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Insight - Country Roads of Belgium, Luxembourg & the Netherlands - Classic Group (03/2024 - 09/2024) (E918ZN19)

11 Days From Brussels to Amsterdam 
Tour Style: Country Roads
Insight Brochure Price from $3,695.00
Brochures: Europe & Britain Premium 2023 v2, Europe & Britain Premium 2024 v1
Visits: Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

This 11-day guided tour whisks you through scenic Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. In Luxembourg, indulge in a farm-to-table feast at the horse-stables-turned-restaurant L'Écurie du Parc, then stroll past the 12th-Century Clervaux Castle after dinner. Climb to the top of the star-shaped Mardasson Monument for a birds-eye view of the fields where the World War II’s Battle of the Bulge was fought. Cruise through Amsterdam’s canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sailing past 16th-Century merchant houses and the iconic Magere Brug — the skinny, white-painted wood bridge over the Amstel River. Later, join a Local Expert at the Rijksmuseum, where you can view Rembrandt's ‘Night Watch’, and see a shoemaker whittle wood into traditional clogs.
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Brussels: Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier, before exploring Brussels with your Local Expert.
  • Brussels: Learn about Napoloean's final defeat on a visit to the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo. This neoclassical building houses a monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.

Well-being
  • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
  • : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
  • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Top Rated Highlights
  • Keukenhof: Visit Keukenhof to see millions of multi-coloured bulb-flowers in bloom on select departures.
  • Brussels: Visit the Grand Place and view the Mannekin Pis.
  • Brussels: Learn about Napoloean's final defeat on a visit to the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo. This neoclassical building houses a monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.
  • Brussels: See the Atomium, and the Chinese and Japanese Pavilions.
  • Ghent: Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral with a Local Expert, former home of the Van Eyck masterpiece, and see the Castle of the Counts.
  • Bruges: Visit the Market Square and famous belfry of the Market Hall with your Local Expert. See the Gothic town hall in Burg Square and the frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel.
  • Luxembourg City: With your Local Expert, enjoy views over the Petrusse Ravine and walk through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Duke and visit the grave of U.S. General George S. Patton. Lookout from the Pont Adolphe.
  • Bastogne: Experience a fascinating insight into the history of the World War II at the modern Bastogne War Museum. Visit the Mardasson Monument, dedicated to those who fell during the Battle of the Bulge.
  • Rotterdam: Witness the impressive market hall and Erasmus Bridge on your orientation of this modern city.
  • Delft: Visit one of the manufacturers of original Delft blue pottery and see the potters at work on your guided tour.
  • The Hague: See the Binnenhof courtyards and the Peace Palace.
  • Amsterdam: Led by your Travel Director, wander the city to see the floating flower market, Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
  • Amsterdam: Cruise along the old waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
  • Amsterdam: Explore the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum and largest art museum in the Netherlands, with a local art historian. Witness famous works by Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt.

Travel Director
  • : "I love to see how guests respond to Rotterdam, because it confounds their expectations. The wacky modern architecture of the Markthal (shaped like a giant horseshoe), the world-famous “tilting” Cube Houses and aptly nicknamed “pencil case" make for wonderful, quirky photo souvenirs. This bustling port city is such a contrast to anything that they experienced - even the views from our hotel to the Ersamus Bridge are a delight to the eye."
  • : "It's magical to see how a group of guests comes together over the course of our trip. I can always tell when that's happening because suddenly the enthusiasm is palpable."
  • : "I decided to become a Travel Director because I love the joy of discovery. When people see a place they've dreamed about, tasted something they've only read about, and hear the music and stories of a place they're exploring, we all share a joyful creation of lifelong memories."

Summary
  • : City tours of Ghent, Bruges and Luxembourg City, all with Local Experts.

Authentic Dining
  • Brussels: Your delightful first evening also includes a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in the heart of the Old Town with an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.
  • Brussels: Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier, before exploring Brussels with your Local Expert.
  • Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont: Visit the late 19th century abbey, built upon what was once wild and barren land. Then, learn about the production secrets of the Chimay Trappist beers and cheeses before sampling freshly brewed beer along with a taste of golden-crusted cheese.
  • Luxembourg City: At restaurant Les Écuires du Parc, savour a freshly prepared farm-to-table meal of locally sourced, seasonal produce.
  • Monnickendam: Enjoy a Celebration Dinner with wine in an elegant restaurant in the quaint village of Monnickendam.
  • Dining Summary: 5 Dinner with Wine (DW), and 10 Breakfast (B)

Make Travel Matter
  • Brussels: Experience a Dine-Around Evening. Diverse options reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the city, including We Exist, an initiative supporting Syrian immigrants.

Insight Experiences
  • Monnickendam: Journey through the polder landscape to visit Monnickendam. Along the way, visit a rustic cheese workshop to learn the secrets of the dairy industry and witness the ancient art of clog making.

Insight Tour Itinerary

Day 1Welcome to Brussels
Airport transfers depart Brussels airport for your centrally-located hotel at 09:00, 11:00 and 14:30. After checking in, the afternoon is yours to relax. At 17:00, join your Travel Director for a visit to the cheeky Manneken Pis statue and a leisurely stroll around the Grand Place, voted the most beautiful square in Europe. Your delightful first evening also includes a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in the heart of the Old Town, with an opportunity to mingle with your fellow travellers.
Visits: Brussels
Meals: Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: NH Collection Brussels Centre.
Day 2The Battlefield of Waterloo or Chocolate Truffle Making Lesson Relaxed Start
Explore Brussels with Insight Choice. Learn about Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo or alternatively, join your Local Expert for a walking tour through the streets of Brussels visiting its Chocolate Museum for a private lesson with a master chocolatier. Return to Brussels, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the historic town of Antwerp. In the evening, choose from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening.
Visits: Brussels, Waterloo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: NH Collection Brussels Centre.
Day 3Ghent and on to Bruges
In the morning, admire the contrast of the Chinese and Japanese Pavilions and the impressive, metallic spheres of the Atomium.Your journey then crosses the pasture lands of Belgian Flanders to reach Ghent, the City of Flowers, offering a fascinating cultural mix of medieval heritage and modern urban life.With a Local Expert, take a stroll through the historical streets and be mesmerised by the outstanding beauty of its quays, churches and squares. Visit St. Bavo's Cathedral, former home of the Eyck masterpiece, and see the Castle of the Counts. We continue to Bruges, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
Visits: Brussels, Ghent, Bruges
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Bruges.
Day 4Sightseeing Bruges Relaxed Start
Meet your Local Expert in Bruges for a stroll along cobbled streets, lined with high-gabled houses from the 16th century. Visit the Market Square dominated by the 83-meter medieval bell tower, The Belfry of Bruges. Explore Burg Square with its ornate Gothic town hall and glorious frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel. With your free afternoon, perhaps join an Optional Experience to visit the historic town of Ypres? Explore the market square and attend the famous Last Post Ceremony, commemorating the fallen Allied Forces on the surrounding Flanders Fields.
Visits: Bruges
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Bruges.
Day 5Luxembourg
Travel into the French-speaking region of Wallonia, where picturesque country roads lead you to the late 19th century Scourmont Abbey. The surrounding plateau on which it is built was once considered wild and barren land, but the Trappist monks have toiled for over 100 years to create a successful farm, brewery and cheese plant. Visit the Chimay Experience to learn about the production secrets of Chimay Trappist beers. Your visit concludes with a sample of freshly brewed beer and a taste of golden-crusted cheese.  Continue on to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to arrive at your 18th century château home for two nights. In the evening, you will be served a fresh and delicious Farm-to-Table Dinner at restaurant L'Écurie du Parc. See the 12th century Clervaux Castle illuminated on your stroll after dinner.
Visits: Bruges, Clervaux
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Château d'Urspelt (Castle Rooms), Clervaux.
Day 6Luxembourg City and Countryside
Your travels continue to Luxembourg City for sightseeing with your Local Expert. Visit the grave of U.S. General George S. Patton, laid to rest alongside the men who fought and died in his great Third Army. Admire the view over the Petrusse Ravine from the Pont Adolphe and stroll through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Duke. With the afternoon free for you to explore at your leisure, perhaps join an Optional Experience to the ancient Roman city of Trier, home town of Karl Marx, to explore with a Local Expert?
Visits: Clervaux, Luxembourg City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Château d'Urspelt (Castle Rooms), Clervaux.
Day 7Explore Bastogne then on to Rotterdam
Head for Bastogne to visit the Mardasson Monument, a star-shaped memorial dedicated to the U.S. troops who died during Battle of the Bulge in World War II. You may choose to climb to the top for a perspective of what it might have been like during the winter of 1944. Visit the Bastogne War Museum, a fascinating modern and interactive memorial centre highlighting the causes, events and consequences of WWII. Travel through the centre of Belgium as your journey continues to Rotterdam, the world's largest port rebuilt after wartime devastation. During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the impressive market hall and its radical modern design and the Erasmus Bridge.
Visits: Clervaux, Rotterdam
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre.
Day 8Delft and The Hague
Visit one of the manufacturers of original Delft blue pottery before moving on to the Hague, the elegant governmental centre of the Netherlands. See the Binnenhof courtyards where the Parliament is situated and the impressive Peace Palace. Select departures visit Keukenhof Gardens one of the world's largest flower gardens, an unforgettable experience not to be missed. Pass through picturesque villages and windmills of the Dutch countryside to Amsterdam for three fabulous nights.
Visits: Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, Amsterdam
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Day 9Amsterdam Sightseeing Relaxed Start
Today you explore Amsterdam, a living museum of the 17th century, yet still a vibrant metropolis and port. The best way to see this remarkable city is from the water as you cruise through the canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the elegant merchant houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, their facades are a reflection of when trade flourished during Amsterdam's Golden Age. Relax as you pass stunning gables, beautiful churches and the iconic Magere Brug, better known as the Skinny Bridge. Disembark your cruise to wander the city and see the floating flower market, Dam Square and the Royal Palace. The rest of the day is at your leisure. With your free time, perhaps venture out to the Dutch Countryside to the village of Marken?
Visits: Amsterdam
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Day 10A True Dutch Delight Relaxed Start
If you choose, you could start the morning by visiting the world's largest flower auction at Aalsmeer? Later, in Amsterdam, visit the newly refurbished Rijksmuseum with a Local Expert, Amsterdam's famed treasure trove of Dutch art, housing Rembrandt's ‘Night Watch.' Journey to the village of Monnikendam, learn the secrets of the Cheese Maker's craft, from milk to the finished product. Then witness a traditional Shoemaker turn a block of wood into clogs. In the evening, join your newfound friends and Travel Director at a beautiful restaurant in Monnikendam to enjoy your Celebration Dinner.
Visits: Amsterdam, Monnickendam
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam.
Day 11Depart Amsterdam
Transfers to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport arrive at 08:00 and 10:00.
Visits: Amsterdam
Meals: Breakfast


Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin, Twinshare
Child: ages 5 to 17

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Insight Tour Dates


Guaranteed Departure  indicates Guaranteed Departure
*Tour StartRetailRequest
Sat 03/30/24 $3,775.00
Sat 04/06/24 $3,775.00
Sat 04/13/24 $3,975.00
Sat 04/20/24 $3,975.00
Sat 04/27/24 $3,975.00
Sat 05/11/24 $3,895.00
Sat 05/25/24 $3,695.00
Sat 06/08/24 $3,725.00
Sat 07/06/24 $3,695.00
Sat 07/20/24 $3,695.00
Sat 08/03/24 $3,695.00
Sat 08/31/24 $3,925.00
Sat 09/14/24 $3,925.00
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