Touring Holland
Holland is a fantastic short stay destination, particularly if you need to travel by coach from the UK. Many of the famous cities such as The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Delft are located within a short driving distance from one another and not far from the some of the arrival ports from the UK. It is here in the north of the country that you will find some of the features associated so strongly with Holland, such as picturesque canals, step-gabled buildings and an uninterrupted flat landscape where the bulb fields flourish during the spring.
The more undulating landscape of Southern Holland is also popular with music groups, particularly bands, who are warmly welcomed by the locals. Valkenburg is a very popular centre because of its great character, excellent nightlife and inexpensive accommodation.
Not far from the German, Belgian and Luxembourg borders, Valkenburg is an excellent place from which to
visit Vaals, Kerkrade, Aachen and Maastricht.
Why not combine a stay in Holland with a short stay in one of the neighbouring countries such as
France,
Germany,
or Belgium.
Visiting the Hague & Delft
The Hague is well known as the centre of Dutch politics and royalty and has an architectural history which spans seven centuries. The Hague is home to many famous buildings including the Binnehof (Holland's former Parliament building); and several palaces such as the Noordeinde Palace, with its wonderful grandes and the Lange Voorhout Palace, which is now a museum. Art lovers might like to visit the Mauritshuis, where paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan Steen, Franz Hals and other Dutch masters can be seen.
Only twenty minutes' away, famous for its little canals and blue and white pottery, you will find Delft, which is also known as "the City of the House of Orange". The mausoleum of Prince William of Orange can be found in the Nieuwe Kerk on the Market Square, which is also the burial vault of the Dutch Royal Family. The city is closely associated with the renowned Dutch painter Vermeer, who lived and worked in Delft during the 17th Century.
Just outside the Hague is Scheveningen, the local beach resort, where attractions such as Madurodam miniature town and a casino offer alternative actitivities.
Visiting Amsterdam
If you only have one day to spend in Amsterdam, then we recommend that you take the option to be looked after by one of our experienced guides. Recommended visits include Anne Frank's House, (where the teenage Anne and her family hid from the Nazis during the occupation of Amsterdam in WWII) and the Heineken Brewery for a tour and tasting.
Keen shoppers will be delighted with the shopping centres and streets leading down from Dam Square, from where you can wander to the Leidseplein and visit the Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum. Alternatively, a popular way to see the city is to take a boat trip which can be pre-booked for visiting groups.
Visiting Utrecht
Utrecht is the second oldest city in Holland. The numerous canals and wharfs, the Museum Quarter and wonderful cafes, bars and restaurants just off the Cathedral Square, provide a variety of sightseeing and relaxation options for everyone. Discover the courtyards and cloisters which are often hidden off the main streets, as well as the pretty and incredibly small almshouses, which can be found tucked away down alleyways. The Dom Tower that stands at 112 metres, is the highest focal point of the city can be climbed for fantastic views.
Visiting Valkenburg
Valkenburg is many things - a resort, a spa, a centre of relaxed nightlife and a bustling Dutch town. Activities in Valkenburg include "taking the waters", exploring the castle, or visiting the Casino at the top of the Cauberg from where there are lovely views of the surrounding hills. Visitors also enjoy the intriguing man-made Velvet Caves, (which run for hundreds of kilometres beneath the town) a chairlift and an exciting toboggan run!
Concert venues in Holland
- Outdoor Venues:
- The Little White Church in Noordwijkerhout, Delft Market Square, Madurodam, Kijkduin Band Stand, Die Efteling Theme Park
- Churches and Cathedrals:
- Leiden Cathedral, The Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, The English Church in Amsterdam
- Other Indoor Venues:
- Various jazz clubs in Amsterdam (small groups), The Grote Kerk in The Hague (now an arts centre)
