Arts and Gardens of Holland Featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
Arts and Gardens of Holland Featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
Arts and Gardens of Holland Featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
5 Days Starting in St Pancras Station, Euston Rd, London N1C 4QL, UK and ending in London, UK
Visiting: Saint Pancras Station, Rotterdam, Delft, Kröller-Müller Museum, Museum Van Loon, Royal Delft, The Hague, Mauritshuis, Floriade Expo 2022, Keukenhof, Noordwijkerhout, Hillegom, Station Rotterdam Centraal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BGHE
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Low, Gentle
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Held every ten years at a different venue in The Netherlands, Floriade is one of the premier events of the horticultural world. In 2022 the spotlight falls on Almere, near Amsterdam, where a purpose-built site has been created to provide a ‘living laboratory’ with inspirational and innovative exhibitions by countries, cities and businesses. There will also be a host of impressive attractions, heaps of art and culture and a unique collection of trees, shrubs and flowers. The theme of this, the seventh iteration of the event, is ‘Growing Green Cities’. With the world’s urban population expanding to 70%, cities will have to find creative, green and sustainable solutions to remain safe, healthy and attractive and these proposed solutions will be central to the exhibits at the 2022 Expo. Our tour also includes visits to some of the great artistic treasures of The Netherlands, such as the Kroller-Muller Museum with its unique combination of nature, art and architecture, the magnificent canal-side residence and garden at the Museum van Loon, the richly endowed Mauritshuis art gallery, the Royal Delft Factory and the Vermeer Centre, showcasing the work of one of the best known artists from the Dutch Golden Age. Note that in April this is replaced with a visit to the magnificent gardens of Keukenhof. We are based at a comfortable and conveniently located hotel in Delft, a typical Dutch town of tree lined canals, tiny white bridges, pointed gables and small courtyards, and home to the famous blue pottery. Dinner supplement - £140.00
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Saint Pancras Station, Rotterdam, Delft
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Hotel - Delft Centre
Meals Included: No Meals
We depart by Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Rotterdam and continue by coach to our hotel. continuing to the Netherlands and our hotel in Delft. All rooms have private facilities. Dinner is available this evening in the hotel’s restaurant at a supplement. Alternatively, you may wish to dine in one of the local restaurants at leisure.
Day 2
Location: Kröller-Müller Museum, Museum Van Loon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Hotel - Delft Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast
Following breakfast, we visit the Kröller-Müller Museum which offers a unique combination of nature, art and architecture. The museum collection constitutes one of the most impressive overviews anywhere of Vincent Van Gogh’s extensive œuvre, and there are also important works by great artists including Picasso, Mondriaan and Seurat. Within the national park there is also one of Europe’s largest sculpture parks featuring exhibits by Rodin, Moore and Hepworth.
We then continue to Amsterdam, where we will visit the Museum Van Loon, a magnificent private residence from the Dutch ‘Golden Age’, with a large collection of paintings, fine porcelain and silver. The formal gardens perfectly complement the Classical style of the house.
Day 3
Location: Royal Delft, The Hague, Mauritshuis
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Hotel - Delft Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning we will enjoy a tour of the Royal Delft Factory. The Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory "De Porceleyne Fles", established in 1653, is the last remaining Delftware factory from the 17th century and the world-famous Royal Delftware is still entirely hand-painted according to centuries-old tradition. Our tour includes a journey through the history of Blue Delft and Royal Delft and its development and production process; a visit to the factory where Master painters can be seen at work; the dining room of Vermeer and the Dutch Royal family Chamber; the museum with antique Delft pieces and the showroom, which offers a comprehensive collection of hand-painted Delft Blue by Royal Delft, as well as an extensive selection of Dutch earthenware and souvenirs.
This afternoon we travel to The Hague to visit The Mauritshuis. The 17th century building was the residence of count John Maurice of Nassau but is now the property of the government of the Netherlands and is featured in the top 100 Dutch heritages sites. Today the museum houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings which consist of 843 objects, mostly of Dutch Golden Age paintings. The collection contains works by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Frans Hals to name but a few.
Day 4
Location: Floriade Expo 2022
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Hotel - Delft Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we have a full day at Floriade 2022 in Almere. With its focus on ‘Green Cities of the Future’ there are four main themes: Green, Food, Energy and Health. Exhibits will demonstrate how cities can be made more attractive and resilient by creating more parks and vertical gardens; the latest ideas for sufficient, healthy and affordable food; solutions and inventions in the field of sustainable energy; and how good food, exercise, flowers, plants and trees can help with life in the city. In addition, there will of course be extensive displays of horticultural excellence and we can expect a riot of colour and inventive planting.
Day 5
Location: Keukenhof, Noordwijkerhout, Hillegom, Station Rotterdam Centraal
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning following breakfast we check out of our hotel and depart for a visit to the Vermeer Centre in Delft. Johannes Vermeer is one of the best-known artists from the Dutch Golden Age. His name is inextricably linked with Delft, the city in which he was born in 1632 and where he lived and worked all his life. The Vermeer Center offers a visual voyage of discovery through the life, work and city of Johannes Vermeer. Step into 17th century Delft, see samples from Vermeer's oeuvre, go in search of his mentor and find the stories behind the paintings.
We then transfer to Rotterdam Centraal Railway Station to catch our train back to London.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Meals - as per the itinerary
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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