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Netherlands/Belgium

Art History in Belgium and Holland

Program No. 3544RJ
Find inspiration as you celebrate the achievements of great European artists, gaining a deeper appreciation of their works through scholar-led excursions.

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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 26 - May 9, 2024
Starting at
5,749
May 24 - Jun 6, 2024
Starting at
5,749
May 31 - Jun 13, 2024
Starting at
5,749
Jun 14 - Jun 27, 2024
Starting at
5,749
Aug 30 - Sep 12, 2024
Starting at
5,749
Sep 20 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
5,749
Oct 4 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
5,749
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 26 - May 9, 2024
Starting at
6,939
May 24 - Jun 6, 2024
Starting at
6,939
May 31 - Jun 13, 2024
Starting at
6,939
Filling Fast!
Jun 14 - Jun 27, 2024
Starting at
6,939
Aug 30 - Sep 12, 2024
Starting at
6,939
Sep 20 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
6,939
Oct 4 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
6,939

At a Glance

As you stroll through the sculpture garden, you realize that most of these art lovers are speaking Dutch and admiring the works of their own beloved artists. In this comprehensive exploration, learn why even local residents hold artists such as Vermeer and van Gogh so dear. Expert artists guide a study of the history, architecture, genres and artists that comprise the rich artistic traditions.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up between 3-4 miles per day; cobblestones and many unavoidable stairs. Public transportation and motor coaches used throughout the program.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Receive expert insight into three centuries of art by Brueghel, Bosch, Vermeer, De Wit, Mondrian and many more.
  • Spend a day at the Kroller Muller Museum, located in a national park, with 90 van Gogh paintings and a magnificent sculpture garden.
  • Discover the collections of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and the Museum of Ancient Art in Brussels.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Tulip Fever
by Deborah Moggach
In this surprise bestseller, set in 1630s Amsterdam, a man contracts the talented painter Jan Van Loos to paint a portrait of him and his beautiful wife, Sophia. A vivid drama unfolds as a mutual attraction develops between Van Loos and Sophia.
Rubens
by Kristin Lohse Belkin
Belkin chronicles the 17th century artist Peter Paul Rubens from his early family life to his influential interactions with the Italian Renaissance masters and finally to Antwerp, where he rose to fame as a renowned painter and diplomat to the royal courts of Europe.
A Tall Man in a Low Land
by Harry Pearson
Pearson, a British travel writer, journalist and comic, is an entertaining guide to Belgium and its traditions, culture, beer and chocolate.
The Diary of a Young Girl, The Definitive Edition
by Anne Frank
The classic story of an adolescent Jewish girl's life and thoughts while in hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Holland. A new edition with added material.
Eyewitness Guide The Netherlands
by Eyewitness Guides
Gorgeously illustrated and filled with excellent maps, this compact book covers Holland, its history, traditions, cultures and sights. With hundreds of color photographs and illustrations.
The Undutchables
by Colin White
A laugh-out-loud, irreverent guide to Dutch character and habits, including how to drink coffee and why you shouldn't even think about haggling over prices.
Amsterdam, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Manfred Wolf (Editor)
Organized by district, these 17 contemporary short stories by modern Dutch writers, including Cees Nooteboom and Geert Mak, are set amid the canals, cafes and neighborhoods of Amsterdam.
Culture Smart! Belgium
by Mandy Macdonald
A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
Why the Dutch are Different
by Ben Coates
Mingling history with travelogue, Coates speaks to why the Netherlands is such fascinating country. He explains the significance of milk, beer and the color orange in the lives of the Dutch, their world-famous culture of tolerance and much more.
Headlong, A Novel
by Michael Frayn
A Bruegel canvas claims a central role in Frayn's hilarious tale of an art heist gone awry. Frayn weaves detailed research about the Old Master with a philosopher's foiled plot to appropriate the valuable masterpiece from a boor he feels is unworthy of it.
The Netherlands in a Nutshell
by Frits Van Oostrom
With information on the Dutch East India Company, Huygens, Spinoza, Van Gogh, the Great Flood, the Dutch overseas colonies and much more, Van Oostrom's popular primer covers the essential highlights of Dutch history.
Girl in Hyacinth Blue
by Susan Vreeland
This finely-crafted novel tells the story of the girl in an imagined, undiscovered portrait by Vermeer. Created in the 17th century, the painting passes through a number of people's hands, providing a series of tales that reflect the history and character of Holland and Europe through the years.
Eyewitness Guide Brussels, Bruges, Ghent & Antwerp
by Rebecca Miles
This superbly illustrated guide features color photos and maps of city neighborhoods, with information on history, culture and sightseeing.
A Worldly Art
by Mariet Westermann
This appreciative analysis of Dutch art in its Golden Age (1585-1718) features 100 exemplary illustrations by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Pieter de Hooch, Frans Hals and other Old Masters.
Eyewitness Guide Amsterdam
by Eyewitness Guides
A wonderful guide to Amsterdam, filled with detailed drawings, photographs and thumbnail sketches.
The Embarrassment of Riches
by Simon Schama
An engaging cultural history and much more, this book is a study of the Dutch in the 17th century and their surprising challenge to Spanish rule.
Niccolo Rising
by Dorothy Dunnett
From the reigning queen of historical fiction comes this fast-paced, thoroughly-researched novel of ambition and worldly goods in 15th-century Bruges. This is the first volume in her House of Niccolo series.
The Professor
by Charlotte Bronte
Bronte's first novel, published posthumously, is based on her experiences with Emily as a language student in Brussels in 1842.
Girl With a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier
Chevalier's richly drawn novel imagines the story behind Vermeer's mysterious portrait of a turbaned girl with a pearl earring.
Bruegel
by Walter S. Gibson
A volume in the excellent "World of Art" series, Gibson's book dispels the myth of Bruegel the simpleton artist and replaces it with a portrait of a man who understood the needs of his patrons. With many black-and-white and color reproductions of the paintings.
Travels in Vermeer, A Memoir
by Michael White
In the wake of a vengeful divorce, an American poet travels to Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, London, Washington and New York to find solace and inspiration in the paintings of Johannes Vermeer.
Tulipomania
by Mike Dash
The story of the world's most coveted flower and the extraordinary passion it aroused, this vivid history traces the tulip from its origins on the Turkish steppes to its status as an absurdly desired object in Europe and its key role in the financial follies of 17th-century Holland.
The Autumn of the Middle Ages
by Johan Huizinga
A pioneering work of social and cultural history, this well translated classic is a richly detailed portrait of life, thought and art in 14th- and 15th-century France and the Netherlands.
Amsterdam, A History of the World's Most Liberal City
by Russell Shorto
Russell Shorto opens this delightful ode to an adopted city with his daily journey, by bike of course, through his neighborhood to drop off his toddler son. He spins a tale of a diverse city wrestled from the sea, its coffee shops, canals and its personalities and politics, with panache.
Benelux Map
by Michelin Travel Publications
Covering the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg at a scale of 1:400,000.
Master of Shadows, The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens
by Mark Lamster
Ranging from his home in Antwerp to London, Madrid, Paris and Rome, Lamster uncovers the gripping tale behind one of the world’s most famous painters and his double life as a secret agent, diplomat and political operative in 17th century Europe.
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14 days
13 nights
26 meals
12 B 7 L 7 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Brussels, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Brussels
D
Pullman Brussels Centre Midi

Activity note: Driving transfer to is about 11.5 miles, approximately 45 minutes riding time. Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Hotel check-in is available at 3:00 PM. We may store our luggage with the front desk while we explore the area on our own while we wait for our rooms to be available. After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach, tram, and other public transportation where noted. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
3
Brussels
Brussels
B,L
Pullman Brussels Centre Midi

Activity note: Walking about 3 miles total throughout the day; uneven pavement, unavoidable stairs, cobblestones in the city center; periods of standing. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll set out on foot from our hotel on an expert-led walk into the city center to soak in the sights.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Brussels. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
4
Antwerp, Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Cathedral of our Lady
Ghent
B,L,D
Ghent River Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time with stops. Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day; cobblestones and uneven pavement, sometimes in very crowded places; stairs without railings and periods of standing in the museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Once checked out of the hotel, we will board the motorcoach and transfer to Antwerp where we will enjoy an expert-led visit to the Royal Museum of Fine Art. After 11 years of renovations, the KMSKA reopened its doors and has expanded its rich collection of artwork spanning Rubens to Tuymans.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we will take a walk through the old city center led by a local expert, and then visit The Cathedral of Our Lady. This large Gothic cathedral is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, and houses a collection of Baroque art including two large alters by Peter Paul Rubens. We’ll then continue our transfer to Ghent. After check-in, take some time to freshen up before we gather for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Ghent, Craft into Artistry, Museum of Fine Arts
Ghent
B,L
Ghent River Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off public transportation, approximately 1/2 hour total. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; paved terrain; periods of standing in the museum; unavoidable stairs and cobblestones in the city. Extent/duration of walking and other activities during independent time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: In the hotel meeting room, an artist and art teacher will join us to give a lecture focused on the development of craftsmanship into art in the lowlands, and how art mirrors society.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Arriving via public transit, we will join a museum staff member for an expert-led field trip at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent. While here, we will learn about Flemish and Dutch art from the Middle Ages, and its development through the middle of the 20th century.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Ghent, Van Eyck Painting, Bosch & Bruegel
Ghent
B,L
Ghent River Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day; cobblestones and uneven pavement, some stairs without railings; occasionally crowded places.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will gather in our meeting room for a lecture from an art historian about the painters Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) and Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569), and track their evolution from the 15th to 17th centuries. Setting out from the hotel, we will take an expert-led walk through the city center of Ghent, a medieval city where the Industrial Revolution began in the 19th century. A local expert will provide us with the history of the city as we walk along the canals, through the historical center with its many squares (Vrijdagsmarkt, Groentenmarkt, and Koorenmarkt), and to see such sites as the medieval fortress of Gravensteen and the meat market.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will then visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral, which houses the famous Van Eyck altarpiece. Our local expert will show us a replica painting of “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” because the original is being restored. The rest of the afternoon is free to see and do what interests you most.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Bruges, Groeninge Museum
Ghent
B,D
Ghent River Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 70 miles total (110 km); approximately 2 hours, with stops. Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day; cobblestones and uneven pavement, sometimes in very crowded places; stairs without railings; periods of standing in the museum. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during independent time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Arriving in Bruges via motorcoach this morning, we will have an expert-led walk in the beautiful, fairytale city of Bruges. This field trip will take us along the Minnewater Park, the Begijnhof (courtyard of the Beguins – secular nuns), the city's medieval street, and finishing at the Belfry of Bruges.

Lunch: On your own to sample the regional cuisine.

Afternoon: This afternoon, everyone will be provided with tickets to independently explore the Museum of Flemish Primitives (also known as the Groeninge Museum). This museum houses a beautiful exhibit of paintings by the Flemish Primitives, a group of masterful artists from the 15th and early 16th centuries who specialized in using oil paints, a new medium at the time. We’ll then return to Ghent via motorcoach.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
8
Rotterdam
Amsterdam
B,L,D
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 140 miles total; approximately 3 hours, with stops for field trips throughout the day. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; cobblestones and uneven pavement, stairs without railings.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Once checked out of the hotel, we will board the motorcoach and begin our transfer to Amsterdam.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will enjoy an expert-led walking and motorcoach field trip through Rotterdam to learn about the city's architecture. We will see such sites as the former Holland America Line headquarters (today’s Hotel New York), the famous Cubic Houses, and the modern Market Hall. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own before we meet at a predetermined time and location to continue our transfer to Amsterdam. After check-in, take some time to freshen up and relax before we gather for dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
9
Amsterdam Canal Cruise & City Walk, Free Time
Amsterdam
B
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off public transportation; less than 1/2 hour during group activities. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; uneven pavement, unavoidable stairs and cobblestones in the city. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After setting out from the hotel via tram, we’ll begin with a relaxing canal cruise to soak in Amsterdam’s historical city center from the water. Then we will enjoy an expert-led city walk to admire and learn about the architecture of Amsterdam. We’ll see the National Monument, the Royal Palace, the New Church, and the many different styles of houses that the city is famous for.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Amsterdam. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You might like to visit the Amsterdam Historical Museum or the Anne Frank House.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
10
The Hague, Vermeer & Rembrandt
Amsterdam
B,L
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 70 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles total throughout the day; cobblestones and uneven pavement; stairs without railings; periods of standing in museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will start the day with an expert-led bus field trip to The Hague, the legal capital of the world, with its many legal institutions and the seat of the Dutch Parliament. On our journey, we will pass the Scheveningen and the Peace Palais, which houses the International Court of Justice, and walk through the inner courtyard of the Parliament buildings.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Carrying on, we will go on an expert-led field trip through the Maurits House Museum to see famous Dutch paintings from Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. This museum is the home of such famous Dutch paintings as Vermeer's “View of Delft” and “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
11
Rijksmuseum, 18th-Century Art
Amsterdam
B,D
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off public transportation; less than 1/2 hour during group activities. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; uneven pavement, unavoidable stairs, and cobblestones; periods of standing in museum. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: An art historian will join us at the hotel and give a lecture on art in the Golden Age. Afterwards, they will lead us on a field trip to the Rijksmuseum, a wonderful representation of Dutch history and art. We’ll see some of the art that was discussed in the morning lecture, such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. The rest of the morning is free time for independent exploration. You may continue exploring the museum on your own. The tickets are valid for the day, but re-entry is not allowed. Or, if you are interested in visiting the Van Gogh Museum, this would be a good opportunity to do so. Tickets must be booked in advance for a specific time slot.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Time for independent exploration through the early afternoon. In the late afternoon, we’ll meet back at the hotel and gather in our meeting room to listen to an art historian give a lecture about art in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
12
Cathedral of St. Bavo, Haarlem, Frans Hals Museum
Amsterdam
B,L,D
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; uneven pavement, unavoidable stairs and cobblestones; periods of standing in museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Arriving via motorcoach, a local expert will introduce us to the city of Haarlem during a field trip that includes a visit to the Cathedral of St. Bavo, home to one of the world's greatest organs.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will walk to the Frans Hals Museum where we will discover the paintings of Frans Hals, and other Old Masters from the Golden Age, with a staff member. Later in the afternoon at the hotel, we will settle in for a lecture on modern art from the 19th and 20th centuries given by an art historian.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
13
Kröller-Müller Museum, Free Time
Amsterdam
B,D
Park Plaza Vondelpark

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 112 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day; pavement, some unavoidable stairs; periods of standing in museum. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transferring via motorcoach, we’ll take a field trip to the Kröller-Müller Museum to see the Van Gogh and Mondrian exhibit. While here, we will be led by a staff member through the museum, which owns the second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, as well as many French impressionist paintings.

Lunch: On your own at the Kröller-Müller Museum.

Afternoon: Free time. You might like to view the Garden of Statues of The Kröller-Müller Museum.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
14
Program Concludes
Amsterdam
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.