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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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Start
Homes & Gardens
Length
13 days
Rating (4.71)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,799
Flights start at
850

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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
24 meals ( 11B, 7L, 6D )
2 expert-led lectures
13 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, approx. 4 hours; some unavoidable stairs and cobblestones; periods of standing in the museum. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
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. After the lecture, we will set out on foot with our group leader and walk to the Teyler’s 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.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The afternoon is free to see and do what you would like in Haarlem. Please refer to the list of free time activities. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
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 61 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time with stops. Walking up to 2 miles total throughout the day approx. 3 hours; periods of standing at the farm and museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart the hotel by motorcoach and travel north toward Beemster. The Beemster polder was the first polder in the Netherlands and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We will stop to admire the tulip fields in the polder as we make our way to a local dairy farm. Upon arrival at the farm, we will learn from a local farmer about the production of Beemster cheese.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will board our motorcoach and make our way to Schermerhorn. Here we will stop at Museum Mill to see the 17th century windmills and learn how they were used for land reclamation. We will then board our motorcoach and return to the hotel. Take some time to freshen up before we meet for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 37 miles roundtrip, approximately 1-hour total riding time. Walking about 4 miles, approximately 3.5 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:
We will depart the hotel by motorcoach to head to Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we’ll go on and expert led walking field trip through the city center. On our way, we’ll pass by such sites s the Old Church, the National Monument, the Royal Palace, and the New Church. Our walk will end at the entrance of the Rijksmuseum. We will be joined a museum expert who will lead us through the Rijksmuseum to see the art of the Golden age, including works 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 188 miles total throughout the day; approximately 4 hours total riding time with stops for field trips. Walking about 2 miles approx. 2 hours; Getting on/off boat, riding for 1.5 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 stop in Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. Due to its location at the confluence of two major rivers, it was a key maritime trade hub. Here we will stop for a field trip at the Huis Van Gijn. This was once the house of Simon van Gijn, a banker and collector, from 1864 until his death in 1922. His home and assortment of paintings, prints, weapons, and even toys, were left to the Old Dordrecht Society with a wish that his home would be turned into a museum and these objects would be made available for public viewing. The museum has since merged with other collections and is still growing. With an audio guide, we will take some time to walk through the house and view the collections that offer a glimpse into the life of the 19-th century Dutch bourgeois household.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue our journey to Biesbosch National Park, one of the largest national parks in the Netherlands. Upon arrival, we will board a boat to enjoy the serene wetlands and learn about the park’s unique ecosystem. Perhaps we might be able to spot one of the 300 beavers that they estimate live in over 100 lodges in the area. We will board our motorcoach and continue our transfer to Ghent. Upon arrival, take some time to freshen up and relax before we gather 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 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 2 miles total throughout the day, approx. 2 hours, uneven pavement, cobblestones in the old city center; 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. We will set out with a local expert for a guided walk through the old medieval city center.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will then make our way to a chocolate shop where we will participate in a hands-on chocolate making workshop led by an expert chocolatier. While we make our chocolates, we will learn about tempering techniques and the history of Belgian chocolate. We will then board our motorcoach and 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 is one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels. It consists of thirteen different sections that protect the Netherlands from flooding. We will discover the Storm Surge Barrier, The Delta Experience, and more 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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