rick steves tours holland

Heart of Belgium & Holland in 11 Days Tour

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• More than 20 group sightseeing events
• Brussels, a traditional Belgian brewery, historic Flanders Fields, a nostalgic Dutch open-air museum
• See the royal Museums of fine arts of Belgium tour
• Aalsmeer flower Auction
• Awesome historic Amsterdam walking tour
• Visit the Anne Frank House

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Travel themes.

• Hiking & Walking

Destinations

• Netherlands

Attractions

• Historic sightseeing

Trip includes

• A small, friendly group of 24–28 people— half the size of most tour groups
• Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Belgium and Holland come alive for you
• All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 19 group sightseeing events, Ghent canal boat tour, Ghent walking tour, St. Bavo's Cathedral tour, Ghent Museum of Fine Arts tour, Tour of Flanders Fields WWI sites, Bruges walking tour, Bruges Memling Museum tour, Chocolate demonstration and tasting, Bruges Museum Pass, Belgian brewery tour and tasting, Deltaworks and tour of Maeslant sea barrier, Delft walking tour, Delft New Church, Aalsmeer Flower Auction, Historic Dutch town visit, Red Light District tour, Rijksmuseum tour, Historic Amsterdam walking tour, Anne Frank House…and more
• All group transportation from Ghent to Amsterdam
• 10 nights accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
• All breakfasts and half your dinners
• All tips for guides and driver
• Rick Steves Travel Store credit to use toward guidebooks for your trip
• Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
• Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
• Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2017
• 50% discount on a consulting appointment with our in-house experts to assist with your pre- or post-tour travel plans
• Flexibility should you need to transfer, or cancel/interrupt your tour

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Our adventure begins in medieval Ghent. We'll gather at our hotel at 4 p.m. for an introduction meeting. Then we'll hop aboard a fun and informative canal cruise through the city. Our evening ends with a traditional Belgian dinner together. Sleep in Ghent (2 nights). Boat: 1 hr. No bus. Walking: light.

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is an easy bus ride away. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Tot ziens!

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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

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About Rick Steves

Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves is America's most respected authority on European travel. Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a staff of 80 full-time, well-travelled employees at his headquarters in Washington state. There he produces more than 50 guidebooks on European travel, America's most popular travel series on public television, a weekly hour-long national public radio show, a weekly syndicated column, and free travel information available through his travel center and website. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful European tour program. Rick Steves lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. His office window overlooks his old junior high school.

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Rick Steves' Top Destinations When Traveling To The Netherlands

T he Netherlands is a small nation, yet it's packed with delights. And if you've spent your whole life in the U.S., where modern architecture dominates the skylines, then you'll immediately notice a stark contrast when you step into practically any Dutch city. The numerous canals and gabled houses transport you back in time, showing you a completely different side of the world, where bicycles populate the streets instead of cars.

If you're interested in taking a trip to this country, then you're in luck. The Netherlands' special characteristics haven't gone unnoticed, especially by European travel expert Rick Steves . Thanks to his extensive experience and passion, he's got some insider tips to help you look beyond typical touristy activities. If you take his advice, then you'll be able to experience true gems that are off the beaten path.

Whether you're booking a weekend getaway or a weeks-long vacation in Europe, don't skip the Netherlands. As you'll see, it's dotted with cities and towns that offer you glimpses into the Dutch lifestyle. Below are travel expert Rick Steves' top destinations you should jot down.

Read more: 28 Bucket List Destinations That Everyone Needs To Experience At Least Once

Amsterdam is the first Dutch destination anyone thinks about when you say the words "the Netherlands." It's the capital, after all, and millions of people flock to this city every year. It's true that the allure for many people has to do with the decriminalization of marijuana and the legality of sex work, but if you look beyond that, there's more than meets the eye.

For example, as Rick Steves points out, Amsterdam has retained its Golden Age architecture, so you can see the same sights people did centuries ago when they walked down the same streets. Plus, the best museums in Amsterdam  show you beautiful works from artists who are either Dutch or have lived in the Netherlands. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to get a taste of local food and drinks, as well as WWII walking tours .

While Steves encourages tourists to look beyond Amsterdam, he still thinks it's worth spending a day or two there to get a feel for the Netherlands. Plus, it's a good central base for visiting the other cities on his list. Most are around one hour away by train, so you won't have to go far.

Delft is another city that's retained its Golden Age architecture, and you'll see twin towers at the city gate. This city in North Holland has a white drawbridge across a canal moat, which is a remnant of Delft's old fortified days. Rick Steves describes Delft as "an idyllic mini-Amsterdam...urban Holland with training wheels," and it's true. If you don't want to deal with the large and claustrophobic crowds in Amsterdam but still want a similar atmosphere, then this is the place to go.

If you're a fan of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, then this city will show you where all his inspiration came from. He's buried in the Oude Kerk (Old Church), which is located in Delft's old town. You can visit the church to view his simple marker on the ground.

In addition, this city is what Delftware is named for. This type of pottery has intricate blue designs painted on white earthenware and is inspired by Chinese porcelain. If you're interested in learning more and want to pick up some souvenirs, then you can tour Royal Delft . This 17th-century factory, which is still producing pieces, is also a museum.

Waterland is a region located north of Amsterdam, and it includes the cities of Edam, Volendam, and Marken. As the name suggests, they're all located by the sea, meaning you can get fresh seafood at the harbors. You can make an afternoon trip to all three, as they're only a 30-minute bus ride away from each other, despite being in the countryside. It's the perfect way to spend a day away from the typical tourists in Amsterdam, although Volendam is the most touristy one of all three. There are lots of souvenir shops that Rick Steves says are filled with "Dutch cliches." However, it's still a fun time, so don't discount Volendam.

Those who love cheese will have a blast in Edam, which is the city where the cheese comes from. Grab a free tour booklet from the tourist office, and make sure to stop off at the Edam Museum . You'll learn all about the history of Edam while also seeing firsthand what a 400-year-old canal house is like.

Next, make your way to Marken, which is a village peninsula. It's known for its quaint and traditional wooden houses, which were built high up on hills to prevent flooding when Marken used to be an island. There are fewer than 2,000 inhabitants here, which means it'll definitely give off a charming vibe.

Haarlem is but a 15-minute train ride west of Amsterdam, and the fact that it's a quieter, slower-paced city makes it an excellent and easy getaway. Rick Steves says that the city "[offers] small-town warmth and quick access to nearby Amsterdam." If the name sounds familiar, it's because New York's Harlem draws its name from this Dutch City. In fact, before the English took over and renamed it, New York used to be called New Amsterdam, which is why the neighborhoods within had Dutch names.

It won't be difficult to get around Haarlem, as 10 streets meet at Grote Markt ("Big Market," or the Market Square). Most of the city's activities happen here, and there are many cafes and restaurants to rest and refuel at. While you're here, check out the Grote Kerk (Big Church), which is a large and imposing building that's hard to miss. You'll find the country's largest pipe organ inside, and if you're in Haarlem during the summer, you can catch a free concert, too.

If you have a thirst for knowledge, then there are several museums where you can spend your time. For example, there's the Museum Haarlem (formerly known as Verwey Museum Haarlem), which educates visitors about what Haarlem used to be like, and the Corrie Ten Boom House , which offers you a look at real hiding places used during WWII. In addition, there's the Teylers Museum , a center for contemporary art and science.

If you love Golden Age towns, then you're in luck. Hoorn is yet another "merchant's town" from this era, per Rick Steves, but with a twist: it's had a relatively new transformation. You'll find it on the IJsselmeer, which is a lake, and it'll take around 30 minutes by train to get to Hoorn from Amsterdam. This makes it ideal for a day trip if you want to head up north.

"All buildings have been restored and many have been given a new function," according to  In Hoorn . As a result, you'll still observe typical Dutch architecture, but with a much newer appearance. In addition, things may not be as they appear. For instance, you'll see restaurants in old cheese warehouses, which adds a delightful and authentic touch to modern.

To really experience the city's history, you should look outside of the city center. More specifically, stroll down to the harbor, where you'll view the Hoofdtoren, the main tower of Hoorn. It was constructed in 1532, though it no longer served its original purpose by 1614. Other historical things you'll notice include ships and houses.

By train, Enkhuizen is an hour north of Amsterdam, so you'll want to leave early to see the sights. It's extremely rich in historic buildings with 366 monuments, to be exact. Whether you walk through the city on your own or book a tour, you'll feel as if you're living and breathing the Golden Age. If you decide to do a self-guided tour through Enkhuizen, then make sure to stop by the VVV Enkhuizen. Here, you can pick up free booklets to soak in the facts of the city and gain a newfound appreciation for it.

The highlight of Enkhuizen is its open-air museum, the Zuiderzeemuseum , the outdoor portion of which is temporarily closed until March 29, 2024. Here, you can learn about lost Zuiderzee culture. The outdoor museum spans 140 historic buildings, allowing you to wander around and experience life as it was centuries ago. According to Rick Steves , "You'll meet people who do a convincing job of role-playing non-nonsense 1905 villagers." And in the indoor museum, you can view old but gorgeous boats, as well as other related collections.

Rick Steves calls Alkmaar "Holland's tasty cheese capital," so cheese lovers can't go wrong here. There's a large cheese market  open every Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Waagplein, from late March until late September. During July and August, the market is also open from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. In addition, there's a children's cheese market for kids ages 6 through 12 during these months.

In Alkmaar's main square, you'll see countless cheese wheels spread out in neat rows. There are also cheese carriers who go around with traditional barrows, bringing the cheese to the Waaggebouw, where the wheels are weighed. After that, the cheese is sold to traders. You can take plenty of pictures and videos of this spectacle and even get a selfie with the cheese girls, who educate visitors about the cheese market.

Like many other Dutch cities, Alkmaar still has its Golden Age feel, meaning that an amble down Old Town is very cozy. You can stop off at various museums as well, such as the Stedelijk Museum , where you can discover more about the city's history. Considering that it's only a 30-minute train ride north from Amsterdam, Alkmaar is a worthy city to visit, especially if you'd like a taste of authentic Dutch cheese.

Zaandijk is another city that's a half-hour train ride from Amsterdam, making it a fantastic destination for a day trip when combined with the others on this list. Admittedly, it can be touristy at times, but Zaandijk is rural enough for it not to feel stifling. Plus, it's open-air museum, Zaanse Schans, "puts Dutch culture...on a lazy Susan," says Rick Steves . So if you want a quick run-through of Dutchness, this is where you should be.

In the past, this area fulfilled a lot of the world's industrial needs. The many houses of Zaanse Schans showcase craftsmen who demonstrate their skills in things like barrel making and sail cloth manufacturing. Do note that most houses charge admission, so you'll have to pick the ones you go into wisely. To save money, you can get the Zaanse Schans Card , which, according to the site, gives you access to "several museums, two windmills, and crafts" for €29.50 (€20 for children).

Southeast of Amsterdam is Utrecht, which takes half an hour to reach by train. Many visitors consider it a smaller version of Amsterdam, like Delft, so it's one more place to add to the list if you want to avoid huge crowds. It's still very lively though, as it's not only a medieval city but also home to Utrecht University. Plus, it's the fourth-largest city in The Netherlands.

Spend the day walking around town, but put aside some time for the museums here. Rick Steves claims that Utrecht has the "best railway museum," and while that may sound strange or even dull, The Railway Museum isn't at all. According to its site, there's a "real-life station, a theatre, exciting attractions, and a variety of temporary exhibitions and events." If that's still not your cup of tea, then tour the Nijntje Museum , especially if you're with your kids. You probably better know the museum's central focus as Miffy, and did you know she was Dutch, not Japanese?

If you enjoyed a canal tour during your time in Amsterdam, then you're sure to like one in Utrecht too. You'll sail through the wide canals and get a different perspective on the beautiful old buildings. Those who feel adventurous can also go stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing.

Hop on a southbound train for 35 minutes and you'll be in Leiden, a small university city that also hosted English Pilgrims. In 1608, a decent number of the English sought refuge from religious persecution in their own country and made a temporary home in the Netherlands. Eventually, they set sail for North America between 1620 and 1643, and these people are the renowned Pilgrims whom we honor every Thanksgiving. To find out more, visit the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum , which is one of the smallest museums in the Netherlands.

As we've previously said, Leiden is a college town, with the oldest university in the nation. Leiden University was founded in 1575 by William of Orange, and according to its site , is "one of the leading international research universities in Europe." So if you or your kids are thinking of getting an education overseas, this is the perfect time to tour the campus and kill two birds with one stone. In addition, the university owns the Hortus Botanicus Leiden , which is the oldest botanical garden in the country (it's been around since 1590), so it's worth a look around.

The Hague And Scheveningen

Just a 15-minute train ride south of Leiden is The Hague, where you'll find the Binnenhof, or the country's parliament building. It's been in use since 1446, and you may catch a glimpse of Dutch politicians leaving an important meeting while you're in town. Plus, since you're in the heart of the city center, it'll be easier to get to all other points of interest in The Hague.  Rick Steves describes The Hague as "bigger and less cozy than Delft, Leiden, or Haarlem," but he still feels it's worth spending a few hours here. 

If you're vacationing during the summer, then head over to Scheveningen Beach if you have a few hours to spare. It's one of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands since it's large with a roomy boardwalk. There's also a pier with multiple shops, restaurants, and a place outside to zipline and bungee jump. When you get tired, there are many beach bars where you can rest your weary feet and sip on tasty cocktails.

At this point, you might've realized that many Dutch cities retain an old-timey look. That may be fascinating, but what about modern architecture? If that piques your interest, then you'll want to go to Rotterdam, which is 45 minutes away from Amsterdam by train.

You'll notice a stark difference in building appearances as soon as you pull into the station. This is because most are under 100 years old, after much of the city was destroyed in a German bombing during WWII. If you're feeling homesick, then you should feel right at home in this metropolitan city, as the streets are wide and the buildings are tall. In addition, there are unique points of interest, such as the Erasmus Bridge,  the Cube Houses , and the Markthal.

What's also noteworthy is that the Port of Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe. Take a moment to appreciate how powerful it is, and watch the ships come in and out. Not only do shipping vessels frequent the Port of Rotterdam, but ferries and cruise ships do as well.

Lisse And Aalsmeer

The Netherlands is known for its tulips, so it's no surprise that Rick Steves recommends visiting Keukenhof , the nation's most treasured flower garden that was established in the 15th century. It may take you a little over an hour to get from Amsterdam to the garden's home in Lisse, but it's totally worth it, especially if you're here at the right time. The garden is only open for about two months every year, and you can view beautiful spring flowers , including tulips. Not only can you take a peaceful stroll through the grounds, but you can take a whisper boat and go cycling too.

If you aren't able to go to Keukenhof during its opening times, then travel to Aalsmeer instead. This trip also takes about an hour from Amsterdam, and places you at the world's largest flower auction. Royal FloraHolland is open all year long, with over 30,000 species of flowers and plants. Not only will you gaze upon a rainbow of colors, but you'll also witness the inner workings of an efficient flower market.

History buffs will love Arnhem, as a significant part of WWII happened here. The Germans won the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, and the city was a ghost town for a while. To find out more about this battle, spend some time at the Airborne Museum Hartenstein  in Villa Hartenstein and the  Airborne Museum at the Bridge in the city center. Both will give you a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices made during wartime.

Plus, if you liked the open-air museum at Zaandijk, then you'll definitely have a positive experience at the Arnhem Open-Air Folk Museum . Rick Steves says , "You'll enjoy a huge park of windmills, old farmhouses, and other buildings,...traditional crafts in action, and a pleasant education-by-immersion in Dutch culture." It's a great family activity, and you can easily spend a whole day here, making it worth the 1.5-hour train journey from Amsterdam.

As for the city itself, Arnhem is known for its fashion and design scene. Check out the Modekwartier and the 7 Straatjes to get some serious shopping done. You're sure to get some special finds at the unique boutique stores.

Our Methodology For Picking These Destinations

Rick Steves is a renowned travel expert who started "Rick Steves' Europe" in 1976. According to his website , he "brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually." In addition to being a small business owner, Rick Steves is also a "popular public television host" and "a best-selling guidebook author." We based our list of top destinations in the Netherlands on his website recommendations. 

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Daily dose of europe: rembrandt’s night watch.

The Night Watch is Rembrandt’s largest and most famous — though not necessarily his greatest — painting.

As America continues to suffer crisis upon crisis, it has never been more important to broaden our perspectives and learn about the people and places that shape our world. And for me, one of the great joys of travel is seeing art masterpieces in person. Learning the stories behind great art can shed new light on our lives today. Here’s one of my favorites.

Created in 1642, when he was 36, The Night Watch came from his most important commission: a group portrait of a company of Amsterdam’s Civic Guards to hang in their meeting hall.

It’s an action shot. With flags waving and drums beating, the guardsmen spill onto the street from under an arch. It’s “all for one and one for all” as they rush to Amsterdam’s rescue. The soldiers grab lances and load their muskets. In the center, the commander (in black, with a red sash) strides forward energetically with a hand gesture that seems to say, “What are we waiting for? Let’s move out!” His lieutenant focuses on his every order. Why is The Night Watch so famous? Well, it’s enormous, covering 170 square feet. The guards are almost life-size, so it seems like they’re marching right out of the frame and into our living room.

In its day, The Night Watch was completely different from other group portraits. Until then, subjects were seated in an orderly group-shot pose with each face well-lit and flashbulb-perfect. The groups commissioning the work were paying good money to have their mugs preserved for posterity, and it was ego before artistic freedom.

By contrast, Rembrandt got the Civic Guards off their duffs and showed them doing their job — protecting the city. He added less-than-heroic elements that gave it a heightened realism, like the dwarf and the mysterious glowing girl holding a chicken (the guards’ symbol). Rembrandt’s trademark use of a bright spotlight to highlight the main characters made it all the more dramatic. By adding movement and depth to an otherwise static scene, he took posers and turned them into warriors, and turned a simple portrait into high art.

OK, some Night Watch scuttlebutt: First off, the name “Night Watch” is a misnomer. It’s actually a daytime scene, but Rembrandt finished his paintings with a preserving varnish. Eventually, as the varnish darkened and layers of dirt built up, the sun set on this painting. During World War II, the painting was rolled up and hidden for safekeeping. Over the years, this stirring painting has both inspired people and deranged them. In 1911, a madman sliced it with a knife, in 1975, another lunatic cut the captain’s legs, and in 1990, it was sprayed with acid.

The Night Watch was a smashing success in its day. Rembrandt had captured the exuberant spirit of Holland in the 1600s, when its merchant ships ruled the waves, and Amsterdam was the center of the first global economy. These guardsmen on the move epitomized the proud, independent, and upwardly mobile Dutch. On an epic scale, Rembrandt created the definitive “portrait” of that single generation of people that re-invented the world — the era we call the “Dutch Golden Age.”

This art moment — a sampling of how we share our love of art in our tours — is an excerpt from the new, full-color coffee-table book “Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces” by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. Please support local businesses in your community by picking up a copy from your favorite bookstore, or you can find it at my online Travel Store . To enhance your art experience, you can find clips related to this artwork at Rick Steves Classroom Europe ; just search for Night Watch.

Daily Dose of Europe: Vermeer’s Kitchen Maid

In our tumultuous world today, when I crave tranquility, I enjoy paintings like this one. A maid pours milk from a pitcher into a bowl. She looks down, focused intently, performing this simple task as if it’s the most important thing in the world. Vermeer has captured a quiet moment in Holland.

In Vermeer’s day, maids were generally portrayed as luscious objects of desire surrounded by mouthwatering foods. Though Vermeer keeps some of that conventional symbolism — cupids in the baseboard tiles, uterine jugs, erotic milk-pouring, and a heat-of-passion foot warmer — the overall effect here is quite the opposite. Rather than a Venus, this is a blue-collar maid, a down-to-earth working girl…working. She’s broad-shouldered and thick, balanced on a sturdy base. Because of the painting’s lines of perspective, we the viewers are literally looking up at her. Vermeer’s maid embodies that most-prized of Dutch virtues: the dignity of hard work.

While the painting’s subject is ordinary, you could look for hours at the tiny details: the crunchy crust of the loaves of bread, the broken window pane, the shiny brass basket, even the rusty nail in the wall with its tiny shadow.

Vermeer frames off a little world in itself. Then he fills that space with objects for our perusal. Vermeer silences the busy world, so that every sound, every motion is noticed. It’s so quiet you can practically hear the thick milk hitting the bowl. You can feel the rough crust of the bread, the raised seams of her blouse, and the thick material of her apron.

Vermeer (1632–1675), from the picturesque town of Delft, was only 25 when he painted this, but it set the tone for his signature style: interiors of Dutch homes, where Dutch women engage in everyday activities, side-lit by a window. While Vermeer’s Baroque contemporaries painted Greek gods and idealized Madonnas, he specialized in the daily actions of regular people.

Like many Vermeer paintings, there’s an element of quiet mystery. Is the faint smile of this “Dutch Mona Lisa” happy or sad? The portrayal subtly implies a more complicated story than we’ll ever know.

Vermeer was a master of light. His luminous paintings radiate with a diffuse lighting, with minimal shadows. He makes simple objects glow. He could capture reflected light with an artistry that would make the Impressionists jealous two centuries later. Vermeer presses the pause button on daily life and gives us the time to really see it. He invites you to slow down, probe deep into the canvas, and immerse yourself in his world. Through Vermeer, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of everyday things. In all, only 37 Vermeer paintings survive — each is a small jewel worth lingering over.

This art moment — a sampling of how we share our love of art in our tours — is an excerpt from the new, full-color coffee-table book, “Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces,” by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. Please support local businesses in your community by picking up a copy from your favorite bookstore, or you can find it at my online Travel Store . To enhance your art experience, you can find clips related to this artwork at Rick Steves Classroom Europe ; just search for Vermeer.

Daily Dose of Europe: Dutch Tolerance — Red Lights and Pot Shops

Homebound now rather than exploring Europe, I’ve been thinking a lot about places that pry open my hometown blinders…places that rearrange my cultural furniture…that make me a bit less self-assured about the best ways to run a society. You actually realize smart and caring people deal with the great moral challenges that confront us all differently. And while for some, that is a good reason to stay home, for me, that is one of the great joys of exploring our world. In so many ways, when we leave home and are exposed to other cultures, we actually learn more about our own homes. We see our hang-ups, taboos, and “self-evident truths” in a broader perspective. This lets us reaffirm our stances…or reconsider what we always thought was “normal.” Imagine being changed by our travels. Now that’s my kind of souvenir!

With all that in mind, let me steer your daily dose of Europe to the Netherlands and to Amsterdam: a laboratory of progressive living, bottled inside Europe’s finest 17th-century city.

Even though we’re not visiting Europe right now, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. I just published a collection of my favorite stories from a lifetime of European travels. My new book is called “For the Love of Europe” — and this story is just one of its 100 travel tales.

Like Venice, Amsterdam is a patchwork quilt of elegant architecture and canal-bordered islands anchored upon millions of wooden pilings. But unlike its dwelling-in-the-past, canal-filled cousin, Amsterdam sees itself as a city of the future, built on good living, cozy cafés, great art, street-corner jazz…and a persistent spirit of live-and-let-live.

During its Golden Age in the 1600s, Amsterdam was the world’s richest city, an international sea-trading port, and a cradle of capitalism. Wealthy burghers built a planned city of tree-shaded canals lined with townhouses topped with fancy gables. The atmosphere they created attracted a high-energy mix of humanity: Immigrants, Jews, outcasts, and political rebels were drawn here by its tolerant atmosphere. Sailors — so famously hard-living and rowdy — were needed to man the vast fleet of merchant ships. And painters like young Rembrandt found work capturing that atmosphere on canvas.

I approach Amsterdam as an ethnologist observing a unique culture. A stroll through any neighborhood is rewarded with slice-of-life scenes that could rarely be found elsewhere. Carillons chime from church towers in neighborhoods where sex is sold in red-lit windows. Young professionals smoke pot with impunity next to old ladies in bonnets selling flowers. Each block has a quirky and informal custom of neighbors looking out for neighbors, where an elderly man feels safe in his home knowing he’s being watched over by the sex workers next door.

Prostitution has been legal since the 1980s (although streetwalking is still forbidden). The sex workers are often entrepreneurs, running their own businesses and paying taxes. They usually rent their space for eight-hour shifts. A good spot costs $150 for a day shift and $250 for an evening. Popular prostitutes charge $50-70 for a 20-minute visit. Many belong to a union called the Red Thread.

The rooms look tiny from the street, but most are just display windows, opening onto a room behind or upstairs with a bed, a sink, and little else. Sex workers are required to keep their premises hygienic, avoid minors, and make sure their clients use condoms. If a prostitute has a dangerous client, she pushes her emergency button and is rescued not by a pimp, but by the police.

The Dutch are a handsome people — tall, healthy, and with good posture. They’re open, honest, refreshingly blunt, and ready to laugh. As connoisseurs of world culture, they appreciate Rembrandt paintings, Indonesian food, and the latest French films, but with a down-to-earth, blue-jeans attitude.

While smoking tobacco is not allowed indoors, the Dutch seem to smoke more cigarettes than anyone in Europe. Yet somehow, they are among the healthiest people in the world. Trim and wiry Dutch seniors sip beers, have fun blowing smoke rings, and ask me why Americans have a love affair with guns and kill themselves with Big Macs.

While the Dutch smoke a lot of tobacco, they smoke less marijuana than the European average. Although hard drugs are illegal, a joint causes about as much excitement here as a bottle of beer. Still, following an ethic of pragmatic harm reduction rather than legislating morality and pushing incarceration, the government allows the retail sale of pot. The Dutch think the concept of a “victimless crime” is a contradiction in terms. If a tipsy tourist calls an ambulance after smoking too much pot, medics just say, “Drink something sweet and walk it off.”

Throughout Amsterdam, you’ll see “coffeeshops” — pubs selling marijuana — with menus that look like the inventory of a drug bust. Most of downtown Amsterdam’s coffeeshops feel grungy and foreboding to American travelers who aren’t part of the youth-hostel crowd. But the places in local neighborhoods and small towns around the countryside feel much more inviting to people without piercings and tattoos.

Paradox is the most gezellig (cozy) coffeeshop I’ve found in Amsterdam — a mellow, graceful place. The managers, Ludo and Wiljan, and their staff are patient with descriptions. With each visit, they happily walk me through their menu. The juice is fresh, the music is easy, and the neighborhood is charming. It’s become a ritual for me now to drop by Paradox and check in with Ludo and Wiljan with each visit to Amsterdam. I grab a wicker chair just outside their door. Framed in the jungle of lush vines that decorates the storefront, I sit and observe the metabolism of the neighborhood. I think about how challenging societal norms — with a pinch of shock here and a dash of tolerance there — leads to progress. I’m grateful that this city’s bold experiment in freedom continues.

This story appears in my newest book, “For the Love of Europe” — collecting 100 of my favorite memories from a lifetime of European travel. Please support local businesses in your community by picking up a copy from your favorite bookstore, or you can purchase it at my online Travel Store . You can also find a clip related to this story at Rick Steves Classroom Europe ; just search for Amsterdam.

Daily Dose of Europe: Going Dutch…in Holland’s Polder Country

On a recent visit to the Netherlands, my longtime Dutch friends Hans and Marjet drove me through polder country. In these vast fields reclaimed from the sea, cows graze, narrow canals function as fences, and only church spires and windmills interrupt the horizon.

Even if we’ve had to postpone trips to Europe, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Here’s another one of my favorite travel memories — a reminder of what’s waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis.

Hans is behind the wheel. He injects personality-plus into all he does, whether running a B&B or guiding Americans around Holland. Bouncy Marjet has a head of wispy strawberry-blonde hair, red tennis shoes, and a talent for assembling a Salvation Army-chic outfit for under $20.

As he drives, Hans talks about how people, including himself, call the entire country “Holland” when Holland actually comprises just two of the 12 provinces that make up the Netherlands. He says, “That’d be like me calling America ‘Texas.’” I bring up that most of America’s cliché images of the Netherlands come from the region properly referred to as Holland.

Looking out at the polder country, I remember that the word “Netherlands” means “lowlands.” This country occupies the low-lying delta near the mouth of three of Europe’s large rivers, including the Rhine. In medieval times, inhabitants built a system of earthen dikes to protect their land from flooding caused by tides and storm surges. The fictional story of the little Dutch boy who saves the country by sticking his finger in a leaking dike summed up the country’s precarious situation. Many Americans know this story from a popular 19th-century novel, but Hans says few Dutch people have ever heard of it. In 1953, severe floods breached the old dikes, killing 1,800 and requiring a major overhaul of the system.

Chatting as we drive, I’m struck by how 10 minutes from Amsterdam, you can be in this wide-open polder land. It’s early summer, and the landscape is streaked with yellow and orange tulip fields.

Hans points out a quaint windmill along a sleepy canal. An old mill like this was used to turn an Archimedes screw in order to pump the polders dry. After diking off large tracts of land below sea level, the Dutch harnessed wind energy to lift the water up and out of the enclosed area, divert it into canals, and drain the land. They cultivated hardy plants that removed salt from the soil, slowly turning marshy estuaries into fertile farmland. The windmills later served a second purpose for farmers by turning stone wheels to grind their grain.

This area, once a merciless sea, is now dotted with tranquil towns. Many of the residents here are actually older than the land they live on, which was reclaimed in the 1960s. The old-time windmills, once the conquerors of the sea, are now relics, decorating the land like medallions on a war vet’s chest. Today, they’ve been replaced with battalions of sleek, modern wind turbines.

Several other Dutch icons came directly from the country’s flat, reclaimed landscape. Wooden shoes (klompen) allowed farmers to walk across soggy fields. They’re also easy to find should they come off in high water because they float. Tulips and other flowers grew well in the sandy soil near dunes.

We head seaward, driving past sprawling flower-mogul mansions, then through desolate dunes. The little road dwindles to a sandy trailhead. Hans parks the car and we hike to a peaceful stretch of North Sea beach. Pointing a stick of driftwood at a huge seagoing tanker, Hans says, “That ship’s going to the big port at Rotterdam. We’re clever at trade. We have to be — we’re a small country.”

The Netherlands welcomes the world’s business, but the country is not designed for big shots. Hans explains, “Being ordinary is being prudent. We Dutch say a plant that grows above the grains gets its head cut off. Even our former queen prefers to do her own shopping.”

While Hans and I talk, Marjet skips ahead of us on the beach, collecting shells with the wide-eyed wonder of a 10-year-old. “Cheap souvenirs,” Hans teases. One cliché the Dutch don’t dispute is their frugality. Hans quizzes me: “Who invented copper wire?”

I know that one. “Two Dutch boys fighting over a penny.”

Hans points up the coast at a huge arc of mud shooting up from a ship. “We’re moving mountains of sand and mud to make our dikes stronger against the sea.” The frugal Dutch are, at heart, pragmatic. They spend their money smartly. In this era of global warming and rising sea levels, the Dutch are spending billions to upgrade their dikes and bulk up their beaches to hold back the sea. All this technological tinkering with nature reminds me of a popular local saying: “God made the Earth, but the Dutch made Holland.” They made it and they’re determined to keep it.

Marjet scuffs through the sand, her pockets full of seashells, her scarf flapping in the wind like a jump rope. Under big, romping white clouds, I think, “Everything’s so…Dutch.”

(This story is excerpted from my upcoming book,  For the Love of Europe  — collecting 100 of my favorite memories from a lifetime of European travel. It’s coming out in July, and available for pre-order . And you can also watch a video clip related to this story: Just visit   Rick Steves Classroom Europe   and search for polder.)

Daily Dose of Europe: Pedaling Through Amsterdam

I love Amsterdam. And I love it even more from the seat of a bike.

Because of the coronavirus, Europe is effectively off-limits to American travelers for the next few weeks (and likely longer). But travel dreams are immune to any virus. During these challenging times, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Here’s another one of my very favorite travel dreams-come-true…a reminder of what’s waiting for you in Europe on the other end of this crisis.

Sightseeing isn’t just seeing. To get the full experience of a place, you need to feel, hear, taste, and smell it. On this visit to Amsterdam, I’m making a point to focus on sensual travel. It’s a city made to engage all of the senses.

I always rent a bike here. I want to feel the bricks and pavement beneath two wheels. The lack of hills and the first-class bike-lane infrastructure makes biking here a breeze. The clerk at the rental shop must be tired of explaining why they don’t carry mountain bikes in this flat land. When I ask, he responds — in classic Dutch directness — “Mountain bikes in the Netherlands make no sense at all. When a dog takes a dump, we have a new mountain. You pedal around it…not over. It’s no problem.”

I ride off along the shiny wet cobbles, my Amsterdam experience framed by my black bike’s handlebars. I get pinged by passing bikes and ping my bell to pass others. When it comes to bike bells, there’s no language barrier. For my own safety, I wish I had a bigger periphery, as cars, trams, bikers, and pedestrians seem to float by from all directions in silence — their noise lost in the white noise of breezing through this dreamy city on two wheels.

Reaching the Red Light District, I stop to use a classic old street-corner urinal. It’s painted a deep green and designed to give the user plenty of privacy from the neck down and a slice-of- Amsterdam view at the same time. The pungent smells of pot smoke and someone else’s urine compete with the dank smell of the canal. I remember one of the new Amsterdam facts I’ve learned: A handful of people drown in the canals each year. When their bodies are finally dredged up, very often, their zippers are down. They were very drunk and, rather than using the civilized urinal as I did, they used the canal…their final mistake. Across the lane, a woman in a cliché of lingerie eyes me seductively from a window, framed in red. I think to myself, “This is probably the most unforgettable trip to a urinal I’ll ever have in my life.”

Pedaling on, I notice that the Red Light District is now a little more compact than I remember. Spliced in among the windows displaying enticing women are other windows promoting fashion and contemporary art. Amsterdam’s leaders recognize that legalized marijuana and prostitution are part of the city’s edgy charm, but are also working to rein in the sleaze. They’re not renewing some Red Light District leases, instead giving them to more preferable businesses.

Continuing on my ride, it strikes me that much of Amsterdam still looks like it did three or four centuries ago, during the Dutch Golden Age, when this was the world’s richest city.

I continue on to a square called Museumplein where Amsterdam’s three, big art museums are gathered — and selfie-crazed tourists gather around the red-and-white “I AMsterdam” letters, which are as tall as people.

I stop a moment to take in the square. Long lines plague the Dutch Master-filled Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum — both understandably popular. There’s rarely a wait at the Stedelijk Museum, nicknamed “the bathtub” because of the striking shape of its modern architecture. Inside are 20th-century favorites (Dalí, Picasso, Kandinsky) and crazy contemporary art. I’m not a big fan of the abstract style, but the artwork at the Stedelijk is really fun (perhaps really, really fun if you’re into marijuana — sold with a smile in the city’s many “coffeeshops”).

The sounds of Amsterdam’s knack for good living seem to surround the museum district. Underneath the Rijksmuseum, in a public passageway, street musicians seem to be performing everything from chamber music to Mongolian throat singing. Around the corner, a man in a top hat cranks away on his candy-colored street organ. Mesmerized children watch its figurines jingle and jangle to the jaunty music as it slowly grinds through its perforated song boards.

The city’s biggest green space, Vondelpark, is just a short pedal away. I roll by snippets of Dutch conversation — families with kids, romantic couples, strolling seniors, and hippies sharing blankets and beers.

By now my sense of taste is ready for a little attention. Thinking about the options, I consider  rijsttafel  (literally “rice table”), a ritual dish for tourists in Holland. Not a true Indonesian meal, it’s a Dutch innovation designed to highlight the best food of its former colony — specifically to show off all the spices that in some ways originally motivated the colonial age. The dinner includes 20 dishes and a rainbow of spices with white rice to mix and mingle on your plate and palate. Working your way through this tasty experience, it’s clear why the Dutch called Indonesia “The Spice Islands.”

In the mood for something more historically Dutch, I opt instead for a snack of herring with pickles and onions. Later, I indulge my taste buds at a cheese-tasting class. After a short video that’s somewhere between a cheese commercial and dairy soft porn, I guillotine six different local cheeses studying, smelling, and tasting them with a wine accompaniment.

My final experience: some Dutch booze. While the 20-somethings line up for the Heineken Experience — a malty, yeasty amusement ride of a brewery tour — I join an older crowd at the slick House of Bols: Cocktail & Genever Experience. Here, I learn about the heritage of Dutch gin  (genever) , and test my olfactory skills at a line of 36 scents. I fail miserably, my nose identifying only one scent: butterscotch. I console myself by designing the cocktail of my dreams at a computer kiosk and taking the recipe printout to the nearby barista, who mixes a Dutch gin drink that’s uniquely mine.

Pedaling back to my hotel, rattling over those shiny cobbles just inches from the murky canals, I’m thankful I turned down that one last gin.

(This story is excerpted from my upcoming book, For the Love of Europe — collecting 100 of my favorite memories from a lifetime of European travel, coming out in July. It’s available for pre-order .)

• Destinations

The Absolute Best Day Trips From Amsterdam, According To Rick Steves

From strolling by blooming tulips to admiring some of the best art on the planet, there is no shortage of things to do in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. On his website, European travel expert Rick Steves recommends checking out the Rijksmuseum to see Rembrandts and Vermeers, the Dutch Resistance Museum to learn about how the Dutch fought back against Nazi occupation, and the Royal Palace, to experience some of the most beautiful 17th-century architecture on the continent. While you could easily spend an entire trip in Amsterdam, the secret to understanding the Netherlands is to leave the big city and explore the small towns and villages. You don't even have to go far. Some of the best little communities to visit are just a quick day trip from Amsterdam.

We've learned a lot of great travel tips from Rick Steves , but one of the best is to look for hidden gems instead of tourist hot spots . On his website , Steves and fellow travel writer Gene Openshaw recommend a few villages that aren't far from Amsterdam: Edam, Volendam, Marken, Alkmaar, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen. These delightful villages and towns may not have museums with hundreds of Van Gogh paintings or an enormous free library with a terrace offering views of the city, but they do offer delicious cheese, beautiful boat trips, and a glimpse into what it's really like to live in the Netherlands.

Visit the Waterland villages

It might feel almost unbelievable while you're standing amid the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, but after less than an hour on the train (and even quicker if you happen to have a car), you can be strolling across winsome wooden bridges spanning canals that crisscross the countryside. On his website, Rick Steves recommends visiting Waterland, a northern municipality that includes the towns and villages of Edam, Volendam, and Marken.

Rick Steves recommends planning your visit to Europe based on your interests , and this Waterland excursion is one for the foodies. If you love cheese, Edam might just become the highlight of your trip. This cozy charmer is one of the oldest towns in North Holland, and its architecture represents its seniority. Edam is famous for its cheese, which, if you happen to visit fancy cheese shops from time to time, you might recognize by its colorful wax coating. If you visit in late summer, plan your outing to Edam for Wednesday mornings to see local farmers deliver their huge balls of fresh cheeses, often on rafts and sleighs.

Head north from Amsterdam

If you're based in Amsterdam but are still longing to see more of the Netherlands, try heading north. In the proposed itinerary posted on his blog, Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw recommend Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Alkmaar. Hoorn was established in 1357, and although it has changed significantly since it was the capital of medieval West Friesland, it is a fabulous destination for history lovers. Along with two medieval churches from the 1500s, you can get a look into more recent history and take a ride on a functioning steam train. Luckily, Hoorn is only about half an hour from Amsterdam by train. 

For a slightly longer trip (about an hour from Amsterdam), Enkhuizen (pictured above) is also packed with fascinating historical sights. It was once a major trading hub and port city, and a visit to the outdoor section of the town's beloved Zuiderzeemuseum is a must. The outdoor exhibit transports visitors to the past by letting them explore old cobblestone streets and well-preserved historic buildings. You can also enjoy some historic buildings in Alkmaar, a delightful city best known for its cheese market, which dates back to before 1622. If you happen to be in the Netherlands between the end of March and the end of September, be sure to make the half-hour journey to Alkmaar on a Friday and join the flocks of visitors who travel there every year to see massive amounts of cheese being weighed, traded, and sold.

Recommended

Travels in Europe with Rick Steves (1991)

• Travels in Europe with Rick Steves

Travels in Europe with Rick Steves: Season 1 - 13 Episode s

1x1 - Amsterdam

April 1, 1991

It's the beginning of Rick's 3,000-mile grand tour of Europe. In the midst of seeing all of Holland's freedom, Rick advises wearing a money belt to keep your valuables close by.

1x2 - Rhine & Mosel

April 8, 1991

Rick tours Germany's famed Rhine and Mosel river valleys on train. It's the perfect way to discuss travel strategies and Eurail Passes.

1x3 - The Romantic Road

April 15, 1991

Timelessness is the word to describe Germany's Romantic Road. Rick passes along Prince Bishop's Palace in Wurzburg, among other places. Walking tours of the Romantic Road also provide a backdrop for self-defense.

1x4 - Munich & Bavaria

April 22, 1991

Diversity is the dictum as Rick spans from a beer hall to a haunting World War II memorial. He provides lessons on traveling with children and alternate forms of lodging.

1x5 - Venice

April 29, 1991

Rick delves into the formation of Venice. His advice to tourists: It's okay to get pleasantly lost. Just remember to plan an itinerary.

1x6 - Italy's Hilltowns

May 6, 1991

Tuscany and Umbria represents small town Italy. Rick tells all to pack light to really enjoy these and other locales.

May 13, 1991

Rick concentrates on the lesser-known landmarks in Rome, particularly inexpensive hotels and restaurants. His back-door approach includes a stop at Mussolini's old neighborhood.

1x8 - Florence

May 20, 1991

Rick battles fatigue in Florence with cappucino and gelati stops in his selective sightseeing. He also gives advice on interpreting the city's telephone system.

1x9 - The Italian Riviera

May 27, 1991

Pisa, Lucca, and Portofino are first up Rick scouts the villages on the Italian Riviera. He advises how to stay clean and healthy abroad.

1x10 - The Berner Alps

June 3, 1991

Swiss Alps are the order of the day. Rick recommends using gondolas, funiculars and trains to see the Berner Alps and close contact with Nature. He also discusses wise use of credit cards, travelers' cheques, and money exchanges.

1x11 - Western Switzerland

June 10, 1991

Rick devotes this program to renting and driving cars in Europe. That will direct us to the remote villages of French Switzerland. Part of the journey is an appreciation of modern art, specifically Paul Klee.

1x12 - Paris

June 17, 1991

Rick tackles the sometimes-difficult task of using public transportation in this tour of Paris. He includes a history lesson on Napoleon and the fascinating world of Rodin.

1x13 - London

June 24, 1991

Travels in Europe with Rick Steves: 5 Season s

S1: season 1.

13 Episode s

S2: Season 2

14 Episode s

S3: Season 3

S4: season 4, s5: rick steves' europe season 5.

2 Episode s

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The original travel expert, Rick Steves, on how to avoid contributing to overtourism

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

Summer travel season is ready to take off. But what if you book that trip, fly for hours, and find yourself surrounded by people just like you? Overtourism is real, from Mt. Fuji to the beaches of Phuket to the trails at Glacier National Park. It's busy out there. We're joined now by a giant of the travel industry, Rick Steves of "Rick Steves' Europe." Welcome to the show.

RICK STEVES: Ayesha, so nice to be with you. Thanks.

RASCOE: How big of an issue is overtourism?

STEVES: Well, it's a big issue if you let the information bully you into places that everybody else is going. You're your own worst enemy if you're suffering from crowds because you're going where all the social media tells you to go. And for every tourist-plagued restaurant in Rome, there's a beautiful place that's a mom-and-pop family-run place with deep roots into the culture in the neighborhood just around the corner, without hitting the jackpot on TikTok, that is a wonderful value without the crowds. You've just got to realize that when the cruise ship is in town, 3,000 tourists just dumped off of that ship, and they're all hellbent on going to the same place, wherever you are, and you want to kind of avoid that during the hours that the cruise ship is dropping the hook.

RASCOE: Has it always been a thing? Because as you're saying, social media does make certain places really trendy. Because, like, when I think about the Amalfi Coast - you see those pictures, it's like, I want to go there. I want that picture (laughter).

STEVES: Exactly. And that's the big dynamic because it didn't used to be that way. But right now, Americans really have a herd mentality. We all want to go where everybody else is going. If you see a mob scene on one pier in one little town that never used to have any tourists, you say to a local, what's going on? What's everybody there? Oh, that's the Instagram spot this year. And all the Instagram people - they don't even know the name of that town, but they're tripping over each other to get there to get that photograph. And so we have that new entry into the field of information, and we have less sophisticated consumers of information that are letting that shape their itineraries.

Now, what I do as a guidebook writer - I was just in Rome working on the 25th edition of the "Rick Steves' Rome" guide. I know what the trends are after 25 years, and I know that what you need a reservation for, what is worth the crowds and what you might want to avoid and find something else that's essentially just as good but not as popular. There's always alternatives to the mob scenes, and that's what I'm enjoying finding. I was just on the Amalfi Coast, and I found a couple of places - Minori and Maiori.

RASCOE: But don't name them, don't name them. Then everybody's going to know. I need you to give me that after the show. No, but I'm joking.

STEVES: I know. But...

RASCOE: (Laughter).

STEVES: ...That's the funny dynamic, isn't it? I'm like the whaler who says, quick, harpoon it before it's extinct.

RASCOE: Do you have any other suggestions for figuring that out for people who are not making guidebooks and don't do that sort of traveling?

STEVES: It's not rocket science, Ayesha. A good example is, don't go between 10 and 4 when all the cruise groups are there. If the Acropolis is open until 8 o' clock, go at 6 o' clock. Nobody's there at 6 o' clock. You got 2 hours all alone at the Acropolis on the Parthenon in Athens, you know? And Europe has, Ayesha, what I call second cities. A lot of us, we have to go to Edinburgh. What about Glasgow? We have to go to Lisbon. What about Porto? And you'll get a different side of Europe if you can go to some of these towns that aren't so darn trendy.

RASCOE: Mm. OK. But see, your profession - you do make guidebooks. You're not necessarily, you know, maybe on Instagram, just taking pictures. But do you feel like maybe I'm a little bit a part of this because I'm telling people about these cool places?

STEVES: No.

STEVES: I'm the hired hand of my readers, you know? I'm over there trying to find untouristy places, and yeah, you can say I'm trying to ruin them, but I'm not that powerful. I mean, TikTok ruins a place tomorrow. A cruise ship ruins a place tomorrow, and you have to make a choice as a consumer of information what is going to shape your travel plans. Is it clickbait? Is it the thing that's trending on social media? Is it what everybody else is doing? Well, no, unless you just want to be part of the problem.

RASCOE: Do you have any other unique ideas for summer travel that you think are off the beaten path that people don't normally think about?

STEVES: My best tip for summer travel is go off season. Don't go summer travel. Bring an extra sweater and go off season. I love traveling off season these days because it's not only crowded in the summer, Ayesha, it is hot. Climate change is hitting travel a lot. When you go to Europe, it's almost low season now in July and August, in Spain and Greece. I mean, people are starting to avoid it. You just have to recognize that, boy, the world is changing, and you need to avoid the peak season, and you need to avoid the heat and the crowds of summer if you can.

RASCOE: That's travel writer and host Rick Steves. Thank you so much.

STEVES: Hey, thank you. So nice to be with you, and if you do your homework, you can travel great in 2024. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Travel with Rick Steves is appointment radio for listeners with a trusted friend, who happens to be one of their favorite public broadcasting personalities. Rick's conversations with guest travel experts and callers create vicarious adventures and global perspectives that bring loyal listeners back, week after week.

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