The Best of Holland

Charming, beautiful, and fun! Cruise the canals of Amsterdam, admire the masterpieces of Rembrandt, smell a few of Holland's famous tulips, and see how wooden shoes are made.

Day 1 - Depart USA
Overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Day 2 - Arrive Amsterdam (2 nights)
Welcome to Amsterdam! After check-in there's time to relax and unwind or perhaps explore this friendly city. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Hotel: Novotel City (2 nights)

Day 3 - Amsterdam sightseeing & at leisure
This morning we explore Amsterdam on our canal cruise in a glass-topped boat. Then we have a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum, including Rembrandt’s masterpiece, the ‘Nightwatch’. Finally, we visit a diamond polishing factory. This evening dinner is at our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Day 4 - Amsterdam – Aalsmeer – Keukenhof – Delft – Rotterdam
An early departure to Aalsmeer to see the flower auction. Then to the bulb fields at Keukenhof. (Open from April until mid May, when closed we will visit Holland in Miniature at Madurodam.) Then to Scheveningen before we drive through The Hague. The town of Delft and the Royal Delft Pottery factory is our last visit before arriving in Rotterdam. (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: The Westin

Day 5 - Rotterdam – Nijmegen – Arnhem
After breakfast, we have an orientation tour of Rotterdam, the most important river port in Europe. Next we journey to Nijmegen to visit the museum at Groesbeek, dedicated to the history of Operation Market Garden in 1944. Finally, we make our way to Arnhem to see the famous World War II bridge before reaching our hotel for the night. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Golden Tulip Doorwerth

Day 6 - Arnhem – Apeldoorn – Groningen
Today our Tour Director will reveal a Hidden Treasure to us! But first to Hoge Veluwe Park and the Kroller – Muller Museum, which houses some of Van Gogh’s most famous works. Then to Apeldoorn to visit the 17th century Het Loo Palace with its formal gardens. Next to Staphorst, where life has hardly changed over the last 400 years, and finally to Groningen for the night. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Mercure Martini Plaza

Day 7 - Groningen – Volendam – Amsterdam
We begin our journey into the Frisian Lake District to Bolsward, Workum and the fishing port of Makkum. Next we continue to the Afsluitdijk and on via the cheese-making village of Edam to Volendam. This afternoon we will visit Zaanse Schans with its many windmills, to see how wooden shoes and Dutch cheese are made before returning to Amsterdam. The remainder of your day is at leisure. This evening we enjoy a Farewell Dinner together. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Hotel: Novotel City

Day 8 - Amsterdam – USA
This morning after breakfast, bid farewell to new-found friends and our Tour Director as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet breakfast)

Free airport transfers:

Transfers on Day 2 at Amsterdam Airport will operate at 09.00, 11.00 and 13.00. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring day will arrive at Amsterdam Airport at 08.00 and 10.00.

WHAT's INCLUDED

Sightseeing Highlights

Amsterdam: Orientation shows us the City Hall and Tower of Tears. Enjoy a canal cruise. Visit a diamond-cutting factory and the Rijksmuseum.
Zaanse Schans: Visit a cheese farm and wooden shoe workshop.
Aalsmeer: Visit the flower auction.
Keukenhof: Visit the magnificent bulb fields.
Scheveningen: Visit this seaside resort.
The Hague: Visit the 'garden city', home of the Dutch Royal Family.
Delft: Visit the charming village and the Royal Delft Pottery factory.
Rotterdam: Orientation tour.
Nijmegen: Visit the famous war museum at Groesbeek.
Arnhem: See the "Bridge Too Far".
Hoge Veluwe: Visit the Kroller Muller Museum set in a magnificent park.
Apeldoorn: Visit Het Loo Palace.
Staphorst: Visit this timeless village.
Makkum: Visit this fishing port famous for its ceramics.
Volendam: Visit this fishing village.

Dining Highlights

6 hot buffet breakfasts.
3 three-course dinners.
Farewell Dinner with wine in Amsterdam.

10 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
Stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 8.
A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

Airport Transfers

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

H3 - AMSTERDAM. Dinner in a Dutch Village
Leaving the bustle of the city, we make our way to a picturesque and traditional village of Old Holland. Toast our new-found friends on tour as we enjoy a typical meal of Dutch specialities in an atmospheric old-world setting. Drinks are included.
52 (€)

H16 - AMSTERDAM. Hidden Amsterdam
Wealth and spirit is what the Jews have brought to Amsterdam. Both can still be admired in the former Jewish part of the city. A visit of the Anne Frank House and the Hollandse Schouwburg tells the story of the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jews in Europe. We also see the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Begijnenhof, where unmarried women lived in safety in earlier times.
25 (€)

H19 - GIETHOORN
At the northern tip of the Province of Overijseel, in the middle of the Nature Reserve known as the Wieden and next to the De Weerribben National Park, lies the village of Giethoorn. This charming village is criss crossed by many canals, hump backed bridges and literally bristles with thatched farmhouses. We will have time to explore this pretty spot more popularly known as "Holland's Green Venice'.
27 (€)

H21 - GRONINGEN. Sightseeing Tour
A local guide shows you historic Groningen, university town and capital of the most northern province. Try a Dutch snack called 'Bitterballen' and enjoy a drink in a famous pub.
29 (€)

H8 - KINDERDIJK. Visit & boat ride
See the spectacular straight line of 19 working windmills, built around 1740 to pump water out of the reclaimed 'polder' lands. Part of a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site, situated below sea-level. Experience the Dutch provincial landscape between the Rhine river branches of the delta, during our boat ride
29 (€)

H10 - ROTTERDAM. Rotterdam and Delftshaven
A delicious dinner in a restaurant in the port of Rotterdam, from which the Pilgrim fathers left to go to England and America. We will also enjoy a walk through historical Delftshaven and ascend the Euromast for awe-inspiring views over the modern city of Rotterdam.
54 (€)

H12 - VELUWE. Horse & Carriage Ride
Encounter a working Dutch horse farm, and roam through the national wild park by horse drawn carriage.
29 (€)

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