Best of the Netherlands
Famous for its tulips, windmills, and wooden clogs, Holland is a delightful country with scenic landscapes, historic monuments, and vibrant cities. You’ll get to know the country on this Holland tour starting and ending in Amsterdam. Amsterdam, Holland’s capital, is a pleasant, 700-year-old city whose elegant and classic architecture, cafés and restaurants, renowned museums, and picturesque canals—not to mention the bike paths throughout the city—make for a pleasurable atmosphere. Here, your city tour includes a cruise—the best way to see Amsterdam—through the elegant canals lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” In contrast, on this Holland tour you’ll also overnight in Rotterdam, a young city with the world’s busiest port and known for its modern architecture and design.A highlight of this tour through the Netherlands is a visit to the fascinating Aalsmeer flower auction, where over 20 million plants and flowers are sold daily, however, from April to mid-May, the Aalsmeer flower auction will be replaced by the spectacular visit 70-acre Keukenhof garden, to see the incredible display of colors from seven million flower bulbs. Other highlights include a visit to the Royal Palace of Het Loo, the royal family’s majestic summer residence since the late 1600s; the visit of the Royal Delft Pottery Factory to see how this precious pottery is made. In Groesbeek, dive into the history of Holland’s occupation and liberation during WWII at the National Liberation Museum. Stop in Staphorst, the rustic town dating back to the 13th century, and Volendam, known for its old fishing boats, characteristic small houses, drawbridges, and canals. Additionally, drive over the 19-mile Barrier Dam, constructed to protect the part of Holland that is below sea level. For the value-minded traveler wanting to have an in-depth experience of the Netherlands, this is the perfect Holland vacation!
City Highlights
Individual headsetsSightseeing: Visits Aalsmeer Flower auction or Keukenhof gardens, Delft Royal Pottery, Groesbeek National Liberation Museum, Arnhem John Frost Bridge, Straphorst, Groningen, Zaanse Schans workshops, Volendam. Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
Hotels
AMSTERDAM AREA Crowne Plaza Schiphol (F) or Holiday Inn Express Arena (ST)ROTTERDAM Bilderberg Parkhotel (F)ARNHEM AREA De Bilderberg (F)GRONINGEN Apollo (F)
Meals
Buffet breakfasts daily; 3 dinners, including a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Amsterdam
Transportation
Transportation: Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach
PRODUCT_LINE: COSMOS-4820-2017