Bicycle through the Waterland, a classic Dutch landscape that is ideal for bicycling as it is flat and spectacularly scenic. A ferry will take you to the Waterland, where you will begin pedaling at a leisurely pace well suited to the area’s laid-back ambiance. You can expect to see farmers going about their daily lives, brightly painted wooden houses and an impossibly green countryside crisscrossed with canals and dotted with seemingly endless rivers and lakes. Almost half of the Waterland is water, held in check by a series of dikes, and the landscape couldn’t be more beautiful. Expect to pass cows grazing in fields, iconic windmills pumping water out of the lowlands and a number of seaside villages, one of which you will stop in for a drink. The Waterland is also a paradise for water birds, and you will likely see countless swans and geese and perhaps even a godwit, the national bird of the Netherlands.

Enjoy an insider’s look at life in Edam by visiting a local family and touring a cheese-making facility to see how Edam’s famed cheese is produced. An enlightening walking tour will introduce you to the city. Here, you will see from the outside, St. Nicholas Church and the Edam Museum; which occupies an 18th-century sea captain’s house. For a deeper understanding of life in Edam, you will stop by a centuries-old residence and enjoy coffee and cake with the owners. They will elaborate on the long history of their home, how Edam has changed just in their lifetimes and what the future may hold. Still, it is impossible to escape the draw of cheese in Edam. More than a quarter of the cheese produced in the Netherlands is the city’s namesake cheese, a soft variety made with less milk fat than most other cheeses. While touring a cheese-making facility in town, you will watch the process and then taste samples.

Holland is known for its white and blue pottery as well as the iconic windmills that dot the countryside.

Begin with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside to Delft. On arrival, visit the Delft Porceleyne Fles, the manufacturer of the world-famous Delft Blue ceramics. While touring the factory you'll have a chance to observe the production process and have some time to browse the gift shop.

Join your guide for a short walk of Delft’s city center, followed by nearly 2-hours of free time for lunch on your own and independent exploration or shopping.

Then, your tour continues to The Hague for an orientation drive through the city. See the Dutch government buildings, the spectacular Peace Palace, where the International Court of Justice is situated, and numerous other interesting buildings and sights.

OVERVIEW

Follow an architectural historian through three striking 21st-century icons that have altered the face of Amsterdam and discover how their design challenges were overcome. The Eye museum pays homage to the film industry and its geometric shape reflects the power of visual images. Like film, the building creates an interplay of reality and illusion. The Eye is particularly impressive in the way it has transformed a riverside area that was once an isolated wasteland. Similarly, The Eastern Docklands & Java Island showcase urban planning and architectural innovation, transforming industrial sites into vibrant, modern spaces blending with history. The Silodam is another architectural triumph as this waterside apartment complex is reminiscent of a fully laden container ship. Your architectural historian guide will explain the design details such as how the different colors denote different “neighborhoods” within the village-like building.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Amsterdam, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot.

Selfie sticks are available and complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture the best pictures.

As you walk and ride through Amsterdam, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:

Selfie Spots:
• Zaanse Schans windmills.
• Dam Square, which the Royal Palace overlooks.
• 17th-century Canal Ring.
• Bloemenmarkt floating flower market.
• Heineken® brewery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Amsterdam.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Enjoy a beer tasting after an immersive experience in the original Heineken brewery. The Heineken Experience is exclusively for individuals aged 18 years and older.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Gain an overview of Amsterdam while driving through its urban landscape to the heart of Old Town, where you will enjoy free time to explore on your own. As an introduction to the historical capital of the Netherlands, you will pause for photos of the iconic Molen Windmill originally constructed in the 16th century, it was later rebuilt in its current form in the early 18th century. The windmill was used for various purposes over the centuries, primarily for milling grain. Then continue to the Rijksmuseum, an architectural gem that features both Gothic and Renaissance styles. You will have leisure time to explore places such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Moco Museum, the 17th-century Canal Ring, an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounds the historic district and many more.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a panoramic drive through Amsterdam to its historical heart.
• Spend free time around Rijksmuseum, an area surrounded by intriguing landmarks.
• See attractions on your own, such as The Van Gogh Museum and the Canal Belt, or simply shop if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This charming half day tour begins with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside to the village of Zaandam. Arriving at the village, your guide will lead you through the faithfully re-created town of Zaanse Schans. This carefully designed open air museum was built to replicate the Zaan community of around 1700 and today is a very popular attraction. As you stroll through the cobbled streets watching craftsmen practicing the trades of yesterday, you'll get a glimpse of what Dutch life was once like.

A short scenic drive takes you to the tranquil 17th century town of Edam, best known for its distinctive Edam cheese. Enjoy a short walking tour past picturesque canals, traditional drawbridges and charming homes with overflowing flower gardens. Then, you’ll have some free time; perhaps you'll want to use the time to further explore this delightful town on your own, or purchase a special souvenir as a memento of your visit.

OVERVIEW

Gain a historical perspective of Edam – a city renowned for its eponymous cheese – before traveling into the countryside to a dairy farm that makes it. During an enlightening walk downtown, you can expect to see Edam’s landmark St. Nicholas Church, which was rebuilt following lightning fires in 1602 and 1699. Although those blazes significantly reduced the church’s tower, the building remains a dominant architectural treasure. Still, cheese is always top of mind when visiting Edam and has been since the 17th century when Edam cheese first became popular, especially among sailors that appreciated its long shelf life. While visiting a nearby dairy farm, you will watch the cheese-making process and sample the famed product, which has a mild nutty flavor that becomes tangier as the cheese ages. Incredibly, more than a quarter of the cheese produced in the Netherlands is Edam, a soft cheese made with less milk fat than most other cheeses.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See some of Edam’s most historical landmarks while walking through downtown.
• Stop at a dairy farm that produces Edam’s soft namesake cheese.
• Sample Edam cheese, whose mild nutty flavor changes as it ages.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore Utrecht’s atmospheric medieval district and De Haar Castle, a former private residence that is the largest castle in the Netherlands. Utrecht enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 11th and 12th centuries and numerous churches founded during that period still remain. As you walk along the city’s labyrinthine cobblestone streets, you can’t help but feel a strong connection to the past. Rising above Domplein Square is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, a soaring landmark with a notorious past that was exposed in 1830. Although a castle has stood on the site of De Haar Castle since the late 1300s, the medieval-style version that stands today dates to 1912. Arguably the most extravagant castle in the Netherlands, it was used mostly as just a holiday retreat for the aristocratic and fabulously wealthy Van Zuylen family. While touring on your own, you may learn why one of the bedrooms is so different architecturally from the others.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through the medieval district of Utrecht, an area that exudes history.
• Hear little-known stories behind the historical landmarks, especially Dom Tower.
• Tour the lavish interior and grounds of De Haar Castle, the country’s largest castle.
• Learn about the wealthy family that built the castle but only stayed there occasionally.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Sample some of Amsterdam’s favorite foods and beverages and get a taste of the local culture while walking between venues. As you meander through the trendy Jordaan neighborhood and on into the Canal Ring, you will pause to snack on bitterballen, a bite-size deep-fried morsel that contains meat ragout. Often served in bars, bitterballens aren’t bitter at all. Their name reflects that they are meant to be eaten while drinking bitters, which are pale ales with a sharp bite. You can also expect to sample genever, a juniper-flavored liquor that is a blend of malt wine and a neutral spirit such as vodka with botanical flavorings. The drink is typically chilled and served neat in a tulip-shaped glass. To enhance your historical understanding of Amsterdam, the guide will describe the attractions along the way. They will likely include the 17th-century Noorderkerk church and 9 Streets, a fashionable district full of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Taste local foods and beverages that reflect the culture of Amsterdam.
• Walk through the architecturally rich historical district between samplings.
• See landmarks that tell the story of Amsterdam as the guide describes them.
• Spend free time exploring on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours independently exploring Haarlem with no schedule to follow other than your own, which allows you the freedom to visit the attractions that sound most intriguing. You will be dropped off in the heart of Haarlem with easy access to most everything imaginable. If historical landmarks are of interest, head straight for Market Square, home to the 13th-century town hall and the Dutch Renaissance-style De Vleeshal – the only place fresh meat could be purchased for centuries as indicated by the sculpted ox heads on the front of the building. Nearby stands St. Bavo’s Church, an icon with one of the world’s largest and most famous organs. This rare musical instrument is gilded, decorated with statues and covers the entire west wall of the church. If you wish to dine while sightseeing, try a restaurant that specializes in Dutch dishes such as stamppot, a traditional comfort food made with sausage, kale and mashed potatoes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Haarlem on your own and focus on the attractions that sound most interesting.
• Enjoy the freedom of wandering about at your own pace with no schedule to follow.
• Be dropped off in the city center near the best shopping and dining.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore landmarks from various centuries that show the architectural and cultural transformation of downtown Amsterdam and several neighboring areas. In the traditional residential area of Zaanse Schans, you will see windmills dating to the 17th century. These Windmills are an architectural masterpiece designed by Pierre Cuypers, opened in 1885. The structure combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, representing a 19th-century revival of Dutch architecture in the national Rijkmuseum, you will gain a deeper understanding of how the culture has changed over time throughout the Netherlands. A self-portrait by Rembrandt at age 22 is just one of the Dutch masterpieces there. You will also learn about the Wereldmuseum, an ethnographic museum that tells a similar story of urban evolution but through moving human experiences. The wonders of contemporary life are brilliantly depicted in the Eye Film Museum, discover the story behind this masterpiece the area was primarily an industrial and port zone, selected as part of an effort to revitalize and transform this industrial area into a vibrant cultural space. This prominent structure is considered one of the masterpieces of the 21st century.

HIGHLIGHTS

• RDelve into the history of the windmill Towm, perhaps the ultimate Dutch icon.
• Explore the exterior of the Rijksmuseum, a symbol of Dutch cultural heritage and national pride.
• Get a glimpse of Amsterdam’s vision for the future at the Eye Film Museum.
• Come away with a clear understanding of how Amsterdam’s urban landscape has evolved.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.