No Fly Dutch Masters and Dutch Icons by Eurostar

Day 1  London to Amsterdam      
Board the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras station and travel through the Channel Tunnel, France and Belgium before crossing the border into the Netherlands, arriving in Amsterdam in time for lunch. In the afternoon head to the city’s Jewish Quarter to the Rembrandt House Museum and admire the artist’s former home and works, or perhaps take in the Stedelijk Museum’s contemporary collection.        

Day 2  Amsterdam      
Start the day with a trip to the magnificent Rijkmuseum, a must-see collection of over a million pieces including the inimitable works of Dutch Masters Rembrandt and Van Gogh, former locals of Amsterdam. With skip the line access included in your Rijksmuseum Amsterdam & 1-Hour Canal Cruise tour, take your time to explore the museum before taking to the water, winding your way along the canals and admiring the city’s 17th Century architecture along the way.      

Day 3  Amsterdam      
Pick up a car and head out of the city to the Waterland region. First stop the cheese making town of Edam. The towns cheese market runs year-round on a Wednesday morning, and in summer months the famous wax wrapped cheese is brought to the centre of town on boat and horse by straw-hatted cheese porters. Wander the picturesque lanes and waterways and be sure to visit the ornate cheese weighing house. Don’t forget to pop into a shop to taste the produce.        

In the afternoon make your way to the charming island community of Marken. Formerly a haven for whaling and herring fisheries, this picturesque village is full of colourful historic wooden houses and proud maritime heritage, culture and costume, which can be seen in the fascinating museum.      

Day 4  The Hague    
Today head south towards The Hague. The route takes you through the Bollenstreek region, home to the famous bulb fields. From mid-March to mid of May the region is turned into a colourful patchwork quilt made up of millions of tulips in bloom. At this time the iconic Kuekenhof, known as ‘The Gardens of Europe’ opens to display over 7 million flowers.    

Arrive in The Hague, seat of the Dutch Government and Binnenhof, one of the oldest Parliament buildings in the world. The fascinating Peace Palace is also home to the UN International Court of Justice and houses a fascinating visitor centre, gallery and gardens.    

In the evening the bustling ‘t Plein main square is lined with bustling bars and restaurants, perfect for a light bite and a spot of people watching. Alternatively, head to one of the beach pavilions and bars and gaze out at some of the 11km of sandy beaches.      

Day 5  The Hague    
After a morning walk along the beach, visit the Maurithuis gallery, home to Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With The Pearl Earring, alongside works by Rembrandt, Van Dijk and more.        

In the afternoon take a short drive to the characterful city of Delft, birthplace of Vermeer, and home to the renowned Delft Blue earthenware, produced in the city since the 17^th Century. Traces of its influence on the city can be seen on buildings, public artworks and street signs across this most walkable of cities. Why not visit the almost 400 year old Royal Delft factory and paint your own plate at one of the painting workshops?  

Day 6  The Hague    
This morning why not take an adventure below sea level at the UNESCO World Heritage village of Kinderdijk, a 50 minute drive away. Discover how over the centuries a combination of windmills, dikes and willpower helped keep the nation above water. The 19 windmills here are all inhabited, with two open to the public as fascinating open air museums. Hop aboard the sightseeing boat and see these iconic engineering marvels from the water.        

On the way back to The Hague stop off in Rotterdam, The Netherland’s second biggest city. Witness the striking and innovative modern architecture that has developed after much of the city was levelled during the War. Stroll the old harbour and see Piet Blom’s remarkable yellow Cube houses, grab a bite to eat in the ornately painted Markthal or head to the Euromast for a bird’s eye view across the city. Elsewhere, the streets are full of monumental experimental street art, including giant foxes, oilmen and Santa Claus.          

Day 7  The Hague to London    
After breakfast return to Amsterdam to drop off your car and return to London by Eurostar.