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

9  Days/8nights from Euro 1054
  1Apr - 15 Nov 2009

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 ( US$ rate varies depending on the exchange rate) **

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

Tour descriptions and optional tours in Amsterdam

Tour descriptions:

Panoramic Circle Tour

From Rokin 10 Daily at 8:45 AM and 1:45 PM

(From Paulus Potterstraat 8 at 9.30 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 ³ till Sept. 4^th ) Edam is replaced by Alkmaar. See Cheese Market.

Optional excursions 

Anne Frank House, Diamond Factory and Canal Cruise                € 35

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                                                                € 43

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 3rd – September 4^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 

Keukenhof Flowershow                                                                               € 34

Daily at 09.30 AM and 2.30 P M (March 19 - May 21)

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                                                        €49.50

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)

 Antwerp and Brussels                                                           € 53

Monday at 09.30 AM(  May 1-Aug31)

Monday and Thursday at 09.30 AM (Jul1 - Aug 31))

Duration ± 11 hours

An interesting drive through the Dutch country side to Antwerp; a city filled with history where we will have time for a stroll at the main square near the Cathedral. We will then continue on to the city of Brussels for an extensive city tour. We will see the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Grand Place, and of course the world famous Manneken Pis. As an optional sight you have the opportunity to see the genuine lace making. After spending free time spend in the city, we will return to Amsterdam.

 Bruges                                                                               € 59, -

Saturday  at 09.30 AM (19Mar-1Nov)

Wednesday and Saturday at 09.30 AM (July 1 –^{Aug 31})

Duration ± 12 hours

Through the Dutch landscape we will drive to Belgium and visit one of the most enchanting cities in Europe, the historical city of Bruges.

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)

Tour description and optional tours Belgium (from Brussels):

BRUSSELS CITY TOUR: Duration: +-2.30 hours
Departure: 10.00 A.M  and 2PM Every day All year around

We start our tour with a short walk to the Grand Place, worldfamous market square and the heart of medieval Brussels with its incomparable City Hall and precious Guild Houses. By coach we take you for an extensive drive tgrough the city, the Common market Buildings, the Cinquantenaire, Art Noveau houses, the Heysel with the Atomium, the Chinese Pavillion and the Japanese Pagoda, the Congress Column, the Parliament, the City Park, the Law Courts. Well see the charming Sablonsquare where we have a stop for a short visit to a lace house.

GHENT & BRUGES: Duration: +- 9.30 hours Low season(Nov-March) every tue, Thu, Sat and Sun , High Season (Apr-Oct) every day    Departure: 9.00am

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 ! 

ANTWERPEN: Duration: +- 5.30 hours p
Departure: 1.30 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (High Season) , Wednesday, Saturday low season

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 / 31 € PER PERSON

Entrance fee Our Lady Cathedral included.


WATERLOO: Duration: +- 4.30 hours Apr-Oct 2009
Departure: 1.30 pm on Sunday

RATE / PP 31 € 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).


AMSTERDAM - HOLLAND: Duration: +- 12.30 hours Apr-Oct Departure: 09.00 am on Tuesday & Saturday

RATE / PP 50 € PER PERSON

Holland is only at a stone's throw away and nevertheless the country is strikingly different. Along Antwerp, we cross the Dutch border, and driving through the endless polders with countless windmills we reach the Amsterdam area. First we visit a traditional craftstcentre in a typical farm and get familiar with everything that made the glory of Holland : tasty cheese, nice clogs and beautiful pottery. Possibility for lunch (optional).
In the afternoon we visit Amsterdam. We offer you an opportunity to make a boat tour along the many picturesque canals (optional) and we have a break and enjoy some free time at the "Dam" square which is famous for its royal palace.

LUXEMBOURG AND THE ARDENNES: Duration: +- 12.00 hours Apr-Oct Departure: 09.00 am on Sunday

RATE / PP 50 € PER PERSON

After an hour's drive, you visit the world-famous caves at Han-sur-Lesse (Optional) The impressive stalagmites and stalagtites are simply breathtaking. Afterwards we drive to Luxemburg, the capital of the Grand-Duchy. We start our visit with a sightseeing tour. After lunch we have a walk through the old city and there is some time off. 
On the way back to Brussels, we stop in picturesque Dinant. We visit the impressive citadel which overlooks the town(optional). We drive back to Brussels following the river Meuse as far as Namur