Dazzle your senses as you take in the vivid colors of spring on this stunning tour of the best of Holland. Unfurling hues of red, yellow, orange, purple and pink signal spring has come to the Netherlands and its capital city, Amsterdam. Tulips, the country's well-known symbols, push through the rich soil, adding color to this already vibrant place.
Celebrate the season with a visit to Keukenhof Gardens, where you’ll gaze in wonder at 80 acres of more than 6 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in bloom. In Aalsmeer, attend the world’s largest flower auction, in a building the size of 100 football fields.
While flowers create the season's buzz, other Dutch icons lure travelers as well. Visit Delft and paint your own tile at Delft Blue factory. Take a city tour along Amsterdam's picturesque canals. Visit renowned museums such as Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House, and enjoy a tour of The Hague that includes Queen Beatrix’s palace.
Price includes:
• 5 nights hotel accommodations at the NH Carlton Hotel
• Daily breakfast, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, including a Farewell Dinner in private canal home
• Guided city tours of Amsterdam and The Hague
• Visits to: Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Aalsmeer Flower Auction, Keukenhof Gardens, Mauritshouse, New Church, Delft Blue Factory (includes a Delft tile-painting lesson), and Dutch cheese farm
• All on-tour transportation, 1-day Amsterdam city pass, and the services of a professional tour guide
Day 1 - Depart the U.S.
Depart your home city for Amsterdam.
Day 2 - Arrive in Amsterdam
Arrive into Amsterdam and transfer on your own to your hotel in the center of the city. Amsterdam is often referred to as one of the most colorful cities in the world. With its beautiful tree lined canals, world famous museums, 17th century townhouses, and flower markets, Amsterdam offers something for everyone. This evening you will meet your AAA Sojourns escort and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: NH Carlton Hotel - 5 nights
Day 3 - Amsterdam City Tour
This morning take a guided tour of the city during a private canal boat ride. This is the best way to discover Amsterdam as you pass gabled warehouses, arched bridges, and colorful houseboats. At the end of the boat tour, visit the Rijksmuseum where you’ll see the glory of the 17th century Dutch masters and their magnificent works. Lunch is on your own in Leidsesquare area. Then, it’s on to the former hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary, now a museum which tells the history of the eight people in hiding and those who helped them during the war. Anne Frank's diary is among the original objects on display. Next, head for the Gassan Diamond factory to see the highly skilled craftsmen at work. The remainder of the afternoon is free and dinner is on your own.
Day 4 – Aalsmeer Flower Auction & Keukenhof Gardens
After an early breakfast, start the morning with a visit to the world’s largest flower auction in Aalsmeer. In a building approximately the size of a 100 football fields, many different kinds of flowers are traded and packaged for distribution to all corners of the world. Watch as hundreds of carts of flowers are rolled through the auction floor and buyers in the room are busy placing their orders.
Next, drive through beautiful multi-colored bulb fields on the way to visit Keukenhof Gardens. Here you’ll understand why every spring Keukenhof is a feast for the eyes. This world-renowned display garden is a 70-acre estate where 6 million bulbs are planted annually by local growers. Stroll through the gardens, view the plantings in the three exhibition halls, and walk up the windmill for a magnificent look at the brilliant colors in the accompanying bulb fields. Lunch is on your own in one of the many restaurants in the park. Return to Amsterdam. The rest of the afternoon is free. Dinner on your own.
Day 5 - The Hague, Delft and Dutch Cheese Farm
Following breakfast you will depart for The Hague. On arrival take an orientation tour of the city passing the houses of Parliament, The Innercourt, Queen Beatrix’s working palace, and Carnegie’s Peace Palace. Visit the Mauritshouse, or doll house museum, which houses three famous paintings by Vermeer. Then on to Delft, the birthplace of the painter Vermeer. Enjoy a pancake lunch before taking a guided walking tour. You will walk through the historic center with one of the most beautiful squares of Holland with its town hall dating from 1618 at one side and the New Church dating from 1318 on the other. Visit the New Church where all members of the Royal family are buried.
Delft is also famous for its Delft’s Blue Porcelain. Enjoy a visit to the popular Delft Blue Factory, De Porceleyne Flesch, for an exhibition and tour. While there you will have an opportunity to paint your own tile under the supervision of one of their professional painters. Before returning to Amsterdam, pay a visit to Dutch cheese farm and taste this typical Dutch treat. Afternoon and evening is on your own.
Day 6 - Day at leisure in Amsterdam / Farewell Dinner
After breakfast spend the day at your leisure in Amsterdam. A 1-day Amsterdam city pass is included which offers you unlimited transfers by public transport and entrances to many museums and art galleries. Or return to your favorite local spot or do some last minute shopping. Tonight, enjoy our farewell dinner in the private canal home of Mrs. De Wall Bake who runs the La Cuisine Francaise cooking school. A home-cooked dinner is served exclusively for the group.
Day 7 - Depart for home
After breakfast, transfer on your own to the airport for your flight back home or extend your stay in Europe.
