fbpx

Peregrine Travel Centre

Holland Cruise (Panache)

Holland Cruise (Panache)

HLPEW
Call for Price

Book Now Request a callback
Email Us Print

Description

The Netherlands are famous, of course, for tulips, but as a land with a rich artistic and cultural history, it has a lot more besides. The western provinces of this land of water are populated by windmills which sit above the polders and along the very river that gave its name to Amsterdam, whilst cities such as Haarlem and Delft are meccas for lovers of pottery and art. Our barging holidays here uncover some of the country’s hidden gems and are the perfect way to experience the best the country has to offer.

From the colours of the bulb fields to the magnificence of the formal gardens such as the world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens and the buzz of the world’s largest flower auction, tourists are entranced by the unique horticultural expertise of the Dutch. And those who stop off at cities along the way, marvel at the architecture and the engineering feats of the people to beat the sea.

Lovers of culture come from far and wide to tour the renowned Dutch museums. Amsterdam, Leiden and Haarlem will charm you, just as they did the great artists, while other attractions such as the Royal Delft potteries, Aalsmeer flower market and the picturesque harbour town of Enkhuizen are equally memorable.

Please Note: Golf, Family Themed Departures available. Please contact us for more details.

On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.

Trip Name
Holland Cruise (Panache)
Days
7
Overview
Vessel Type: Hotel Barge / River Boat Length: 128 feet / 39.01 meters Passenger Capacity: 12 Panache is a hotel barge that has been fitted out in traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings in the spacious public areas and very comfortable cabin accommodation. In the saloon the panoramic windows let in plenty of natural light, and the tempting cocktail bar and comfortable leather sofas are enhanced by polished hardwood flooring. The separate roomy dining area provides a congenial setting for up to 12 guests to enjoy the gourmet meals and fine wines served on board. The cabin accommodation comprises six generously-sized junior suites which can be in twin or double-bedded configuration. All the en suite bathrooms have twin hand-basins and oversized showers. Outside, the spacious sun deck is the perfect place to unwind and admire the passing scenery in one of the comfortable chairs, or to enjoy being served a long, lazy alfresco lunch at the outside dining table. The heated spa pool and plentiful number of bicycles for you to explore the towpath complete the picture. Panache cruises in Holland in the Spring, when the flowers are in full bloom. This is without a doubt the best time to visit this country, and our cruises in Holland are carefully planned to allow you to experience all that the country has to offer. She then cruising in Champagne for a number of weeks in May & June. The Champagne itineraries typically include Brie cheese tastings, a tour of the Cathedral at Reim, Epernay and of course, tastings at renowned Champagne houses. In the Summer and Autumn, Panache cruises the beautiful and varied waterways of Alsace & Lorraine, a region of France offering a unique mix of French and German cultures, history and local gastronomy. Panache’s voyage through Alsace & Lorraine will give you the opportunity to appreciate the very best of the region, passing storybook villages along the way, visiting places such as Strasbourg, renowned for their Baroque and Romanesque architecture and uniquely, experiencing Europe’s most famous boat elevator!

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Alkmaar
Guests are met in Amsterdam and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Panache. Once on board, enjoy a champagne welcome and an introduction to your crew and hotel barge. Dinner on board.
Day 2 - Day 2 Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans
Perhaps visit the Alkmaar cheese museum and enjoy a cheese tasting, before our first cruise to Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, a place renowned for its wooden windmills, barns and houses built in the traditional Dutch style. After lunch on board, we take a tour of Zaanse Schans, an open air conservation area and museum, giving you a vivid impression of the Dutch way of life in the 17th and 18th centuries. This historical area consists of authentic houses and windmills, an historic shipyard, pewter factory, a cheese and dairy farm and an age-old grocery store dating back to the 1900’s. Dinner on board.
Day 3 - Day 3 Zaanse Schans to Haarlem
We enjoy an early morning cruise to the historic city of Haarlem, dating back to the 13th century. After lunch on board, this afternoon marks a highlight of the week with a visit to the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, known as the ‘Garden of Europe’. There are more than 100 acres filled with over 7 million flowering bulbs and we stroll through a breath-taking backdrop of colour on this unforgettable half-day excursion. Dinner ashore this evening at a local restaurant.
Day 4 - Day 4 Haarlem to Oude Wetering
An optional very early morning tour to Aalsmeer flower auction, where some 17 million cut flowers from all over the world are traded each day. We return to the hotel barge for breakfast, then enjoy a tour of Haarlem. The city is home to the Frans Hals Museum founded in 1862 with its vast collection of Old Masters. Other highlights include St. Bavo’s Cathedral on the main square, where both Handel and Mozart played the magnificent Muller organ, or there is free time to visit a fine selection of boutique shops. After lunch on board, we cruise to our mooring at Oude Wetering where there is time to walk or cycle along the towpaths around the lake. Dinner on board.
Day 5 - Day 5 Oude Wetering to Leiden
After breakfast we cruise to Leiden. Home to one of the oldest universities in the country and the birthplace of Rembrandt, Leiden is an historical city full of charm and character, a perfect place to explore on a bicycle, or simply stroll the banks of the pretty tree-lined canals. This afternoon we take a tour of the city and a private boat trip, with your tour leader explaining the history that dates back to Roman times and more recent sites such as the church, St. Pieterskerk, from which the pilgrims departed for America. Free time to explore the many local cafes, boutique shops, markets and antique dealers. Dinner on board.
Day 6 - Day 6 Leiden to Delft
Morning cruise arriving in Delft by lunchtime, our final mooring. Delft is renowned for its pottery ceramic products, which were styled on the imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century. This beautiful, unspoilt town is more than 750 years old, and began as the home port of the Dutch East India Company. Following lunch, we visit the Royal Delft factory, just 5 minutes’ walk from our mooring to learn how this world-famous porcelain is made. You will have time during the afternoon to explore Delft further. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7 - Day 7 Delft
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Amsterdam.
Day 8 - Please Note:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Tour Keukenhof Gardens with the largest display of flowers in the world
    • Visit the Aalsmeer flower auction
    • Tour the fascinating conservation area at Enkhuizen
    • Visit the Royal Delft pottery to see the world famous earthenware being hand-made and painted
    • Tour picturesque Haarlem and visit a museum of the Dutch painter, Franz Hals
    • Tour the charming city of Leiden, Rembrandt’s birthplace

Map

Related products

Recent Blog Posts

Browse Trips in

Netherlands
More of activity:
Northern Europe Cruises