Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip. Super guide. Fun group. Learned a lot about history, culture, architecture and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the delta works water management system in the North Sea. Plus the canals in the quaint cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves' tour and I could not have been more pleased. The trip was thoughtfully planned from beginning to end. My main Guide, Nico, was an absolute doll - kind, organized, intelligent. My fellow travelers were also lovely - that was a big issue for me, considering I was traveling alone. I never felt out of place for one moment. I saw things that I will remember fior the rest of my life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The WW! memorials at Ypres, the Maeslantkering Storm Suge Barrier, the Van Ecyk alter piece. But my top wow moment was the Mauritszhuis Museum in the Hague. This was not part of the tour but it was stunning, nevertheless."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Nico, was outstanding. He made the tour fun and educational at the same time. All of the places we stayed were lovely and the local guides were excellent as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In a tour of mostly subtle pleasures the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier was definitely a wow moment. The scale of it was amazing, and the local guide provided a lot of insight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour had a wonderful guide, Nico, and some of the most fun and interesting people we’ve ever met. We had a blast and so enjoyed every aspect of the tour.These tours encourage and teach the members how to explore and expand on the tour experience and did not disappoint!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments but the still, quiet and introspective moments in the Anne Frank Huis has to be the truly stunning one for this trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was awesome! Our guide Nico was fantastic ……. he has a great personality, provided lots of valuable information, went above & beyond in providing some additional activities for the group & on an individual level was exceptional in helping to resolve a personal situation. Our group was extremely cohesive and made the tour that much more enjoyable. There was a good blend of group time & personal time. All of site guides & activities couldn’t have been better!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Delta Works system was an unbelievable site to see first-hand & we had an awesome guide who took us through & spend quite a bit of time explaining everything to us ……. it was amazing to see!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. I was pleased with the organization, pacing (i.e., organized time together and unplanned free time), location and quality of the hotels. The group was made up a pleasantly cohesive group of couples. There were two ‘singles’ – of which I was one. It seemed that the group enjoyed getting to know each other. No negative or insensitive members in this group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the towns of Ghent and Bruges. It was great to see the less visited old sections of town in Ghent and Amsterdam. (Sorry – can’t be more specific than that.)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first tour ever and was so impressed with how much we learned and were immersed in the culture of each country we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ghent was amazing, especially in the evenings when most of the other tours emptied out of the city. Staying in places for more than one night was definite the biggest plus as we never felt rushed and were able to do and see almost everything we wanted to."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third Rick Steves tour and we signed on to the Belgium/Netherlands tour as an adventure. It was full of surprises and was incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Is it possible to land on ONE favorite "wow" moment? I can list many in this small space. But if I have to name some I guess some moments would be the experience of the Anne Frank House, the Royal Flora Holland visitor center and flower market, the flood management gates and the realization that the American slave trade had an influence on international textile markets (as indicated by the textile museum in Ghent). These are ONLY a few of the golden moments for me on this trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful! From the first stop to the last we were thoroughly engaged. Our guide, Nico, is a treasure and we loved his insights along the way. The hotels were well located and most local guides were great although the one in Amsterdam was not very engaging. Everything was well organized and ran efficiently.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was experiencing Ghent. The location on the canal of our hotel made it so convenient to really enjoy the sights and sounds of this lovely city and all it had to offer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time touring through the Low Countries. The mix of art, food, historical, and industrial tour experiences was exciting, and our guide was outstanding (as were the local guides).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Vermeer nook at the Rijksmuseum - simply outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed myself. The pace of the tour was just right and our tour guide was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Adoration of the Sacred Lamb and Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Actually experienced world history in a significant way on this tour, making the tour about learning, not just sightseeing. Being age challenged I was disappointed that Bags were not delivered to hotels and that I had to get a bus a 15 minuted walk away from our hotel for the Airport departure. Past tours have usually provided this service.

Favorite "WOW" moment

""Wow" moment was seeing the Madonna and Child Michaelangelo sculpture. Truly exquisite and my REASON for taking this tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the itinerary, accommodations, meals and company of the tour members. Our driver and guide Ellen were exceptional. The local guides were good as well - Andre at Flanders Field and Robert at Rijksmuseum were exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoyed the canals, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb in Ghent, the tour of the Maselant storm barrier near Rotterdam, and The Night Watchman at the Rijksmuseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have been on numerous Rick Steves tours and as always this one was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was not any one WOW moment on this tour for me. Everything was very enjoyable. I loved Ghent and Brugge, the wafels, the architecture, the canals, the beer and, oh did I mention the wafels."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Dutch guide, Ellen was wonderful, informative, fun, easy to connect with. A shout out goes especially to these local guides: Thomas (Gent) and Danielle (Brugge). My husband really liked our Flanders Field guide: Andre. We LOVED the varied experiences: from walking the cobblestone streets along the canals: hearing and reading about some of the culture and history of these 2 countries: climbing towers: exploring museums; to practicing the one/two Dutch phrases with local people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"During some of our free time, we went to two Brugge 80th year celebrations of being liberated by the Canadians (Sept 1944). Was able to talk quite awhile to the man who coordinated the major vehicle display, as well as a U.S.101st arirborne camp reenactment.Truly a once in a lifetime experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great sites, great food, and outstanding guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I didn’t feel this was one of better RS tours I’ve been on. The Textile Factory visit was too long. I was also very disappointed in our hotel in Delft, not having a private bathroom was almost a deal breaker for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anne Frank House and Ghent."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A wonderful group and guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking out of my first hotel (after arriving from hours on plane and trains) and looking across the canal to the amazing architecture! Looked like you stepped into a storybook scene!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour did exactly what the itinerary said it would, plus extra surprises along the way, thanks to our tour guide, Ruby!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Delta Works in the Netherlands was one of my best moments. The engineering is amazing and yet so simple a solution to sea level rise, which is also a big problem where I live in the US."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was "very good". The guides were all knowledgeable and friendly. Even our bus driver was great to have a conversation with. I enjoyed all of the people I came into contact with as part of the tour. Only a couple items kept me from rating the overall your as "outstanding". At some locations I felt we were a little rushed. That's to be expected I suppose when there is a lot of ground to cover. The other item was that one of the hotels was sub-par and another was borderline.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments that it's hard to choose just one. If I had to pick one it would be the World War 1 cemeteries. We saw a small American cemetery and much larger British and German cemeteries. They were all remarkable. I was struck at how the Belgian people still to this day lovingly look upon the soldiers buried in the Flanders Field American Cemetery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Ruby, was awesome. She was very informative, helpful, and friendly. The local/city guides were just as awesome. The hotels were, of course, different from what I am used to. Overall, they were acceptable except for one, which was dirty. Different is ok, dirty is not.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the Anne Frank House. Visiting the Anne Frank House was one of the major reasons for booking the tour. I loved the chocolate shop demonstration and the brewery tours. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flower market was amazing to see how it operates. Also the WWI Flanders Field experiences a reminder of the brutality of that that war. But the windmills and North Sea were neat. There never is just one experience there are always several."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed our tour. It was well paced and had the right amount of free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was struck by the contrast of industrial / innovative aspects of water management and the beauty of the beach and the canals. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour balances experiences with culture, history, and the unique attributes of Holland and Belgium. The hotels and transportation were exceptional. Our guide Ellen makes every effort to make a connection and be available. Her attention to details surpasses expectations. It was all the little things that makes this tour truly special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping into WWI history through Flanders Fields provided solemn wows throughout the morning. A new understanding and appreciation for the soldiers developed."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide, fun group of travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Reich museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of Belgium and the Netherlands was terrific. Just the right amount of expeditions/organized tours and free time. Besides the city tours and guides, the tours of unique places enroute were very good and not places we would have seen on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two: the huge flower distribution center and operation near Amsterdam and Ghent at night with all the lights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves’ tour. I’ve been a long time viewer of Rick Steves' Europe on PBS and was looking forward to an adventure. This tour lived up to my expectations! My tour was incredibly energizing and engaging each day, filled with the history, art, and local food that I was eagerly anticipating. The tour guide set this happy and refreshing tone right from the start, and the group meshed together well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two places really stand out. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Mauritshuis in The Hague. The Mauritshuis was not an official part of the tour, but like every day our guide gave my group much information and encouragement on great ways to use our free time, and The Hague was right next to Delft. After I returned home I promised myself to return to the Rijksmuseum in the future, allowing 2 entire days in order to include a reservation to spend time in the Cuypers Library. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was wonderful from start to finish. I so appreciate all the careful advance planning and organization that RS Europe and its staff put into the amazing itinerary. Our spectacular guide, Nina, was on top of every detail, so kind, gracious, and attentive to the needs of everyone in our group. She shared helpful tips, information, and anecdotes that enhanced the experience along the way. Each hotel was unique, centrally located with excellent, caring staff and delicious breakfasts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each stop along the way was its own “peak experience.” Some “wow” moments: visiting the WWI memorials (and trenches) in Flanders Fields; seeing artistic masterpieces in museums and churches throughout Belgium and the Netherlands; visiting the Deltaworks and the Maeslant storm surge barrier; the beautiful, peaceful canals. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our guide Nina! Her wit combined with the history and anecdotes of Belgium and Holland really helped us understand the regions and customs!! We enjoyed the museums and canal tours tremendously.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through Ghent at 10:30 at night and bike riding in Bruges on a Sunday afternoon!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. We had a great group to share the experience with and Nina was a wonderful guide. As a single traveler I appreciated having others to share the “wow” moments with. Thanks

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really loved so many of the art pieces and our travel through the country side, but the huge Aalsmeer flower market south of Amsterdam certainly deserved being called a ‘Wow” moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed every aspect of the tour, from the organization, the transportation, the Hotels, and of course the guides. Every day began with a delicious breakfast served by friendly hotel staff. Our various local tours were hosted by knowledgeable and fun guides and our overall tour guide was a total delight. She was amazing. So, also was our bus driver - skilled and just like one of the tourists with us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of great moments. I am always wowed by the friendliness of the local people and the ability to get around the cities, either by the metros, the trains, or the busses. Being surrounded by beautiful architecture, and history helps!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Nina was exceptional! The group was good natured and I believe enjoyed each others company. The pace was good, with just enough free time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I found each location to have it's own 'wow' moment, though I must say the The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier in Holland was very impressive!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was perfect, very interesting with a variety of great experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several: the amazing flower market, and the charming town of Bruges."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

In general, all guides and hotels were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked Amsterdam the best because there was so much to see and do."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very good tour with many interesting people on our tour with us. We all got along quite well and learned more about each other as we went. Our tour guide Nina was so engaging and knowledgeable about all the places we went and our guides in each city were excellent also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, how to pick one! I think for me was the astounding amount of people on all manner of bikes and how they were so serious about their ride. I was truly amazed at hearing the number of bikes through the tunnel in Amsterdam per day! 18,000!!! Incredible! The museum above it was my favorite and I could go there every day! The museum about the flood in 1953 was an eye opener. Then going to see one of the massive flood gates was amazing. I also found the flower market a logistics miracle."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Outstanding tour guide Nina was entertaining and informative. Everyone knew the plans for each day and she had great local guides already set up for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Canadian Hill 62 war memorial and lunch at the farm where they continue to find weapons, bombs, etc. I had no idea the clean up continues. And as a Canadian, I felt very proud."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. The history aspect was so informative. The cities we visited were delightful. Our group was great and our guide outstanding. Even our bus driver was a wonderful addition to our tour! There were so many key moments. The hotels on the canals, the restaurants and specific site visits made this an unforgettable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How can you identify just one? One experience after another just kept getting better. Flanders Field tour and guide was my greatest WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. Well organized. Excellent guide and driver and local guides. Nice fellow participants. Interesting programs.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Interactions with fellow participants."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour experience was very good. Our fellow travelers were diverse, easygoing, and always on time. The guide and driver (who joined us on tours and helped the guide with logistics) were very good. The bus rides were short. The local guides ranged from good to superb. The pace was good and sufficient "free" time to pursue one's own interests was included. What keeps the tour from being outstanding was the size of the group - 27 is too many -- hard to keep together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the event that stands out was the guide (Matthew) who gave the tour in the Rijksmuseum. The way he explained how history, politics, and religion were reflected in the art style of the paintings was great, as was his explanations of how to read the paintings. He made the paintings much more meaningful. And he was very engaged with our group, demonstrating interest in us and our reactions. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was fun and I would definitely do another Rick Steve's Tour. Our tour guide, Jodie, was superb. Could not be any better. Our bus driver, "John" was also superb. I wish I could have him on every tour that I take. The cities visited were interesting and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Field by far."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tremendous. The insights into the history, culture, art, politics, water management, people and the natural beauty was incredible. Very interesting and well rounded.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many beautiful moments, but probably the history, the bike culture, and canals would be among the top :)"

Another well-run tour by the Rick Steves' folks

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Felds, Aalsmeer Flower Auction"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Jody, was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and handled a minor emergency that came up with one of my fellow travels very efficiently. The hotel accommodations were excellent. Our bus driver was very helpful during our trip. The meals provided were delicious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed visiting the Deft Project, the Rijksweg Museum and the Delft workshop."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I got to see and do things I never thought I get to. I loved everything. Jody was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially loved the architecture and the canals. The Anne Frank Museum was probably my biggest wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time on the tour! Our guide, Jody, was terrific, and the overall experience was wonderful. Our tour members got along very well, and each day was a mix of organized activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The DeltaWorks were fascinating, and our student guide was informative and inspiring (gives us hope for the future!). The Rijksmuseum was also a wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"flower auction"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Ellen, was great and the special speakers all added something to the experience. Learned many things about Belgium and The Netherlands previously unknown. Covering art, history and culture thoroughly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The children from Brussels singing the American anthem at the WWI cemetery- great timing and very emotional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned and very enjoyable. The group on the tour meshed well. Especially enjoyed Ghent and Brugge. Liked having free time in which to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Alsmeer Flower auction was truly a wow moment. Almost impossible to explain unless you’ve been there! Also, was really moved by the World War I sites at Ypres and the barn full of war detritus at the farm where we had lunch. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Belgians and Dutch are very friendly and helpful. Beautiful scenery and lovely towns and cities.Learned so much about their interesting and complicated histories. Their museums and art are spectacular.The Dutch mastery of modern engineering for protection from the North Sea--the Deltaworks is incredible! A must see!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment from the tour was Brussels Grand Place. It is breathtakingly beautiful! Its beauty and grandeur are dazzling."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Truly an exceptional trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many memorable events that it’s difficult to narrow it down to just one. I will say that the site visit to Flanders Field was very sobering, one that I will not forget."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flower market was my favorite thing"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 7th tour - relative to others, it didn’t offer the natural scenic experiences, but then it is the “Low Countries”. Also it felt like we had a lot of free time which we do not always use as effectively as we could (probably our own limitations).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two: (1) the Indonesian meal (so much food delivered to the table so rapidly) and (2) the engineering marvels to attempt to keep the sea abated. I thought it was a little boy and his finger?"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was exceptional and helped me with several concerts I attended.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Attending a Baroque concert in Bruges celebrating the 80 the birthday of the concert master"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Of the 7 RSE tours we have done, this was the least scenic and we seemed to have a lot more free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Indonesian dinner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good variety of history, art and local culture. Great guide and special hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Spending 9 hours at the world famous RijksMuseum savoring almost every photo there."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Nico was the sunshine for our tour. While spring is sometimes chilly, damp & cloudy, Nico was always positive, upbeat & informative - he made every day interesting and fun no matter the weather. Belgium and the Netherlands, with all their picturesque canals, gardens of tulips, and decorative narrow building styles, and Golden Age influence, was absolutely lovely to visit and learn about.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As global warming threatens our coastal cities in the US, I was interested in the bold waterworks that keep Belgium and the Netherlands protected. Enroute from Brugge to Delft, we passed miles of canals (in cities, surrounding neighborhoods, between country farms – everywhere), and two surge barriers. Neeltje Jans barrier (Zeeland) only active when the surge is expected at 9-10 feet. And we walked under and around one arm of the giant Maeslant barrier (Rotterdam.) Imagine the engineering - Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great RS tour. Nico, our guide, was fantastic. His knowledge was superb. I was able to see and do, almost, everything I had planned. I would have loved an additional day in each city. Fellow travelers were all very friendly. Really great group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved, loved the museums! They did not disappoint. I was also surprised I found Flanders Field so interesting. Really heart felt. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed every aspect of the tour. Our guide, Nico was outstanding and made sure we had an amazing experience. He was always making sure we tasted the local flavors, no matter where we were. He masterfully kept the group a cohesive unit of 27 people and communicated our every move to perfection.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but one that stands out, mostly because it was one of the few times the weather cooperated, was our canal boat ride in Amsterdam with Capt. Patrick. He brought us on an extra long trip out into the harbor and made sure we had a stellar experience. Day to day was WOW also since Nico set us up for fun no matter where we went. He was full of useful historical and cultural information. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Food was outstanding, sites were great, most hotels very nice

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kuggenhof gardens"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very enjoyable, well organized and I really liked all our accommodations. The events that were planned were very specific to the country we were visiting , which added to the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Madonna by Michelangelo in Belgium. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thanks to our guide, Nico, for h trip was a wonderful educational, entertaining and fun trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bruges, a beautiful city. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the tour. We felt the hotel locations were excellent and we enjoyed the amount of free time allowed to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything in Brugges!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great trip!!! Our guide nico was so knowledgeable and he had so much patience and was so kind to all of us. This was an unforgettable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think everything was a wow factor to me The selection of hotels, restaurants, and the tour guide Nico !!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first trip to Europe, so we were a bit nervous about what to expect. But we had a great time! We felt safe and taken care of. There was just the right amount of planned activities and time on our own to explore or rest. The hotels were charming and very comfortable. Our tour guide Nico was full of information and was very helpful when we had questions. We especially loved the art and history of Bruges, Ghent, Delft and Amsterdam.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the soaring Gothic cathedral St. Bavo’s in Ghent, and seeing Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was beyond expectation! Our guide, Tim, set high standards and modeled high standards without seeming at all pushy. The group respected him as well as each other. The tour had a perfect balance between engaged, focused activities and time off for individual pursuits. Top notch!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “moment” was the day we visited WWI battlefields in Belgium. Our guide was excellent, for one thing, despite inclement weather and shocking details of war. It will remain with me always…the countryside itself, the evidence of violence, the artifacts thrown up from the past by the movement of the earth, the stories and images from the battleground (ten men blinded by the ravages of mustard gas and holding ontoone another’s shoulders for guidance as they walked in one straight line)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the pace of the tour, the balance of time with the group and time on our own,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Truthfully, it wasn’t a place. It was the way Tim set the tone in our first group meeting. The way he introduced himself, set group expectations. He was very skillfull at this and it really brought this group of strangers together. In terms of places I loved Ghent, the town, the local guide was great, the textlile museum was my favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is my third RS Tour. I really admire the time, effort and knowledge that goes in to making these tours happen so easily for its tour members. Again, I was not disappointed. Hotels, meals, bus and guide were all terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While I love the walking tours, cathedrals and art museums, this trip I really enjoyed the Keukenhof Garden and I found the Watersnoodmuseum very interesting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tim, made our overall experience very memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being asked to raise the US flag at the Flanders Field American Cemetary."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our second Rick Steves tour. Overall our trip was very good, including excellent guides. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions at the beginning dampened some activities. If we did it again, we would probably schedule a later date to ensure better weather. Our tour guide, Tim, was extremely knowledgeable and fun. We enjoyed our tour group, a great group of people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Field was particularly moving, as well as the history of the surrounding battlefields. We learned much about WW1 - excellent guide! The Keukenhof Gardens were incredible, especially in that we had some beautiful weather for our tour on that day."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall the trip was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Visiting the Ann Frank house, the tulip gardens and Flanders Field cemetery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed learning and experiencing Belgium and Holland. The food that we had was delicious and plentiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The canals of Amsterdam."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the tour, especially the Dutch masters and the gardens. We’ve been on a number of other RS tours with a bit more variety in the itinerary which was nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few “wow” moments….the Ghent Alterpiece, Flanders Fields, and the tulips at Keukenhof Gardens!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great fun time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The great beers in Belgium!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Tim was fabulous. His love of the area was evident and infectious. He has a great gift in making the history come alive.The tour had a good mix of scheduled and free time. The group dinners, one per city and an extra at the end, were all fabulous. Everyone on our tour group was friendly and punctual. This was my third Rick Steve’s tour, and I’ll be doing more,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens were awe inspiring. However I’m so glad we went early, it was way too crowded by the time we left!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tim was a knowledgeable and energetic tour guide. The itinerary was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. I loved all of the towns and cities we visited. I loved seeing the Dutch masterpieces and of course, Keukenhof Gardens. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tim was a fantastic tour guide. The sights we visited, particularly the World War cemeteries and battle ground was a reminder of the futility of that war and the many lives sacrificed. The tulip garden visit met all my expectations. I learned more than I knew about both Belgium and the Netherlands. I signed up for the trip to learn more about the history, geography, major sights and the current situation in each country and those expectations were met.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beer and chocolates in Belgium and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the tour. This is my second tour, my first was Sicily. So I am comparing Holland and Belgium to Sicily, maybe that’s not fair? Our guide, Tim was great. Hotels were for the most part very good. We really enjoyed our group dinners and the food was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s a tie between Keuckenhof for the tulips and Zierikzee for Kings Day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves Tour. I was so very impressed with everything. Especially that the focus was on learning and engaging with the culture, history, and realities of the places we visited, and not making them mythical stories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields was so moving. I had a relative who had been in the conflict. Traveling around on a rainy, cold day enhanced the experience. The local guide was excellent and answered all the questions and showed both sides of the conflicts and how amazingly the Belgians have memorialized this for future generations of their citizens and us visitors. The meal we had was perfect along with the barn full of relics. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was an excellent guide. She made sure everyone’s individual needs were taken care of and she was extremely patient in answering questions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Garden"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, my Rick Steves tour was quite enjoyable. The trip was filled with interesting sights and unique Belgium and Netherlands experiences. Getting a glimpse of the countries - people and culture - is something I'll always fondly remember.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had no intentions of taking this particular tour to witness the tulips, but I thought the Keukenhof gardens was truly fantastic. I came away with great respect for the love of ascetics the Dutch people have for art and nature."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my third Rick Steve’s’ tour so my expectations were pretty high and the tour did not disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Keukenhof Gardens while the tulips were in bloom was definitely my wow moment, followed closely by the excellent tour we had of the Rijks museum masterpieces."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We felt the tour had a good mix of group activities, free time, and guided insights about the Dutch and Belgium cultures. In spite of the unusually cold, wet and windy weather, our guide Nina did a great job of handling the tour with good humor. All of the meals an accommodations were very good. The pace of the tour was comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mary: Keukenhof Gardens! Tony: Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a delight all around. Our guide was fabulous, the pace was good with a nice mix of group activities and solo time. The people on the tour were fun and positive and everyone made an effort to get to know me as a solo traveler. It was also really nice to have some of the small touches that made us feel slightly less conspicuous than other large-scale tours we saw (no brightly colored umbrellas waving in the air to guide us, etc).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the tulips in full bloom in and around Keukenhof was absolutely stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we had a great time. The overall tour pace was just right...a good mix between structured events and free time. The logistics (hotels, transportation, etc) were very well planned and were excellent. Our tour host was fantastic and the other site-specific guides were very knowledgeable and made for an awesome learning experience. It was also nice to get to know many of the other members of our tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at the Keukenhoff gardens."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent activities, hotels very good, walking tours just the right length.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Museum tour in Amsterdam. Our tour guide their was outstanding. She made art of Rembrandt and Vermeer come alive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although the weather was not the bests, it was a beautiful, informative and interesting trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens did not disappoint. I was looking forward to the gardens and they were amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, RSE Tours curated multiple amazing experiences to introduce our group to Belgium and Holland. The local guides were fantastic, sharing their unique input into their hometowns. Our main guide, Ruby, was professional, well-prepared, articulate, and lots of fun. The tour was educational but fun. It exposed us to the tragedies of WWI and II yet taught us heartwarming stories of courage and resistance. The tour also exposed us to new cultures, architectural styles, and cuisines. LOVED IT!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When our guide Daniella in Bruges taught us about the wrought-iron metalwork on Bruggian buildings. For years I had wondered why many buildings in Bruges had black wrought-iron vertical bars. She taught us that they were used to hold the wooden beams together between floors, and without them, the beams would collapse! She also taught us that the more ornate these bars, the wealthier the owner; that is why some metalwork is simple, and some are more artistic. Fascinating! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, masterful leader, wonderful and supportive group of people. I loved the diverse sights and events. Plenty of along time, yet we covered so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof gardens on our one sunny day of the whole tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 3rd RSE tour and I'm as happy with this one as the other two. Lovely hotels, lovely guides, a wonderful host, great groups of people on our tour. Pretty close to perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many - but probably the fields of Tulips outside of the Keukenhof and the Keukenhof itself. Just amazingly beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a prefect blend of history, art, culture, and food! Really enjoyed all the places selected, especially venus like the Museum of Industry in Ghent which are normally on a tourist's itinerary. This was essential to understand context and history of the cities and towns we were visiting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What struck me the most was how present the world wars (I and II) were in these two countries. It left with me an indelible impression of the impact on, and sacrifices made, by the people of Europe during these times. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well paced and sites chosen were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not one particular moment"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall excellent, well organized, well guided, hard to think of how to improve. Our guide was the biggest “Wow”!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide Ruby was the wow; but also the other local guides made a big difference. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent- It seems to me there is a prefect ratio between tours and free time- and also when the group has meals together and when we are on out own for meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the " Mystic Lamb" in Bruges "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

If we eliminate the weather which, by and large, was not good, we rate the tour outstanding. It was just sometimes hard to focus on the guides when the rain was pouring and there was hail.....

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof was the WOW moment. But we were also impressed by the Maesland Stormsurgebarier and Tom, the guide there. Also, Carien brought great insight to the paintings in the Rijksuseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The beer and chocolates were delicious, our tour guide Ruby was fantastic, the local guides were extremely knowledgeable and the tulips were beautiful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many beautiful tulips at Keukenhof and Bruges was a lovely medieval city. Also learning about World War I at Flanders fields was a highlight. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

another outstanding RS tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders fields. Delta waterworks"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was just the right blend of group occasions and time to explore by ourselves. Every day had something new and different and it is hard to pick our any one thing. It is a relief to have the tour take care of transportation, choosing hotels and arranging for local guides. Plus picking out what event or sight would be memorable. Many of the things we did, we would not have done on our own (eg candy-making event, ceramics event, guides at the Rijks and at St. Bavos)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"i think the Flanders Field Day will always be remembered----seeing 3 very different cemeteries and then going to actual WWI trenches at Hill 62."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with all Rick Steves tours, this tour was well planned, had a wonderful, knowledgeable guide (Ellen), great local guides, and a varied and interesting itinerary. Belgium and Holland are lovely countries steeped in a rich history that I knew little about. The hotels were lovely, the food excellent, and my fellow travelers friendly and inclusive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two activities were “wow” moments for me. The first was visiting the WWI cemeteries and trenches in Flanders with excellent local guide André - so sobering and thought provoking. The other “wow” was Keukenhof Gardens. Even a blustery, rainy day could not dim the magnificent beauty of the flowers and the gardens in general."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ellen, our tour guide, was fantastic as was the entire group. Springtime in Belgium & the Netherlands did not disappoint as we saw historic cities (Ghent, Bruges, Delft & Amsterdam), somber sites (WW1 battlefields and cemeteries, and innovative water control engineering (Flexible Dam system and Maeslant storm surge barrier). Finally, we finished the tour with the tulips in Keukenhof Garden and the always alive Amsterdam. So much fun and so many new memories!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from. Obviously, the tulips in Keukenhof was one wow moment - so many colors and so much work that goes into the garden. Bruges left a very positive impression as it is the quintessential historic Belgium city. I also was able to take a Sunday morning bike ride north from Bruges along a canal to visit Damme and had some interesting dialogue with some of the locals there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itinerary, guides, and participants were all fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Girl with the Pearl Earring was one of many Wows! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ellen, our guide was full of enthusiasm and passion which rubbed off on our great team of travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Climbing the bell tower in Bruges and seeing the inner workings of the clock bells was amazing, and seeing all the fields of tulips from the bus was stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Beautiful old cities, excellent guides, interesting sites, largish group, meals and hotels mostly good, some misses. Lot of time on our own, good driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Comfortable and enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"North Atlantic Dam Gates to protect Rotterdam and surrounding area from potential catastrophic floods. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The towns of Ghent, Bruge and Delft were amazing. Ellen, our guide, was outstanding and she made the trip wonderful. She so much famous art and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Rik art museum in Amsterdam, the flowers at the Keukenhof Gardens and the Anne Frank House The many nice touches that Ellen surprised us on the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I liked the tour guide very much. I have dietary concerns and he was very helpful. My friend fell the day before the trip started. Somehow he appeared at the scene and was helpful through out the trip. The sites included on the trip were interesting. I like when there is an all inclusive ticket like the Brugge Card which was valid for 72 hours. I also liked the tram ticket for multiple days. Our guide did some bonding inclusive activities like meeting in a park to share authentic foods.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of Wow's although my favorite was the trenches in the WWI battlefields. They were unique. Another unique stop was the Maeslant storm surge barrier. I also liked the tour of De Candelaer , Chocolate Factory, Keukenhof and canal boat trips. I Liked the Rijksmuseum and the Indonesian Restaurant. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great! I liked the cities and venues visited. The schedule game me time to visit other places of interest for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment was the Keukenhof Tulip Garden."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience - our tour guide Nico was amazing and I would do another tour with him! He went out of his way to make our trip even better than expected. I really appreciated his knowledge, positive attitude, helpfulness and his going out of his way to make sure we got on the right train home! I had lots of fun trying all the local beers in each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow factor was the Keukenhof - I joined this trip to see the tulips and WOW...I really saw tulips. My friend called it the Disney land of tulips! I also really enjoyed Bruges and Delft. I'm not really a big city girl - so Amsterdam wasn't my favorite - but I loved the Hotel Die Port van Cleve, they were great, the food was good and I had left my cables and ipods in the room and the matradee was kind enough to mail them to me here in California. Overall the trip was a blast!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good itinerary with a nice variety of scheduled activities but also free time. Nico was great. Very organized, knowledgeable, and fun. Always available to help. Everything went smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips of course but also the WW1 trenches and the Van Gogh museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All four destinations were amazing cities worthy of a second visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof visit!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a wonderful mix of culture, history, good food, and beautiful scenery. Our tour guide, Ruby, did an awesome job of keeping us on schedule, pointing out the best places for chocolate, waffles, and stroopwafels, telling us jokes, and answering every question we asked. I must say that the motivation for this trip was to see Amsterdam and the tulips, but Belgium was a delightful surprise and a very memorable part of the trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens exceeded any expectations I may have had. It was stunning!! Bruges--the buildings, the food, the beautiful views of canals and old buildings--was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruby was fantastic! She was personable, sweet, and extremely helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders Fields, Anne Frank house and the Keukenhof Gardens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide and fellow tour members provided us with excellent company on our tour. We were able to visit many interesting new places. Overall, great fun and a learning experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Without a doubt, visiting the Keukenhoff Gardens! We were lucky enough to get an outstanding weather day and the gardens comletely blew me away. And I am normally not a huge fan of visiting gardens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good group of interesting people. Accommodations were generally excellent as was the food

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulips in Amsterdam. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a nice mix of scheduled activities and time with a sufficient amount of time to kick around and discover on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Keukenhof was absolutely breathtaking and more than I had imagined."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great planning and time management to view and see the most but also have some time to pick your own activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulips! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed this tour. I loved the beautiful canal towns because they are so different from other cities in Europe. Enjoyed the WW1 history and how Holland deals with water levels. Our hotels and food were great. We had a great group of travel mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was the Keukenhof gardens, the small canals and Flanders Field history."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We are seasoned travelers, but this was our first Rick Steves tour. Ruby van Engelsdorp, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, and there for us from the first moments to answer any questions and provide assistancel, always with a smile. The tour was well organized and we travelled with a lovely group of people who clearly share the love of travel and new experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The weather for the majority of our trip was cold, rainy, and windy, but for the day that prompted us to choose this specific tour at this time of year, we were greeted at the Keukenhof with a bright sunny day, a few puffy clouds, and warm temperatures! The botanical garden is gorgeous and by no means overrated! We were given 4 hours to visit—much appreciated and a perfect length of time. Our dream of seeing the tulips in peak season in Holland did not disappoint."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As with the other RS tours, this tour did not disappoint - a combination of a wonderful group of travelers, interesting and unknown locations (at least to me) and a chance to see famous art works, as well as an opportunity to explore lesser known works if you desire. On a personal level, it was not as interesting as other tours offered by RS, but still a wonderful time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to beat the wow factor of seeing 80 acres of tulips at Keukenhof!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The leader of our group was excellent. Knew here stuff and was determined to keep us all healthy and comfortable. Housing was very good. Provided meals were good and/or exceptional depending. The bus was clean and the driver was a pro. No worries. Smooth trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into my hotel room in Delft: a three dimensional tree sculpture sprouted in one corner, the bathroom had a glass wall covered in leaf decals and there were two blue lights in the floor of the bathroom that lit up in the night when one used the facilities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guide; fun group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof; Anne Frank house, Ruby."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip, pace, food, and guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at Keukenhof Gardens"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders field"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excited to visit an area of Europe I had not previously experienced. Tour provided structure and opportunity

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Flanders Field America Cemetary. This site surprised me with the visceral impact of its ongoing history "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was our eighth with Rick Steves and it met our expectations, especially the visit to the Keukenhof Gardens, where the tulips were on glorious display. While the weather was challenging on a few days, we had a great time and saw and experienced all we had hoped for on this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens were impossible to surpass. The museums of Amsterdam were also spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a very good tour and I learned a lot about Belgium and the Netherlands and Jody was a great leader. I think that the Flanders Fields while very interesting was a bit too long. The American and German cemeteries were very insightful. However, it could have been about 2 hours less. The tulip fields at Kuekenhof were beautiful and glad we got to see them in full bloom. Hotels and food were outstanding. My lease favorite hotel was at Delft.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tulip fields at Kuekenhof, American cemetery at Flanders and most of all Ghent. Hotel Harmony and the city itself was my favorite."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Generally it was a very good tour. There were a few things that could have been better, as explained herein.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Keukenhof Garden was a dream come true. We had good weather and the blooms were perfect. One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The countries were new to me and I enjoyed the variety of experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the WWI cemeteries."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 6th tour with RS and may have been my favorite one yet. It was a perfect balance of group activities and free time and I loved every city we visited. Each activity was special, the local guides were all fantastic and our tour leader Jody was a dream, just absolutely wonderful. Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited the Keukenhof Gardens and were lucky enough to get beautiful weather and see it in full bloom - just incredible!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 8th tour and it met my expectations set on other tours. I really enjoyed that there was alot of free time on this tour for us to do our own thing but with daily recommendations from our guide Jody and our RS tour book. Having a full free day in Bruges was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's always impossible for me to pic one wow moment. I had no expectations of Gent, so arriving by train and seeing how adorable the town was, was a memorable moment. I also was very moved visiting the American Cementery in Belgium, all of Bruges and Keukenoff Gardens. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I chose this tour because the breadth and depth of the Heart of Belgium and Holland Itinerary went far beyond other tours targeting this region. The trip itself fully delivered on its promise. Each stop added value. The available "free" time let us fill any special interest gaps, providing a very rich tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were at least three "wow" moments: the Flanders Field American Cemetery, especially the way in which this community still honors/remembers these lost WWI soldiers; the massive Maeslant Barrier that protects the Netherlands from North Sea storm surges; and, of course, the vibrant tulips/spring flowers of Keukonof Gardens."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed Gent, Brugge and Amsterdam - the art, history, old towns

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Van Gogh Museum and Amsterdam Palace (we visited on our own. RS should really include those sites on the tour), and the Kuekenhoff Garden"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth tour and it was the best one we've experienced so far! walking tour experiences & local guides were great, dining experiences were top notch, and hotels were better than expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the DeltaWorks and seeing the storm surge barriers that have been built to protect the Netherlands from the sea was my "wow" moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Group seemed to meld well and all remained non-grumpy throughout tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenoff Gardens and Flanders Field"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful experience, our Guide ,Tim Tendick , is extremely knowledgeable about the area from history to geography. He also is a master at uniting a group of strangers into a group of friends. The daily schedule included highlights of each city, yet it also gave one time to make discoveries for themselves. Overall, an excellent experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am torn between seeing the works of Jan Van Eyck, Vermeer, and Van Gogh or the natural beauty of the Koukenhof gardens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We had a great time seeing all of the sights, art and enjoying the area specialities of different foods, chocolate, and beer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our last full day when the sun finally came out, the weather warmed up, the wind eased up and we took a couple of hours to visit the Van Gogh Museum and walk around the city of Amsterdam."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour gave us a well-rounded glimpse into Belgian and Dutch history and culture, from the sobering World War I sites in Flanders to the beauty of the Kuekenhof Botanical Garden.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the storm surge barrier in Amsterdam was my wow moment. What an engineering feat!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Tim, was great and our group was a lot of fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just walking around Delft. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Knowledgeable guide, great group of tour members looking out for each other

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ghent Altar,Van Goug museum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, good guides, interesting tour mates, rigorous schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flood control structures (I’m a civil engineer)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well constructed. I wondered why we skipped Brussels - until I met Ghent and Bruges (really good choices if we only have time for 2 cities). The hotels were well situated. There was a good balance of group events and independent exploration.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof Gardens were spectacular. I had an ecstatic 3 hours there. Took an excess of pictures and walked 15,000 steps. So beautiful and enlivening, I was reborn in the gardens - Spring is here!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour and I really enjoyed it! I like how when we get to each new destination, we have a tour of the city and an overview of the history of the city tips of great places to eat. The guides are very knowledgeable and very friendly. We had a great group of people on our tour. We all got along very well. It was a very enjoyable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"They’re so many it’s hard to decide. But I would have to say it was when we visited the American cemetery. It was very emotional for me as my dad fought in WW II."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Nina was amazing, the restaurants chosen were very good, and the amount of free time vs group activities was just perfect for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenof gardens was a big WOW, the colors and varieties were absolutely beautiful"

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."

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. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed all of the tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

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."

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."

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"

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."

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."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Vary enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of the Holland flower exchange"

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! "

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. "

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. "

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. "

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."

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. "

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."

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!"

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."

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!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We didn't know a lot about this region before our tour, so everything, from history to geography to culture and food, was eye-opening. The tour agenda did a nice job of balancing heavy experiences, like Flanders Field, with fun but still informative experiences, like the Halve Maan brewery tour and the canal boat rides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The guide at the Halve Maan brewery was a stand-out performer. I don't know if it's always the same woman, but it should be. :) It was like getting a tour from a really smart stand up comic. On a more serious note, the day spent exploring the ways that the Low Country has been dealing with water for centuries was...sobering...in these days where climate change is impacting the whole world. We have so much to learn from the region, and we're putting them at such risk. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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."

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."

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 "

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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."

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 !"

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."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders American Cemetery"

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."

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."

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. "

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."

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."

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. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and very interesting history lessons

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The flood damn gstes in Antwerp "

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."

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. "

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."

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."

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."

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. "

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."

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."

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"

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."

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."

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)."

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."

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!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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."

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."

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. "

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. "

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."

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. "

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!"

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. "

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. "

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""

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The locations, accomodations, and guides were fabulous

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking along the canals in Ghent"

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!"

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."

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. "

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."

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. "

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."

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. "

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. "

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! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour and it was outstanding! We can't wait until the 2024 tours come out. Our tour guide, Tim Tendick, was so exhilarating and excited about food, people, cathedrals, cultures, museums and history that it was catchy. We had amazing people in our group and everyone seemed to have each others backs. Most of the group had gone on 6+ tours! The hotels were clean and always located in the center of our activities. The food was fabulous, especially rijsttafel dinner & Varlet.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was spending the morning at Keukenhof Gardens seeing all of the tulips. It was amazing. Another reason for the trip besides tulips were windmills. They were awesome."

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. "

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. "

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"

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"

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such an efficient and enjoyable way to visit Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens Tulips!"

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."

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. "

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."

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."

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"."

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. "

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."

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. "

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. "

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. "

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!"

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot say enough about how fantastic the experience was. Our primary guide Ellen, and Thomas, guide in training, were organized, informative and just "fun". City Guides were excellent as well, sharing insights to the cities they love.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof...No words can truly convey the beauty of the park."

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."

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."

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."