"Bicycles The amount of time in each location was good, I would have enjoyed one more day in Ghent, when it would be a regular weekday so there would be more vendors open. Also the little side stops for lunch, like the town of Zierikzee, as we headed to our new cities were very cool. "I would have to say the Maeslant storm surge barrier and our guide, Jeroen. but our guide left much to be desired. Bus trips were broken down into visits at local sites along the way. Good guides also and good hotels. So peaceful! Travel between cities was seamless and filled with interesting excursions. I loved the places we visited, the art, architecture and culture we were exposed to, and the information that was provided by our tour guide and additional guides. Second 'wow' moment was getting into Amsterdam on Kings Day! The tour showcased an uncharacteristically diverse group of sites from the modern to the ancient, from art to science. ©2020 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | I enjoyed the wWWI history and the history of the dike system. 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. We were fortunate to see The Anne Frank Haus. The tour was well planned and well balanced between guided excursions and free time. Probably the whole explanation of how the Netherlands keeps back the North Sea-the Deltaworks and the ", Normally, we do not do tours except Linblad/ Zagrahm ships. This is the second Rick Steve's Tour that we've done with our family and it was just as amazing as the first. Create custom playlists with more than 400 educational clips featuring the best of European history, art, culture, and experiences (plus topics beyond Europe) . $13.99 $19.99. Ellen and Nico were a wonderful team.I particularly wanted this tour this time of year for the visit to Keukenhof and also to visit the WWI area in Flanders. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. Van Gogh, Van Eyek, Rembrandt, Vermeer and even a Micheal Angelo Sculpture was a wonderful experience and one of the main reasons I choose this tour. We'll gather at our hotel at 4 p.m. for an introduction meeting, then hop aboard a fun and informative canal cruise through the city. ▲▲ Brussels Urbane capital of Belgium, the European Union, and NATO, with one of Europe's grandest squares, colorful urban zones, and a beloved statue of a little boy peeing. "I especially enjoyed the experience at the Netherlands operation for flood control. The sober experience of the Anne Frank house to be followed by the Dutch Resistance museum. Many highlights, though. But, the timing was great for the "All the Rembrandts" at the Rijksmuseum and the Mauristhuis Museum (on our own). Your afternoon and evening are free for more exploring at your leisure. The Anne Frank Museum was particularly impactful. No bus. A very good mix. All were very punctual and prepared for the day's activities. He had bought the group all kinds of orange paraphernalia we could wear so we could join in on the celebrations like the locals!". Also, our visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam was very moving. Great value. I enjoyed meeting the people on the tour, and our guide was helpful, smart, and knowledgeable. Ellen was helpful and informative. There was a good mix of historical sites, tasting cuisine of the area by experts, such as chocolate tasting and beer, canal tours, the storm barrier tour, the pottery tour, the textile museum and more. Group meals were wonderful. I never want to go back to Amsterdam.". Keukenhof was why I took the tour this time of year and it was totally worth it. ), "Visiting the storm surge barrier. Dodging bicycles added to the fun. Light to strenuous walking (your choice). I think people in the States don't appreciate the sacrifices these soldiers made for the safety of the World. "The Keukenhof Gardens was a must see. Standing in front of Rembrant's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp (during the tour I was reading The Anatomy Lesson by Nina Siegal). "Catching the first glimpse of the beautiful Flemish architecture in Ghent for the first time, then continuing to see the lovely historical architecture in Bruges and Delft. i was in awe at what those men went through. What made this tour even more significant was the technology dimension and planning for the future, especially the Deltaworks system and Maeslant storm surge barrier in the Netherlands. The trenches needed more time, another forty minutes would do it. ), Ghent Museum of Industry with guide Mieke, and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. "Ghent was my "wow" place. And the Flanders Field American Cemetery was very impressive and incredibly well maintained, as was the UK cemetery at Tyne Cot. The bus was a wonderful enhancement to the trip,making it easy and extremely comfortable to get from place to place. That was plenty for a nearly two week trip and shows how much I usually over pack. The bus was great and our driver the best! I liked that while we visited some sites as a group, there was time to add extra museums, etc if you wanted. This tour lived up to the high expectations we have for the Rick Steves tour experience. Our lead guide Nina was excellent, as were all the local guides; they made each day and each experience unique which in my mind is the value-add to any Rick Steves tour. Belgium and Holland were more modern and upscale that the other European countries visited on my previous 9 trips. and now engineer their way through them. We loved all the art and history as well as the incredible food and beer. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. "I think that the WOW was an accumulated experience of the charming Belgium and Netherlands towns and cities. It was hard for me to not check Outstanding. And of course- Keukenhof!!!!!! Seeing the Vermeer paintings in the museums in the Hague and Amsterdam make a trip to the Netherlands all worthwhile. And had fun along the way. and 2) learning about and seeing the Maeslant storm surge Barrier.". We had to ignite and extinguish our devices. "Keukenhof! We treasured our guides, so helpful and concerned for our safety. But actually the big Wow moment surprised me and came with viewing the Maeslant storm surge barrier. Francesco Gronchi: Virtual Wine Tastings, Consultations Thirdly, the DeltaWorks, demonstrating all the flood and water conservation engineering methods.". Fortunately, at least it was sunny most days. Ghent and Bruges are quietly attractive, the highlight of the trip.". When visiting new countries, I find tours to be the best way to go. Brugges was unbelievably beautiful. "It's hard to choose just one, but I'll pick the one that was most unexpected...visiting the Watersnood Museum and learning how the Netherlands reacted to a flooding tragedy, embraced their water management challenges (windmills! We saw all the main sights as a group with good orientation to the cities so we were able to explore comfortably in our own. The remainder of the evening is free to find the perfect Belgian dinner. From our first meeting in Ghent until our parting in Amsterdam our experience was wonderful. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. "This is not a "wow" moment tour. "I really hate this question because there never is just one. From big cities to beautiful country sides, world class art museums to the amazing storm surge barrier as well as the trip to Flanders Field, all gave a special experience of Belgium and Holland. (Look out for bikes in Amsterdam! I have to add the exciting feeling of being so close to one of my favorite artists, Vermeer, and the life of Anne Frank. Bruges. Imagine the Eiffel tower lying on its side. The choices of cities that were selected were excellent. Negative comments: There came a hush over our whole group as we learned that this cemetery existed. We had little rain but I should have brought warmer clothes. We brought our four grandchildren on their first trip to Europe and it was wonderful. "Seeing the tulips and other beautiful flowers at Keukenhof.". The group was very happy people". "Wow moment was the beautiful towns of Ghent and Bruge. Wonderful and beautiful! Did not like Delft hotel: terrible beds, elevator too small, got 8 insects bites in the 2 night stay. The Belgium and Holland tour is highly recommended. The hotels we stayed at were clean and comfortable. Far more moving than the cemeteries in Flanders Field. Never saw so many beautiful flowers in one day. Terms of Service | Privacy, Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour 2021. We enjoyed everything that was scheduled and we also appreciated the freedom to do our own explorations. We picked this tour so we could see Keukenhof in all its glory! Wow...unbelievable. It's absolutely a modern marvel and we were able to get so close to it! We also favor itineraries with longer stays at each hotel so 4 destinations was just right. A lot of good memories were created with this tour.". ", The tour was another excellent experience in travel with a great guide, hotels, sights, bus driver and food. "The trenches in Flanders Field. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Really opened my eyes to the realities of dangerous climactic events, and that the government in the Netherlands is really working proactively to take care of their citizens. Although the weather was unseasonably cold and wet, our group was in high spirits and my experience wasn't compromised a bit. Wedged between Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and famous for waffles, Smurfs, and a statue of a little boy peeing, it's no wonder it can get lost in the mix. This is our 6th Rick Steves Tour. ", Guide was very good. Learned a lot, saw a lot, ate a lot. The tour had great preplanned tours and events and just enough free time. In Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on all the recommended sights, activities, hotels, and restaurants in each of these four cities, plus self-guided walks and museum tours, background on nightlife and shopping…and plenty of nitty-gritty practical advice:. However, Keukenhof Gardens was gorgeous! Breakfast was terrible. Also enjoyed the visits to some small towns along the way. Bus: 5 hours. It was a great experience, with a great guide and so many interesting sights.. Every trip is a learning experience that gives such great insight into how other cultures live. Wonderful trip!! Trip to Belgium and the Netherlands was wonderful, Our tour guide, Ellen, was friendly, informed, efficient, engaging. The food was amazing and such good herring. Just seeing all the tulips and flowers with my own eyes! We really liked that on many days we had the entire afternoon and evening to explore on our own. The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier and the sobering visit to Flanders Field. I had seen it 32 years before and signed up for this trip just so Nancy could experience it. When our energy was low, Tim always gave us a sugary treat; always delicious! "Seeing the tulip gardens at Keukenhof Tulip gardens was definitely a highlight. SO MUCH FUN and it removed the stress from my first trip in Europe. How energizing and fun!! From funky urban neighborhoods to tranquil convents, from old-fashioned lace to high-powered European politics, little Belgium delights. I had traveled to this area 49 years ago and it was interesting to observe the changes and new memories with the fantastic flower market, cannel rides and special food. Experiences were varied, in all cases museums were outstanding. ... Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands. We picked this particular tour because it's the only one that fit our schedule. 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. It was everything I've come to expect from a RS Tour and more. Belgium's town squares bristle with soaring spires and warm-brick gables. It was a really nice trip! To walk a few steps in the WW1 trenches was something to ponder, to give honor to those who lost their lives, or limbs on behalf of their country was sobering. Tim was a wonderful guide, filled with knowledge, humor and kindness. Wedged between Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and famous for waffles, Smurfs, and a statue of a little boy peeing, it's no wonder it can get lost in the mix. The local guides were excellent as well. "The first tulip field we passed! Nikko our 1st guide that replaced Ellen was fabulous. dikes! I'm picky with "Outstanding" because not every tour is but that is not a reflection of our guide, Ellen. "Keukenhof Gardens. 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