Before any trip, most of us like to do a bit of advanced planning. The three Benelux countries are not hard to come to grips with even if you arrive cold (in the preparedness sense). They are foreign, of course, but not impossibly so, especially since many Belgians, Dutch, and Luxembourgers speak English. The local tourist organizations pride themselves on being able to answer any conceivable travel question, excepting only those that are illegal, and aid any conceivable traveler, excepting only those of doubtful moral standing (and in the case of Holland both of these provisos leave plenty of wiggle room).
Belgium is not a difficult country to come to grips with -- thanks to its widespread use of English, relatively small size, and excellent tourist infrastructure -- but a little forethought when planning your trip can still save you precious time and effort.
