Holland - Belgium - Luxembourg Rail Tour
Flexible  Self Guided Europe Tours for Independent Travelers

Visit artistic Brussels, Europe's capital and chocolate lovers' Mecca, compact and sophisticated Luxemburg, one of the tiniest countries in the world, an Epicurean delight;  lively, fun-loving but also historic Amsterdam, once capital of a rich ocean trading nation. This tour gives you lots of flexibility to discover these Benelux countries on your own with the added help of many guided sightseeing tours conducted by highly qualified multilingual guides

9Days/8nights from Euro or US$* 753
  1Apr - 31Oct 2008

Tour Package Includes:

• First class (for Deluxe and superior first class package) or 2nd class (for first class and standard package) rail transportation from Amsterdam to Brussels and from Brussels to Luxembourg

In Amsterdam

• 3 nights accommodation with buffet breakfast in the hotel category of your choice

• Panoramic circle tour of Amsterdam - 2hrs (visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum and a 1 hour canal cruise with a separate open-date ticket is included)

• Half-day Windmills and Edam excursion (4hrs) 

• Hotel taxes and service charges

• Entrance fees, English speaking guide on the tours

In Brussels 3 nights accommodation with buffet breakfast in the hotel category of your choice City tour of Brussels (possibility to visit the Museum of Fine Arts) Full day excursion to the art cities of Ghent and Bruges Entrance fees, English speaking guide on the tour Hotel taxes and service charges     In Luxembourg 2 nights accommodation with buffet breakfast in the hotel category of your choice Hop on Hop off city tour of Luxembourg

    Prices per person in Euro or US$ (rate varies depending on the exchange rate) **

* Summer (low season) rate valid from the 13th of July at Hotel Le Royal and Mercure Grand Alfa in Luxembourg

**During Holidays and special fair periods surcharge may apply!

Tour descriptions in Amsterdam

Panoramic Circle Tour

From Rokin 10 Daily at 9.30 AM and 12.00 AM and 3.00 PM

(From Paulus Potterstraat 8 at 9.00 AM and 11.30 AM and 2.30 PM)

Duration ± 2 hours

Past and present, trade and leisure, religion and coffee shops, diamonds and beer, all flourish together in splendid Amsterdam! On this extensive bus excursion you will see all that Amsterdam has to offer you. From the historical monuments in the centre to the modern architecture from the 21^st century. A picture stop at a windmill and a visit to a diamond factory are included.

You can visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum and do a 1 hour canal cruise with a separate open-date ticket. Supplements for special exhibitions are not included.

Windmills and Edam                                                                       

Daily at 09.30 AM – Duration ± 4 hours

This excursion takes you north of Amsterdam, to the edge of the Zaan river, where you visit the windmill village `de Zaanse Schans`, with its characteristic green wooden houses. On the turn of the 18^th century this district was an industrial area with approximately 700 windmills in use. In this day and age there are only five left. We will pay a visit to a windmill and a wooden shoe factory. Before returning to Amsterdam, we take a stroll in the medieval town of Edam. (including entrance windmill).

Fridays (April 6^th till Sept. 7^th ) Edam is replaced by Alkmaar. See Cheese Market.

Optional excursions from Amsterdam: 

Anne Frank House, Diamond Factory and Canal Cruise                € 32

Friday and Sunday at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 hours

We start the tour by coach showing you the most important monuments that our city offers, followed by  a picture stop at a windmill. A visit to a Diamond factory is made where you get acquainted with the diamond polishing process. Continuing the tour by boat we cruise along Amsterdams harbour and its famous canals which brings us to the “Jordaan” quarter where we visit the attic where Anne Frank and her family were hidden during the second World War. This is also the place where the tour will end.

(including entrance Anne Frank House and cruise boat )  

Volendam and Marken                                                                                  € 32

Daily at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 hours

On this excursion we drive through a typical Dutch scenery and the picturesque town of Monnickendam to Volendam, a traditional old dutch fishermans village situated on the shores of the former Zuiderzee. Carrying on by boat we visit Marken, an island linked to the mainland by a dike. Some of the inhabitants still wear the traditional Dutch costumes. In this tour is also included a visit to a cheese farm.                                          

Dutch Country Side Tour                                                                            € 44

Daily at 09.30 AM – Duration ± 7 hrs.

This tour covers the magnificent area of Dutch polder landscape north of Amsterdam, marked by windmills, dikes and ditches. After a stop to taste some traditionally made products at a cheese farm, we will visit the picturesque villages of Edam  and the Zaanse Schans, where you will have the opportunity to visit  a windmill and wooden shoe factory.

We continue to Volendam and Marken, fishermen’s villages along the former Zuiderzee. Marken used to be an island until it was connected to the mainland by a dike. Some people of both places still wear the traditional costumes.  (Lunch not included.)

(including boat trip from Volendam to Marken and entrance windmill)

Delft Blue, The Hague and Madurodam                                                      € 37

(Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 02.30 PM – Duration ± 4 ½ hours.

This tour will begin with a visit to a`Delft Blue´ pottery, where you can admire the hand painted Delftware.We continue our tour to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch Government, where we will make a sightseeing tour. We will pass the Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace. Via the lovely beach of Schevingen we travel toward the miniature city Madurodam, where all of Holland is put together on a scale of 1/25^th. (including entrance fee Madurodam)

Alkmaar Cheese Market and Windmills                                                     € 32

Fridays only at 9.30 AM (April 6th – September 7^th)

Duration ± 4 hours

Tradition is the key element on this excursion as we visit Alkmaar, a 750 year old city which is famous for its weekly cheesemarket. You will learn about a long-established Dutch tradition of the weighing of cheese and taste-testing. This is a unique experience while the four teams from the Cheese Carrier’s Guild compete for the fastest and most impeccable timing while handling tons of  produce. Driving through polder landscape the tour will lead to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans where you get the opportunity to visit a cheese farm or wooden shoe factory and a windmill.(entrance fee included  

Lakes and Mansions: the garden of Amsterdam                                           € 32

Sundays only at 09.30 AM – Duration ± 4 hours

This tour takes you first to Naarden. This delightful fortified town has miraculously been preserved, despite the fact that many bloody sieges took place here. We continue our drive on to the ¢Gooi`, also known as the garden of Amsterdam. The scenery and route is lovely as we pass through centuries old polders to reach the lake district of Loosdrecht. At Loosdrecht we will stop for a complimentary cup of coffee and a slice of Dutch apple pie.The tour

carries on along the tranquil river Vecht, famous for its castles and mansions from the  17^th and 18^th century. 

Keukenhof Flowershow                                                                               € 34

Daily at 09.30 AM and 2.30 P M (March 22nd - May 20th)

Duration ± 4 ½ hours

Behind the dunes that run from Haarlem to Leiden lies the bulb area like a magical canvas of  daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, alive with the most delightfull smells and colours. You will visit the flower exhibition ‘ Keukenhof’’, and experience the perfection of millions of  bulbs  displayed over a wonderful park. (including entrance fee)  

Grand Holland Tour                                                                           € 47

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 09.30 AM – Duration  ± 8 ½ Hours

The first  stop on this tour is Aalsmeer, where the worlds largest flower auction is held and millions of flowers are handled every day (on Sundays replaced by a visit to a wooden shoe maker). We proceed to Delft, where we visit a ‘Delft Blue’ pottery and make a stop in the historical centre. We then continue to Rotterdam and The Hague for a city tour. In The Hague we pass The Houses of Parliament and the Peace Palace, continuing to the North Sea beach resort of Scheveningen. We conclude the day with a visit of the miniature town of Madurodam, where all of the Netherlands is put together on a scale of 1:25.

(Lunch not included). (including entrance fee Flower auction and Madurodam)

 You will have the opportunity to watch the lace makers plying their bobbins near the Beguinage, take a visit to the Lake of Love, and make a cruise in your free time along the beautiful canals or enjoy a horse-drawn coachride past weathered gables. For taking a stroll, doing some shopping, taking pictures and eating out, Bruges is the perfect place! (Lunch is not included)

 Enclosing Dike and Enkhuizen                                                                    € 44

August only – every Tuesday at 09.30 AM

Duration ± 6 ½ hours

The Netherlands is famous for water management. This tour will show you how

The Dutch have struggled with water for centuries. We start the tour with a visit to the 32 km long Enclosing Dike, one of the most important constructions to protect the Netherlands against the sea. A stop on the dike will allow you to get a good impression. We continue driving to Enkhuizen, a 14^th century former VOC town, where we will make a short city walk and will have free time for lunch.(lunch not included)

The tour will continue to the newest reclaimed land with its modern city Lelystad.

Tour description in Brussels:

BRUSSELS CITY TOUR: Duration: +-2.45 hours 31st March 2008 to 28th October 2008
Departure: 10.00 A.M & 02.00 PM - Every day 11.00 – ONLY Saturday

We start our visit at the Central Station and see the beautiful St-Michael’s cathedral. We drive further to the Heyseldistrict with the worldfamous Atomium. We marvel at the sight of the Chinese Pavillion and the Japanese Tower. Passing the Royal Residence we return into the city center and see the Sablon district with countless antique with a short walk to the famous GRAND'PLACE and hear about the history of the remarkable cityhall and quaint dealer shops. We drive in front of the magnificent Palace of Justice and see the fashionable Louise Square. Passing the stately Royal Square, the Royal Palace and the Houses of Parliament we arrive in the Cinquantenaire district. The Triumphal Arch, exceptional museums and splendid Art Nouveau houses are the highlights of this part of Brussels. Here, we are also at the very heart of the European Union; we drive in front of the imposing EU buildings housing the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. End at the Central.

GHENT & BRUGES: Duration: +- 9.30 hours 31st March to 28th October 2008
Departure: 9.00am – Every day

After an hour's drive, we arrive in Ghent where we visit the St. Bavo's Cathedral, home of the world famous 'Mystic Lamb' painting (optional, closed on Sundays). During the city tour you will see all the important buildings from the Middle Ages, such as the Belfry, the St. Nicholas Church and the Earl’s Castle.
In Bruges we visit the Lake of Love (Minnewater) and the Beguinage (convent). Time for lunch. Afterwards, we start our walking tour and discover : Our Lady's Church, with the Madonna statue by Michelangelo, the Market Square with the Belfry and the Holy Blood. Don't forget your walking shoes ! 

OPTIONAL TOURS FROM BRUSSELS

ANTWERPEN: Duration: +- 5.30 hours p 31st March  to 28th October 2008
Departure: 1.30 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Antwerp, Belgium's second largest city and Europe's second largest harbour has kept many memories of its rich past. Above all, it is the city of the painter Peter Paul Rubens, worldfamous master of the 17th century. We drive to the Market Square with its ancient houses and Our Lady's Cathedral (entrance fee included in the price of your excursion). This cathedral contains, amongst other treasures, two of Rubens' masterworks: "The Erection of and the descent from the cross". Antwerp is also the world's diamond center. We will visit a DIAMOND WORKSHOP. We will en the tour with a drive through the harbour.

RATE / 39 € PER PERSON

Entrance fee Our Lady Cathedral included.


WATERLOO: Duration: +- 5.00 hours 31st March  to 28th October 2008
Departure: 1.30 pm on Sunday

RATE / PP 34 € PER PERSON

Then we drive on to Waterloo. On the battlefield we see the historical farmsteads, as well as the monuments erected by the Nations that participated in the battle. Stop and possibility to visit the Panorama painting (by L. Dumoulin) and the Visitor's Centre with an audiovisual reconstruction of the battle. Time off to climb the Lion Hill. (All the visits on the battlefield are optional).