Daily Itinerary
A Grand European Spring: Tulips, Canals & Chocolate!
Featuring Amsterdam and Belgium
April 12 – 21, 2027
Day 1: Monday, April 12
Overnight flight to Amsterdam
Day 2: Tuesday, April 13
Upon arrival to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, we will be met by our tour guide and motorcoach to begin our tour. After passing through passport control and collecting our luggage, we will drive to the city center of Amsterdam to enjoy a guided walking tour. We will see the most iconic sites of Amsterdam such as the Dam Square with the impressive Royal Palace and New Church, the Begijnhof and the floating Flower Market. We will also walk to Waterloo Square known for its famous market, the Rembrandt House, and the Portuguese Synagogue. Afterwards, we will enjoy a lunch cruise through the canals of Amsterdam. Following the cruise, we will drive to Haarlem where we will spend the next three nights and enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight Haarlem (L)(D)
Day 3 – Wednesday, April 14
Following breakfast, we will drive to the Dutch village of Zaanse Schans. This unique village is a step back in time with its wooden houses, windmills and workshops. We will visit one of the windmills that is in operation, the bakery museum, the cheese factory and other traditional Dutch workshops specializing in cheese and clog making. After a traditional Dutch pancake lunch, we will return to Amsterdam for free time to explore this vibrant city. Some sites you may want to visit are the Anne Frank House, the hiding place of the young Jewish girl who wrote her famous diary here or the Van Gogh Museum which houses over 200 paintings and 600 drawings by Vincent van Gogh. Overnight Haarlem. (B) (L)
Day 4: Thursday, April 15
This morning we will drive to Gouda, the ‘City of Cheese’, and visit the famous cheese market. We will learn about the centuries old tradition of cheese making and enjoy some tasty samples. We will also visit the factory of the famous Dutch Stroopwafle and enjoy a waffle baking and tasting workshop. After lunch and free time, we will continue to Leiden, a picturesque historic city in South Holland known for the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575), scenic canals, and as the birthplace of Rembrandt. Leiden is also home to the American Pilgrim Museum which is dedicated to the Pilgrim Fathers who fled England in 1620 and stayed in Leiden for 11 years before departing for the New World. After a guided tour of the museum, we will return to Haarlem for free time. Overnight Haarlem. (B)
Day 5: Friday, April 16
This morning, we will visit The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands and the royal family’s residence as well as a global hub for international law and justice. During our city tour, we will see the Houses of Parliament, Palace Noordeinde (the Kings working palace) and Carnegie’s Peace Palace (the International Court of Justice.) We will visit the Panorama Mesdag, a monumental 360-degree cylindrical painting from 1881, offering a panoramic view of the sea, dunes, and village of Scheveningena. Late afternoon, we will travel to Delft, world-renowned for its blue and white pottery. The remainder of the day will be free to enjoy the city. Overnight Delft (B)(D)
Day 6: Saturday, April 17
This morning, we will tour the Royal Delft’s factory, The Porceleyne Fles, where we will discover the complete history and production process of Delft’s Blue Porcelain as we watch the master painters demonstrate the traditional cobalt painting technique. Afterwards, we will travel to Keukenhof, the world’s largest exhibition of blooming tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Often called “The Garden of Europe”, this world-renowned display garden is a 70-acre estate where 6 million bulbs are planted annually by local growers. After strolling through the gardens, we will watch the world-famous Flower Parade at the Keukenhof, the only parade in the world constructed entirely with fresh bulb flowers. Late in the afternoon, we return to Delft. Overnight Delft (B)
Day 7: Sunday, April 18
This morning we will travel to Belgium to visit Ghent, a charming town with stunning architecture and lively squares. We will enjoy a guided city tour to see important buildings from the Middle Ages, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Belfry Hall. We will also walk along Graslei and Korenlei, two historic, adjacent piers situated on opposite banks of the Leie River. With its historic buildings and their facades’ reflection in the River Lys, this is considered to be the most beautiful street in the city. We will also visit St. Baafs Cathedral, a renowned Gothic cathedral founded in the 10th century and completed in the 16th century. This is also the home of the famous Van Eyck brothers’ 1432 masterpiece, “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”. After some free time, we will depart for Bruges for the next two nights. Dinner is included tonight. Overnight Bruges. (B)(D)
Day 8: Monday, April 19
After breakfast, we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Bruges, a remarkably preserved medieval city renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage site and commonly referred to as “Venice of the North” for its scenic canals, cobbled streets, and gothic architecture. We will see the Basilica of the Holy Blood, The Belfort, the Lake of Love and the Church of Our Lady with Michelangelo’s Marble Madonna. We will also visit Beguinage, a UNESCO-listed site featuring whitewashed houses, a convent, and a central garden providing a quiet retreat from the city. We will end the day with a beautiful cruise through Bruges’ canals to see the historic center, lace workshops, and ancient buildings from a different perspective. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight Bruges. (B)
Day 9: Tuesday, April 20
This morning, we drive to Antwerp, famous for its historic port, Gothic cathedral and status as one of Northern Europe’s leading fashion hubs. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a guided walking tour through the Diamond District and to see the Central Station and the cathedral. After lunch, we will indulge ourselves with a tour of Chocolate Nation, the world’s largest Belgian Chocolate Museum. We will learn about the history of the cocoa bean and chocolate making and of course enjoy a sample or two. Late afternoon, we will drive to Brussels for our final evening and enjoy a farewell dinner together. Overnight Brussels (B)(D)
Day 10: Wednesday, April 21
This morning, we will depart from the Brussels Airport for our return flights to the USA. (B)