Amsterdam Short Holidays 2008
Short and Flexible Stay in Amsterdam with excursions to the tulip fields, windmills, museums, typical Dutch towns and other optional tours
1 Mar - 31 Oct '08

4 days/ 3 nights from Euro 268

Tour descriptions:

Panoramic Circle Tour

From Rokin 10 Daily at 9.30 AM and 12.00 AM and 3.00 PM

(From Paulus Potterstraat 8 at 9.00 AM and 11.30 AM and 2.30 PM)

Duration ± 2 hours

Past and present, trade and leisure, religion and coffee shops, diamonds and beer, all flourish together in splendid Amsterdam! On this extensive bus excursion you will see all that Amsterdam has to offer you. From the historical monuments in the centre to the modern architecture from the 21^st century. A picture stop at a windmill and a visit to a diamond factory are included.

You can visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum and do a 1 hour canal cruise with a separate open-date ticket.

Supplements for special exhibitions are not included.

Windmills and Edam                                                                       

Daily at 09.30 AM – Duration ± 4 hours

This excursion takes you north of Amsterdam, to the edge of the Zaan river, where you visit the windmill village `de Zaanse Schans`, with its characteristic green wooden houses. On the turn of the 18^th century this district was an industrial area with approximately 700 windmills in use. In this day and age there are only five left. We will pay a visit to a windmill and a wooden shoe factory. Before returning to Amsterdam, we take a stroll in the medieval town of Edam. (including entrance windmill).

Fridays (April 4^th till Sept. 5^th ) Edam is replaced by Alkmaar. See Cheese Market.

Optional excursions 

Anne Frank House, Diamond Factory and Canal Cruise                € 33

Friday and Sunday at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 hours

We start the tour by coach showing you the most important monuments that our city offers, followed by  a picture stop at a windmill. A visit to a Diamond factory is made where you get acquainted with the diamond polishing process. Continuing the tour by boat we cruise along Amsterdams harbour and its famous canals which brings us to the “Jordaan” quarter where we visit the attic where Anne Frank and her family were hidden during the second World War. This is also the place where the tour will end.

(including entrance Anne Frank House and cruise boat )

Volendam and Marken                                                          € 30

Daily at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 hours

On this excursion we drive through a typical Dutch scenery and the picturesque town of Monnickendam to Volendam, a traditional old dutch fishermans village situated on the shores of the former Zuiderzee. Carrying on by boat we visit Marken, an island linked to the mainland by a dike. Some of the inhabitants still wear the traditional Dutch costumes. In this tour is also included a visit to a cheese farm.                                         

Dutch Country Side Tour                                                                € 41

Daily at 09.30 AM – Duration ± 7 hrs.

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 of Edam  and the Zaanse Schans, where you will have the opportunity to visit  a windmill and wooden shoe factory.

We continue to Volendam and Marken, fishermen’s villages along the former Zuiderzee. 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 not included.)

(including boat trip from Volendam to Marken and entrance windmill)

Delft Blue, The Hague and Madurodam                                    € 35

(Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 ½ hours.

This tour will begin with a visit to a`Delft Blue´ pottery, where you can admire the hand painted Delftware.We continue our tour to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch Government, where we will make a sightseeing tour. We will pass the Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace. Via the lovely beach of Schevingen we travel toward the miniature city Madurodam, where all of Holland is put together on a scale of 1/25^th. (including entrance fee Madurodam)

Alkmaar Cheese Market and Windmills                                    € 30

Fridays only at 9.30 AM (April 4th – September 5^th)

Duration ± 4 hours

Tradition is the key element on this excursion as we visit Alkmaar, a 750 year old city which is famous for its weekly cheesemarket. You will learn about a long-established Dutch tradition of the weighing of cheese and taste-testing. This is a unique experience while the four teams from the Cheese Carrier’s Guild compete for the fastest and most impeccable timing while handling tons of  produce. Driving through polder landscape the tour will lead to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans where you get the opportunity to visit a cheese farm or wooden shoe factory and a windmill.(entrance fee included 

Keukenhof Flowershow                                                                               € 32

Daily at 09.30 AM and 2.30 P M (March 20th - May 18th)

Duration ± 4 ½ hours

Behind the dunes that run from Haarlem to Leiden lies the bulb area like a magical canvas of  daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, alive with the most delightfull smells and colours. You will visit the flower exhibition ‘ Keukenhof’’, and experience the perfection of millions of  bulbs  displayed over a wonderful park. (including entrance fee)

Grand Holland Tour                                                        € 47.50

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 09.30 AM – Duration  ± 8 ½ Hours

The first  stop on this tour is Aalsmeer, where the worlds largest flower auction is held and millions of flowers are handled every day (on Sundays replaced by a visit to a wooden shoe maker). We proceed to Delft, where we visit a ‘Delft Blue’ pottery and make a stop in the historical centre. We then continue to Rotterdam and The Hague for a city tour. In The Hague we pass The Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace, continuing to the North Sea beach resort of Scheveningen. We conclude the day with a visit of the miniature town of Madurodam, where all of the Netherlands is put together on a scale of 1:25.

(Lunch not included). (including entrance fee Flower auction and Madurodam)

 Antwerp and Brussels                                                           € 53

Monday at 09.30 AM(  May 7^th – June 25^th)  

Monday and Thursday at 09.30 AM (June 28^th – September 27^th)

Duration ± 11 hours

An interesting drive through the Dutch country side to Antwerp; a city filled with history where we will have time for a stroll at the main square near the Cathedral. We will then continue on to the city of Brussels for an extensive city tour. We will see the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Grand Place, and of course the world famous Manneken Pis. As an optional sight you have the opportunity to see the genuine lace making. After spending free time spend in the city, we will return to Amsterdam.

 Bruges                                                                               € 59, -

Saturday  at 09.30 AM (22Mar-1Nov)

Wednesday and Saturday at 09.30 AM (July 1 –^{Aug 27})

Duration ± 12 hours

Through the Dutch landscape we will drive to Belgium and visit one of the most enchanting cities in Europe, the historical city of Bruges.

You will have the opportunity to watch the lace makers plying their bobbins near the Beguinage, take a visit to the Lake of Love, and make a cruise in your free time along the beautiful canals or enjoy a horse-drawn coachride past weathered gables. For taking a stroll, doing some shopping, taking pictures and eating out, Bruges is the perfect place! (Lunch is not included)

Enclosing Dike and Enkhuizen                                                   € 41

August only – every Tuesday at 09.30 AM

Duration ± 6 ½ hours

The Netherlands is famous for water management. This tour will show you how

The Dutch have struggled with water for centuries. We start the tour with a visit to the 32 km long Enclosing Dike, one of the most important constructions to protect the Netherlands against the sea. A stop on the dike will allow you to get a good impression. We continue driving to Enkhuizen, a 14^th century former VOC town, where we will make a short city walk and will have free time for lunch.(lunch not included)

The tour will continue to the newest reclaimed land with its modern city Lelystad.