Belgium & The Netherlands

Itinerary

Belgium & the Netherlands

Tour IntroHop across the Channel and delve into a world of cobbled streets, charming harbours and colourful market squares away from the usual tourist hotspots in lovely Belgium and the Netherlands. On this break, enjoy a taste of the seaside in Ostend and complement Bruges with Ghent, two of Belgium's finest medieval cities, before moving into Holland. You'll soon see that beyond busy Amsterdam lies a different side of the Netherlands, where historic ports, fishing villages and canals lined with gabled townhouses await. Think timeless customs and quaint vistas on an excursion to Enkhuizen, Marken, Volendam, souvenir shop in the home of blue-and-white Delft pottery and follow in the footsteps of royalty on an optional excursion to spectacular Paleis Het Loo. This is Belgium and the Netherlands at its most charming.

Highlights

Highlights

• Return coach travel & LeShuttle crossings
• 2 nights at the Courtyard by Marriott, Ghent (JG4 rating) with breakfast plus 1 dinner
• 4 nights at the Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant, Amersfoort (JG3+ rating) with breakfast plus 2 dinners
• Excursions to Ostend, Bruges, Enkhuizen, Marken, Volendam, Delft, The Hague & Scheveningen

Optional excursion to Paleis Het Loo & Arnhem (£35pp) 
Optional entrance to Royal Delft Museum (£12pp)

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 1LeShuttle to Calais and on to the Courtyard by Marriott, Ghent, where we stay for the next two nights.

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 2Our first excursion takes us to Ostend, Belgium’s premier coastal resort. Known as ‘the City by the Sea’, Ostend is a cosmopolitan gem that boasts miles of sandy beaches, a beachfront promenade, a yachting marina plus a whole host of shops, bars and restaurants. Seafood lovers won't want to miss the famous seafood stalls near the harbour, serving everything from fresh prawns and oysters to traditional Belgian specialities.
We leave the seaside and head to our second stop, Bruges, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval gems. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring its cobbled streets, picturesque canals and grand market squares, discover independent boutiques and tempting chocolate shops or simply relax in one of the many cafés and restaurants overlooking the water. From historic churches and striking architecture to horse-drawn carriages and peaceful waterways, Bruges offers postcard-worthy views around every corner.

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 3After checking out of our hotel, we spend some time in Ghent. Wander through the pedestrianised medieval centre and admire the 12th-century Gravensteen Castle or stroll along the picturesque Graslei, lined with historic guildhalls beside the River Leie. Perhaps treat yourself to a canal cruise of Ghent's waterways to admire the city's skyline from a different perspective. There's also time to enjoy lunch at your leisure - the local speciality is waterzooi stew (followed by waffles!). 
From Ghent, we drive into the Netherlands to check into the Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant, Amersfoort, our base for the next four nights. 

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 4With today spent at leisure, you may like to catch the bus into Amersfoort for some local exploration. This authentic Dutch city boasts the 98m-tall belfry of Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (346 steps if you'd like to see the views!), the old Koppelpoort city gate and the Mondriaan House & Museum (the childhood home of artist Piet Mondrian). Alternatively, it's an easy bus or taxi ride to get to the train station in Amersfoort; and from here you can make the most of great-value, regular and easy direct trains to a variety of places such as Amsterdam, Utrecht or Rotterdam.

Alternatively, join our optional excursion to Palais Het Loo, near Apeldoorn. Built in the late 17th century for King William III and Queen Mary II, this magnificent former royal palace provides an insight into life within its opulent interiors. During an audio-guided tour, discover beautifully preserved rooms, the stables, the garden view from the palace roof and learn about the lives of the Dutch royal family. We take two 30-minute routes, the William & Mary Route and the Wilhelmina's Home Route, followed by free time to explore the stables, gardens and the lovely views from the palace roof.

Afterwards, we continue to Arnhem, one of the most famous sites in Operation Market Garden during World War II, when Allied forces were parachuted behind enemy lines to capture a bridgehead. There's time to see the John Frostbrug ('The Bridge Too Far' during the Battle of Arnhem), visit the free Airborne Museum at the bridge, enjoy parts of Arnhem's 'historic city walk' and perhaps enjoy some early dinner at leisure before returning to the hotel.

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 5A lovely day delving into the traditional side of the Netherlands awaits. After crossing the impressive Markerwaarddijk, the causeway separating the Markermeer from the IJsselmeer, our first stop is historic Enkhuizen, a harbour town on the IJsselmeer with beautiful old buildings, maritime history and plenty to explore at leisure. You may wish to discover the Zuiderzeemuseum (open-air and indoor museum), explore the Drommedaris, a massive 16th-century defense tower that stands at the entrance of the old harbour, or the Bottle Ship Museum (Flessenscheepjesmuseum) located near the Drommedaris and featuring the world's largest collection of ships in bottles. We continue to picturesque Marken, famous for its traditional wooden houses, historic harbour, Paard van Marken lighthouse and traditional clog factory, before ending the day in the delightful former fishing village of Volendam. Renowned for its colourful harbour and traditional Dutch costumes, Volendam offers the perfect setting to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy an early dinner at leisure before we return to the hotel.

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 6

Belgium & the Netherlands

Day 7After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head to Calais for our journey home on LeShuttle. Back to top

Accommodation

Courtyard by Marriott, Ghent JG4

Ideally located on the outskirts of Ghent, the Courtyard by Marriott is the perfect base for exploring the city. All rooms are en suite and feature a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Relax with a drink in the bar, enjoy a meal in one of the hotel's restaurants or make use of the fitness centre after a day of sightseeing.

Hotel Rating

Accommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.

Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant, Amersfoort JG3+

With a woodland garden setting just outside pretty Amersfoort, the Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant offers a lovely base while exploring this region of the Netherlands. You can expect a restaurant, lounge bar, small library, sun terrace with shaded seating area, E-bike hire, pool table, gym and modern guestrooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and free Wi-Fi.

Accessible rooms available, lift

Hotel Rating

JG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.

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