Flavours of the Low Countries

Your holiday begins with either an accompanied flight from London Heathrow to Brussels or a rail journey from St. Pancras to Brussels Midi and road transfer to Antwerp.

Historic Brussels, capital of Belgium, principal seat of the Belgian Royal Family, and capital of the European Union, is full of hidden architectural treasures. Art deco facades and regal 19th century mansions contrast with the city’s medieval core, where the Grand Place is considered one
of the world’s most beautiful squares.

Belgium is the fatherland of quality beer brewing, creating a huge variety of different styles. With such a rich history, Belgium is a must for any true beer lover wanting to sample the delights of regional craft ales.

Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands, as you will discover when strolling through the historic inner city. Until the second half of the 19th century, Maastricht was a fortified city. Churches, city walls, monumental merchant houses and big squares merge seemlessly. A wide variety of architectural styles range from Roman excavations to the modern designs.

Just outside Maastricht, various vineyards grace the slopes of the Limburg hills. The vineyards of Maastricht are some of the oldest in The Netherlands, initially planted back in Roman times. Hoeve Nekum has been home to the Bollen family since 1934 and the first vines were planted on their farmlands in 1988. We sample the prize-winning wines produced from the lime-rich soil which gives a fresh and fruity style with a distinct mineral taste.

Learn how Vincent van Gogh lived and worked and what inspired him during his first years as a painter at the Van Gogh Village of Nuenen. At 30 years of age, in 1883, Vincent van Gogh moved back in with his parents in Nuenen and stayed there for two years. During this period, he focused entirely on his art, and created over one quarter of his total works. He was inspired by the beautiful landscape and the simple life of people living near Nuenen and recorded both on his canvases.

We spend the afternoon relaxing on board as we sail the scenic Dutch waterways to Schoonhoven.

Gouda cheese is famous throughout the world and is now one of The Netherlands’ biggest exports, despite its humble origins from this picturesque city in the province of Zuid-Holland. Today, 60% of Dutch cheese is produced in the region surrounding the city of Gouda, also known as Cheese Valley. The Cheese and Craft Museum, located in the Gouda Weigh House, reveals local history, tells how the cheese is made and how the products have been weighed and traded for centuries.

Our walking tour of Gouda’s centuries-old historic centre features splendid monuments, such as the Sint Janskerk. This church, measuring 123 metres long, is the longest church in The Netherlands and is world-famous for its Gouda windows. Another must-see is the old City Hall, a
beautiful monument dating back to 1450.

No visit to The Netherlands in spring would be complete without a visit to Keukenhof Gardens to experience the gorgeous views of blooming Dutch tulips and other flowers for which The Netherlands is famous. The world famous gardens at Keukenhof encompass over 70 acres of gardens and parkland and are a spectacular feast for the senses. Here, we admire the spectacular displays of over seven million bulbs in bloom and over 80 different varieties of trees set amongst shimmering lakes and beautiful water gardens.

The gardens and pavilions show a fantastic collection of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises, lilies and many other flowers. You will be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colours and perfumes.

After breakfast we are transferred to either Amsterdam airport or Brussels Midi railway station for the return journey to the UK.