We show you all of Holland
Amsterdam is one of the world’s most vibrant cities. The picturesque Canal Ring, with its ingenious waterways and beautiful 17th-century warehouses, is a popular UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is home to dozens of world-class museums, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and the Anne Frank House. You can find numerous of historical highlights in the city center, which are best to discover by boat or bike. And the thriving restaurant and bar scene will persuade you to stay up and discover the local nightlife. Your private guide will show you all the hotpots you want to see and takes you to the cities hidden gems.
Bergen and Schoorl, coastal strip and sand dune area
Just outside of Amsterdam, you can find some of the Netherlands’ most unique attractions. Charming fishing villages, fortresses and preserved towns that offer you a peak into the Dutch industrial past. Hollands ‘cheese capital’ Alkmaar and the world’s largest flower auction and flower market Aalsmeer. And lesser-known towns such as the artists’ colony and beach resort of Bergen and the beautiful sand dunes of Schoorl. Another highlight is National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, a beautiful area with dunes, beaches, and unique Dutch wildlife.
‘De Polder’and the Zuiderzee Works, reclaimed land and water drainage work
Land reclamation in the Netherlands has a long history. Roughly 17% of the total land area is land reclaimed from either sea or lakes. And about 65% of the Netherlands would be under water at high tide, if it were not for our dikes, dunes, and pumps. There for, showing you the best of Dutch nature also means visiting our unique polders. And the famous Zuiderzee Works that made it possible; the largest hydraulic engineering project undertaken by the Netherlands during the twentieth century.
Friesland, home to the Frisian Lakes and the Eleven Cities
A visit to the north of the country, means crossing the 32-kilometre-long Afsluitdijk (20 miles). The dike has protected the Netherlands against the force of water for almost 90 years. It takes you directly from North-Holland into the province of Friesland. Quirky Friesland made the top 3 of Lonely Planet’s list of hidden gems in Europe. It’s the only Dutch province with its own official language. And it’s home to the Eleven Cities Tour, one of the world’s most prestigious speed and leisure skating events. We’ll show you the charming Frisian capital of Leeuwarden (European Capital of Culture of 2018) and a few of the other picturesque ‘eleven cities’. As well as the beautiful Frisian Lakes and the Wadden area.
Veluwe and Oostvaardersplassen, explore Dutch forests and swamps
Discover the two oldest national parks in the Netherlands: De Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom. Both nature reserves are known for their forests, heathland, sand dunes, estates, and wildlife. At the Hoge Veluwe, in the middle of pristine nature, you can visit the famous Kröller-Müller Museum – with many works by Vincent van Gogh. Less than an hour’s drive from the Veluwe, we’ll also visit the unique nature reserve Oostvaardersplassen. The swamp area is home to many different bird species and large herbivores. Spot wild horses, heck cattle, red deer, geese, spoonbills, cormorants, foxes, hares, and eagles. We can discover the reclaimed land by bike or via the many beautiful walking paths.
Rhenen and the Grebbeberg, where World War II comes to life
If your Dutch heritage dates to World War II, the Grebbeberg Military Field of Honor is an interesting place to visit. This national memorial site is a war cemetery with an information center. More than 850 soldiers are buried on the Field of Honor. They died during the German invasion in May 1940. An impressive reminder of the battle on the Grebbeberg. We can also visit the remaining casemates and trenches hidden in the forest; defenses that were part of the Grebbe Line.
Betuwe and the Land of Meuse & Waal, life between the rivers
The south of the Netherlands is characterized by three major rivers: the Rhine, Meuse, and Waal. This fascinating area, nicknamed ‘Rivierenland’, has several interesting highlights. Fruit orchards, characteristic villages and countless sturdy fortresses and castles characterize the region of the Betuwe. It’s an area where cultural history, water recreation and agriculture go hand in hand. The Land of Meuse & Waal is considered the most rural in ‘Rivierenland’. Impressive dikes, beautiful walking and cycling routes and idyllic villages give the region a nostalgic character.
The Biesbosch National Park, discover the maze of small rivers and streams
The Biesbosch is one of the Netherlands’ largest national parks, right at the estuary of the Meuse and Rhine rivers. The water level changes according to the tides, although nowhere near as dramatically since the Delta Works were completed to protect the Netherlands from flooding. The area is characterized by a massive, interconnected network of rivers and creeks and a lush, jungle-like atmosphere. There is a chance you get to spot the resident beavers that live in over 100 lodges in the area. Or perhaps you’ll see kingfishers and bluethroats, important nesting birds. You can also come across deer, foxes, geese, birds of prey such as the osprey and white-tailed eagle, beetles, dragonflies, crickets, and butterflies.
Zeeland and the Delta Works, beach vibes and flood protection
A visit to Zeeland completes your Nature and Water Works tour around the Netherlands. Here you get the chance to relax at one of the stunning beaches. Discover popular hotspots such as Domburg, Yerseke, Veere, Middelburg and Vlissingen. Pop across the Belgian border and visit the Zwin Nature Park for an interactive nature experience. Explore national park Oosterschelde. Get up-close and personal with the largest flood protection system in the world: the Oosterschelde barrier. And discover everything you want to know about the Delta Works at Deltapark Neeltje Jans.