Country Roads of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
11 Day Tour to Amsterdam, Bruges & Luxembourg | Operated by InsightVacations
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11 Days
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3 Countries
Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands -
11 Cities
Brussels, Waterloo, Ghent, Bruges, Clervaux, Luxembourg City, Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Amsterdam, Monnickendam -
15 Meals
5 Dinner with Wines, 10 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
Airport transfers depart Brussels airport for your centrally-located hotel. After checking in, the afternoon is yours to relax. Join your Travel Director for a visit to the cheeky Manneken Pis statue and a leisurely stroll around the Grand Place, voted the most beautiful square in Europe. Your delightful first evening also includes a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in the heart of the Old Town, with an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers.
Explore Brussels with Insight Choice. Learn about Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo or alternatively, join a private chocolate truffle making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier, and further explore Brussels with a Local Expert. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to the lively city of Antwerp. Later you have a choice of cuisine and ambience from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
In the morning, admire the contrast of the Chinese and Japanese Pavilions and the impressive, metallic spheres of the Atomium. Your journey then crosses the pasture lands of Flanders to reach Ghent, the City of Flowers, offering a fascinating cultural mix of medieval heritage and modern urban life. With a Local Expert, take a stroll through the historical streets and be mesmerised by the outstanding beauty of its quays, churches and squares. Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral, former home of the Eyck masterpiece, and see the Castle of the Counts. We continue to Bruges, where you'll stay for the next two nights. Meet your Local Expert in Bruges for a stroll along cobbled streets, lined with high-gabled houses from the 16th century. Visit the Market Square dominated by the 83-meter medieval bell tower, The Belfry of Bruges. Explore Burg Square with its ornate Gothic town hall and glorious frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel.
Enjoy a relaxed start and leisurely morning to explore the city of Bruges at your own pace. With your free afternoon, perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the historic town of Ypres? Explore the market square and attend the famous Last Post Ceremony, commemorating the fallen Allied Forces on the surrounding Flanders Fields.
Travel into the French-speaking region of Wallonia, where picturesque country roads lead you to the late 19th century Maredsous Abbey. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Molignée valley, the Benedictine monks have toiled for over 100 years to create a cultural household for arts and crafts and a successful school, brewery and cheese plant. Your visit concludes with a sample of freshly brewed beer and a taste of creamy, golden-crusted cheese. Continue on to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to arrive at your 18th century château home for two nights. In the evening, you will be served a fresh and delicious Farm-to-Table Dinner at restaurant L'Écurie du Parc. See the 12th century Clervaux Castle illuminated on your stroll after dinner.
Your travels continue to Luxembourg City for sightseeing with your Local Expert. Visit the grave of U.S. General George S. Patton, laid to rest alongside the men who fought and died in his great Third Army. Admire the view over the Petrusse Ravine from the Pont Adolphe and stroll through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Duke. With the afternoon free for you to explore at your leisure, perhaps join an Optional Experience to the ancient Roman city of Trier, home town of Karl Marx, to explore with a Local Expert?
Head for Bastogne to visit the Mardasson Monument, a star-shaped memorial dedicated to the U.S. troops who died during Battle of the Bulge in World War II. You may choose to climb to the top for a perspective of what it might have been like during the winter of 1944. Visit the Bastogne War Museum, a fascinating modern and interactive memorial center highlighting the causes, events and consequences of WWII. Travel through the center of Belgium as your journey continues to Rotterdam, the world's largest port rebuilt after wartime devastation. During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the impressive market hall and its radical modern design and the Erasmus Bridge.
Visit one of the manufacturers of original Delft blue pottery before moving on to the Hague, the elegant governmental center of the Netherlands. See the Binnenhof courtyards where the Parliament is situated and the impressive Peace Palace. Select departures visit Keukenhof Gardens one of the world's largest flower gardens, an unforgettable experience not to be missed. Pass through picturesque villages and windmills of the Dutch countryside to Amsterdam for three fabulous nights.
After a leisurely start today, you explore Amsterdam, a living museum of the 17th century, yet still a vibrant metropolis and port. The best way to see this remarkable city is from the water as you cruise through the canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the elegant merchants houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, their facades are a reflection of when trade flourished during Amsterdam's Golden Age. Relax as you pass stunning gables, beautiful churches and the iconic Magere Brug, better known as the Skinny Bridge. Disembark your cruise to wander the city and see the floating flower market, Dam Square and the Royal Palace. The rest of the day is at your leisure. With your free time, there's the opportunity to venture out to the Dutch Countryside to the village of Marken.
If you choose, you could start the morning by visiting the world's largest flower auction at Aalsmeer. Later, in Amsterdam, visit the newly refurbished Rijksmuseum with a Local Expert, Amsterdam's famed treasure trove of Dutch art, housing Rembrandt's ‘Night Watch.' Journey to the village of Monnikendam, learn the secrets of the Cheese Maker's craft, from milk to the finished product. Then witness a traditional Shoemaker turn a block of wood into clogs. In the evening, join your newfound friends and Travel Director at a beautiful restaurant in Monnikendam to enjoy your Celebration Dinner.
Bid farewell to Amsterdam as you transfer to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Price Includes
Dining Summary- - 5 Dinner with Wines (DW)
- - 10 Breakfasts (B)
- Visit the Grand Place and view the Mannekin Pis.
- Learn about Napoloean's final defeat on a visit to the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo. This neoclassical building houses a monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.
- See the Atomium, and the Chinese and Japanese Pavilions.
- Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral with a Local Expert, former home of the Van Eyck masterpiece, and see the Castle of the Counts.
- Visit the Market Square and famous belfry of the Market Hall with your Local Expert. See the Gothic town hall in Burg Square and the frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel.
- With your Local Expert, enjoy views over the Petrusse Ravine and walk through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Duke and visit the grave of U.S. General George S. Patton. Lookout from the Pont Adolphe.
- Experience a fascinating insight into the history of the World War II at the modern Bastogne War Museum. Visit the Mardasson Monument, dedicated to those who fell during the Battle of the Bulge.
- Witness the impressive market hall and Erasmus Bridge on your orientation of this modern city.
- Visit one of the manufacturers of original Delft blue pottery and see the potters at work on your guided tour.
- See the Binnenhof courtyards and the Peace Palace.
- Led by your Travel Director, wander the city to see the floating flower market, Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
- Cruise along the old waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
- Explore the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum and largest art museum in the Netherlands, with a local art historian. Witness famous works by Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt.
- Your delightful first evening also includes a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in the heart of the Old Town with an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travelers.
- Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier, before exploring Brussels with your Local Expert.
- Visit the late 19th century abbey, surrounded by the lush greenery of the Molignée valley. Then, learn about the production secrets of the Maredsous Benedictine beers and cheeses before sampling freshly brewed beer along with a taste of creamy, golden-crusted cheese.
- At restaurant Les Écuires du Parc, savor a freshly prepared farm-to-table meal of locally sourced, seasonal produce.
- Enjoy a Celebration Dinner with wine in an elegant restaurant in the quaint village of Monnickendam.
- Journey through the polder landscape to visit Monnickendam. Along the way, visit a rustic cheese workshop to learn the secrets of the dairy industry and witness the ancient art of clog making.
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.
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 Scenic Bruges Canal Cruise & Dinner (Available on Day 3)A boat trip on the picturesque canals of Bruges allows us to admire the city's most romantic and beautiful sights from an entirely different angle (a photographers paradise). Afterwards, we'll enjoy a traditional dinner with drinks on the charming market square.
Adult Price: €79 Magical Bruges by Horse and Carriage (Available on Day 4)What could be more magical than a horse and carriage ride by the colorful canals and squares of the ‘Venice of the North’? See the Lake of Love with its gliding swans, the ornate bridges, the steep gabled houses reflected in the canals, the bells of the carillon chiming – all of which conjure up a fascinating dream-like atmosphere. Photo stops included, of course.
Adult Price: €48 Ypres Excursion and Last Post Ceremony (Available on Day 4)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 Excursion To The Roman City Of Trier In Germany (Available on Day 6)Drive into Germany to visit the ancient Roman city of Trier, home town of Karl Marx. Sightseeing with a local expert 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 Rotterdam Harbor Cruise & Dinner (Available on Day 7)A fascinating opportunity to experience the bustle of Europe’s largest port, so crucial to the Dutch economy. We'll admire the city’s impressive skyline and take in all the activity of the harbor, shipyards, docks and the ultra-modern technology of the container port. The cruise ends with a view of the steamship SS Rotterdam, the flagship liner of the Holland America Line. Later, we’re off to a favorite local restaurant for a delicious three-course dinner with unlimited drinks.
Adult Price: €97 Kinderdijk Exploration and Boat Ride (Available on Day 8)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 Dutch Indonesian Rijsttafel Dinner (Available on Day 8)Don't leave Amsterdam without trying a Rijsttafel (literally: “rice table”): many small, shareable dishes, ranging from mild to spicy, in all colors of the rainbow, served with rice. A result of the Dutch Colonization of Indonesia, it's now considered by many Dutch as their signature dish. Indonesia was formerly a treasured colony of the Netherlands and during this period the Dutch embraced the delicious Indonesian cuisine both at home and abroad. The Rijsttafel became a star on the menu.
Adult Price: €72 Traditional Dutch Countryside Tour (Available on Day 9)Take a break from the hectic pace of city life and unwind as you visit the ‘scenic Dutch countryside’. Enjoy a boat trip on the IJsselmeer lake (1100 kms) and visit the village of Volendam and the island village of Marken. You’ll be able to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside surroundings and immerse yourself in the old way of life. There will be free time to stroll around the villages and shop for traditional Dutch souvenirs.
Adult Price: €46 Aalsmeer Flower Auctions (Available on Day 10)Experience the excitement at the very epicenter of the international flower trade! Each day, over 19 million flowers are sold at 'Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer', the world's largest flower auction. Witness all the action from a specially-designed viewing gallery as traders bid against the clock for a mind-blowing assortment of blooms. A unique experience you'll remember forever!
Adult Price: €32