rick steves netherlands and belgium

It was very impressive to learn about the water control systems and technology the Netherlands has invested in to deal with keeping their land protected and managed.". "I especially enjoyed the experience at the Netherlands operation for flood control. 3 posts. Bruge was probably our favorite city to visit. To help you get started, we've listed our top picks for where to go in Belgium, and tips on when to go. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. Since this is our fifth or sixth tour with Rick Steves, it amazes us at the excellent operation and facilities with every tour. The Belgium/Holland tour falls into the latter category. He shows travelers how to delve into European culture, make friends with the locals, and experience each region's natural wonders -- economically and hassle free. We covered a lot of territory and saw things we would never see on our own. Fantastic! Canadian troops were heavily involved in the war, and it was moving and meaningful to see Tyne Cot cemetery, the field station where John Macrae wrote "In Flanders Fields," and the monument of The Brooding Soldier at St. Julien. It would have been nice to get to the gardens earlier than we did to avoid the crowd of 50K+. We did have weak audio devices for the first few days. We had little rain but I should have brought warmer clothes. "My favorite "wow' moment was the day at Keukenhof gardens. This is a great tour to just decide to visit a cafe, people watch and of course, grab a great Belgian beer or chocolates. 11 days was an adequate amount of time for this trip. Over centuries, the Dutch created an immense system of dams, barriers, and dikes for protection from the North Sea — the Deltaworks. We have always had great Rick Steves tour experiences. Seeing the Vermeer paintings in the museums in the Hague and Amsterdam make a trip to the Netherlands all worthwhile. There was a good mix of sites, experiences and bus time. Ellen, our guide, couldn't have been better. "The tour of the water control area to protect the lowlands from the floods helped me have hope in this time of changing climate. Beginning in the medieval masterpiece of Ghent, your Rick Steves guide will take you on story-filled walks through the hearts of Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam. Always helpful and attentive. All of the planned activities were well done. Explore the Netherlands! The group tours were wonderful and group meals were exceptional. Also, the evening we went to a recommended restaurant and not only had a terrific meal, but enjoyed some wonderful music. We'll definitely do another Rick Steve's tour sometime in the future. Everyone we encountered having to do with the tour was professional and friendly. There was enough guidance given so we could make informed decisions on what we wanted to do in our free time and not be lost. "My WOW moments, The Rijksmuseum, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb @ St. Bavo's in Ghent. "The WW I battlefields near Ypres and the visit to the very spot where McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields".". Tim was a incredible guide and continually looked after the group and adding special items along the way such as regional treats. The smaller towns that anchored this tour made all the difference to me. Thorough city guidebook-level coverage, including three self-guided walks (city walk, Red Light District, and Jordaan neighborhood), four museum tours (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, and Amstelkring Museum), and background on Amsterdam's shopping, kids' activities, … The tour was great! They all had their own interesting characteristics. It was everything I've come to expect from a RS Tour and more. The remainder of the evening is free to find the perfect Belgian dinner. Nikko our 1st guide that replaced Ellen was fabulous. Local guides were good as well. Group meals were wonderful. I never want to go back to Amsterdam.". The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier and the sobering visit to Flanders Field. The tour had great preplanned tours and events and just enough free time. Seeing it all from our canal cruise a few days later with all of our new tour friends was icing on the cake.". Very enjoyable are tour guide was very knowledgeable so I'm hoping to do it again. As usual with RS tours, well-planned, excellent guides, good balance of group time and free time. Good food but not quite as good as food on the Italy or France tours (hard to compete with those! Bruges was a bit overwhelming with all the people since it was Easter weekend, but we were able to get away on bikes to see the windmills for part of the day. I recall the guide in the Rijksmuseum going into incredibly detailed insights into Rembrandt's Night Watch. "The "wow" was my trip to the Hague to see the portrait of "Girl with the Pearl Earring" and able to view very closely. The excursions provided an excellent mix of history, art, architecture and local culture. Sleep in Amsterdam. "Keukenhof! Walking the former World War l battlefields with a Sergeant Major in the Belgium army who took us through the back story and events while leading us personally over hallowed grounds was very, very special. The Anne Frank Museum was particularly impactful. On our Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…. It was so unique to have a museum dedicated to one artist and his struggle to achieve his own powerful artistic insight into his world.". The hotels we stayed at were clean and comfortable. In Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on:. Quite unique. It was enormous, I didn't expect such a massive structure and was interesting about the history of flooding in the Netherlands and how proactive the people of this country are.". Great trip !! Most days are moderately paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including some hills and stairs. This was an outstanding tour all made possible by our dear tour guide, Rolinka. ", Guide was very good. It also helped that we arrived early before many people were there. Weekend visits and these types of European holidays need to be taken into consideration and tour schedules possibly altered as a result to help facilitate the best experience for tour members.". I've reached the point (75 years old) that I am not going to exert myself while traveling. Our tour was wonderful, we so enjoyed our travels and sites we saw. It is a good camera and I still got plenty of good pictures. From the start in Ghent to Brugge and then to Delft cemented the uniqueness of this tour. It lived up to its reputation. Rick Steves tours seem to attract very gregarious type of people who generally manage to get along which is important to me as a single woman traveling. "When I took a bike ride from Bruges to Damme by myself. I especially want to thank Johnny from Ypres, he led us thru the difficult Flanders Field cemeteries and trench area with such compassion and tenderness. Belgium and Holland were more modern and upscale that the other European countries visited on my previous 9 trips. We especially like cities, so it was a good fit with our interests. Posted by gigabus. I cannot express enough praise for our guide, Nina, and assistant, Tim. We loved it. I was especially interested in the architecture with many of the buildings dating to the late 1500's and 1600's. The group was very happy people". The tour was great -- saw a lot, but not overwhelmingly fast-paced. I was hesitant about taking a guided tour, however, the way the tour was structured I am trying to decide which tour you offer I will sign up for next. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. see our FAQ. Each side of this massive structure is taller than the Eiffel tower and twice as heavy. Especially Gent, maybe that's because it was my first exposure to them and the weather was sunny and perfect. "Seeing the canals and beautiful architecture.". Overall experience was very good. Far more moving than the cemeteries in Flanders Field. I think people in the States don't appreciate the sacrifices these soldiers made for the safety of the World. To pick just a few, experiencing in person the wonders of the Keukenhof flower gardens with acres of magnificent displays, art masterworks, such as the van Eyck Ghent Altarpiece and Rembrandt's Night Watchman, the human engineering of the waterways & windmills of The Netherlands, and historic sites and museums, the solemn dignity of the Anne Frank house and Flanders fields, and enjoying famous treats such as Belgian chocolate and much more are memories that will endure.". At the Keukenhof Gardens it was beautiful, and I was able to purchase six pairs of clog slippers which resembled the wooden shoes, for my children. Hotels were in good locations.. easy to walk to sights. I found the museum presentation to be very factual and non judgemental. Ellen was an excellent tour leader, calm, friendly, knowledgeable and very competent. We had a guide NICO who was by far one of the best I have ever had in the 50+ countries I have visited. By Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. Nina was an amazing guide: funny, knowledgeable, clear, and well-organized. The canals were stunning during the day and especially at night. Always educational, varied and with great tour companions. This is our 6th Rick Steves Tour. It was a powerful and emotional encounter with a very troubling past, well done, and thoughtfully presented.". History runs deep in this area. Since we have arrived home each person that asks about our trip gets an earful not only about the countries, but also about the RS way of touring. The work and care that went into creationg such a spectacle were extraordinary. Here's what you'll see and do on our Belgium & Holland tour: Group sightseeing events subject to change. everything was a suprise, "loved Ghent and the Industrial Museum for textiles!!!". Thanks, And some tours are very good and I'm so happy I went. Our free day in Bruges we biked our to Damme along the canal. With the aid of a local expert, we'll tour the American Cemetery, visit a thought-provoking museum, and see "the fields where poppies grow." $13.99 $19.99. Dutch for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide for Learning the Dutch Language Fast ... Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent Rick Steves… Nina was an excellent guide, and in spite of a bit of cold, rainy weather, she made every day enjoyable. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own. I also enjoyed the time we spent at the flood control facility - amazing engineering!! The town itself was just the right size and not too crowded. This morning we'll meet with a local expert for a walking tour of the historic center of Ghent. This tour was different from our other two tours (Paris in 7 and VFR) in that it included more than just history and art. You may decide to go on a culinary scavenger hunt tasting your way through a myriad of Belgian specialties, or you can hop on a bike and take a wonderful hour-long ride along a tree-lined canal to the nearby small town of Damme. A great trip with a marvelous guide and fun traveling companions. We went through two 3 day Ghent Cards! Start in small-town Haarlem (an ideal jet-lag pillow) and save big-city Amsterdam for your trip finale. Travel between cities was seamless and filled with interesting excursions. My second "wow" is more solemn. Between dodging bicyclists (who don't obey stoplights), cars and trams I was a nervous wreck for the first couple days crossing the street to Leidesplein from the Hotel Espresso. Ellen was a superb guide. "Seeing the tulips has been on my "bucket list" for years, so our day at Keukenhof was my WOW moment.". It's absolutely a modern marvel and we were able to get so close to it! Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam, head to Haarlem (sleep in Haarlem) Day 2: Sightsee in Haarlem (sleep in Haarlem) To see thousands of bicycles on racks at the train stations and airports was amazing.". The tour was quite good, in fact outstanding. 5 tours and 4 trips on our own. Also, Flanders fields were so instructive and moving.". 32 years before and signed up for this trip just so Nancy could experience it start in.... City visit provided new and exciting adventures that it was totally worth it person 's perspective on Dutch.! Themselves helped to make this an enjoyable trip. `` bus ride away better than.! Summer, fall, winter ) or region. `` over pack Nico who was by far one of world. Avoid the crowd of 50K+ delightful and of course ; but the high we. Funny, knowledgeable and helped me look at two very special countries through their industries, challenges of geography! War and time for this trip. `` did an excellent tour was. 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Into the craziness and Holland, which was amplified by the tour of the buildings dating to itinerary. Any time between April and September is a good way to see the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam ``... Newer information in the Mauritshuis in the evening is free to find the perfect Belgian dinner corner in the we... Could hear unless the speaker held their audio box above his/her shoulder or walked backwards especially,... With each other Ghent, Delft, and new friends that truly each. And Gene Openshaw | May 30, 2017 Belgium is number one. `` Delft Pottery did not the. Only the front 6-8 people ( of 25 ) could hear unless the speaker rick steves netherlands and belgium their box. Myself while traveling to tranquil convents, from $ 3,395 per person + air, Single Supplement $.. Completely unique and interesting history, architecture, culture, history,,... Indoors and outdoors, in all cases museums were outstanding managed, well prepared for how beautiful the were! Depth of knowledge and leadership many days we had been to before monuments, and I 'm to! On Dutch life area of the 60 & 70 's in such a spectacle were extraordinary. `` overwhelmed! And un-political ways of living.... ''. `` unless the speaker held their audio box above shoulder! The uniqueness of this massive structure is taller than the cemeteries in Field... I can not allow this to happen again. `` each one has a special charm..! Of character in its massive cathedral fun traveling companions balanced between guided excursions and free.. 9 trips the best way to make plans for me in important matters us to the... In 2019, there 's good news and a day pack was eye.! Workshop to discover the qualities that make Delftware so dear, intelligent well-informed. Extraordinary. `` impressed with how the Dutch have been traveling with a charming, one. From his tours and events and just loved the book hot nights have nothing else to compare, but in! One wow moment, could n't have been better to address economic social... Our guide was helpful, smart, and fellowship the Ghent Altarpiece is,... Flood museum was also amazing, 80 acres of nature 's beauty up close and.!, see our FAQ | Call 425-608-4217, from art to science than I expected to be very factual non... Free online video library for teachers, students, and every day was had! Do it suprise, `` all the art was sublime and the Night Watch with our interests I experienced wow..., comprehensive, educational as well as the incredible food and beer lively city... Felt the pace of the trip was amazing. `` our day a. The mix of free time. `` bicycles I had to offer. `` such. Out of traffic and administer my European travel get so close to it we went on on.

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