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Group tour operator and DMC for tours to the Netherlands

Dutch Bulbfields – Heritage Boats and Trains – BEST SELLER!

  • Medemblik - Museumstoomtram Steam Train

    Museumstoomtram Holland, Netherlands, Medemblik Steam Train
  • Windmill Village

  • Keukenhof Gardens ©Keukenhof

    Keukenhof gardens, tulips, flowers
  • Keukenhof Gardens ©Keukenhof

    Keukenhof gardens, tulips, flowers
  • Royal Delft Pottery

5 day tour
Prices from £685 per person - minimum 25 passengers

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Keukenhof Flower Gardens, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world’s largest flower gardens, situated in the municipality of Lisse, in the Netherlands. Keukenhof Park covers an area of 32 hectares and approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the gardens annually. Despite opening in 1950, Keukenhof has a different look and theme each year. For eight weeks each spring, it becomes a ocean of colour, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. Admire not just tulips, but daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi and crocuses too! Take a leisurely stroll through these remarkable gardens.

Discover the iconic historic Dutch windmills and distinctive green wooden houses which were relocated here to recreate the look of an 18th/19th-century village. The Zaanse Schans Museum has regional costumes, model windmills and interactive exhibits on chocolate making. Artisan workshops demonstrate rare handicrafts such as wooden clog carving, barrel making and pewter casting

A definite highlight of the tour is a journey back in time on two remarkable examples of Dutch transport – an historic steam train ride and a cruise on the heritage museum ship ‘Friesland’ stopping at stations along the route, this is a great way to take in Holland’s natural beauty.


Dates

12, 19 and 26 April 2026


Suggested itinerary by coach

Day 1

Depart the UK

Travel to Dover and take the ferry across to Calais.  Continue through France and Belgium and into Holland and to Alkmaar and our hotel for the next 4 nights.  After check-in, dinner will be together at the hotel this evening.

Alkmaar is famous for its traditional cheese market where you can watch the traditional way of weighing and trading cheese every Friday from April to September.  Explore the old town, where you can admire the medieval buildings, canals, and windmills. There are many museums, such as the Stedelijk Museum, which showcases the art and history of Alkmaar, or the Beatles Museum, which displays memorabilia of the legendary band.

(We can alternatively arrange the overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, Harwich – Hoek van Holland or Newcastle to Amsterdam – please ask for further details.)

Day 2

Keukenhof Gardens

With over 50 years of displaying its floral art and with a different theme every year and a fresh look every day, Keukenhof has developed into a showcase for the flower bulb and ornamental plant industry. The history of Keukenhof, the name meaning ‘kitchen garden’, goes back to the 15th Century. Tulips proliferate but there are daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi and crocuses to admire as well.

Explore these magnificent gardens and displays at your own pace, relax with a drink or something to eat in the on-site cafe/restaurant or treat yourself to some bulbs from the gift shop.  Alternatively, see the gardens from a different perspective on a ‘Whisper Boat’ cruise (optional extra/payable locally). Guided tours are also possible.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.

 

Day 3

Heritage Boat and Steam Train Experience

Travel to the town of Hoorn where you will join the ‘Museumstoomtram’, an historic narrow gauge, steam hauled train for a scenic railway journey to Medemblik.  The train stops at stations along the route, each a little museum in its own right, with views of windmills and (in season) the fields of tulips. On arrival, perhaps visit the town’s Bakery Museum and cafe whilst you wait to board the museum ship ‘Friesland’ for a relaxing cruise on the Ijsselmeer to Enkhuizen, passing the remarkable Houtribdijk, a 17- mile dyke and dam completed in 1975 as part of the Zuiderzee land reclamation project.

Before returning to the hotel, maybe visit the Zuidersee Museum where you can go back in time with over 140 historic buildings including working windmills and watch craftsmen and women at work.  (Entrance cost not included)

(Note – this excursion may be operated in reverse subject to availability and schedules)

 

Day 4

Windmills, Dutch Traditions and Pottery

This morning we will visit  Zaanse Schans ’Windmill Village’, a living and working community whose origins date back to the 18th Century. Watch traditional clog and cheese making and visit the historic windmills and buildings. Local charges apply for some attractions, museums and entrance to the Windmills but worth stepping inside for the experience.

Continue to Delft and a visit and tour of the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory Blue Pottery, reknowned worldwide for its artistry. On a guided tour you will learn all about the instantly recognisable beautiful blue porcelain and watch the craftsmen and women at work.  There will be time to browse the on-shop before returning to Alkmaar.

If time allows, return via the chic seaside resort of Scheveningen and a drive along the coast or maybe stop for a visit of the excellent Mauritshuis Museum in the Hague, home to many Dutch masters including Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’.

Enjoy a final dinner and an evening at leisure at the hotel.

 

Day 5

Return to the UK

Depart after breakfast for the return journey to Calais and the short sea crossing to Dover.


Suggested hotel:

Hotel Alkmaar, Alkmaar (formerly Golden Tulip Alkmaar)

Located to close to the centre of Alkmaar near to the railway station. 79 bedrooms.  Fitness room and sauna.  Bar and restaurant


Hotel Alkmaar, Alkmaar

5 days / 4 nights
Half Twin Single Supplement
12, 19 & 26 April 2026 From £685 per person From £280 per person

 

All prices are per person based on sharing a double or twin room and with one free place in a single room, based on a minimum 25 full fare paying passengers. Prices do not include UK coach hire or travel insurance. Dates are subject to availability. Smaller groups can be quoted for on request. Greatdays Holidays Limited is a member of ABTA (Y0380) which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. Greatdays Holidays Limited has an ATOL licence (4279) and all of our air package tours are protected under this licence. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any monies you have paid to us for an advance booking. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this tour are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. Our website policy is to use only copyright free images or images which have been authorised to us for free use by the owner. If you consider an image to be unauthorised or to be your property, please contact us immediately and if invalid we will have the image removed. If your image requires crediting or is missing a copyright statement then we will be pleased to add this to the webpage, contact us at info@greatdays.co.uk

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