Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg
10 Day Benelux Tour of Amsterdam, Luxembourg | Operated by Trafalgar
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10 Days
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3 Countries
Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands -
11 Cities
Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Dinant, Luxembourg City, Bastogne, Maastricht, Amsterdam, The Hague, Delft, Rotterdam -
13 Meals
4 Dinners, 9 Breakfasts -
Pace: Comfortable
Mainly 2–3-night stays in each location. Comfortable travel days with numerous stops. Requires 1-3 miles of walking per day that might involve some uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones and stairs.
Trip Itinerary
Launch your holiday in Brussels. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.
Today, your Travel Director will take you on an orientation tour of Brussels, see the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. After you will have an opportunity to explore the 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 remaining day at leisure.
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 on to 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 at leisure, immersing yourself in the old-world allure of this town, indulge your taste buds on an Optional Experience discovering Belgium's Best Traditions and Tastes, before joining the rest of your group for a 3-course evening meal.
En route to the Duchy of Luxembourg, we stop in Dinant whose famous son, Adolphe Sax, is credited with having invented the saxophone. Visit the 12th-century Cistercian Orval Abbey for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This abbey is renowned for being one of the few breweries that produce Trappist beer. Tonight, we wine and dine at our hotel.
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, we embark on a leisurely walking tour of Luxembourg City with a Local Specialist. Our route takes us 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.
Continue on to Bastogne, the site of bloody skirmishes in the World War II Battle of the Bulge. Next the fortified city of Maastricht takes center stage, we spend some time strolling through its town center before journeying to the magical city of Amsterdam, where we will cruise the city's famous waterways admiring the picture-perfect surrounds and gabled façades.
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 across the 32-hectare site.
Soak up the gezellig Dutch atmosphere this morning, before heading to Delft via The Hague. We 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. We continue our journey south, arriving in the edgy port city of Rotterdam where we will enjoy an informative orientation tour. Heading back to Amsterdam, we join together for a Be My Guest Farewell Dinner.
We bid Amsterdam a fond farewell this morning as we prepare to close the curtain on a memorable holiday.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - 4 Dinners (D)
- - 9 Breakfasts (B)
- See first-hand the famous tradition of Belgian lace at a workshop in Bruges.
- Visit the Rijksmuseum, the national art gallery of the Netherlands, where you'll enjoy its exceptional collection of works by the Dutch masters.
- Visit the Delft Pottery factory to see how this delicate porcelain is created.
- Visit the Orval Abbey, an ancient site steeped in history. The Trappist Cistercian monks of Orval have brewed on this site for hundreds of years.
- Witness the impressive market hall and Erasmus Bridge on your orientation of this modern city.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Waterloo Explored (Available on Day 2)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: €51 Antwerp Unveiled (Available on Day 2)Join this half-day experience to Antwerp, the second largest city and biggest port of Belgium. Discover the city with your Local Specialist and see the largest Gothic cathedral of Belgium, famous for its artworks by Peter Paul Rubens. You can also enjoy a traditional beer or waffle in the beautiful square right by the Cathedral.
Adult Price: €51 Ypres Excursion and Last Post Ceremony (Available on Day 3)Travel with your Local Specialist to the historic town of Ypres, a ‘city of peace’ known for its involvement in World War I. Visit two well-known 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' lovely market square and take in the atmosphere of this unique location.
Adult Price: €57 Belgium's Best Traditions and Tastes (Available on Day 4)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: €54 Magical Bruges by Horse and Carriage (Available on Day 4)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: €48 Discover the Roman City of Trier (Available on Day 6)Drive into Germany to visit the ancient Roman city of Trier, home town of Karl Marx. Sightseeing with a Local Specialist will reveal the superb Porta Nigra and the Imperial Baths, the largest outside Rome. You'll also walk through the old town to see the fine Liebfrauenkirche, as well as Marx's house. After free time in the center, we'll proceed to the nearby hills for great views over the Moselle River and the surrounding wine region.
Adult Price: €44 Hidden Amsterdam (Available on Day 8)We'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: €57 Van Loon Museum (Available on Day 8)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, we’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 gives a glimpse behind the façades of Amsterdam's world-famous canals and immerses you in an authentic Amsterdam experience.
Adult Price: €49 Muiderslot, a Genuine Castle (Available on Day 8)We'll take a short drive with our Local Specialist to the imposing Muiderslot Castle, for a real taste of Dutch history. It's part of Amsterdam's Defense Line and features on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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. We'll also enjoy a garden tour and a refreshment in a typical Dutch Inn.
Adult Price: €65 Monnickendam Dinner & Dutch Countryside (Available on Day 8)A beautiful countryside drive brings us to historic Monnickendam, the small fishing village that was formerly a major Dutch port. A walk along the wonderful streets and past lovely gabled houses brings us to the town’s former cheese weigh-house, now an atmospheric restaurant, for a delicious three-course dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks.
Adult Price: €68 Kinderdijk Exploration and Boat Ride (Available on Day 9)Join us 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: €44