Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour

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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens"

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

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

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

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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

another outstanding RS tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders fields. Delta waterworks"

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 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

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 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 4 of 5

Well paced and sites chosen were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not one particular moment"

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

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 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

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 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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Keukenhof visit!"

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

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

Wonderful guide; fun group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof; Anne Frank house, Ruby."

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 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

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 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

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

Great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Flanders field"

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 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 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 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 5 of 5

Great trip, pace, food, and guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tulips at Keukenhof Gardens"

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 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 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

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 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 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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenoff Gardens and Flanders Field"

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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ghent Altar,Van Goug museum "

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

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 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

Enjoyed all of the tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

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 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 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

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

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 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 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 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 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

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 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

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 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 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 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

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 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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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 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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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 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

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

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 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 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

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 4 of 5

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."

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."

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

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

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 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

The locations, accomodations, and guides were fabulous

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking along the canals in Ghent"

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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 5 of 5

Such an efficient and enjoyable way to visit Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens Tulips!"

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 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 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

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

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

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 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 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 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 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

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

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 5 of 5

I truly felt immersed in the cultures of Belgium and Netherlands

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

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."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

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 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Kuekenhof Gardens! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great trip with many wonderful moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof is stunningly beautiful! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, great guide, great travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The expansive gardens at Keukenhof."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful cities along canals."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Keukenhof Gardens"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW - Keukenhof Gardens in bloom!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many "wow" moments. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anne Frank Museum and the Vermeer exhibit"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved the places we visited. Guide was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of the above."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Holland Flower market"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good tour guides with one exception.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Delft, Holland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The North Sea barriers"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Bruges with all the canals and beautiful architecture "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

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