Day 1

This springtime sojourn in the Netherlands begins in its capital and largest city, Amsterdam. After meeting the guides, you set out on a morning walking tour of its vibrant and historic neighborhoods, including the Old South area, considered to be the city’s “Latin Quarter” frequented by art lovers and known for the early 20th-century Dutch School of Architecture. Also on the route is the house where Anne Frank lived before she and her family went into hiding. Lunch is in Café de Jaren, overlooking the canals.

After lunch you can rest on the short drive to the city of Haarlem and your hotel located in its historic center. Upon check in, time permitting, you can begin exploring this fascinating city directly from the hotel’s central location; museums, medieval churches, monuments, and enticing shops are all a short stroll away. A welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant is a feast of local specialties enticingly prepared and presented. You may wish to try the fillet of turbot with a risotto of avocado and a light sauce of salted anchovy, or the grilled beef entrecôte with mashed young potatoes, fritters of haloumi (goat cheese) and a gravy of light smoked butter.
Stempels Hotel, Haarlem

Day 2

Today is devoted to basking in the Netherlands’ incomparable flowers and gardens. A short ride this morning brings you to neighboring Lisse, just south of Haarlem, the center of the annual Keukenhof Tulip Show, where the vast displays of tulips and other bulb flowers may be blooming at their colorful peak. Here, you stroll through Keukenhof’s stunning landscaped gardens and view exhibitions showcasing Holland’s flower industry (accounting for $12-billion worth of Holland's exports). Along the way you are presented with ample opportunities to photograph the glorious fields of flowers including hyacinths and tulips which begin to blossom from April to mid May, depending on the weather.

The idea of creating the world’s largest flower garden was conceived of by the town’s mayor in 1949 and designed on the Keukenhof Estate, which literally means “kitchen garden” as it was placed on the site of the herb and vegetable garden of the 15th-century Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren. Have lunch in one of the many cafés within the gardens, then stroll further through the tulip fields, where you may find more photo opportunties.

Later return to Haarlem, where there may be time to stroll the square or enjoy a quiet drink. Tonight you dine at a favorite local restaurant where you can sample more of Holland’s eclectic cuisine, a reminder of its centuries of seafaring and exploration.
Stempels Hotel, Haarlem

Day 3

Beer brewing was a very important industry in Haarlem, and as a result of this history you are able to walk directly from the hotel this morning along the old brewers canal, called the Brouwersgracht. Following this trail to the Kennermerduinen National Park on the North Sea coast, you arrive at the most extensive and unspoiled dunes in Holland. Here trails pass undulating sand dunes, over fields of wild-growing shrubs, and into quiet mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. Lunch is served at a beach front restaurant, where seabirds dive into the open sea.

On arrival back in Haarlem the afternoon is yours to design— à la carte— either accompanied by your Country Walkers guide(s), with their assistance, or on your own. Haarlem is a perfect city to explore at your leisure, either from a historical perspective or simply absorbing its charm and daily life. The options outlined over last night’s dinner are again presented.

One group option is an easy city walking tour of Haarlem led by your guide(s). This is an opportunity to explore Haarlem in detail, including the famed main square (Gröte Markt) with its 14th-century City Hall and St. Bavokerk Church. A second option is to visit the Frans Hals Museum, housing a large selection of works by this painter, as well as other famous Dutch artists from the 15th-century to the present. A third option is entirely of your own creation, perhaps lingering over coffee in the hotel, a quick peek into a museum, and browsing in a shop that caught your eye. Another special Haarlem museum is the Teyler Museum, Holland’s oldest and housed in the former home of a wealthy 18th-century merchant and banker, displaying a fascinating collection of paintings and artifacts.

This evening dinner on your own may lead you to one of the city center’s many restaurants; perhaps your first taste of spicy Indonesian food, popular in Holland since the colonial period, or a lively brasserie where an excellent local brew, another Haarlem specialty, is on tap.
Stempels Hotel, Haarlem

Day 4

Rested and packed, you set off promptly this morning for one of Holland’s oldest and largest national parks, De Hoge Veluwe, a vast landscape with a variety of ecosystems. Here heath land dating from the Middle Ages evolved into large expanses of drifting sand as inhabitants cut peat to fertilize fields. Eventually trees were planted to stop the drifting, but the drift sand is now being partially restored, although almost 4,000 acres of cultivated woodland—chiefly pine and red oak-remain. An extensive trail network throughout the park provides access to fascinating living ecology lessons with beautiful and rare plant species. You may even spot some of the animals who make their home in this nature reserve, species such as red deer, roe deer, a wild sheep called "Moufflon" (originally native to Corsica and Sardinia), and even wild boar.

The park is also the location of the Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses an excellent collection of nearly 300 of Van Gogh’s paintings (including “The Potato Eaters”) as well as works by other modern European painters. Outside the museum is Europe’s largest sculpture garden, which includes works by Rodin, Moore, Lupchitz, and others. The De Hoge Veluwe Park provides a harmonious blend of nature, art, and architecture.

Late in the afternoon continue on by private coach (an approximate 45-minute drive) to your second home of the week, a splendid hotel in the heart of Utrecht, which used to be the Utrecht courthouse. After settling in, stroll from your hotel to dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Court Hotel, Utrecht

Day 5

This morning you can explore historical Utrecht on foot, or you may wish to have a more restful morning by sleeping later or having a leisurely breakfast. If you choose to walk you leave directly from the hotel, and take a path to the intriguing canal area. Stroll along the lovely Kromme Rijn River and into the green Wilhemina Park. En route is the landmark modernist classic Rietveld-Schröder House, designed by the architect Rietveld. After the whole group reconnects make your way on to the grounds of the Amelisweerd Estate. Preserved as a regional park, this estate is comprised of beautiful 17th-century mansions tucked alongside the winding Rhine River. Here, an exclusive lunch of local organic fare is served at the charming carriage house with its wood stove and open kitchen.

After lunch, design—à la carte—to suit your needs, either with company or on your own. You may choose to accompany your guide on an easy three-mile walk through the Amelisweerd Estate, further exploring the natural and human history of this tranquil park. Or a second option is to transfer by coach back to Utrecht. Here you can return to the hotel to use its fitness center, or immerse yourself in luxurious spa services (booked in advance and at your own expense) at a local spa. Third, you can return to the center of Utrecht for an afternoon of strolling and browsing shops entirely at your own pace. Or lastly, again, at your own pace, spend the afternoon in the fascinating Centraal Museum. Holland’s oldest municipal museum is located in a renovated medieval cloister and houses a wide collection divided into the five categories of old masters, modern art, design, fashion, and local history.

Gathering for dinner, you recount your afternoon’s adventure, by sharing stories and sites, enriching the breadth and depth of the group experience as a whole.
Court Hotel, Utrecht

Day 6

Today is a fun immersion into Dutch history and culture during which you visit and experience what Holland is best known for—its windmills, picturesque villages, and tidy farmhouses. Set off for the southwest and the famed and highly picturesque windmills east of Rotterdam at Kinderdijk. Along the way you cross the Rek River by ferry and pass characteristically quaint Dutch villages. The 19 windmills at Kinderdijk, built during the 18th century, were the “high-tech” development of the day, harnessing the power of the coastal winds to pump water away and build up land. Learn first hand about this crucial part of Holland’s history, while you walk on trails along the canals and directly beneath the windmills. Along the way you are immersed in quintessential Dutch countryside with grazing sheep and abundant wildflowers.

Lunch time finds you retreating to the beautifully restored farmhouse of Bouwlust in Bergambacht. The farm dates from 1647 and is the largest and most prestigious one in this area called the Krimpenerwaard, known as the “green heart of Holland.” This serene lowland landscape of rivers and canals is also rich in bird life. Your hosts Lydia and Hans offer a tour of their estate and share their stories of how they completely restored the farmhouse in three years.

The final dinner is a festive celebration of your exploration of the Netherlands’ natural places and cultural treasures.
Court Hotel, Utrecht

Day 7

After breakfast your guides provide two group transfers to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport for early morning and mid-morning departures.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Nights 1, 2 & 3

Stempels Hotel
Haarlem, Holland

This hotel is situated in the former printing office and type-foundry Royal Joh Enshede. It was bought and renovated in 2006. It is conveniently located in the heart of Haarlem and has a charming, cosy, yet modern atmosphere.

Nights 4, 5 & 6

Court Hotel
Utrecht, Holland

An historic hotel that once functioned as the Utrecht Courthouse and has been carefully restored. Enjoy its central location, next to the famous Dom Tower and Square. The rooms are light and spacious. 

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these exact hotels are featured on most departures, we occasionally reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.

Graeme Cunningham

Graeme has guided hiking holidays and walking tours throughout Holland, Scotland, France, Norway and Greece. Although Graeme grew up in Scotland, he now makes Holland his home. In addition to his native language, Graeme speaks fluent Dutch and some French and German. In his free time he enjoys music, travel, reading, Qigong (Chinese exercise) and is currently writing a novel.

Arjen Meurs

Arjens’ area of expertise extends well beyond his native Holland. Fluent in five languages he feels as comfortable speaking about Italian history as he does Cromagnon cave paintings in France. When not guiding, Arjen can be seen (if you look quickly) skating along the series of canals of Holland.