12 days – 11 nights
Amsterdam – Rotterdam – The Hague – Leeuwarden – Arnhem – Utrecht
DAY 1 | Amsterdam – The Hague
Arrival at Amsterdam International Airport (Schiphol) and transfer to The Hague. Time permitting your guide will take you on a relaxing walk through the city centre of the true political heart of the Netherlands. See the Royal Palace Noordeinde, home to king Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, the Dutch parliament at the Binnenhof, the Maurits House art museum and the shopping arcade Passage.
Overnight in The Hague.
DAY 2 | The Hague - Scheveningen
The Hague is also home to the international Court of Justice and so a visit to the Peace Palace cannot lack on our itinerary. We’ll also visit the Panorama Mesdag, a purpose-built museum for a cylindrical painting of more than 14 m high, 40 metres in diameter and 120 m in circumference. After lunch we’ll drive to Scheveningen to see the beach, dunes and picturesque fishing village for real. The waterfront now has a pier and several iconic buildings as well.
Overnight in The Hague.
DAY 3 | Delft
The small market town of Delft has a royal connection: it was at Prinsenhof – now a museum – that William I of Orange was murdered. The New Church, ironically dating from the 14th century, also has the royal tombs of the House of Orange. A walk through the historic town centre and along the many canals will throw you back in time. Delft is also the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer, one of the famous painters of Holland’s Golden Age. At the Vermeer Centre you can see copies of every painting he ever painted. After lunch we’ll visit Royal Delft, formerly one of the largest decorated pottery producing companies in the world. Now it is a museum where you can see the famous Delft Blue. Royal Delft has been creating high-quality Delft Blue since 1653. This age-old craft is passed on from generation to generation and iconic masterpieces are still made entirely by hand in Delft. In addition to classic pieces, the collection also includes contemporary decorations.
Overnight in The Hague.
DAY 4 | Zeeland – Rotterdam
Did you know that more than half of the country of the Netherlands is at or below sea level? To protect the land from flooding huge storm surge barriers were built. While visiting the Deltapark Neeltje Jans we learn about how the Dutch have mastered to control the sea and relive the disastrous flooding of 1953 at the Delta Experience. Zeeland – literally the Land of the Sea – also is one of the areas where the 80 Years’ War left its mark on the landscape, with numerous fortified towns, redoubts and artillery forts. And it was also the battlefield for the 1944 Battles of the Scheldt, with Operations Switchback, Vitality and Infatuate. After lunch
Overnight in Rotterdam
DAY 5 | Rotterdam – Delfshaven
Rotterdam is a multifaceted city. It not only is the largest port in Europe, but also is home to swanky food markets, underground clubs, and amazing contemporary art museums. Above all, Rotterdam is the architectural hotspot of Holland that stimulates innovation. Its skyline is always changing! We’ll have a sightseeing tour along the most important architectural gems and stop at the impressive food halls. We’ll stroll through the Museum Park and visit the Kunsthal, a museum for modern art. After lunch we’ll visit the historic marina of Delfshaven. It is one of the few areas of the old city that survived the bombing of Rotterdam during WWII. Delfshaven has a fascinating history: it was the birthplace of the Dutch maritime hero Piet Hein, and the point from which the Pilgrims departed for America. The canal houses of this historic part of the city are now home to antique shops, gin bars, cafes, and breweries. Exploring this area is a great way to experience Rotterdam’s authentic charm!
Overnight in Rotterdam.
DAY 6 | Kinderdijk – Gouda – Utrecht
Your guide will take you to one of the most iconic picture postcard sites of the Netherlands: Kinderdijk. The many windmills are without doubt the most iconic image of the Netherlands. Next onwards to Gouda, who’s city centre is characterized by many small canals and cobbled streets. As the famous Gouda cheese originated here, we’ll visit the Gouda Cheese Experience to learn more about the cheese production. After lunch we’ll drive to Utrecht, a university town and known for the creative inhabitants. We’ll explore the city centre and visit the impressive Dom at the heart of the city. We are even going under the dom to see the award-winning history attraction DOMunder. You will experience how Utrecht looked like during Roman and medieval times, and relive the devastating storm of 1674 AD. Before returning to Rotterdam, we’ll have a look at the Rietveld Schröderhuis, an architectural jewel of the art movement ‘De Stijl’.
Overnight in Rotterdam.
DAY 7 | Breda – Nuenen – Nijmegen
After breadfast we’ll drive to Breda, another historic market town and the cradle of the Dutch royal family. Explore the town centre on foot and visit the Great Church and the Beguinage Museum. After lunch we’ll continue to Nuenen to visit the Van Gogh village. Our guide will take us on a walking tour to some of the most influential places that inspired Van Gogh and of course we’ll also visit the Van Gogh Village Museum to learn more about the life and works of the famous Dutch painter. Onwards to Nijmegen, the oldest town of the Netherlands, dating back to Roman times.
Overnight in Nijmegen.
DAY 8 | Arnhem – Apeldoorn – Zwolle
From Nijmegen we’ll drive to Arnhem to learn more about the famous 1944 battle that took place there. We’ll visit the John Frost Bridge, the Airborne Museum at the Bridge and the Airborne Museum Hartenstein in Oosterbeek. We’ll also pay our respects to the fallen soldiers of WW2 at the Arnhem military cemetery. After lunch we’ll visit the royal palace Het Loo, that was the royal residence until 1975. In 1984 it was opened as national museum. Both the interior, with magnicficent art collections, and the formal gardens are certainly worth the visit. Onwards to Zwolle.
Overnight in Zwolle
DAY 9 | Giethoorn – Hemrik – Leeuwarden
The picturesque water village Giethoorn, lovingly nicknamed ‘the Venice of the Netherlands’ is our first stop today. We’ll explore the village via a boat excursion and taste various cheeses on board. For lunch we’ll drive to Hemrik, where we can enjoy a typical farm meal on ‘Stoeterij het Swarte Paert’, a horse breeding farm. After lunch we’ll be guided around the premises and we’ll enjoy a musical show by the Friese horses. Next onwards to Leeuwarden, one of Holland's best-kept secrets. It has a picturesque canal system like Amsterdam's and the city is home to a vibrant student population. It’s also the birthplace of graphic artist M.C. Escher and the exotic dancer and alleged double spy Mata Hari. Explore the historic town centre with your guide and visit the Fries Museum.
Overnight in Leeuwarden.
DAY 10 | Harlingen – Terschelling
Today we’ll visit one of the eldest ports of Holland: Harlingen. Since recently also large cruise ships call on Harlingen, but we will focus on the grandeur of past times. Harlingen was one of the wealthiest ports in the Netherlands and can therefore boast with lots of monumental buildings and facades. After lunch we take the ferry to Terschelling, one of the nature reserve islands in the famous Waddenzee. The whole area has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Enjoy a bike tour through sand dunes, moorlands and forests while watching seals, various bird species, sheep and cattle.
Overnight in Leeuwarden.
DAY 11 | Zaanse Schans – Amsterdam
Depart from Leeuwarden and drive to the Zaandam area to see another unique row of windmills at the Zaanse Schans. Immerse yourself in the typical Dutch picture of wooden windmills, 18th century houses, picturesque little bridges and of course the typical Dutch clogs. For lunch we continue to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. After lunch your guide will take you on a walking tour along the many highlights of the city centre. Explore the beautiful arched bridges, the cobbled streets lined with trees and enjoy some local beers and the typical Dutch snack “bitterballen” in the many typical cafes.
Overnight in Amsterdam.
DAY 12 | Amsterdam – Amsterdam Airport
After breakfast you’ll check out from the hotel and visit the Anne Franck House. Before lunch you’ll get some free time to hunt for souvenirs. After lunch transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
