This itinerary introduces you to some of the highlights of The Netherlands combining historical cities with art from some of the greatest old masters and the countryside that inspired them. It also gives you a glimpse of Belgium, with a day in Europe’s capital Brussels.
Overview
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam.
Day 2: Amsterdam
Day 3: Amsterdam to Utrecht.
Day 4: Utrecht to Valkenburg,
Day 5: Valkenburg
Day 6: Valkenburg to Brussels
Day 7: Brussels to The Hague.
Day 8: The Hague
Day 9 : The Hague to Amsterdam.
Day 10: End of service
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam
On arrival at Schiphol Airport you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in the centre of Amsterdam where you have the rest of your day free at leisure. Today, just like any other day, we could recommend restaurants to go to or any other attraction you would like to experience during your time in The Netherlands.
Day 2: Amsterdam – full day city trip
After breakfast you will enjoy a full day walking tour with your private guide through the city of Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands. Walk around the less known areas like the Jordaan with its markets, many cosy restaurants and interesting shops. Visit one of the many internationally renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, home to the largest and finest collection of Dutch paintings in the world, Rembrandt House or the sombre Anna Frank House.
Day 3: From Amsterdam via Keukenhof Gardens to Utrecht
Early this morning meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel and drive to the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, where each year approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted turning an area of 322 hectares into the world’s largest flower garden.
Continue to Utrecht where you have lunch along the canals and do a leisurely walking tour with your private guide in the city centre, passing canals and the cathedral area. Visit the Museum Speelklok, an unusual museum with a collection of automatically playing musical instruments, some over 600 years old and most of which are still working, or choose to go to Central Museum, where you will find the Dick Bruna House and museum home to Miffy. A creation by a Utrecht illustrator, graphic designer and writer Dick Bruna, widely loved from Amsterdam all the way to Tokyo. This evening you are free at leisure.
Day 4: From Utrecht via Hoge Veluwe National Park to Valkenburg
This morning you will head to De Hoge Veluwe National Park which covers approximately 5,400 hectares of woodland, heathland, peat bogs and drift sand providing a habitat to a wide variety of plants and animals including some rare red listed species. It is a beautiful park to walk or cycle around. You will be met by a park ranger who will be your guide for the next two hours. The park also hosts the Kröller-Müller Museum, with an extensive collection of paintings by Van Gogh as well as art work by Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondriaan. Visit the beautifully situated Jachthuis Sint Hubertus and the Sculpture Garden. De Hoge Veluwe National Park provides you with the wonderful experience of a combination of nature, art and architecture. At the end of the afternoon continue with a two hour drive to your hotel in the south of The Netherlands.
Day 5: Valkenburg
After breakfast transfer to historic Maastricht to meet your guide for a walking tour of the city. During your walk you will see the most beautiful spots in the city. Pass the city walls park on to some of the city highlights such as the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein square and basilica, Jekerkwartier, stokstraat and the Vrijthof with the monumental St. Janskerk (Church of St. John). If you wish you can continue with a fortification walk with a focus on military history of the city including the Helpoort (Hells Gate), the Waldeck bastion and the Kazematten (underground fortifications).
After lunch return to your hotel to relax and enjoy the spa or we can arrange a round of golf at a nearby golf course.
Day 6: From Valkenburg to Brussels
Today you travel to Belgium, to Brussels, the cosmopolitan capital of Europe full of art, gourmet restaurants, chic cafes, chocolatiers, many unique beers and the Atomium. Enjoy a walking city tour with your private guide and pass the Grand Place, the renowned statue of the Manneken Pis, the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, Place du Grand Sablon and other historical sites, modern architecture, high-class antiques stores, and luxurious chocolate shops this city offers.
Have lunch in one of the restaurants and enjoy some typical Belgian cuisine. Then continue your city tour to the symbol of Europe’s capital the Atomium and perhaps one of the many museums, such as the Horta Museum, the house of Victor Horta, one of the founders of art nouveau. In the evening you are able to delight in a sumptuous Belgium dinner in one of the fine dining restaurants this city offers.
Day 7: From Brussels via Kinderdijk and Rotterdam to The Hague
After breakfast transfer to Kinderdijk, a village about 15 km from Rotterdam and situated in a polder between two rivers. To drain the polder, a system of 19 windmills was built. Now Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the best known Dutch sites and just a great place to wander along the dikes and roads.
Then carry on to Rotterdam, where you will have lunch. Here you will enjoy a boat tour through the largest port in the Europe, after which choose to visit a museum or enjoy a walking tour of the city. At the end of the afternoon you carry on to The Hague, the political capital of The Netherlands, where you will stay for the coming two nights.
Day 8: The Hague – full day city trip The Hague & Delft
After breakfast you will start with a visit to Delft, a historical city close to The Hague. Here the assassination of Willem of Orange took place in the year 1584. It is the hometown of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer and well known for its porcelain. You will visit the Royal Delft, the last remaining Delftware porcelain factory from the 17th century. The world famous Royal Delftware is still entirely hand-painted according to a centuries-old tradition.
After a short visit to Delft you will head back to The Hague where you will spend the rest of your day. Stroll through the city centre and visit the Grote Kerk, Het Binnenhof where the parliament is based and the international Peace Palace, or visit one of the many museums this city offers such as the Panorama Mesdag, which contains the world’s oldest 19th-century panorama still in its original site. In the evening you can choose to spend your time in the city centre or if the weather is nice even at one of the many restaurants at The Hague’s beach Scheveningen.
Day 9: From The Hague via Leiden to Amsterdam
Today you will head to Leiden, a compact historical university city and the birthplace of the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn born in 1606. Leiden also offers quite a few nice attractions such as the Hortus Botanicus, the oldest botanical garden in The Netherlands, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Antiquities. After lunch continue to Amsterdam where you can enjoy your last afternoon and evening in Amsterdam.
Day 10 - Departure
Transfer from Amsterdam to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to catch your flight. - End of service
More information
The above is just an impression of what we offer. Should you like to know more such as additional options, possible extensions, pricing, or if you are interested in any other recommendations, please do not hesitate to contact us.