Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulb Fields - Extended Stay

Your holiday starts with a flight to Amsterdam, where you’ll meet your tour manager before heading further into the city.

Later this morning, you’ll be introduced to the Dutch capital’s famous canals with a included sightseeing cruise. Afterwards, you’ll have a small amount of free time to continue exploring the cobblestone streets and canal-side attractions of this delightful city.

In the afternoon, continue to The Hague and check into your centrally located hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, get ready for the undeniable highlight of your tour and board the coach to begin the journey to the legendary Keukenhof. Here, more than seven million flowers carpet the ground in a breathtaking horticultural display that attracts visitors from around the world each year.

Wander the pathways that meander through this floral paradise, perhaps stopping in one of the gardens’ restaurants for lunch. If you’d like, you can also take an optional canal boat ride (payable locally) along the waterways that thread their way through the stunning gardens before returning to your hotel for dinner this evening.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning, before joining an expert local guide for a walking tour of The Hague.

Across this two-hour excursion, you’ll explore the political heart of the Netherlands from its historic palaces to the heart of the Dutch parliament. Discover the palatial seats of the Dutch royals, learn about the Oranje dynasty’s lasting impact on the world, and take in the riverside Binnenhof, the home of the Dutch government.

You’ll also be introduced to a handful of the city’s delightful cultural attractions, including Mauritshuis, which showcases the work of renowned artists Rembrandt and Vermeer, and Gevangenpoort Museum, housed in a medieval prison (entrance is payable locally). As you wander The Hague’s historic plazas and bustling streets, you might even bump into a minister or two.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before spending the rest of the morning at leisure on The Hague's nearby beaches. Head to Scheveningen, the city's famous beachfront district, and set out under your own steam to make the most of the nearby promenades, piers and seafront. Along the city's 11-kilometre stretch of coastline, you'll find plenty of things to keep you entertained, from charming cafés and resorts to quiet sandy beaches. After a relaxing few hours spent by the sea, reboard your coach for the delightful villages and windmill-dotted landscapes of the Netherlands' reclaimed Zuider Zee.

Stroll the pretty streets of the fishing village of Volendam, once trodden by the likes of Picasso and Renoir, which offers a fascinating insight into life throughout the ages with its preserved traditional houses. You’ll also enjoy behind-the-scenes insights into one of Holland’s most celebrated crafts with a wooden shoemaking demonstration and a cheese tasting session at a traditional local business (typically a working farm). Later on, you’ll drive back north to Amsterdam.

Upon arrival in the capital, check into your next hotel, conveniently located in the heart of the city, before setting out to enjoy the rest of the day however you see fit. For the best views of the city at sunset, why not take a stroll around the street markets and 17th-century buildings of the UNESCO-listed canal district?

It’s the final day of your Dutch holiday, and after breakfast, you’ll be free to spend it however you see fit. If you haven’t already visited the vast galleries of the Museumplein, this is the perfect opportunity. Other highlights around the city include the acclaimed Heineken Museum, which showcases the history of the famous beer, and you can see the production process first-hand with a guided tour. Alternatively, you can delve into one of the most well-documented stories of WWII with a poignant visit to the Anne Frank House museum.

After a final afternoon in the Dutch capital, head to the airport or Amsterdam Centraal Station for your return journey to the UK this morning at the end of a delightful springtime getaway.