My advice would be not to try to take on too much. You can of course cram 23 cities into 23 days and you'll be absolutely exhausted at the end of it and won't remember a thing (mainly because you didn't see anything other than trains and railway stations). Or you can choose three cities and spend up to a week in each, and really get to know the places, see some culture, try the local cuisine, etc., and come back feeling like you've experienced something real.
In that vein, I would leave Spain completely out of it. Firstly, it's a bit of a hike from the low countries. Secondly, it's a large country and you'll barely even scratch the surface even if you were to spend the whole time there (of course the same goes for Germany also). And thirdly, it doesn't really go with the other three culturally etc.
Not speaking languages will not be much of a problem, nothing at all if you stay in touristy areas of Spain.
Amsterdam is just a city, the Netherlands is the name of the country and it is also known by its nick-name Holland.
Almost all people in hospitality in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany will speak some English and the rest will be used to English speaking guests and know how to communicate. Just be patient and speak slowly and clearly. Loud is not needed.
The Netherlands and Belgium are not big but you should plan a few days in each and at least half a day between the countries.
Germany borders both Belgium and the Netherlands and you can spend time in the area near them, or include Luxembourg instead, which is in the same area.
But if you want to go to the other end of Germany it can cost quite a bit of time, even with the fast trains.
You could use a 'two countries' Eurail pass for the three countries, or 4 if you include Luxembourg, as Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are counting as one country for the Eurail passes.
On the other hand, train travel in Belgium and the Netherlands is not expensive and if you are willing to book the train into Germany well ahead of time you do not pay much for that trip, think $US 30 to 50 for almost all single travels to and in Germany if booked well in advance. And Germany has several within the country passes which make travel easier and cheaper.
http://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml is the best booking site for trains in Germany but it is also good for times in the rest of Europe.
For the Netherlands you can use: http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home and for Belgium http://www.belgianrail.be/en Both have a national and an international version, so you might not find some of the international connections on some versions of the sites, the German site will find them and then you can check the prices on the Dutch or Belgian sites.
If you insist you can add Spain, flying will be the only reasonable way, but it will be less value for time than staying longer in the same countries would be.
Skyscanner.net or one of the other ticket search sites will help you find flights if you need them.
23 days is 3 weeks, so pick your destinations carefully.
Germany, Belgium and Spain are countries, Amsterdam is a city. You need to pick where in Germany, Belgium and Spain you want to visit, and you might want to consider flights to Spain as it's a long train ride.
You'll be fine with just English in all of these countries, but it wouldn't kill you to learn a few phrases in each language.
When I travel to Europe, I try to make a circle: so you land in Paris, you eventually come back to Paris. You could land in Belgium, then head for Amsterdam and then Germany. You could spend 2 weeks right there. Spain is out of the way, so that would mean flying (from Berlin?), maybe a few days in Barcelona, then flying back to Brussels.
Just got back from a trip to Spain, Portugal, Gilbralter, Casablanca, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. It was a very nice trip, but you need to include Portugal. Portugal was not in WW II because of the mountain range nearby. That means you will encounter some really great food. I loved this country. Cork grows there and is a very "interesting crop." Be sure to buy a chef's knife in Toledo Spain since they really know how to make them. They will tell you they are the origin of the phrase "Holy Toledo!" Instead of burnishing them in water, they use olive oil. Expect to spend 200-300 Euros to have a top of the line chef's knife you pass down through the family.
Fatima is also there in Portugal and is well worth seeing for yourself.
It's like seeing all of the US in 23 days.. not possible to see it all.
I suggest Google, and study what you like.
I'm from Norway, and I used to drive all over Europe by car for weeks every year. I've been doing that for at least 25 years.
I like to travel in Germany. I like the small cities (and the scenery) along the rivers (Mosel/Rhein) in Rheinland Pfals, and I like the alp area in south of Germany.
It's a country where things work. If the bus leaves at five, it leavs at five. Nice people. Good food. Good beer.
I'm not so interested in Belgium. But it is worth seeing a few times. I can mention Ghent and Bruges. Antwerp and Brussels too of course. Nightlife in Antwerp was good. See Namur too. History, architecture, beauty.. Ghent is probably my favourite place in Belgium.
Amsterdam is worth a trip, and you will need a few days to see it. No city like it, because of the design. Rich history, and plenty to see. I usually don't drive to Amsterdam. A plane is easier for me.
Spain has a lot to offer, but will take some travelling time. Check it you can get a cheap flight. A charter flight from Germany can be cheap. I like Catalunya in the north east. Food, culture, scenery. Spend at least a day in Barcelona. The Catelunya region feels like a separete little country in many cases. See Granada too, and there is so much more. Google it. You can spend 23 days in Spain, and you have only scratched the surface. I've taken the ferry from Barcelona to Mallorca/Ibiza too. Worth the trip. I've been living and working in Mallorca for several month. Will take you 7-11 days to see it all. Imagine how long it would take to see Spain.
A typical summer holliday for me, is to enter northern Germany from Denmark. Drive down to Koblenz and follow the Mosel river towards Luxembourg. Then I head for the Alps, visits Austria and then I have to choose France/Spanin/Portugal, or Slovenia/ Croatia/ Italy, or Czech republic/Slovakia/Hungary/Serbia/Greece(... Macedonia or Bulgaria). To much to see.
If I win the lottery, I would spend 2 years just travelling around Europe.
I speak the Nordic languages, English, German and some Dutch, Italian and Spanish. Working on the French. Will travel way more in France when I know a few more words :-) Again a place that takes forever to see "all". I used to eat entrecote all the time, as it was the only word I understood - since it's called the same in Norwegian :-)
I envy you to see those places for the first time. I would suggest you spend a lot of time on Google, and check things out. Learn what you have to see, and what's not worth the time. Check all travel times, get insurance and all that stuff. Spend your time seeing, eating and drinking - not waiting for a bus/train/plane.
Traveling to Germany, Belgium and Amsterdam would be easy as they are close together and English is very widely spoken. Transport links (rail) are good.
Spain would be a long way from the other areas.
Photo threads showing Belgium...
Antwerp: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread...
Flemish Coast: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread...
Brussels: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread...
Flanders in general: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1241945
Belgium as a whole: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=807016
A dump indeed. But yeah, Keith (aka John, etc) is a bit of a troll.
Well Spain and France are inexhaustible. Belgium is a dump, apart from Bruges
