Floriade and Gardens of Holland
Floriade and Gardens of Holland
Floriade and Gardens of Holland
6 Days Starting in Central London, London SW1A 2DR, UK and ending in London, UK
Visiting: Central London, Belgium, Almere, Floriade Expo 2022, Gardens Mien Ruys, Gramsbergen, De Wiersse, Paleis Het Loo, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Calais, Dover
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BFGH
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Low, Gentle
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please contact Brightwater with any specific dietary requirements
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, a new city 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. This longer version of our Floriade tour includes visits to two of the best gardens in The Netherlands. Mien Ruys is a key figure in Dutch gardening and her extensive garden reflects her influence, with 25 different areas, each with a distinct character. The dazzling garden created by Ada Hofman is the largest complex of water gardens in Holland, with no fewer than 30 separate gardens and 50 ponds. The way the water reflects both the planting and the sky is breathtaking. We also visit the beautiful country house garden of De Wiersse, the sumptuous formal gardens of Het Loo and the fascinating outdoor museum complex at Zaanse Schans, complete with its iconic windmills. We are based at the 4-star Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, conveniently located in the centre of Almere, meaning negligible transfer times between the hotel and the site.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Central London, Belgium, Almere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
We depart from central London and head south, picking up en route at the Copthorne Hotel, Gatwick (overnight accommodation can be organised here before and after the tour if required). We will continue to Dover in time to catch a mid-morning ferry to Calais. On arrival in France we will head northwards through Belgium and on into The Netherlands, arriving at our hotel in the early evening.
Day 2
Location: Floriade Expo 2022
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
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 3
Location: Gardens Mien Ruys, Gramsbergen, Almere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we visit two of Holland’s finest gardens. The first is that of Mien Ruys, who dominates the story of 20th century gardening in the Netherlands. The garden contains some 25 different areas, each with a distinct character. Some are dedicated to habitats, the Water Garden and the Sun Border for example; some to specific types of plants like the Mixed Border and Herb Garden and some to special effects.
We move on to Loozen Gramsbergen, where we visit the dazzling garden created by Ada Hofman. This is the largest, most complex series of water gardens in Holland, with no fewer than 30 gardens, 50 ponds and 3,000 different types of plants, developed with great vigour and creativity since 1987. The ponds are of differing sizes and reflect both the surrounding plantings and the sky to great effect.
Day 4
Location: De Wiersse, Paleis Het Loo, Almere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we drive to the country house and garden of De Wiersse, described by a leading Dutch newspaper as “The most beautiful garden in the Netherlands”. Surrounded by farmland and woods lies the moated manor house, with 38 acres of garden and 74 acres of landscaped parkland lived in, designed and managed by the same family since 1678. In this historic and beautifully-kept garden a sequence of surprises awaits the visitor: avenues and pergolas; meadows and formal parterres; fountains and statues and bridges over a gentle stream. The majestic structure of the wild garden, with walks beneath ancient trees and a serpentine beech tunnel, is balanced by a practical kitchen and cutting garden and an intimate sunken garden with wide English borders.
In the afternoon we visit the gardens at Het Loo Palace, just north of Apeldoorn. This was the medieval castle of Prince William of Orange and is now recognised as one of Europe's finest formal gardens. When the Dutch Royal Family decided that it would no longer use the palace in 1969 the government opted to turn it into a museum, fully restoring the formal seventeenth century garden to its original state. The palace's type of baroque garden is unique to the Netherlands. It is a late Dutch interpretation of the Italian-French garden dating from the first quarter of the seventeenth century.
Day 5
Location: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Almere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we visit Amsterdam, beginning with a visit to the Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s greatest museums, with over 8,000 items on display from an astonishing total collection of one million objects. Its collection of world-famous Old Masters is second to none and includes a host of works from the Dutch Golden Age by artists such as Vermeer, Franz Hals and Rembrandt, including his 1642 masterpiece ‘The Nightwatch’.
The remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant city at leisure, perhaps taking a boat trip on the canals, a wonderful way to see the city, or visit attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum or the Anne Frank House.
Day 6
Location: Zaanse Schans, Calais, Dover
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we visit the outdoor museum complex at Zaanse Schans, set against an iconic backdrop of historic windmills. At the Weaver’s House we discover everything there is to know about the traditional Dutch craft of sailcloth and windmill cloth weaving; At the Cooperage we see how vats and barrels are made and the Jisper House depicts the scene of a fisherman’s household of the 1850s.
In the afternoon we return to Calais to catch an evening P & O ferry to Dover. Once again we stop off at the Copthorne Hotel, Gatwick and continue to London where we expect to arrive late evening.
What's Included
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Drinks with Meals
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Entrance Fees
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Meals - as per the itinerary
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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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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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
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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