Best of Holland Belgium Luxembourg and Amsterdam

10 Days / 3 Countries (Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium) / 11 Cities
This Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg travel trio packs a punch with good food and epic sightseeing. The enchanting beauty of Bruges is a highlight, but there’s more to experience, from seeing how Belgian lace is made, to dinner in an 18th-century Flanders farmstead.  You’ll also explore the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Luxembourg City, and Bruges with a Local Specialist, visit General George Patton’s Grave in Luxembourg City, view The American Memorial at Bastogne, take a scenic cruise on the canals of Amsterdam and Bruges, and have tickets for Keukenhof Tulip Bulb fields, included during the flowering season (end of March – mid-May)

Best of Holland Belgium Luxembourg and Amsterdam

* The Optionals and pricing listed are a guideline only and subject to change.

Itinerary:
Day 1 & 2 Welcome to Amsterdam – Fall in love with the Lowlands, launching your holiday in the magical city of Amsterdam, whose labyrinthine canals, and vibrant squares you will have an opportunity to explore on your own. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception cruise, including a light meal. Cruise the city’s famous waterways admiring the picture-perfect surrounds and gabled façades.

Explore Amazing Amsterdam – Explore Amsterdam’s historic city center this morning. Dive Into Culture as you join a Small Group Sightseeing tour of the Rijksmuseum with a Local Specialist. Come face-to-face with such masterpieces as Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’, Van Gogh’s self-portrait, and ‘The Milkmaid’ by Vermeer. Celebrate spring and enjoy an included visit to Keukenhof (subject to season) where you’ll stroll through an enchanting wonderland of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths with millions of blooms planted on the 32-acre site.  *Hotel – Apollo

Optional Experiences on Day 2
Dinner In A Historic Dutch House – Join everyone for a delicious meal of Dutch specialties, including drinks, in the elegant surroundings of this historic house.  Adult Price: €63.00*
Hidden Amsterdam – You’ll pay a visit to The Royal Palace in Amsterdam with our Local Specialist. Built in 1648, it originally served as the Town Hall and is still in use by the Dutch Royal Family today. It has also been a Napoleonic Palace before its current role. Its rich history and the interior of this magnificent building in the heart of Amsterdam make this a must see.  Adult Price: €48.00*
Van Loon Museum – In the heart of the canal district lies Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence built in 1672. The former residence of the artist Ferdinand Bol, the 18th-century interior still evokes the splendor of the Golden Age. With our Local Specialist, you’ll discover the large collection of paintings, fine furniture, precious silver, and porcelain from several centuries. A short walking tour in the heart of the city will then take you to the Beguinage (Begijnhof), a hidden courtyard where extremely pious women lived for almost 700 years. This glimpse behind the façades of Amsterdam’s world-famous canals is highly recommended.  Adult Price: €42.00*
Holland’s Favorite Foods – Nibble your way through Amsterdam’s international dining scene on a tasting tour led by a Local Specialist. Learn about the international flavors that have influenced Dutch cuisine, while grabbing bites at a cheese shop, beer garden and family restaurant. Savor handpicked local delicacies including artisanal cheeses, a sweet ‘stroopwafel’ and the best fish in town. You’ll wash them all down with a beer or Jenever.  Adult Price: €62.00*

Day 3 Discover Delft and Rotterdam – Soak up the gezellig Dutch atmosphere this morning, before heading to Delft via The Hague. Dive Into Culture during a visit to the Royal Delft Pottery workshop and admire the delicate blue and white porcelain that has made this historic town famous. Continue your journey south, arriving in the edgy port city of Rotterdam where you will enjoy an informative orientation tour. Heading back to Amsterdam, consider a leisurely evening in one of the charming cosy café.

Optional Experiences on Day 3
Kinderdijk Exploration And Boat Ride – Join in to discover the spectacular straight line of 19 working windmills at the Kinderdijk. Part of a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site and situated below sea-level, they were built around 1740 to pump water out of the reclaimed ‘polder’ lands. You’ll also admire the classic Dutch landscape between the Rhine river branches of the delta, during a relaxing boat ride. Adult Price: €34.00*
Muiderslot, A Genuine Castle – We’ll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to imposing Muiderslot Castle, which will give you a real taste of Dutch history. It’s part of Amsterdam’s Defence Line and is UNESCO World Heritage Listed. During your guided tour, through rooms refurbished in 17th-century style, it’s easy to picture yourself in a Rembrandt painting, as it evokes the period when Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, known as the “Dutch Shakespeare,” occupied the castle. You’ll also enjoy a garden tour and a refreshment in a typical Dutch Inn.  Adult Price: €56.00*

Day 4 Onwards to Maastricht, Bastogne, and Luxembourg City – The fortified city of Maastricht, with its beautiful old churches, ancient city walls, and stunning merchant houses, takes center stage this morning. We spend some time strolling through its town center before continuing to Bastogne, the site of bloody skirmishes in the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Visit the 12th-century Cistercian Orval Abbey, renowned for being one of the few breweries that produce Trappist beer before journeying to the Duchy of Luxembourg, where tonight you’ll dine in your hotel.  *Hotel – Novotel Kirchberg

Day 5 See the Sights of Luxembourg City – This morning, we pay tribute to Allied Forces hero, General George S. Patton, whose final resting place is the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. Later, you embark on a leisurely walking tour of Luxembourg City with a Local Specialist. Your route takes you past the Cathedral and the Grand Ducal Palace, with its Flemish Renaissance façades, and includes spectacular views of the gorge of the rivers Alzette and Petrusse. Spend the rest of the day at leisure soaking up the quaint atmosphere of this tiny country or indulge in a coffee while you people-watch in the leafy Place d’Armes – the choice is yours.

Optional Experience on Day 5
Roman Trier Discovery And Dinner – Your Local Specialist will reveal the historic Roman city of Trier, with free time in the center before you proceed to the nearby hills, for views over the Moselle River and famous wine region. Here, in a traditional villa converted into a restaurant, you’ll enjoy a three-course dinner with drinks overlooking the valley.  Adult Price: €70.00*

Day 6 Journey to Bruges – En route to the enchanting medieval village of Bruges, you’ll stop in Dinant whose famous son, Adolphe Sax, is credited with having invented the saxophone. *Hotel – De’ Medici

Optional Experience on Day 6
Ypres Excursion and Last Post Ceremony – Travel with your Local Specialist to the historic town of Ypres, a ‘city of peace’ famous for its involvement in World War I. Visit two famous cemeteries and attend the famous Last Post Ceremony, which commemorates the fallen of the British Army and her allies on the surrounding Flanders Fields. You’ll also have the chance to visit Ypres’ famous market square and take in the atmosphere of this unique location.  Adult Price: €47.00*

Day 7 Uncover the Treasures of Bruges – Wake up in beautiful Bruges and join a Local Specialist for a walking tour of the town. Take to the water and enjoy a whimsical sightseeing cruise along the city’s wonderful canals lined with Gothic façades. Dive Into Culture next and admire the delicate art of Belgian lace. Spend the rest of the day on your own, immersing yourself in the old-world allure of this town. This evening, we Connect With Locals, joining a Belgian family at their Bruges farmstead to learn about Flanders farm life and enjoy dinner at an exclusive Be My Guest experience.

Optional Experiences on Day 7
Magical Bruges By Horse And Carriage – Experience a magical carriage ride by the colorful canals and squares of the Venice of the North. You’ll see the Lake of Love with its gliding swans, the ornate bridges, the step-gabled houses reflecting in the canals and hear the bells of the carillon chiming.  Adult Price: €38.00*
Belgium’s Best Traditions and Tastes – You’ll discover all the secrets and techniques that make Belgian chocolate the most exquisite in the world. Then head to a Belgian Brewery to savor a selection of Belgian beers.  Adult Price: €39.00*

Day 8 Continue to Ghent and Brussels – Delve into centuries of trade heritage in the medieval port city of Ghent, with its picturesque riverine backdrop. See the three famous towers – Saint Nicholas Church, the Belfry and Saint Bavo’s Cathedral – before continuing to Brussels, a multi-cultural melting pot, which you will have an opportunity to explore after your Travel Director shows you the city’s highlights. See the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. This evening, consider sampling mouth-watering Belgian cuisine washed down with the city’s best beers. Our Stays With Stories hotel is the elegant Sofitel Brussels Europe. The hotel has long been the lodgings of choice for the world’s movers and shakers, including Mark Zuckerberg and Angela Merkel. It’s surrounded by leafy parks, cafes, and museums, in the heart of the tranquil European District. *Hotel – Sofitel Europe

Optional Experience on Day 8
Waterloo Explored – In 1815 Napoleon fought his famous last battle here against the Duke of Wellington. You’ll visit the battlefields and monuments and discover how the face of Europe was changed forever. You’ll also see the famous iron lion monument on top of the hill, which you can climb if you wish. The monument was built by the widows of veterans, and you’ll hear their story as you gaze at the spectacular panoramic view.  Adult Price: €40.00*

Day 9 Brussels Your Way – Embrace this day at leisure to explore the Belgian capital as you wish. Stroll past the Royal Palace and through the leafy lanes of Brussels Park or indulge in tasting delicious chocolate. Your Travel Director will assist you to make the most out of your free day at leisure. This evening we celebrate a memorable sojourn through three fascinating countries during a Farewell Dinner.

Optional Experience on Day 9
Antwerp Unveiled – Join this half-day experience to Antwerp, the second largest city and biggest port of Belgium. You’ll discover the city with your Local Specialist and visit the largest Gothic cathedral of Belgium to see artworks by Peter Paul Rubens. You can also enjoy a traditional beer or waffle in the beautiful square right by the Cathedral.  Adult Price: €42.00*

Day 10 Depart Amsterdam – We bid Belgium a fond adieu this morning as we prepare to close the curtain on a memorable holiday. Drop-off in Amsterdam will be at the Trafalgar Amsterdam hotel and not at the airport. Arrival will be at approximately 3pm, depending on traffic conditions.

What’s included – 9 Nights’ Accommodation; 13 Meals including a Be My Guest dinner, and On-Trip Transport
Connect With Locals – Join a Bruges farmstead to learn about Flanders farm life and enjoy a hearty Belgian dinner
Dive Into Culture – See first-hand the famous tradition of Belgian lace at a workshop in Bruges, visit the Delft Pottery factory to see how this delicate porcelain is created, visit the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands national art gallery, where you’ll enjoy its exceptional collection of works by the Dutch masters.
Stays With Stories – Stay where Europe’s movers and shakers do when they visit Brussels. The elegant Sofitel Brussels Europe lies in the leafy European District of the city.

Travel highlights:
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Optional Experiences and free time
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

TravelKatz hopes you enjoy this vacation package enough to call us at 352-277-7300 – we will help you make the necessary arrangements and take care of your flight schedule, hotels, tours, and optional experiences.