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Netherlands/Belgium

Tulipmania

Program No. 10137RJ
From the floor of the world’s largest flower auction to prized botanical gardens to the works of the Golden Age masters, discover the history of the iconic tulip.
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Homes & Gardens
Length
13 days
Rating (4.71)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,299
Flights start at
900

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
13 days
12 nights
What's Included
23 meals ( 11B, 6L, 6D )
3 expert-led lectures
15 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
11 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). The hotel will store your bags if you wish to explore the area while you wait for your room to become available.
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles over approximately 4 hours; some unavoidable stairs and cobblestones; periods of standing in the museum. Use of public transportation.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Joined at the hotel by an art historian this morning, we’ll settle in for a lecture about art in the Dutch Golden Age, which began in approximately year 1600 when the Dutch gained independence from Spanish Catholic rule, and continued up to about 1672. We’ll then set out for an expert-led walk through the beautiful old city center of Haarlem.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will walk to the Teylers Museum, the first and oldest museum in the Netherlands. Upon arrival, we will be joined by a staff member who will lead the group through the diverse collections that include art, natural history, and science exhibits.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
6:30 a.m. departure; Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time with stops. Walking up to 4 miles total, approx.. 3.5 hours, throughout the day, some places can be very crowded; some stairs in the flower auction building; uneven terrain at gardens and bulb farm.
Breakfast:
Early breakfast in the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After breakfast, we’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the iconic “bollenstreek” (bulb region) in Aalsmeer. The excavated dunes and the healthy sea air have exactly the right ingredients to allow flower bulbs to grow optimally. We’ll visit Royal Flora Holland, the world’s largest flower auction. While the auction now takes place fully online, we will learn about the history of the auction and flower production from our Group Leader as we take in the hustle and bustle of the trade center. Then, we will drive a short distance to visit the Aalsmeer Historic Garden where we will learn from a local expert about the history of flower production in the Netherlands. These iconic botanical grounds exemplify four centuries of living history and represent the evolving significance of flowers in Dutch life. Afterwards, we will make another short transfer to visit the Cruquius Museum, a former steam pumping station, which pumped all the water out of the former Haarlemmerlake. A member of the museum staff will show us around and explain how this facility functioned.
Lunch:
At the museum restaurant.
Afternoon:
After a short motorcoach ride, we’ll meet a bulb-farmer who will lead us around the fields while explaining all about his company and bulb growing in general. We’ll then return to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles roundtrip, approximately 1-hour total riding time. Amount of walking at de Keukenhof Gardens dependent on personal interest; some uneven terrain in the gardens.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will be joined by a historian for a lecture on the history of tulips and their cultural role in the region. We will then board a motorcoach for an all-day field trip at the Keukenhof, the Netherlands’ most famous open-air flower park with about 6 million blooming bulbs. At your own pace, take time to explore the expansive grounds seeing many types of flora, stroll through greenhouses, and learn about the gorgeous flowers on site.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our self-led field trip at the Keukenhof. At a predetermined time and place, we’ll meet for our group transfer back to Haarlem. Upon return to the hotel, take some time to freshen up and relax before we meet for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 37 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour total riding time with stops. Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day approx.. 3.5 hours, some places can be very crowded; cobblestones and stairs; periods of standing in the museum. Getting on/off a boat; ride is approximately 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart the hotel by motorcoach. Arriving to the dock in Amsterdam, we’ll go on a field trip through the canals of Amsterdam by boat as our Group Leader offers commentary. Continuing our field trip, we’ll go on a walk led by a local expert through the city center, which will end near the flower market. On our way, we’ll pass by such sites as the Old Church, the National Monument, the Royal Palace, and the New Church.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We'll then travel to the Amsterdam Historical Museum to see the glory of the Dutch Golden Age. As we move through the museum led by a museum staff person, we will learn about the history of Amsterdam and the significance of certain pieces in the exhibitions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We’ll then return to the hotel by motorcoach. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 37 miles roundtrip, approximately 1-hour total riding time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours; city sidewalks and in the museum; some places may be very crowded. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Via motorcoach, we’ll arrive for a field trip led by a museum expert at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. On site, we’ll see the art of the Golden Age, including work by masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. Once our expert-led exploration concludes, you may choose to continue to explore the museum on your own. Tickets are valid for the day, but do not allow for re-entry.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Amsterdam. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Transportation to the hotel will be available at two different times from a designated location, or you may make your own way back to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 136 miles total throughout the day; approximately 2.5 hours total riding time with stops for field trips. Walking about 2 miles approx. 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to Ghent. On our way, we will enjoy a drive through Rotterdam to learn about the city’s architecture. During our field trip, we will see such sites as the famous Cubic Houses, which are like an M.C. Escher drawing brought to life. We will end our motorcoach ride at the famous Market Hall of Rotterdam.
Lunch:
On your own in the Market Hall.
Afternoon:
We continue on to Delft, where we will visit the Royal Delft (Porceleijne Fles) blue pottery factory where traditional blue and white hand-painted Delftware porcelain is exclusively produced and sold. After our visit, we will continue our transfer to Ghent. Upon arrival, we will check into the hotel. Take some time to freshen up and relax before we meet for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles during group activities; approximately 2.5 hours; city sidewalks and unavoidable cobblestones. Opportunities for additional walking according to personal interest during time for independent exploration.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we will gather for a lecture from an art expert on Flemish Art. After the lecture, we will set out on foot for an expert-led walk in the city of Ghent, a medieval city where the Industrial Revolution began in the 19th century. Walking along the canals through the historical center with its many squares (Vrijdagsmarkt, Groentenmarkt, and Koorenmarkt), we’ll see sites such as the medieval fortress of Gravensteen, the meat market, and St. Bavo Church, which houses the famous Van Eyck altarpiece. (Please note that we will not go inside St. Bavo Church to see the altarpiece as a group.)
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Ghent. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles total throughout the day; approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day, approx. 4 hours, uneven pavement, cobblestones in the old city center; periods of standing in the museum; some places can be very crowded.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and head to Antwerp. From the medieval riverside fortress to modern waterfront creations, Antwerp is full of enchantments. While here, we’ll take an expert-led field trip to the Rockoxhuis Museum with a special emphasis on the symbolic meaning of flowers. Many of the flowers and plants in paintings and Western art are easy to recognize, but lesser known are their deeper meanings, which we will explore.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will set out on an expert-led walking field trip in the old medieval city center of Antwerp. We will then make our way to a chocolate shop where we will learn from an expert what goes into making this world famous chocolate. We will then spend some time making our own Belgian chocolates. We will then transfer back to Ghent.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles total throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time with stops. Walking about 2 miles, approx. 2 hours, throughout the day on paved areas and cobblestones.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach to Zeeland Flanders where we will visit the Delta Works. Constructed between 1954 and 1997, it consists of thirteen different sections that protect Zeeland from flooding. We will discover the different sections with a local expert.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will board our motorcoach and return to Ghent. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to have a stroll into Ghent.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 62 miles throughout the day; approximately 2.5 hours riding time with stops. Walking up to 4 miles total, approx. 3.5 hours, throughout the day; city sidewalks, some unavoidable cobblestones and stairs; some places can be very crowded.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach to Bruges. On an expert-led walk in the beautiful fairytale city of Bruges, we will stroll along the Minnewater Park, the Begijnhof (courtyard of the Beguines – secular nuns), the city's medieval street, and finishing at the Belfry of Bruges on the market square.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Bruges. You may enjoy visiting the Groeninge Museum or you can refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We will meet at a pre-determined time and location to board our motorcoach to return to Ghent. .
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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