Fans of the iconic series Secret Army and Van der Valk will love this five-day tour, taking in numerous film locations with expert commentary and insights.
This no-fly trip begins in the Belgian capital, where you'll spend the first two nights. A guided tour will take you around innumerable sights including Grand Place, the Royal Palace, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and the Marolles District. While much of Secret Army was filmed in studios, you'll no doubt recognise some of the buildings used to set the scene of Nazi-occupied Belgium, including visiting the location of Albert Foiret's cafe 'La Candide'.
During your time in Brussels, you'll also explore the sights of downtown Brussels during a very special highlights tour - seeing the best of the city, and your guide will explain how these places are linked to the Secret Army.
You'll also go to the village of Louvain-la-Neuve, near Brussels to visit the Hergé Museum - dedicated to the life and works of cartoonist Georges Remi, famous for creating Tintin. After this, during a special guided tour, you will see the famous Tintin Comic Mural, a three-mile stretch of 30 mural paintings on the walls of buildings in the city.
You'll then spend three nights in Amsterdam, staying at the five-star Hotel American, which has connections to Barry Foster's Van der Valk series. The hotel is in a prime position for exploring sights such as Dam Square, the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark, but you'll also visit locations out of the city, all with links to the detective.
A special gala dinner awaits on your first night in Amsterdam, themed around Van der Valk. A well-known television personality associated with the series will give an exclusive talk.
Visit smaller towns, along the banks of the Amstel and Zaan rivers; head to the Hague and see landmarks associated with the series, before visiting the seaside resort of Scheveningen.
Making this trip extra special is the company of our own Noel Cronin and Mike Read, The Footage Detectives, who will join you for the duration of the trip. You'll get to participate in several quizzes with The Footage Detectives, as well as enjoy a very special screening at your Amsterdam hotel.
Mike is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter. He has been a broadcaster since 1976 and won ten National Broadcaster of the Year Awards, an International Music award, and was awarded the coveted Gold Badge of Merit for his special contribution to Britain's music industry. He has presented a number of television programmes and in 2021, he joined the Talking Pictures TV archive programme The Footage Detectives.
Noel is a film aficionado who is passionate about preserving film history and is forever uncovering and spotting famous film locations. Noel is the founder of the innovative and successful Talking Pictures TV and is one half of their hit TV show, The Footage Detectives, a Sunday teatime must watch.
Depart London St Pancras for your Eurostar journey to Brussel. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time and lunch in the Belgian capital, before your tour of Secret Army filming locations.
While the show was filmed in studios, the production team used various Brussels exteriors to set the scene of Nazi-occupied Belgium. Explore the Grand Place, the city's majestic main square surrounded by 17th century guildhalls; the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, whose covered arcades provided an atmospheric backdrop for resistance members moving furtively around the city; the Marolles District and the Sablon area.
An expert local guide will highlight architectural details and share insights on how certain street corners, squares, and building exteriors served as ideal stand-ins for wartime Brussels. While the exact buildings may not always be named in production notes, the neighbourhoods themselves are historically accurate to the period and visually consistent with the drama's setting.
Check in to the NH Brussels Grand Place Arenberg for your two-night stay and enjoy a welcome talk with The Footage Detectives, followed by dinner this evening.
After breakfast at your hotel, continue exploring Brussels, visiting the area around the Royal Palace. Continue to the city's main railway stations which were crucial to the storyline of aiding downed Allied airmen and smuggling them out of Belgium.
Visit the Hergé Museum, dedicated to the creator of Tintin. View original sketches, rare documents, and interactive displays that bring to life Belgium's rich tradition of graphic storytelling.
This afternoon, return to central Brussels to marvel at the city's famous comic murals, many of which pay tribute to Tintin and other beloved Belgian comic characters. Hear how Tintin's adventures, though fictional, echo the bravery and intrigue found in historical dramas like Secret Army, connecting two distinct but complementary aspects of Belgium's cultural imagination.
This evening, enjoy dinner at 't Kelderke on the Grand Place. This traditional Belgian restaurant offers hearty local dishes, allowing you to savour the city's culinary heritage. It also captures the spirit of 'Le Candide', the fictional café central to Secret Army. After dinner, enjoy a quiz with The Footage Detectives.
After breakfast at your hotel, check out and transfer by bus to Amsterdam. Check into the Hotel American for your three-night stay, enjoying a welcome reception, before exploring Van der Valk's city.
Your walking tour takes you by Dam Square; enjoy the ambience around Leidseplein, before moving towards the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark. Your expert guide will take you through the Rembrandtplein, visiting the Schiller Hotel and pausing at the Magere Brug over the Amstel River, all the while explaining the role and significance of these locations in the original Van der Valk series.
This evening, enjoy a special gala dinner at the hotel - themed around Barry Foster's Van der Valk. A well-known television personality associated with Van der Valk will join you, giving an exclusive talk, sharing behind-the scenes insights.
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll explore the colourful Albert Cuyp Market for a lively taste of local life. See the university courtyard (if accessible) and small bridges near Oudemanhuispoort that set the scene for quieter moments in the series.
This afternoon, head to the small town of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and on to Amstelveen to visit more locations, before continuing to Spaarndam, a small and typically Dutch village. You'll also visit Zaanse Schans for wonderful views of the traditional Dutch windmill village lining the banks of the Zaan River.
Return to Amsterdam and spend the evening at leisure, and a Footage Detectives Van der Valk themed quiz.
After breakfast at your hotel, explore some more of Barry Foster's Van der Valk locations outside of the city. At your first stop, the Hague, visit the Binnenhof, the official seat of the Dutch parliament, and nearby landmarks featured in the series. Later at the seaside resort of Scheveninge, see the Kurhaus and walk along the promenade or perhaps take a walk out along the pier.
This afternoon, return to Amsterdam and explore more of the city at your leisure. In the afternoon we head back to Amsterdam where you can enjoy some time at leisure. In the early evening, watch a screening at our hotel with the Footage Detectives.
This evening, enjoy a special final night dinner together at Café Scheltema - a classic Amsterdam establishment for over 130 years old, and where more than one murder has been solved by the Van der Valk team of detectives!
After breakfast at your hotel, check out and transfer from Amsterdam to Brussels Midi station for your Eurostar journey back to London St Pancras.
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* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £441. Deposit 30%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL bonded).