Art & Museums of Holland

A great way to get around the city of Amsterdam and to see its many sites is with a 24-, 48-, 72- or 96-hours GVB transport ticket which gives you unlimited travel throughout Amsterdam day and night by bus, tram and metro. Stamp your ticket once at the start of your first journey and you are set for the duration of the validation of your ticket.

Get the most out of your day by having the services of a professional English speaking guide today. (max 8hrs).

Vist the world renowned Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam today. Since 1885 people have been coming to see Holland's main collection of the Dutch Masters, such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Ruysdael and of course Rembrandt - in particular the world famous Night Watch.  There is also a lovely silverware, furniture and glassware exhibition from all parts of The Netherlands as well as a rich collection of art from the Far East. Open daily: 9.00 – 18.00 hr, Friday 9.00 – 20.30 hr (address Jan Luykenstraat 1, 1071 CJ Amsterdam).

Vist the Willet-Holthuysen museum - the only fully-decorated Amsterdam canal house open daily to the public. The last occupants were Abraham Willet (1825-1888) and his wife Louisa Holthuysen (1824-1895). Mrs. Willet-Holthuysen left the house and its contents, including a large art collection, to the city of Amsterdam, on the condition that it would be turned into a museum. (includes entrance).

Depart for The Hague today in the company of a private driver and guide (max. 8hrs of service). Enjoy a city tour with wonderful tree lined lanes and many monuments of The Hague, residence of Queen Beatrix.  See the Knight’s Hall, Parliament buildings, the Peace Palace and Scheveningen Seaside resort.

From here, you'll continue onwards to Panorama Mesdag. This circular painting covers 1680m2 canvas, is 14m high and has a circumference of 120m!   It is one of the world’s finest, and largest, surviving panoramas.  Absorb the image -  a sweeping view of the sea, a wide beach, the dunes of Holland, and the picturesque fishing village of Scheveningen.

The next place on today's agenda is Delft, one of the most charming towns in Holland.  The market place, the 'new' Church and the wonderful historical town hall in combination with narrow canals, and little shopping streets make it really special. Delft Blue is the famous porcelain.  Visit one of the potteries, where the art of painting the vases and plates, the baking process is shown.  There are many historical pieces of Delft Blue art on show as well as a shop where you can pick up a momento if you like.

At days end, you'll be returned to your accommodation in Amsterdam. (includes entrance to Panorama Mesdag).

A great way to get around the city of Amsterdam and to see its many sites is with a 24-, 48-, 72- or 96-hours GVB transport ticket which gives you unlimited travel throughout Amsterdam day and night by bus, tram and metro. Stamp your ticket once at the start of your first journey and you are set for the duration of the validation of your ticket.

Get the most out of your day by having the services of a professional English speaking guide today. (max 8hrs).

A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. Over 200 paintings and some 600 drawings by Vincent van Gogh are exhibited. In the new section of the museum there are interesting temporary exhibitions.  At the permanent collection, the visitor has a chance to follow the development and the life of the artist.  From the dark colored works at the beginning of his career until the bright violet tones of the last few years of his life.(includes entrance). Please note that the Van Gogh museum is closed Aug. 31 - end of Feb. 2013 due to renovation. During this time, the masterpieces from Van Gogh will be displayed in the Hermitage.

Our Lord in the Attic is one of the oldest and most remarkable museums in Amsterdam. Behind the characteristic facade of the house by the canal lies a largely original 17th-century home and a completely hidden church. This hidden church in the attic was built during the Reformation, when Catholics were forbidden to hold public services. Today, the church and the house form the backdrop to a succession of striking exhibitions highlighting religion and contemporary art.

For 324 years, the Amstelhof building was a home for the elderly. In 2009, the entire Amstelhof became part of the Hermitage, covering more than 4,000 square metres. The Hermitage hosts temporary exhibitions drawn from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Each exhibition is on view for around five months.(includes entrance).

Leave Amsterdam for the day in the company of your private driver and guide (max. 8hrs of service). The destination this morning is the modern and cultural city of Rotterdam. See the city hall, the Coolsingel (shopping street) and the cubical houses. There is also a historical part of town called Delfshaven, built in a typical Dutch style. Rotterdam is also the largest harbor of the world.

From here, continue on to the Booijmans van Beuningen museum - one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. In 1849 the lawyer Boijmans left his art collection to the city of Rotterdam. With the acquisition of the Van Beuningen collection in 1958, the museum aquired the second part of its name. The museum houses a unique collection of paintings, sculptures and everyday objects. The collection of prints and drawings is one of the best in the world. The museum also organises a diverse programme of spectacular temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

The last stop on today's agenda is the Kunsthal which presents culture in the widest sense of the word: old art, new art, design, photography - from elitist to popular. The Kunsthal frequently experiments with themes which in many cases provide the first impulse for an exhibition. This approach has resulted in an exciting and varied exhibition repertoire highlighting Impressionism, lingerie, Leonardo da Vinci, Blackfoot Indians, Jewels of the Orient, Pop-art. More than 3300 square metres of exhibition space are available in the striking building designed by Rotterdam architect Rem Koolhaas - a work of art in its own right, making a visit to the Kunsthal well worth your while. (includes entrances to all mentioned museums).

Departure to Veluwe (approx. 1 hr and 15 mins transfer from Amsterdam) in the company of your driver and guide (max. 4hrs). Visit the Kröller Müller museum, situated  in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, where you can enjoy the wooded expanses, heaths and dunes. The museum houses a world famous collection of fine art, mainly from the 19th and 20th century. The main points of the museum are the extensive range works by Van Gogh and the sculpture garden. Please let your sales Advisor know if you would like to have your driver and private vehicle available to you for the full day so you can spend more time in this area.

A great way to see the city and experience it in local fashion is to rent a bike for a day or even a few hours. Amsterdam is one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world and bicycles have sometimes more space on the road than their fellow pavement users. Expect to pay EUR12 per day for a bike rental. For bike hire contact:MacBike, Mr Visserplein 2 or Weteringschans 2. Tel: +31 (0)20-620-0985 or Rent-a-Bike, Damstraat 20-22. Tel: +31 (0)20-625-5029. From the picturesque Jordaan district where streets are named after flowers to the artistic Westerpark where open-air concerts, theatre and exhibitions take place, Amsterdam abounds with walking opportunities that combine well with cultural heritage.  Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District is in the very centre of the city, concentrated on two canals (Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal) and the interconnecting streets. It is definitely an eye-opener, the working girls sit or stand in windows beckoning at passers-by.

 Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.