May 10-25, 2024
Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
Amsterdam Type 1G #869 (Beijnes 1957) at Havenstraat Depot in Sep 2017.
Amsterdam Type 1G #869 (Beijnes 1957) at Havenstraat Depot in Sep 2017. no-night photo (Urban Electric Transit)
Amsterdam Type 1G #869 (Beijnes 1957) at Havenstraat Depot in Sep 2017.
Use our online Order Form
Download the Order Form PDF
Download the Tour Flyer PDF
The ERA is proud to announce its next international tour, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. We will visit major cities in the Netherlands and Belgium plus a day excursion to Luxembourg. Many tram, light rail and museum operations will be covered in our extensive 16-day program. The tour will include first-class travel on the Benelux regions’ high-speed and regional trains, plus rail and tram day passes for visiting the many historic and modern tram, metro, and electric railway operations throughout the three countries. There will also be general sightseeing provided to cover tourism opportunities in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
During 16 days of travel, we will cover many major and provincial Benelux cities. Four and five-star hotels will exclusively be our homes during the tour. All breakfasts will be provided as well as two group lunches and seven group dinners. Baggage handling will be included as we will travel by motorcoach between our Amsterdam and Brussels hotels.
The tour will begin in Amsterdam on Friday, May 10 as we settle into our luxury hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel Amsterdam City. The next day we will begin our Amsterdam visit with a city tram ride, tram museum visit, and our traditional welcome dinner. We will stay seven nights in Amsterdam and eight nights in Brussels at the Steigenberger Wiltchers Hotel.
The last tour activity will be round-trip travel from Brussels to Luxembourg followed by optional sightseeing, tram riding, and a tram depot/museum visit. Friday, May 24, the last full day of the tour, will include an optional local sightseeing tour around Brussels or a recovery day on your own, followed by our farewell dinner. After an overnight stay we will depart from Brussels on Saturday, May 25, or you may stay for optional extra nights.
We plan on chartering historic equipment (where available), visiting depots and railway museums, utilizing service trams, metros and interurbans, and experiencing escorted sightseeing as we make day excursions from the two base cities. Regional and local passes in all cities will enhance your independent riding experiences.
Arrive in Amsterdam with first day on your own.
Amsterdam; morning tram charter/city sightseeing tour, afternoon visit to EMA Tram Museum, welcome dinner in evening.
Den Haag via rail, charter PCC car, tram museum visit, dinner tram charter.
Amsterdam; optional city sightseeing tour and museum entrances, and/or ride local tram and metro system on your own or with escort from group. Evening on own.
Rotterdam via rail, charter historic tram and tram museum visit, arranged lunch near harbor followed by harbor tour, and evening on own either before or after returning to Amsterdam.
Arnhem via rail, short trolleybus ride to Openluchtmuseum (Open Air Museum) with sightseeing of historic tram interest, lunch at museum (individual payment), return via trolleybus and rail, and evening in Amsterdam on your own.
Utrecht via rail, transferring to shuttle train to the Dutch National Railway Museum, lunch at museum (individual payment), afternoon light rail ride and shop visit, arranged dinner along Utrecht canals, rail return to Amsterdam.
Travel via chartered motorcoach to Brussels including city sightseeing tour, after hotel check in afternoon, on your own followed by arranged group dinner.
Brussels; morning tram charter, lunch on own, afternoon tram museum visit, evening on your own.
Gent via rail, tram riding and participation in the 120th anniversary Gent tram festival, return to city center for lunch on your own and tram riding, maintenance depot visit If available, and/or sightseeing after lunch, evening on your own in Gent or Brussels.
Early (7:33 a.m.) regional train ride to Luxembourg, optional city sightseeing available (meet remainder of group for dinner), tram riding and lunch on your own, afternoon visit to tram depot and tram museum, arranged dinner in Luxembourg. Group travels via regional train at 8:11 p.m. to Brussels.
Antwerp via rail, one hour visit to historic railway station, lunch by individual arrangement at cafes near tram lines, ride local tram to tram museum, evening on your own in Antwerp or Brussels.
DePanne via rail transferring to Coastal tram to Knokke with historic tram requested if available, Depot visit and arranged lunch in Knokke, rail from Knokke to Brugge, afternoon sightseeing in historic Brugge on your own, train to Brussels and evening on your own.
Charleroi via rail, tram/light rail riding on your own, lunch near railway station on your own, travel via local train to Lobbes (Thiun) and walk to tram museum, return via local and regional train to Brussels via Charleroi, evening in Brussels on your own.
Brussels; optional city sightseeing tour and museum entrances, or local rail ride to visit Train World in Shaerbeek and/or ride local tram and metro system on your own or with escort from group. Farewell dinner in evening.
Check out of hotel for return home for further travel; or stay in hotel for extra nights.
Air transportation is by your individual arrangement and expense. First arrival is in Amsterdam on May 10. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Amsterdam City is a 1.2-kilometer walk from the Central railway station or a five-minute walk from Rokin tram or metro station, with trams and metro service from the railway station. There is frequent rail service from Schiphol Airport to Central railway station, about a half hour away. Local transit passes and Benelux rail passes will be distributed as needed for most travel from May 10 onward. Departure will be from Brussels on May 25. Air arrangements, especially if you are using frequent flyer miles, are best made as soon as possible.
The tour costs $6,675 per person double occupancy (+$3,425 single supplement) and includes:
Extra nights are available up to three days before the tour in Amsterdam and three days after the tour in Brussels. If you choose to arrive before the trip, from May 7-8 onward you may stay at the Radisson Blu Amsterdam City for an additional $276 per person per day, double occupancy, or $522 single occupancy. If you stay after the trip on May 25-26 to May 27-28, you may stay at the Steigenberger Wiltchers Hotel in Brussels for an additional $225 per person per day, double occupancy, or $402 single occupancy. Note this on the order form below when sending in your reservation.
To reserve your Benelux tour, please order online (below) or complete the PDF order form and send to:
Electric Railroaders Association
Box 3323
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
We urge you to purchase trip cancellation insurance and supplemental medical coverage (which covers pre-existing conditions). This is a smart way to safeguard against life’s surprises. Insurance coverage must generally be purchased within 21 days of your initial payment. Please note that we do not accept responsibility for any losses or expenses which you or any member of your party may incur as a result of failure to secure adequate coverage.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept American Express credit cards but prefer an alternative if you have a choice. You may also pay by check or money order payable to: Electric Railroaders Association. For questions, call 917-714-7087, or use our Contact Us page.