Holland Tulip Tour - 8 Day Luxury Independent Tour | 
| When you think of The Netherlands, the first things that comes to mind are cheese, wooden shoes, windmills AND FLOWER BULBS.
The flower fields in the west of Holland are at their best in April and May. That’s when the spring bulbs, such as tulips and hyacinths are flowering. The cultivation of flower bulbs for commercial purposes started in Haarlem and the surrounding area about 400 years ago. The area between Haarlem and Leiden eventually became known as “De bollenstreek” - the bulb district. For many years, a large part of the population earned their living from bulbs, whether in nurseries, export, or in industries that supplied the sector. The town of Lisse regarded itself as the centre of the bulb-growing area, boasted a postmark that declared: “Lisse, the centre of the bulb district”. The famous flower exhibition “de Keukenhof” can be found here.
The Netherlands produce approximately nine billion flower bulbs annually. Evenly distributed, this number would allow for almost two flower bulbs for every person on the planet.
The Dutch are very proud of their flower bulbs. Flower bulbs in the Netherlands are both a product and a passion. Each bulb, they like to say, holds a promise - a promise of a world alive with colour and good cheer, from the last snows of winter through the first frosts of autumn.
The world's largest permanent display of tulips, although open to the public only seasonally, is in Keukenhof, one of your destinations. |
| Name: Holland Tulip Tour - 8 Day Luxury Independent Tour | |
| Category: LIMITED DEPARTURES | |
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Day 1: Arrival to Amsterdam
Private car transfer from the airport to the 4 star Hotel Victoria, buffet breakfast included.
Day 2: Amsterdam
Half day scheduled Amsterdam sightseeing tour including The Anne Frank’s House, Diamond Factory and Canal Cruise, duration 4hrs
Be touched by a tour of Anne Frank’s house, see a diamond cutting demonstration and enjoy a canal cruise. Your tour will start with a panoramic city tour where you will see the most important monuments and a picture stop will be made at a windmill. Your next stop will be a Diamond Exhibition, where you will see how rough stones become sparkling jewels. You will continue your tour by boat to enjoy a leisurely cruise through Amsterdam’s charming canals and the city’s harbour. The tour ends in the “Jordaan” quarter to visit the attic where a young Jewish girl, Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during the Second World War. You will be moved by the story of this young girl and the exhibition now housed here.
Includes: Transportation by coach and canal boat, entrance fee and guided tour of the diamond factory and Anne Frank’s House.
Day 3: Amsterdam / Dutch Country Side Tour
Full day scheduled Dutch Country Side Tour, duration 7hrs,
Enjoy this tour that covers the magnificent area of Dutch Polder landscape including Edam, Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken. This tour covers the magnificent area of Dutch polder landscape north of Amsterdam, marked by windmills, dikes and ditches. After a stop to taste some traditionally made products at a cheese farm, we will visit the picturesque villages Edam and Zaanse Schans, where you will have the opportunity to visit a windmill and wooden shoe factory. You will then continue to Volendam and Marken, fishermen’s villages along the former Zuidersee. Marken used to be an island until it was connected to the mainland by a dike. Some people of both places still wear the traditional costumes. Lunch is not included.
Includes: Transportation via coach, guide, boat trip from Volendam to Marken, entrance fee to a Windmill, visit to a wooden shoe factory and a city walk in Edam.
Day 4: Amsterdam / Keukenhof
Half day scheduled tour to Keukenhof - Tulip Fields, duration 4hrs 30min.
Be amazed, after passing through field after field of tulips from Haarlem to Leiden, at the exhibition in Keukenhof. The bulb area lies behind the row of dunes running from Haalem to Leiden, where the fields are like a magic carpet of a wide variety of spring flowers, such as daffodils, tulips and many more, all ablaze with the richest and most delightful colourings. We visit the flower exhibition “Keukenhof”, where millions of bulbs are displayed, in the perfection of artistry, all over a lovely park.
Includes: Transportation by coach, guide and entrance to Keukenhof Gardens
Day 5: Amsterdam / Aalsmeer / Delft / Rotterdam / The Hague
Full day scheduled Grand Holland Tour, duration 9hrs.
Visits to the world’s largest flower market at Aalsmeer, the potteries at Delft and the cities of Rotterdam and The Hague, are the highlights of this full day tour. This tour will start with a visit to the world’s largest flower auction in Aalsmeer, known as the centre of flower culture. We then proceed to Delft, with a most picturesque 17th century town centre. Here we will visit the Royal Delft Blue Pottery factory, where they will show and explain to you all their manufacturing processes. We continue to Rotterdam for a panoramic city tour. On the way back, we pass through The Hague, where the Dutch Government is seated. You will see the Houses of Parliament, the Peace Palace, Scheveningen and the North Sea beach resort. You will then be given the option to visit to either Madurodam (the most interesting miniature village) or spend free time at Scheveningen (during the winter season (03NOV08-18MAR09) client’s will not be given the option to have free time in Scheveningen, only Madurodam). Lunch will be taken en route (not included).
Includes: Transportation by coach, guide, visit to the flower auction (entrance included), entrance and guided tour of the Blue Delft Pottery Factory and a visit to either Madurodam, or free time at the Scheveningen.
Day 6: Amsterdam / Alkmar Cheese Market
Half day scheduled tour to visit Alkmar Cheese Market, duration 4hrs.
During this tour, you will visit Alkmaar Cheese Market, where you will get to see the unique cheese-handling competitions and the time-honored Dutch tradition of taste-testing and weighing of cheese. Driving along vast green meadows, dotted with famous Frisian cattle, we reach Alkmaar, the scene of a picturesque cheese market. In this 750 year old town, you will see the time-honored Dutch tradition of taste-testing and weighing cheese. Watch four teams from the Cheese Carriers’s Guild compete for the fastest, faultless time, while handling tons of tender produce. Alkmaar is a wonderful old town with small streets and nice shops. From here we return to Amsterdam, on the way back making a stop at the windmills of Schermerhorn, used in former days to create reclaimed land.
Includes: Transportation by coach, guide and a visit to Alkmaar cheese market.
Day 7: Amsterdam
Free day at leisure to explore the city on your own
Day 8: Depart Amsterdam
Private car transfer from the hotel to the Amsterdam airport. Enjoy your flight home.
Departure Dates: April and May
Pricing: Based on double occupancy, all accommodations and services are included as stated in the itinerary.
Itinerary: Based on 4 star accommodations with scheduled group tours, can be modified to fit your interests and needs.
Deposit: 10% per person, minimum $500
Final Payment: Due 60 days before departure.
Air Fare: Air fare to the tour start point and return air fare home is not included. |
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