Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
In Amsterdam, your students will explore Anne Frank’s home to learn more about her life and the moving lessons contained in her famous diary and enjoy a traditional pannenkoeken dinner. In Brussels, your class can look forward to visiting the Cathédrale des Saints-Michel-et-Gudule and learning about the history of waffles during a delicious class. Your students will also see the Eiffel Tower, explore the ornate halls of Versailles, and discover the impression collection of the Louvre.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to the Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Day 2
Arrive in Amsterdam
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Amsterdam scavenger hunt
Take interactive learning to the next level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt through Amsterdam. Solve clues and complete engaging activities that bring the city’s history and cultural heritage to life, designed to maximize on-tour experiential learning.
Traditional Dutch pannenkoeken dinner
Enjoy a traditional Dutch dinner of pannenkoeken, large thin pancakes similar to crepes, topped with savory or sweet ingredients like bacon, apples, or raisins, and finished with a drizzle of stroop, a rich dark syrup.
Day 3
Amsterdam canal guided cruise
Canals and crocuses. Bicycles and bluebells. With more canals than Venice and countless flower merchants, downtown Amsterdam bursts with color and light reflecting off the water. Take a canal boat ride for the best views of gabled houses and nearly 1,200 bridges. Note: Cruises may be guided by a local or pre-recorded audio.
Anne Frank House visit
Take a tour of Anne Frank's house, where three Jewish families hid for more than two years during World War II and where Anne’s famous diary was written. Explore the secret annex where her family lived before being betrayed and deported to concentration camps.
Rijsttafel dinner
Rijsttafel, meaning “rice table,” is an elaborate Indonesian meal of many small plates served with rice. Popularized in the Netherlands during the Dutch colonization of the East Indies, it remains a celebrated dining tradition.
Day 4
Travel to Brussels via Bruges
Bruges Tour Director-led sightseeing tour
Discover Bruges, the “Venice of the North,” on a Tour Director-led sightseeing tour. Stroll cobblestone streets and canals, see the Belfry, and visit Burg Square, Market Square, the Beguinage Church and Convent, and the Church of Our Lady in this medieval Belgian gem.
Bruges canal cruise
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bruges from its scenic and picturesque canals.
Day 5
Brussels Tour Director-led sightseeing
Explore Brussels with your Tour Director, from the cobblestone Grand-Place with its gilded façades and 15th-century Town Hall to the playful Manneken Pis. Visit the Cathédrale des Sts-Michel-et-Gudule, then enjoy the city’s mix of Art Nouveau, history, and Belgian treats.
Waffle making class
Enjoy a fun and easy 90-minute waffle workshop. Learn the waffle’s history and recipe, then with guidance from expert chefs, mix, bake, and enjoy your own. No cooking experience required.
Day 6
Travel to Paris
Paris guided sightseeing tour
Explore Paris with a licensed local guide on a sightseeing tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Admire the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, stroll the grand boulevard lined with shops and cafés, and see the ornate 19th-century Opera House. Look up at the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World’s Fair, and visit Les Invalides, Napoleon’s military refuge, along with other historic sites.
Day 7
Versailles guided excursion
The ultimate palace, Versailles was built by Louis XIII and housed the royal family and its groveling court from 1682, when Louis XIV, the Sun King, moved in, until the French Revolution. Everything in Versailles is worth a look, from the 250-foot-long Hall of Mirrors, with themed salons "War" and "Peace" on either side, to the opulent State Apartments that once hosted lavish royal ceremonies. Step outside to explore the magnificent Gardens of Versailles, a masterpiece of landscape design with fountains, sculptures, and grand vistas. Don’t miss Marie Antoinette’s faux country hamlet, where she would escape court life by pretending to be a commoner, tending sheep and wearing peasant clothes. Please note: Versailles is closed on Mondays.
LEAP
LEAP Seize the Château!
A lively role-play puts you in the shoes of the monarchy, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, or peasantry to explore the issues underlying the French Revolution.
Seine River cruise
See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.
Day 8
Paris city walk
Take in Paris on foot, strolling wide boulevards, manicured parks, and lively streets filled with cafés and flower stalls. Cross to the Île de la Cité to view the storied Notre-Dame Cathedral, centerpiece of French history, then wander the charming Île St. Louis and the vibrant Latin Quarter, rich with student life and culture.
Louvre Museum visit
The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is housed in a former medieval fortress and entered through I.M. Pei’s striking glass pyramid. Inside, discover masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, along with vast collections of Egyptian antiquities, Greek ceramics, and works spanning seven departments. Please note: The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.
Montmartre Tour Director-led sightseeing
Discover Montmartre on a Tour Director-led walk through the hilltop neighborhood that inspired artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. Stroll the lively Place du Tertre, where painters still work today, see the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, and climb to the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur for sweeping views over Paris.
Dinner in Montmartre
Day 9
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 2 Days in London
Stroll the Thames River on a guided city walk with stops at Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Soho, and visit the National Gallery before enjoying a classic fish and chips dinner. The next day, take a guided sightseeing tour featuring Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.