The Netherlands (4 Days, 3 Nights)

Beschrijving

To get a complete picture of the country, it is not enough to visit the capital. The provincial cities of the Netherlands live their measured life, hundreds of years while maintaining the appearance of their homes and streets. Mills, pastures, the neat toy like villages and, of course, the colorful tulip fields, which the Netherlands is famous for. Cities such as Utrecht, Rotterdam, Emilot, Amstelveen, Delft, Maastricht, Haarlem and Eindhoven attract tourists not only because of the sights, but also because of the amazing atmosphere that is inherent in the daily life of the Netherlands. Rivers and canals, mills and breweries on the background of soothing greenery will long remain in the memory.
The most common association arising from the word Netherlands are old mills, colorful tulips, “Legalize” marijuana, “The red light district” and funny wooden shoes. In fact, the Netherlands is far more than the listed stereotypes. This is one of the most beautiful countries in Western Europe with an unusual nature, many castles and ancient cities.
The Netherlands – one of the most interesting countries in Western Europe. Despite the fact that the country is often referred to as “Holland” this is incorrect. Officially, only 2 of the 12 provinces are called North and South Holland. Unique natural landscapes, the famous “Dutch tulips”, medieval architecture, an abundance of interesting attractions and a unique atmosphere.
All of Holland is “the story in detail”.
It is no secret that the “small” Holland unlike the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam is incredibly sweet, charming, cozy, and serves as a reminder of how to intelligently and lovingly equip life. Most of the land of the Netherlands has been reclaimed from the sea during the last 300 years and is therefore intensively and skillfully cultivated. The carpet fields among the polders and canals in winter offer an amazing variety of fauna.
Geese (not just geese, also huge flocks of fatted fowl), thousands of ducks floating on the canals, a handful of grazing sheep, horses that freely roam the fields and even deer. And the mill outside. It’s Great!

 

Day 1
Arriving in Amsterdam. Meeting at the international airport “Schiphol” with a representative of the company “Land of Noah”.

A trip to The Hague.

The Hague – one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands, which houses the seat of the government and the parliament. The Hague – a magnificent architectural ensemble, magnificent parks, beautiful beaches and a wealth of cultural attractions. The Hague is also known as “Royal city by the sea”, it is called the “city of residence” because of its elegant living quarters of many members of the Dutch royal family. The Hague – an example of a harmonious combination of a modern urban silhouette and a historic center.

Sightseeing tour of The Hague. Peace Palace.

Not being the country’s capital, The Hague is nevertheless the seat of parliament, government and the official residence of the Dutch royal family. The International Court of Justice also operates here. Therefore, in the center are a lot of beautiful government buildings, luxury villas, foreign embassies, delightful parks and elegant space. Walking through the city – a refined pleasure which can be obtained from the contemplation of harmonious architectural ensembles and magnificent specimens of landscape design.

Peace Palace, built in the Neo-Renaissance style in the period from 1907 to 1913. At present, the building serves as the seat of the International Tribunal, the seat of The Hague Academy of International Law, and here is located a large library of international law. On both sides of the facade with a steep roof of the building is adjacent an eighty meter high bell tower with a typical Flemish (Belfriend), which is refers to the characters of The Hague.

Lunch Time.

Next is Madurodam – Holland in miniature.

Madurodam began its build in 1952. This is a real Holland, but only very, very small. The park hosts more than 1150 models, height does not exceed 60 cm. On the streets of the park are found about 50 thousand small lanterns that illuminate it nicely at night and in the evening. Also, for more realism, the park is surrounded by green trees and shrubs, which are also very small.

Madurodam is now divided into three thematic areas: The City Center, the Water World and the Island of Innovation. In the City Center you will find the most beautiful buildings of the ancient cities of Holland. The Water World tells you the story “of water as friend and foe,” and Innovation Island represents Holland as a source of inspiration for the world (architecture, innovation, sports, entertainment and design).

On the way from The Hague to the race car museum – LOUWMAN MUSEUM.

The museum was opened to the public a few years ago by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The owner of the museum is the Dutch collector – Evert Louwman. The exhibition consists of 243 cars and demonstrates the process of construction of the cars, since the creation of the first cars in the late 19th century. All machines are in working order. Many of them are preserved in single copies, and some never restored.

Louwman Automobile Museum began its collection in 1934 by Peter Louwman, the father of the present owner of the museum.

It is the largest private collection of retro cars in Europe, it’s located on a private estate, in a beautiful park.

From the Automobile Museum we will be going to a hotel on the road to Amersfoort.

On the way a sightseeing tour of Utrecht.

Check in at hotel and resting.

The luxurious hotel is within walking distance from the center with a beautiful and modern design.

Further leisure time. Sightseeing.

Amersfoort – a very multifaceted, diverse and prosperous city with modern architecture and a thriving economy.
Amersfoort – an ancient and venerable city. It is believed that its center is the best preserved among the Dutch towns with a medieval history.
On the outskirts of the city is one of the most popular takeoff platforms for balloons in the Netherlands.

The predominant color in Amersfoort is considered blue – the color of water and green – the color of forests and parks, which are abundant in the city.
The forest (411 hectares), parks (92 ha) and trees (61.712 hectares) cover more than 9% of the total surface of Amersfoort.
Remains of settlements on the location of the city were found in the late 10th century AD, with regard to the name of the city, it was named in the 11th century and means “fort on the river Amer” (now called the river Eem).

Officially Amersfoort was recognized as a city in 1259 by the bishop of Utrecht Hendrik van Vianden.
The “Dual Gate” Koppelpoort – the main architectural feature of Amersfoort, was built in the middle ages.
At the end of the 13th century, after receiving city rights, Amersfoort was surrounded by a stone wall with towers, which replaced the old ramparts.
In the early 11th century, Amersfoort was just a village, not even having its own church, a century later, thanks to its favorable geographical position, the city became a center of bustling trade and developing industry, statesmen and clergies moved here. It was then and there in the town square where a Romanesque chapel, which bears the name of St. George and in 1248 became the parish church.

A late-gothic tower of 98 meters on the main square of the city is only a small part of the Church of the Blessed Virgin, which was destroyed by explosion in 1787.
The erection of one of the highest medieval towers began in the mid 15th century.

Among other things, the tower is the zero reference point coordinate set of the Dutch Topographic Service.

Return to the hotel.
Overnight.

 

   

 

Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure from the hotel in the city of Amersfoort.

A trip to Alkmaar. Presentation – cheese auction.

Alkmaar – the only city in the world, where to this day medieval cheese fairs and even guild “cheese porters” are preserved.

The most “cheese” city of Holland, it is not only a major center for the production of cheese, but also the most important trading center.

The central part of the city is the Weight area, which is surrounded by and is the main attraction. Here you can see the building Waag, Amsterdam, built in 1390. Until the end of the 16th century the building served as a chapel, and today the building is opened as the museum of cheese, a very unusual and unique cultural institution. There are exhibits, which are one way or another connected to cheese.

Going from Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans.

Walking through the city.

The creation of Zaanse Schans started in 1961 and finished in 1974 to preserve the cultural heritage of the past centuries with all of the Netherlands. Close to the small town of Zaandam near Amsterdam people began to bring their old windmills, wooden houses and so forth. As a result of the old buildings the Zaanse- Schans was created, which in 1994 officially became a museum.

A trip to the Keukenhof.

Along the way, check in to the city of Haarlem.

Harlem, situated among the famous tulip fields near the coastal dunes, from 11th to 13th century it was the seat of the Dutch Palatinate, and the city is so full of monuments of history and culture no less than Amsterdam or The Hague.

Lunch Time.

Self-walk in the park Keukenhof.

The National Park Keukenhof – is a fabulous park and floral kingdom, which spreads tulips over an area of 32 hectares in the region it has long been dubbed “the Garden of Europe.” Obviously, such a title Keukenhof deservedly received for its unique beauty and bright undeniable grandeur.

Surrounded on all sides are tulips, cherry blossom, freesia, hyacinths, lilies, orchids, daffodils. They are all uniquely gathered, reflecting the modern fashion trends, compositions. There are 7 million of these beautiful flowers (that is how much bulbs are planted annually by gardeners in Keukenhof). It is an extraordinary beauty.
Keukenhof has a track with a total length of 15 km. Along the park are alleys with arranged sculptures and the park has more than 40 bridges.

The old high mill, built in 1892 in the province of Groningen and transferred from there to the Keukenhof in 1957, serves as a viewing platform.

The Keukenhof has rich channels, fountains and ponds, in which beautiful swan swim.

Return to the hotel of the city of Amersfoort.

 

  

 

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day. A trip to Utrecht and / or Amsterdam by train (either alone or with a representative of “The Land of Noah”).

Walking through the city.

Utrecht – the old university town, located in the center of the country. Its characteristic feature – bunk channels associated with numerous bridges with adjacent houses, which in the Middle Ages served as warehouses.

Even unfinished, the Dome Cathedral is a beautiful church of the Netherlands. This is the only temple in the country, entirely following examples of French Gothic. The Cathedral is the place where in the 7th century the bishop of Utrecht St. Willibrord built the first Christian church, destroyed two centuries later as a result of Viking raids. The next temple was turned to ashes by a fire that raged for nine days in April 1253, it was decided that a completely new cathedral was to be built dedicated to St. Martin, with the recent French takeover the cathedral was built in the fashionable Gothic style of architecture.

The height of the tower of the Cathedral of St. Martin, built as the temple of sand-colored brick is 113 meters, making it the highest structure of its kind in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam, exploring the area in Amsterdam. Visiting museums is optional.

The heart and jewel of the Netherlands, of course, is considered the capital: Amsterdam. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, as well as the cultural center of the country. Multiple channels cross the city, which are one of its business cards and a fantastic place for walks.

About 100 channels and more than 600 bridges create a unique charming picture and determine the way of life in this city. You can wander along the quays for hours, admiring the architecture. And the “falling” houses – one of the business cards of the city.

The Centrum – the central area where the Dam Square with the famous museum Madame Tussauds is located and the Red Light District.

Dam Square – the central square of Amsterdam and one of the most famous and important places in the city. Dam Square got its name from a dam built on the river Amstel in the 13th century, and was formed from two areas – Middeldam and Die Plaetse.

The observation deck on the tower of Westerkerk, offers a stunning panorama of all of Amsterdam.

Return by train to Amersfoort.

Hotel. Overnight.

 

    

 

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel. Checkout with luggage from hotel Amersfoort.

A trip to the castle Muiderslot.

Muiderslot castle, one of the most famous and popular in the Netherlands, has survived to the present day.
Splendor. This is a real medieval castle of the XIII century, facing one of its sides on the marine harbor and moated with others. In the main room is recreated the rich interior of the renowned Dutch P. Hooft, who lived here in the 17th century. There is also a nursery with falcons, eagles and owls here.

Traveling from Muiderslot to Amsterdam.

One of the distinguishing features of Amsterdam are its channels that form four concentric half-rings encircling the Old Town. That is why, with as well as having more than 1500 bridges and about 90 islands Amsterdam got its nickname “Venice of the North”. The first channel inAmsterdam became the channel Singel surrounding the city in the middle ages. The second of the four main canals of Amsterdam became the Herengracht, which was followed by the construction of the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht – the longest of all the canals of Amsterdam.

A trip along the canals of Amsterdam on a boat.

All channels of Amsterdam are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are famous for many beautiful sights.

A trip to the museum of Heineken beer.

Topic Centre «Heineken Experience»

You will be offered a multimedia presentation, during which you will get acquainted with the world of Heineken, the largest exporter of beer in the world. This presentation is both entertaining and educational and is for informational purposes only.
In the attraction “Journey of the beer bottle” You find yourself in the place of beer bottles: the audience take place on the moving platform and pass along the route, which shows the creation of each bottle in a brewery. Thus, you get to know in detail the production process; after this unforgettable tour you will get even more fun from Heineken beer.
The entirety of this historic brewery retained its original ambience. For example, in the brewhouse huge old boilers for boiling wort and hops were saved. You can even look inside the boilers.

Excursions invariably end with a tasting of this world famous beer

Walking through the city. Lunch Time.

Transfer to the airport “Schiphol”.
Departure.

 

The price includes:

• Transfers ;
• Accommodation in a comfortable hotel (standard double room) ;
• Breakfasts ;
• Excursions in the program with a professional guide ;
• All tickets ;

The price does not include:

• Insurance ;
• Personal and other expenses not covered by the program ;
• Visa ;

Notes:

Excursion programs of the first and last days, will depend on the time of your arrival and departure, as well as days of the week

The tour can be started from any desired address in Amsterdam

SECURITY:

Amsterdam – it is a safe city where running into trouble is very difficult. It is only necessary to follow a few simple rules:

do not enter the migrant living areas

do not take pictures in the Red Light District

and just be vigilant in public transport and other public places, as in any other major city