Holland's Tulips 7-day Luxury Barge Tour

Alkmaar.

Guests are met at the designated meeting point in Amsterdam and transferred to the barge moored at Alkmaar. Once aboard, enjoy a champagne welcome and an introduction to your crew and hotel barge. Dinner on board.

Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans

Perhaps visit the cheese market before our first cruise to Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, a place renowned for its wooden windmills, barns and houses built in the traditional Dutch style. After lunch on board, we visit the delightful Dutch harbour town of Enkhuizen, steeped in maritime tradition. The town boasts a remarkably well-preserved historic centre and we visit the fascinating open-air conservation area and museum that tell the story of the maritime history of the Zuiderzee. The reconstructed buildings and local craftsmen demonstrating traditional skills and trades give you a vivid impression of the Dutch way of life in the 17th and 18th centuries. . Dinner on board.

Zaanse Schans to Haarlem.

Early morning cruise to the historic city of Haarlem, dating back to the 13th century. Haarlem is home to the Frans Hals Museum founded in 1862 with its vast collection of Old Masters. Other highlights include St Bavo’s Cathedral on the main square, where both Handel and Mozart played the magnificent Muller organ, or free time to visit the many boutique shops. After lunch on board, this afternoon marks a cruise highlight, with a walk through the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Known as the garden of Europe, with more than 100 acres filled with over 7 million flowering bulbs, we stroll through breathtaking waves of colour on this unforgettable excursion. Dinner ashore at a local restaurant.

Haarlem to Oude Wetering.

An optional early morning tour is to Aalsmeer flower auction, where some 17 million cut flowers from all over the world are traded each day. We return to the hotel barge for a breakfast, then enjoy a tour of Haarlem. After lunch on board we cruise to our mooring at Oude Wetering. where there is time to walk or cycle along the towpaths around the lake. Dinner on board.

Oude Wetering to Leiden.

After breakfast we cruise to Leiden, home to one of the oldest universities in the country and the birthplace of Rembrandt. Leiden is an historical city full of charm and character and perfect for those who like to cycle, or simply stroll the banks of the pretty tree-lined canals. This afternoon, we take a tour of the city, with your tour leader explaining the history that dates back to Roman times and includes more recent sites such as the church, St Pieterskerk, from which the pilgrims departed for America. Free time to explore the many local cafes, boutique shops, markets and antique dealers. Dinner on board.

Leiden to Delft.

Morning cruise, arriving in Delft by lunchtime, our final mooring. Delft is world famous for its earthenware, which was styled on the imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century. This beautiful, unspoilt city is more than 750 years old and began as the home port of the Dutch East India Company. Following lunch we visit the Royal Delft Factory, just 5 minutes’ walk from our barge mooring to learn how this world famous earthenware is made. Tonight enjoy the Captain’s farewell dinner on board.

Delft.

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the designated drop off point in Amsterdam.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.