Netherlands·April 29 - May 6 2025

Tulip Time in Holland!

Holland is the tulip capital of the world, but there is so much more to see. Art, canals, windmills, and chic Dutch shops to name a few!

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Overview

Overview

The Dutch countryside transforms into a breathtaking wonderland with vibrant tulip fields stretching endlessly as Spring unfolds. It's a sight that will stay with you forever. Join us in Amsterdam, one of Europe's most enchanting cities, where the art, culture, architecture, and history will capture your heart. We'll journey from Amsterdam to Delft, famous for its porcelain and picturesque canals. We'll stop at the Keukenhof Gardens to witness Holland's largest and most stunning display of bulbs. Walking through these meticulously curated gardens is like stepping into a living canvas, with the air filled with the scent of tulips. We'll also explore the country's capital, The Hague, the ancient town of Haarlem, and the UNESCO site of Kinderdijk, each with unique and hidden charms. Being a Girls' Guide trip, we focus on the culinary delights, from the freshest seafood to rijsttaffel, poffertjes, and, of course, the renowned Dutch cheese. Spend an unforgettable week with us—there's no better way to experience the magic of Spring!

Highlights

Stroll through fields of tulips and pick your own bouquet

Stroll through fields of tulips and pick your own bouquet

Tour the Van Gogh Museum

Tour the Van Gogh Museum

Take a private canal cruise with a glass of bubbly

Take a private canal cruise with a glass of bubbly

Shop hip stores

Shop hip stores

Savor a 5-course modern dutch culinary treat

Savor a 5-course modern dutch culinary treat

Discover a picturesque canal village

Discover a picturesque canal village

Enjoy a Rijstaffel (Rice Table)

Enjoy a Rijstaffel (Rice Table)

Lay Your Eyes on a Masterpiece - the Girl with the Pearl Earring

Lay Your Eyes on a Masterpiece - the Girl with the Pearl Earring

Tour secret flower-infused courtyards in Haarlem

Tour secret flower-infused courtyards in Haarlem

Visit the UNESCO village Kinderdijk

Visit the UNESCO village Kinderdijk

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip

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Day 1: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Arrive in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning. To rest and adjust to the local time, consider arriving a day early (see Add-ons section). Take a taxi from the airport to the centrally located Hotel Estheréa, beautifully situated on one of Amsterdam's iconic canals.

Meet in the hotel lobby at 1:30 pm for a historical canal tour by private boat, complete with a glass of bubbly. After the tour, we'll visit the Anne Frank House for an introductory program and audio tour.

In the evening, enjoy Dutch cheese and sausages paired with local beer at a traditional brown bar called The Pantry.

Included

Dinner

Canal Cruise

Anne Frank House

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Day 2: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll walk to the world’s only floating flower market, the Bloom MarketFounded in 1862, it is on the Singel Canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein in Amsterdam’s southern canal belt. It has 15 souvenir and gift shops. Only a few still sell fresh flowers.  

From the Bloom Market, we'll wander over to the famous Rijksmuseum to see some of the Dutch masterpieces that define the country’s artwork.  

You can have lunch at your own chosen venue before we see the illustrious Van Gogh Museum. Here we’ll wander around the refurbished museum with a guide and pick out our favorite Van Gogh. 

After a little rest back at our hotel, we’ll take a 20-minute cab drive into the suburbs for a unique dining experience – a vegetable-forward meal enjoyed with natural wines inside a greenhouse.  This team takes farm-to-table dining to the next level.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Cocktail making class

Museum entrances

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Day 3: Thursday, May 1, 2025

Today is our BIG tulip day! We’ll explore the Tulip Bulb Fields and meet with a tulip grower. We’ll have lunch at a country cafe and stop to pick our own tulip bouquet. .

After a small break back at our hotel, we’ll dine this evening on the classic rijsttaffel, a medley of small plate dishes from Indonesia, something every self-respecting Dutchman or woman adores. Why Indonesian food in the Netherlands, you ask? The Dutch colonized Indonesia back when that was in vogue. Among the most horrible things, the one good thing to come of this colonial era is the elaborate meal interpreted by the Dutch, a never-ending parade of small Indonesian-inspired plates laid out to form a proper celebratory feast.

Bon Appétite!

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Day 4: Friday, May 2, 2025

Today, we leave Amsterdam and head for Delft, the small city famous for its porcelain and its gorgeous small canals. En route, we’ll stop and see the largest formal display of bulbs in Holland at the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, established in the 15th century.

After, we’ll fill ourselves up on some lekker broodjes (tasty sandwiches) at lunch in Leiden at Lot En De Walvis on the main canal. 

Then, we’ll arrive at Delft proper, where we’ll check in to the stylish Hotel Arsenaal, less than a 10-minute walk into the very center of darling Delft.

This afternoon, we’ll take a guided historical tour of this lovely city and learn about one of Delft’s most famous residents, Johannes Vermeer

Dinner tonight will be at a cozy, classic Dutch restaurant, Huszar, a local favorite.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Day 5: Saturday, May 3, 2025

Today, we’ll travel to Alksmaar for the cheese market, which has taken place here since 1365! We’ll get a private behind-the-scenes tour and then have time to roam around and shop this extremely charming village on your own. We’ll meet for lunchthen head for Haarlem, where we’ll visit a few of the “hofjes” hidden around the city. 

The hofjes were an early way of caring for the elderly. They share a common trait - lovely flower-filled courtyards. 

We’ve had a big day – relax, and enjoy dinner on your own tonight. 

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Not Included

Dinner

kinderdijk

Day 6: Sunday, May 4, 2025

Before heading out today, we’ll try poffertjesdelicious Dutch pancakes. They’re scrumptious, so you’re in for a treat. 

Now, we’re off to a UNESCO World Heritage site about 40 minutes away. The village of Kinderdijk near Rotterdam is home to some of the Netherlands’ most famous windmills. Twenty windmills were built here in the 1700s and have been keeping this waterside town dry for hundreds of years. We’ll tour the mills and museum, ride a boat, and learn about life here with a guided tour. We’ll enjoy a healthy lunch with a riverside view. 

Back in Delft, you’ll have time to explore and shop on your own. 

We’ll convene for our farewell meal tonight at a modern, lively cafe, the Post Office (in Dutch). We’ll toast to our week in Tulip Heaven and the new friendships we’ve made.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

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Day 7: Monday, May 5, 2025

We have a late check-out and a final stroll around Delft. 

We’ll spend our last day in the capital of the Netherlands, the Hague. Here, we’ll tour the town’s parliamentary buildings, the Binnenhof, built for the counts of Holland in the 13th century. These buildings are some of the world’s oldest parliamentary buildings still in use and one of the Netherlands’ top heritage sites. We’ll lunch at a charming city bistro

Later, we’ll pop in to see the unspeakably famous painting, the Girl with Pearl Earring by Vermeer and works by Rembrandt. The paintings are housed in the small but lovely Mauritshuis Museum.

We will enjoy our final dinner tonight in the Hague and then head back to the hotel for our final sleep together. We’ll toast to our week in Tulip Heaven and the new friends we’ve made. 

Included

All meals

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Day 8: Tuesday, May 6, 2024

All good things must come to an end. After breakfast, we’ll say our goodbyes, share our photos, and depart with many fond memories and new friends. We will have a mid-morning group transport to the airport. 

Included

Breakfast

Group airport transfer

You'll Be Staying Here

Hotel Estheréa

Hotel Estheréa

Everyone has their own fabulous room at Hotel Estheréa.

Hotel Arsenaal

Hotel Arsenaal

Hotel Arsenaal is within walking distance of the quaint Delft city center.

Hosts

Katrin Hodapp

Katrin Hodapp

A 25-year resident in her adopted Paris. Katrin has turned from a career as an international literary agent to sharing her passion for travel and art. She speaks five languages fluently and, when not guiding visitors in France, Holland, and Morocco, translates for the film industry. She's always keen to find the perfect view, the ideal bistro, and the hidden gem to make the trips she leads memorable.

Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room!

FROM$8,485

Add Ons

Arrive one day early in Holland

Arrive one day early in Holland

Includes one night at the Estherea Boutique Hotel and a full breakfast

PRICE$550.00

ADD THIS

" A glimpse into the heart of the Netherlands"

Tulip Time in Holland

From mid-March to late May, the Netherlands transforms into a stunning tapestry of color as tulips bloom across the countryside. Vast fields burst into vibrant hues, creating a mesmerizing patchwork quilt of red, yellow, pink, and purple. As you travel through the region, you'll encounter these breathtaking flower fields stretching as far as the eye can see. The sight of tulips in full bloom is truly spectacular, with their brilliant colors painting the landscape and creating a visual feast. Whether you're walking through a tulip garden or driving past endless rows of flowers, the experience is unforgettable and a true highlight of spring in the Netherlands.

Tulip Time in Holland

What's Included

What's Included

Everything specified in the itinerary

All meals (except where indicated), including beer & wine with dinner

Two glasses of wine or beer with dinner

Accommodations at unique, 4-star or better hotels

Boat and canal tours

All transportation during the trip (except where indicated)

Expert guides and trip leaders

Museum, entry fees, and guided tours

Roundtrip airfare to Amsterdam

First transfer from airport to our hotel in Amsterdam

Spa Treatments desired

Any personal souvenirs or purchases

Additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals

Pre-trip nights

Reviews

"Girls’ Guide to the World is perfect for the traveler who wants a first-class trip with unique experiences. The hotels are fabulous, the meals delicious, and the guides are wonderful. You will feel pampered and well cared for the entire time. I highly recommend it for the woman who wants to travel alone or with a friend."

Kathy M, May 2023 on Trip Advisor

I traveled to The Netherlands with Girls' Guide to the World and had a wonderful experience. Of course being there for the tulips was beautiful! The hotels and restaurant choices were terrific and our leader was delightful. I look forward to my next trip with this company....

Joanne S, April 2023 on Trip Advisor

FAQs

The trip starts on the afternoon of April 29th. If you're traveling overnight, consider arriving a day or two early to rest and adjust. Extra nights at the first hotel are usually available in the Add-Ons section.  

About 8 -10 weeks before the trip starts, we'll organize a Zoom video call so everyone on the trip can meet one another and go over any last-minute details, including what to pack. Also, here's a great website that will help you with packing and travel trips.

Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

Expect the weather to be in the mid to high 50's F and partly cloudy. Holland can experience spring showers, so it's advisable to bring a rain jacket.

Inquire about this trip

Tulip Time in Holland!

Netherlands· April 29 - May 6 2025· 7 nights