couple of breezy days. Nico was a great guide. He was very attentive to our needs. Very knowledgeable about the are. Mixed a lot of humor in with telling us about the culture and expectations of The Netherlands and Belgium. Our group got along well. Lucky for us, there were only twelve of us. The hotels were good and the breakfasts were great! We all loved the bus driver, John.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the car free squares and roads. The stone buildings and walkways were also a wow. Every turn was interesting. Add in the canals and we were constantly in awe. "

Michael

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nothing but the best. Small group of 12, great guide, smooth logistics.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention just one! If I were to generalize it was the immersion into the art at various museums with the great local guides."

Thomas

Tour: 04/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enriching historical perspectives; savory food; learning experience; enjoyable tour members; top-notch guides; nice meld of new & old... medieval town centers, modern transportation, water technology, & bikes; comfortable, central lodging with helpful staffs; stunningly scenic (Keukenhof, canals, Dutch towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I choose two: the splendor of color, design, and varieties on display at Keukenhof AND the solemn, memorials in Flanders fields"

Scott

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good. We enjoyed the tour group; Ellen and Ruby were great tour guides and responsive to questions/concerns. The planned meals were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens, although the Rijstaffel dinner and the Hill 62 trench tour were great too."

Dee

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved seeing these beautiful areas in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After watching 10 episodes of "In Flanders Field" mini series (PBS Masterpiece) about a family in Ghent during World War I, the trenches we visited really came alive for me. I could imagine what took place where we were standing and it was very touching."

David

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very nice tour. Covers medieval history through First World War to the present. I liked that it allowed for a lot of free time to discover things on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof gardens was amazing. I loved the architecture of Ghent and Bruges as well. "

Karen

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steve's experience was WONDERFUL! We had a great group of people to travel with. I love how the tours are set up with walking tours, education, but also down time or time to do what we want. We were able to see things that we would not have been able to see on our own. We loved the quaint hotels in great locations to walk to things. Our guides were great and so knowledgable, patient and helpful. It was a great experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof!!! Wow! But also I was impressed by how well run the countries are as we learned about them and saw how they take care of their people and their land."

Gay

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were lucky that the pandemic didn't prevent anything we wanted to see or do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at Keukenhof Gardens were amazing. I can't believe it is only open two months a year."

Laura

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guides Ellen and stunt were wonderful. Any time we had a question about anything, they were on it. The local guides in the cities we visited were wonderful as well - all were very knowledgeable. I loved that we had the tour of the waterworks which was something we would never have done on our own. The balance of time spent with the group and free time was perfect. The day of visiting cemeteries got a bit long . I’d suggest leaving one of them out, but Flanders Field was not to be missed,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at Keukenhof were glorious! (The boat ride was a complete waste of time and money, however). Loved Ghent and Bruges - both so very picturesque and interesting. Also loved the Anne Frank tour. The Mauritzhaus which we visited on our own was incredible - a must for lovers of Dutch golden age painters. Rijksmuseum tour was also great."

Ellen

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First, Ellen and Ruby were wonderful. Knowledgable, interesting, kind, helpful. I left my brand new pants in Ghent and they went to great lengths to get them back to me! So, they handled flaky tourists well! The group was so fun. Lots of nice, interesting people. The tour itself was a nice mixture of art, culture, history. Being an art and flower person, I unexpectedly ended up loving the day we spent hearing about water control in the Netherlands! Our first RS tour - we'll be back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the tulip gardens - I won't spell it right. They were breathtakingly beautiful. Beyond anything I could have imagined!"

Michael

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was our first tour of this type as a couple, we had a great time and learned a lot about our destination cities. We also learned a lot about this type of traveling that would make it better on a second tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was walking through the streets of Bruges, Belgium imagining that what I was seeing was what it was like in the Middle Ages."

Ellen

Tour: 04/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Charles

Tour: 04/20/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Gail

Tour: 04/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt like the pace of the trip was a little bit of a challenge for me even though I walk 2 miles a day at home. Mostly a challenge because I get up about 5 am and on those nights we had group dinners I was dragging a bit. But would I go again? You bet. The quality and thought put into each day can not be beat and of course our guide Tim was a awesome young man.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. Ghent, Brugge, and Delft. Just being in and walking around the towns was such an experience. I loved every minute. Well the Keukenhof gardens were spectacular. We could not stop saying wow and taking pictures. The Watersnood museum was very moving as well as Anne Franks annex. I haven't mentioned the canals yet. But we never tired of them."

Martha

Tour: 04/20/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Terese

Tour: 04/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great ! Our tour guide Tim Tendick was the best! He was so informative, friendly and made our tour one of the best I've ever taken!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to see all the tulips in bloom !"

Robin

Tour: 04/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent tour. Enjoyed Tim our RS tour guide, felt the individual tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and mostly personable. We were blessed with the most incredible weather, no rain!!! This made the trip all the more enjoyable. The 14 other people on our tour were friendly and the whole group got along well. We had a good time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the picture I took in Ghent of the sunrise hitting the Cathedral at a perfect time. It epitomized the joy of the trip and oddly enough was taken from the dormer window (on the 3.5 story room) of our funky room. So had we not stayed there, I wouldn’t have taken the best picture of the entire tour. While we quite frankly did not like the room, the staff and the front patio as well as the picture made up the room."

Kimberly

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful way to learn about two countries that are very similar yet also very different. There is much to see, and more people should visit Belgium & Holland.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tram to our hotel didn't follow its original route & even the locals were confused. A kind passenger saw us looking lost & asked where we were going. When we told him, he asked a mother & daughter who were getting off if they spoke English & then asked them to help us get to a tram that would get us to our hotel. The mother & daughter walked us all the way to the street of the hotel for 20 minutes on cobble stone sidewalks & streets. We experienced this type of kindness throughout our trip!"

Phil

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed learning about the "low countries" now that I know what they are.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from our room at the Hotel Adornes in Brugge was my "wow" moment as it was the quintessential European scene."

Terri

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nico is a wonderful tour guide, knowledgeable, kind, funny and charming. The hotels were wonderful glimpse of each city. Restaurant choices were wonderful. A few too many cemeteries on the tour. But overall, it was a fun trip, filled with lots of memories. Looking forward to our next tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens. It was SPECTACULAR! Better than I could ever imagine. Photos do not do it justice."

Sandra

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was impressed by the organization of each day’s activities.Nico was always organized, helpful and upbeat. When we went to various sites,I was always impressed with the local guide’s knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Keukenhof gardens was breath taking."

John

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed every part of the experience; the planning, visit to each city and the guides, who shared their expertise.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to name just name one. However, when we visited the Keukenhof gardens the tulips were in full bloom and spectacular. "

Donna

Tour: 04/13/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-run, interesting, educational, fun. All the usual components of a Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Maeslant Barrier storm surge dike. Amazing innovation. A view into the spectacular use of engineering to improve lives."

Kenneth

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were able to see and do all the things on the itinerary. On Location guides were fantastic. The pace was good for us: nice balance between free time and planed time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof was amazing. Close seconds would have been the dikes and the Anne Frank House."

Judith

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Several museums were not open and there was no notice until we arrived. (Even the some of the museums' websites failed to advise of the closings.) Nina selected substitute venues to visit when a museum closing was on the schedule. These were included on my list of places to visit on my free time so I feel they were good choices and I got more out of them because the local guides explanations were excellent. Learned so much about the history and culture of the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Rijksmuseum and the Marianne, the local guide, was superb. Her, dare I say "lecture", on Rembrandt's Night Watch provided so much information not only about that specific painting but on Rembrandt's methods and techniques as well. Marianne's knowledge and enthusiasm for the paintings and exhibits made this one of the best museum visits ever."

Gail

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I am happy with the things I experienced on the tour. However, this tour felt a bit more like a "Your Way" tour than what I experienced previously. There was an overabundance of "on your own" time. However, some of the suggestions to fill that time required reservations that were impossible to get once the tour started, especially The Hague (booked) while we were in Delft and the Van Gogh Museum (booked). Too much free time in Ghent as we did things there having arrived prior to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens were fabulous. Rotterdam Water Engineering was fascinating. Flanders Field - moving. "

Patricia

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time. Our tour guide Nina was fabulous - she asked each of us why we had picked the Belgium/Netherlands tour. When most everyone said 'the tulips' she ensured that we had a lot of time at Keukenhof gardens. The bus was comfortable and expertly driven - with just 15 of us on tour we had a lot of space to spread out. The tour was structured with knowledgeable local guides followed by lots of free time (plenty of time in each location to see the sites).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day where we toured Ypres, and the WWI sites was extremely moving. The local guide, Raoul, was fantastic, presenting the history of world war 1 in an interesting and engaging manner. Getting to see the American and battlefield cemeteries and understand the scope of the sacrifice made this day an absolute standout. The tulips at Keukenhof were a definite highlight, along with the glorious works of art at the Rijksmuseum, the Ghent altarpiece and the Michelangelo Madonna in Bruges. "

Donna

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nina’s, our tour guide , enthusiasm was contagious!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gardens at Keukenhof."

Brenda

Tour: 04/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at Keukenhof Gardens"

Virginia

Tour: 04/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Holland and Belgium tour was fantastic, I loved the locations we visited and the hotels we stayed in. Tim, our tour guide was so friendly and informative. Traveling by coach was effortless and the guided tours we had in Brugge, Ghent, and Delft were all great! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing the great surge barrier and visiting the WWI cemeteries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorite memories from the trip was driving into Brugge and seeing the windmills along the city gates. I loved getting to take bikes from the hotel and ride in the countryside outside of Brugge, it was beautiful!"

Delmas

Tour: 04/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed all the towns that we visited. The meals hosted by our tour guide were very good. Our tour guide Tim was outstanding. He was very Informative and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The historic buildings and the canals were amazing. The art, food, and wonderful Belgian beer was a wow for me. "

Larry

Tour: 04/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour- very good itinerary, saw a lot of very interesting things that you would not see on most tours. Tim is an excellent guide- very personable and knowledgeable. Very comfortable bus, good driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulip gardens, Water control installations, Anne Frank House, Old towns"

Deborah

Tour: 04/06/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves tour and it was outstanding. Again. Will be scheduling more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Ghent Altarpiece took my breath away. I knew it would be a ‘wow’, but it was a ‘WOW’."

Pamela

Tour: 04/06/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Belgium & The Netherlands, and Ellen, our tour guide, was absolutely brilliant. Her knowledge of the history, culture and character of these two countries was a highlight and greatly increased our understanding and appreciation for these wonderful people. Our time in each city and surrounding countryside was enhanced by the local guides. The planned meals were delicious! Our small group of 14 made for easy movement to each site, and we formed some lovely friendships.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hands down The Rijksmuseum was absolutely awesome! To be surrounded by so many well-known works of art had me mouthing "Wow!" as we moved through the galleries. The Keukenhof Garden was another great favorite, and I agree with another reviewer that more time there would have been lovely. Each day was a delight and we so appreciate the flexibility and grace with which Ellen handled our orientation tours and jaunts about each city. I would highly recommend this tour."

Laurie

Tour: 04/06/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful time, our tour guide Ellen was amazing! We feel we were so lucky to have her as our tour guide. I loved the group size of only 14, as we all became connected very fast and it was a wonderful group. Having a smaller group made the trip so enjoyable, it made all the logistics so easy, and saved us so much time. I would be willing to pay more money for a future trip if the number of travelers were limited to 14 All of our local tour guides gave an excellent presentation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick out just one "wow" moment....but I would choose the time spent at the Keukenhof Gardens. The tulips were beautiful, I could have spent more time just wondering around the gardens."

Gary

Tour: 04/06/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the trip was great. Ellen was an excellent tour leader and the city guides were excellent too. We were fortunate to only have 14 people in our group so we got to know everyone very well. The art we saw and the history we learned were incredible. And then, of course, there were those beautiful tulips!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say there was a particular "wow" moment. But there were many great highlights, perhaps visiting the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam was my favorite."

Thomas

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was like a string of pearls, one splendid thing after another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sweep of the terrain at Flanders and the fact that so many died there left me in awe."

Carol

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My experience was fantastic! Tour guides Nico and Ruby were great and very helpful. I loved the places we stopped and the opportunity to see and hear about each one. The local guides were wonderful as well. I felt like I was a part of the community.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was Keukenhof Gardens. The flowers were in full bloom, including the tulips, and the colors were just phenomenal! I couldn't take enough pictures!"

Jeff

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had another positive experience with a RS tour. Activities were will thought out, guides well informed, and free time adequately scheduled. I enjoyed the group with no exceptions. Weather was problematic with rain and I did not have all the clothing necessary to fight the elements. My bad!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not feel one activity far outweighed all others. Positive moments/events included both boat tours, the Delft pottery shop, the storm surge facility, the trenches at Flanders, and Kuekenhof."

Ann

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had fantastic guides in Nico and Ruby. Both very knowledgeable about the history and current events of the Netherlands. They were so welcoming. We felt like long lost friends. Our trip was great. We saw and did so much. The local guides were very informative and entertaining. Our fellow travelers were friendly, not one grump among them!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband really enjoyed the visit to the storm serge barrier. Amazing! I loved walking the narrow shopping streets and marveling at the age of the buildings. The Rijksmuseum was wonderful. "

Ruben

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Janice

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nico and Ruby were great tour guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flower show"

Janet

Tour: 03/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a great tour that covers unique architecture, engineering, history, art and nature. Each city had some beautiful art works in it. The engineering that gave these countries canals and new land is phenomenal. The visit to Keukenhof gardens was the highlight for me. It was wonderful to be back in Europe. The locals we talked to were very glad to see us. I loved seeing all the things unique to Belgium and the Netherlands. The chocolate was terrific!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the floral displays at Keukenhof Gardens. The colors, the displays the fragrances were so beautiful. The second wow moment was our visit to the American cemetery. We was snowing and that blanket of snow gave it a peace and solemnity that was very special and moving. The British, Canadian, French and German cemeteries were reminders of the brutality and extremely high death rate of this horrible war."

John

Tour: 03/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was an enthusiastic and very empathetic guide. She worked constantly behind the scenes to make sure in advance that each day came off as smoothly as possible. The local guides were all very good to excellent. Overall we had an excellent time as we always do with RS tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The local guide who gave us the tour of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. He was truly inspirational."

Gloria

Tour: 03/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had it all - great guide, great tour group and a perfect variety of experiences unique to Belgium & the Netherlands.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from but I have narrowed it to two: Visiting the WWI cemeteries and battleground trenches which helped me realize how little I knew about Belgium's sacrifices. The other was seeing the infrastructure of the storm surge barrier system. What an engineering miracle! But then there is a number three: Viewing the Old Masters' of the Low Countries paintings in person!!"

When To Go & Weather

Any time between April and September is a good time to take a Heart of Belgium & Holland tour. However, the months of April, May, and September are best for offering generally good weather, lighter crowds, and the full range of tourist fun. April and early May are also the best time to catch flowers in bloom.

Belgium / Brussels

Belgium Weather


Holland / Amsterdam

Holland Weather

Hotels & Flights

Tour Hotels

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 the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly into Brussels (BRU) and out of Amsterdam (AMS) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. It's a 1 to 1½ -hour train ride from the Brussels airport to 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.