Bastogne Bulge Battlefield: Exclusive WWII Journey from Brussels

It was a great tour. Our guide, Joyce, was very informative and included info and history of Brussels on our way to Bastogne. She showed us everything we wanted to see.

I would rate this tour 12/10 if I could! Joyce truly made this one of, if not THE highlight of our whole trip. It was really complicated working out how we would be able to visit Bastogne from Brussels on our own and Joyce made it a breeze. Her wealth of knowledge and love for the history shines on the trip and she gives you amazing details the whole way.

My wive and I had the extraordinary opportunity to have Joyce lead us on a private tour from Brussels to Bastogne two weeks ago and found Joyce to be thoroughly engaging and the tour to be illuminating. From the moment Joyce whisked us away from the Brussels Hilton in the Central District, she was a whirlwind of history, facts, and trivia. The approximately 2-hour drive to Bastogne included a drive through a beautiful and almost idyllic section of Brussels where paths run through protected woodland to provide recreation for cyclists, walkers, and joggers. After driving through the Ardennes, where the foliage is so thick it would be almost impossible to pass, we arrived in Bastogne. To this day, Belgians are very appreciative of the sacrifices of so many Americans to defend a city that was very nearly completely destroyed during the month-long German offensive. McAuliffe Square, named for the general whose one-word response to a German offer of surrender -- Nuts! -- is legendary, includes a memorial to the leader who inspired his troops to hold on. The Battle of the Bulge Museum is more than a collection of artifacts. It provides a fabulous multi-media presentation of why the nations of Europe made their way to World War II and the events that led to the last major German push. Adjacent to the museum is a substantial memorial to remember those who served. After touring the museum and the memorial, Joyce led us past a small memorial to Easy Company of "Band of Brothers Fame" and then to the woods in which Easy Company encamped, overlooking the farming village of Foy. Remarkably, the remnants of their foxholes are easily discernible as you walk the wood line adjacent to the open field across which Easy Company had to charge in order to take the village. Joyce continued her tour during the drive back to our hotel -- discussing more history, culture, and the role of Belgium during both WW I and WW II. If you wish to have an absolutely amazing experience, you definitely want to arrange a tour with Joyce. You could not ask for a better guide -- knowledgable, personable, professional, and a pure delight.

So pleased we chose Joyce as our tour guide. She met us at our hotel timeously, and drove us to Bastogne in comfort. Joyce gave us a most informative explanation of the background leading to the Battle of the Bulge, plus lots of other additional information. Furthermore she ensured that my husband's checklist was completed. We can highly recommend this tour.

This was a private tour and Joyce picked three of us up from the airport in Brussels and provided transport to our final destination for the day while doing the tour. It was exactly what we needed. After a three hour wait to get through border control (NOT enough staff for processing non-EU passports), she greeted us enthusiastically and got started with the tour. Because we were so delayed in getting through Brussels airport border control, I’m sure there were some things left off of the tour, but we didn’t know it. What we all appreciated most was Joyce explaining the history of war over the centuries throughout Europe, which gave context for World War II and set the stage for our learning in the coming week. We traveled to Brussels and France to learn and see more personally about World War II and Joyce hit the highlights and transported us safely around on our very first day in Europe for this trip. I highly recommend her.

Joyce brings to life the history of the area along with a comfortable way to see the museum, foxholes and town. There is no better way to do this from Brussels for a day trip. We enjoyed her company and commentary.

Bastogne War Museum offers a unique account of strangers helping strangers -- ordinary U.S. soldiers helping strangers in a foreign land.

Our Bastogne WWII tour was fantastic. Joyce talked with us for the entire two hour ride up about the history leading up to and through WWII. An amazing woman who speaks five languages. The war memorial was incredible - several interactive rooms, four movies, displays of tanks, uniforms, weapons, medical equipment etc. They had an old teddy bear - didn’t want to ask whose it was. I bought a small corked jar in their gift shop and added dirt from one of the foxholes to it to bring home. They had a room where you could write a message on behalf of a loved one who fought/lived during that time. My husband wrote one for his dad who marched with Patton in 3rd Armored Division. We added the War Room tour. They actually had actors recreate what prompted Gen McAuloffe’s famous “Nuts!” remark. Inspirational and well presented. Well worth the trip and cost 👍👍 Thanks Joyce - you’re the best!

Seeing where my father fought in the war at the Battle of the Bulge. Joyce was extremely knowledgeable and it was a great experience.

our tour guide, Joyce was not only knowledgeable about the specific tour we were on but she gave us an over view of the history and background on why Bastogne was so important as a part of WWll but also the history of Belgium from early Roman days to present… She brought to life the history lessons. sat through in school and never appreciated. she covered all of the basics and shared some personal information from her family history during the war… she was amazing!!!.