12-Day Local Tour: Sightseeing in 10 Cities in the Netherlands & Belgium

Brugge city historical center with bikes, Belgium

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Sample Travel Plan: Netherlands & Belgium

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belgium waffle

12-Day Local Tour of 10 Cities in the Netherlands & Belgium

12 days

€5,351~ /Per person (when two people share a room)

  • Price
    What's Included

    • 11 nights hotel accommodation (with breakfast)
    • Train tickets as listed (second class)
    • Amsterdam Canal Private Cruise (English)
    • Amsterdam Private Food Tour (English)
    • Marken → Volendam Ferry
    • Ghent Canal Cruise (English)
    • Bruges Private Walking Tour (English)
    • Brussels Private Food Tour (English)
    • Brussels Waffle Experience
    • Admission fees for listed facilities (8 locations)
  • Customizable!

    Price
    What's not included

    • International flight tickets
    • City Travel Tax
    • Lunch and dinner
    • Other personal expenses such as travel insurance and souvenirs
    • Tips

Recommended travel points

This is a sample plan that lets you visit 10 of the most popular cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, renowned in Europe for their art, cuisine, and medieval architecture.

In the Netherlands, you’ll stay in Amsterdam, where the beautiful canals developed in the 17th century are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under 'Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht.' The city is best enjoyed on foot or by bicycle.
You’ll enjoy activities such as canal tours, visiting the Van Gogh Museum, seeing Vermeer’s 'The Milkmaid' at the Rijksmuseum, and food tours to savor Amsterdam’s gourmet scene. You’ll also venture to northern towns to experience cheese markets, fishing villages, and the windmills that supported Dutch industrialization.
You’ll also stay in Delft, known as Vermeer’s hometown, and take a trip to The Hague, home to many international organizations.

The latter half of the trip is to Belgium.
You’ll stay in Ghent, known as the 'City of Flowers' and home to several UNESCO World Heritage buildings, where you can enjoy a 12th-century castle, canal tours, and gourmet cuisine. You’ll also visit Bruges, Belgium’s 'Venice of the North,' to explore its historic district and Belgian chocolate factories.
Finally, you’ll head to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. In this world-renowned gourmet city, you can enjoy private food tours and shopping in galleries that retain a medieval atmosphere.

This luxurious sample plan lets you experience the long history, traces of the past, and the lingering medieval atmosphere of the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as their unique food cultures, distinct from Japan.

If you’re interested in art, you can focus more on art-related activities, or tailor your trip to specialize in gourmet experiences.
You can include places you'd like to stop by.
If you consult with Oooh's local advisors, even that is completely flexible.

Enjoy a tailor-made journey just for you.

Itinerary details

  • Day 1

    Amsterdam cycling

    Arrival in Amsterdam

    From the airport or station, you will take a train to your hotel in the heart of Amsterdam.

    The Dutch capital, Amsterdam, is a charming and compact city where you can find maze-like canals, narrow streets, and historic buildings throughout the town.
    It is a port city known for its maritime trade, and is also famous for being easily navigable by bicycle or on foot.

    To start, enjoy a must-do canal cruise in Amsterdam. With your private guide, you'll take in the beautiful cityscape dating back to the 17th century. Your guide will share the city's rich history and culture along the way.

    If you head into the city, you're sure to find a restaurant where you can enjoy a wonderful dinner.

    Breakfast: × Lunch: × Dinner: ×
    Overnight in Amsterdam

  • Day 2

    amsterdam canal cruise

    Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, Food Tour

    Breakfast at the hotel.

    Start your day at the Netherlands' most famous museum, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
    The museum houses masterpieces by renowned Dutch artists, including Rembrandt van Rijn's 'The Night Watch' and works by Vermeer from the 17th century.

    In the afternoon, enjoy a private walking food tour!
    An English-speaking local guide will take you on a four-hour tour of Jordaan, Amsterdam's historic gourmet district. Once home to the working class in the 17th century, this area is now filled with flower-lined streets, small shops, and eateries. You'll stop by about six different places to savor a variety of Dutch delicacies.


    Breakfast: 〇 Lunch: △ (Food Tour) Dinner: ×
    Overnight in Amsterdam

  • Day 3

    Edam cheesemarket

    Marken, Volendam, Edam, Zaanse Schans Sightseeing

    Breakfast at the hotel.
    On the third day, you'll visit towns north of Amsterdam to see iconic Dutch sights such as wooden clogs, fishing, cheese, and windmills.

    First, take a private car to the town of Marken by Lake Markermeer, where you'll visit a small village's wooden clog factory.  

    From Marken, take a ferry to the village of Volendam, known for its harbor filled with traditional fishing boats. Freshwater fishing on Lake IJsselmeer continues to this day, so if you have the chance during your trip, be sure to try some local fish.

    Next, visit the Dutch cheese market, famous for its dairy products! The actual market is only open every Wednesday in July and August, but even on days when the market isn't held, just visiting the square is well worth it. You'll find more cheese than you could ever imagine in Japan.
    Finally, you'll visit the windmills of Zaanse Schans. During the 17th century, over 600 windmills were built here as industrialization progressed. They were used for many purposes, such as grinding spices, making paint, sawing wood, and producing oil. Today, it remains a beautiful spot that attracts many visitors.

    Breakfast: 〇 Lunch: × Dinner: ×
    Overnight in Amsterdam

  • Day 4

    Van Gogh Museum.

    Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House

    Breakfast at the hotel.

    In the morning, visit one of the highlights of the Netherlands, the Van Gogh Museum. Here you can see masterpieces by the Dutch Impressionist master, including 'The Potato Eaters,' 'Sunflowers,' and 'Wheatfield with Crows,' among over 2,000 of his works.

    In the afternoon, you'll visit the Anne Frank House.
    This is the building where Anne Frank and her family hid for over two years during World War II, made famous by the renowned 'Diary of Anne Frank' that has been read by people all over the world.
    It is still carefully preserved today and serves as a museum that conveys the tragedy of war to the present.

    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Overnight in Amsterdam

  • Day 5

    delft

    Amsterdam → Delft

    After breakfast at the hotel, head south from Amsterdam by train for about an hour to the city of Delft.


    The city of Delft is known as the place where the 17th-century painter Vermeer lived.
    This popular city, which stretches along canals dating back to the 12th century, features large churches, historic buildings, squares, an impressive city hall, and plenty of pubs.

    First, visit the Vermeer Center to learn about Vermeer’s life and how he lived in the 17th century. Here, you can discover details about his life, his painting techniques and use of color, as well as the restoration of his works.

    Next, visit one of Delft’s must-see attractions: the Delft Blue pottery workshop. Famous for its traditional blue and white ceramics, the workshop continues to operate today and is known as a specialty of Delft. At the factory, you can even watch artisans painting the pottery by hand.
    You’re sure to find the perfect souvenir here!


    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation: Delft

  • Day 6 

    Den Haag

    The Hague (Den Haag) Day Trip

    After breakfast, take a train to The Hague (Den Haag), the Netherlands’ third largest city, for a day trip.

    The Hague is home to the Dutch government and serves as the country’s de facto capital. The city features areas with historic buildings as well as modern districts that house international organizations.

    First, visit the Mauritshuis Museum, home to Vermeer’s world-famous painting, 'Girl with a Pearl Earring.' The Mauritshuis is also known for displaying three of Vermeer’s only 37 paintings, as well as many other renowned works of art.

    If the weather is nice, it’s also recommended to take a tram out to the seaside town of Scheveningen. You can stroll along the beaches of the North Sea.
    Of course, you can also return to Delft early and spend more time exploring the city.

    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation: Delft

  • Day 7

    Ghent, Belgium

    Delft to Ghent

    After breakfast, check out of the hotel and cross the border into Belgium.
    Gent, also known as Ghent or Gand, is a fairytale-like city with a relaxed atmosphere and is Belgium’s third largest city, located in the north. It is also home to historic buildings that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites 'Belfries of Belgium and France' and 'Flemish Béguinages,' which span several cities.

    In the afternoon, start with a private guided (English) tour of the historic city center. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to shops selling local products, which may give you some ideas for souvenirs. Be sure to try the local raspberry candy known as 'Gentse neus' (Ghent noses)—they’re delicious!
    Ask your guide plenty of questions during this tour to make your days in Ghent even more enjoyable.


    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation: Ghent

  • Day 8

    Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen)., Ghent

    Ghent

    After breakfast at the hotel, explore the city of Ghent at your own pace.

    Start by visiting the Castle of the Counts, built in the 12th century. From the 9th to the 18th century, Ghent was ruled by successive Counts of Flanders. With an audio guide, you can learn about the city’s fascinating history, including the knights’ shining armor, battles with Vikings, and the underground dungeons.

    Take a boat ride along the canals to see Ghent from the water.
    We’ll provide you with a list of recommended spots so you can sample Ghent’s delicious food. Enjoy a special, ordinary time eating and drinking wherever catches your eye in the relaxed atmosphere of Ghent.


    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation: Ghent

  • Day 9

    Brugge city historical center

    Bruges Day Trip

    After breakfast at the hotel, take a day trip to the city of Bruges, about 30 minutes away by train.

    The city of Bruges has been inhabited since the 9th century and flourished as a center of the wool trade until the 15th century. However, it is now known as a city where time has stood still, after ships from the North Sea could no longer enter.
    The historic district is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with beautiful European streetscapes that feel as if the medieval atmosphere still lingers.
    The best way to enjoy the city of Bruges is with a walking tour led by a private guide!
    Strolling along cobblestone streets, passing by numerous small squares and monuments, makes for a truly special experience.

    Afterwards, you will learn about Belgian chocolate at the Choco-Story Museum.

    After a full day enjoying Bruges, you will return to Ghent by train.

    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation: Ghent

  • Day 10

    Brusell food

    Ghent → Brussels

    After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel from Ghent to Brussels by train.

    Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is also known as a city of gastronomy.
    On the afternoon of your arrival, you'll head out on a private food tour!
    This tour lets you enjoy the true flavors of Belgium—not just the well-known waffles, fries, beer, and chocolate.
    You can also sample foods such as "choesels," "bloempanch," "stoemp," and "plattekeis," along with a variety of sweets.


    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: Yes (food tour) Dinner: No
    Overnight stay: Brussels

  • Day 11

    Cityscape of Brussels, Belgium

    Brussels

    It's best to have a light breakfast so you can fully enjoy the activities on day 11!

    In the morning, you will participate in a Belgian waffle workshop.
    In this intimate, international group waffle workshop, you'll have the chance to make and enjoy authentic Belgian waffles yourself.

    The afternoon is free time, so feel free to go souvenir shopping for something uniquely Belgian, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Grand Place, or explore anything else that interests you in Brussels!
    Of course, you can also add optional tours or activities if you wish!


    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: Partial (waffles) Dinner: No
    Overnight stay: Brussels

  • Day 12

    Flights to Japan -

    On the way home

    Breakfast at the hotel.
    After checking out, you are free to depart from Brussels for your journey home.



    Breakfast: Yes Lunch: No Dinner: No
    Accommodation:

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Netherlands Travel Chat Representative

  • Mieke

    Mieke

    Consultations in Japanese OK

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    Travel agency license Confirmed
    Service area Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
    place of residence Netherlands
    Languages Spoken English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish
    We will completely customize your trip to the Netherlands and Belgium according to your preferences. We offer high-quality accommodation, experienced local guides, and unique excursions and activities to make your journey special. As passionate and dynamic travel specialists, we always pursue wonderful experiences, discover new places, and strive to ensure the highest quality in all our services. We propose attractive itineraries tailored to your interests, whether you want to focus on culture, enjoy cycling, seek a luxurious trip, or relax with your family. I am a travel planner with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. With extensive knowledge and passion, my mission is to plan the perfect trip for our customers. In my private life, I enjoy activities such as cycling, hiking, and canoeing.

Netherlands Travel Chat Representative

  • Mieke, your local coordinator in Belgium

    Mieke

    Local travel agency license verified

    We offer fully customized trips to the Netherlands and Belgium tailored to your preferences. With high-quality accommodations, experienced local guides, and unique excursions and activities, we make your journey truly special. As passionate and dynamic travel specialists, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences, discovering new destinations, and ensuring the highest quality in all our services. Whether you wish to focus on culture, enjoy cycling, seek a luxurious getaway, or relax with your family, we will propose an attractive itinerary that perfectly matches your desires.
    I am a travel planner with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry. With extensive knowledge and passion, my mission is to design the perfect trip for each client. In my personal life, I enjoy activities such as cycling, hiking, and canoeing.

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