Journey Through Belgium & the Netherlands

(14 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels with Leuven & Antwerp, Amsterdam with Haarlem, Alkmaar, Gelderland, The Hague & Delft

This is the ultimate private luxury tour of the most interesting historical, cultural and culinary destinations in Belgium and the Netherlands. It features in-depth private touring with expert guides, accommodation at each country's most exclusive hotels, and special activities such as private touring of top art museums, exploring beautiful canal towns, and sampling the region's delicious food and renowned beers.

Begin in romantic Bruges, a fairy-tale town of canals and medieval architecture. Stroll through the atmospheric backstreets, city gates and squares of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a boat tour along the canals. See ancient monuments, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the UNESCO-listed Begijnhof housing, and important museums of Netherlandish art such as the Groeningemuseum and St. John's Hospital. Other options include climbing to the top of the Belfry for views over Bruges, visiting a lacemaking studio, sampling locally made chocolates, biking through lesser-visited neighborhoods and touring a local brewery.

Next, transfer to Brussels, stopping en route to tour Ghent, a charming university town. Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral to see the spectacular Ghent Altarpiece (The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb) by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. Also see highlights such as the beautiful waterfront quays of Graslei and Korenlei, landmark Belfry tower, imposing Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) and medieval Patershol quarter.

Continue to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. During flexible private touring, walk through the iconic Grand-Place, the city's UNESCO-listed main square, to admire the ornate facades of the Town Hall and guild houses. Visit the Horta Museum, an Art Nouveau masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the renowned Manneken-Pis fountain and interesting street art. Perhaps visit the Royal Museum of Fine Arts or other museums, or browse antiques districts and open-air markets. If desired, see the European Parliament and other institutions related to the European Union. One afternoon, take an excursion to the beautiful medieval town of Leuven to see the ornate Gothic town hall, the historic district and art treasures in St. Peter's Church. Artisans of Leisure can also arrange special-interest activities around Brussels such as visiting gardens, a private chocolate-making lesson, Jewish touring, attending a performance at the Bozar or other theaters, a Belgian beer tasting or tour of a local brewery, touring the Belgian Comic Strip Center, visiting locations related to Tintin and his animated adventures, seeing the Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower, or visiting the Atomium and Mini-Europe. If desired, also browse gourmet food markets, and perhaps sample Belgian specialties such as waffles, chocolate pralines and frites with mayonnaise.

Transfer by private vehicle to Amsterdam, stopping en route to tour Antwerp, a lively port city famous for fashion, diamonds and Peter Paul Rubens. During flexible touring, see historical highlights such as the medieval Cathedral of Our Lady, guild houses on the Grote Markt (main square), and the fin-de-siecle Centraal Train Station. Visit museums such as the Rubens House and the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves an important 16th-century printing and publishing house. Perhaps visit the Museum aan de Stroom, a striking contemporary landmark with views over the rooftops of the city, or tour the Red Star Line Museum, the departure point for millions of Europeans immigrating to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Other options in Antwerp include visiting the MoMu fashion museum, learning about diamond processing, walking through the Jewish quarter, seeing contemporary architecture by Zaha Hadid and others, and visiting additional museums such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts or Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (MuHKA).

Continue to Amsterdam, one of the most charming cities in Europe. During private, insider-led touring, tour world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum, and visit the most interesting neighborhoods to see our favorite markets, courtyard gardens, churches, gabled houses, canals and bridges. Also tour historic houses that evoke the Dutch Golden Age, such as House Van Brienen (normally closed to the public), the Rembrandt House Museum or Museum Van Loon, the home of a co-founder of the Dutch East India Company. One evening, enjoy a private dinner cruise through the city's famous canals, sampling dishes from local restaurants along the way. Other options include exploring Amsterdam School architecture sites such as Museum Het Schip, visiting the Dutch Resistance Museum and other Jewish sites, touring a small local brewery, enjoying the Heineken Experience, shopping for antiques, and dining on culinary treats such as rijsttafel ("rice table"), an Indonesian-influenced meal of many small dishes.

One day, take an excursion to Haarlem, where several famous Dutch painters once lived, to visit the courtyard gardens, market square and Frans Hals Museum. Also visit Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum of windmills and traditional architecture, to visit a cheese shop, see colorful pigments being ground in a windmill, watch wooden clogs being made and sample typical Dutch baked goods. Later, opt for a leisurely bike ride or barge cruise through the polders (reclaimed land) to see windmills and villages. Depending on your travel dates, we can also arrange a visit to the beautiful gardens of the Keukenhof (mid-March to mid-May) to stroll among thousands of colorful tulips, hyacinths and other flowers.

Another day, visit the bustling Aalsmeer flower auction, where millions of beautiful flowers are sold and shipped around the world. Continue to Alkmaar to tour its medieval center and visit its weekly cheese market. Alternatively, opt to visit Edam, another cheese-producing town, and nearby Monnickendam, a historic port town.

Also enjoy private excursion to the Gelderland countryside. Tour the Kroller-Muller Museum—an acclaimed art institution in the middle of a national park—and enjoy an appointment to visit the Museum Jachthuis Sint Hubertus, the former residence of the Kroller-Muller family that's known for its proto-Modernist architecture.

Another day, visit The Hague to see renowned art museums and palaces, and then continue to Delft, where influential artist Johannes Vermeer once lived. Tour the historic center's charming canals, backstreets, churches and antiques shops, and visit Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles (Royal Delft) for a private tour and a private Delft Blue painting workshop.

Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a variety of special interest activities in and around Amsterdam, such as attending a performance at the Concertgebouw, biking through the city or countryside, visiting important Jewish history sites around the city, touring museums with an art expert, a cooking lesson at an organic farm, or taking a private excursion to Haarlem, Leiden, Rotterdam or the Kroller-Muller Museum.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world