Dutch Old, New and Blue – NEW TOUR

Travel to Holland

Take the short sea ferry crossing from Dover to Calais and continue to your hotel in Holland for the next 4 nights on a Bed and Breakfast basis.

The Hague and ‘Old’ Masters

Meet up with a local guide for a walking tour which will highlight the city’s main cultural and historical features.  As well as being a bastion of Justice and Peace, the Hague has a key role as a diplomatic centre and the site of the International Court of Justice is housed in the famous Peace Palace.  Home to the seat of the National Government and the official residence of the Dutch Monarchs, there are three Royal Palaces that grace the city.

The city is also home to around 30 theatres and 40 museums which house famous art works such as Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ which can been seen on a visit and tour of the Mauritshuis, a stunning museum and home to some of the best Dutch art.

Optional:

If time allows, we recommend a visit to the nearby Panorama Museum, a unique, cultural and historical monument.  Look 360º around you and experience the magical optical illusion created by this panorama of Scheveningen from 1881.  The view is never the same and changes from moment to moment. The vista of the sea, dunes and old fishermen’s village of Scheveningen was painted by H.W. Mesdag and the building was constructed especially for the painting and is the only remaining panorama in The Netherlands.

Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

‘New’ Rotterdam

Meet up with a local guide for a city tour which will take in some of the most famous and prominent attractions including the iconic Cube Houses and the Markthal (new Market Hall) which is made up of a 40 metre high archway. It offers a covered market area the size of a football pitch with many food stalls, shops and restaurants.  Each end of the building is sealed by a glass facade to keep out the weather.  After some free time in the market hall, next stop will be the famous Euromast, one of Holland’s highest towers.  An elevator will transport you to the top for some amazing views of the city and harbour.

From here, embark on a sightseeing harbour cruise through one of the largest seaports in the world. You will see the impressive skyline with imposing buildings, a unique view of wharves, docks and the ultramodern transhipment of thousands of containers. Finally, you will sail past the steamship Rotterdam, the former flagship of the Holland America Line. The cruise takes you on a journey through the history and current status of the port of Rotterdam.

Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Royal ‘Blue’ Delft

Experience the beauty of the famous ‘blue’ porcelain.  During a visit of the Delft Pottery you can admire the craftsmanship of this high quality porcelain as you see the artisans at work.  Royal Delft, established in 1653, is the last remaining original Delftware factory in Delft from the 17^th century that still produces hand painted Delft Blue according to centuries-old tradition. Besides a visit to the factory you get to see the museum with an extensive collection of historic and modern pieces.   Before leaving there will be time to browse the on-site shop with the opportunity to make some purchases.

You have the option to spend some free time in Delft and wander its tree-lined canals with centuries old houses and little bridges. Discover the ‘Oude Kerk’ church, the town’s main square or take a canal cruise.  Or you could spend more time exploring The Hague.

Return to the hotel for a final evening at leisure.

Return to the UK

We will depart after breakfast, making the return journey to Calais and the short sea ferry crossing to Dover, and home.