Dutch Bulbfields in Spring 759
5 Days Starting in London and ending in London, UK
Visiting: London, Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Keukenhof, Castle-Museum Sypesteyn
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BCDB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Enjoy a riot of colour among the beautiful bulbfields of Holland. For vibrancy, colour and serious charm nothing quite compares to the sight of not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of flowering bulbs, carpeting the fields in a radiant vision of patterns and patchwork. Here, gardening is not merely a pastime – it’s an art, a spectacular series of natural masterpieces. We begin in the Belgian city of Antwerp with a visit to the newly refurbished reception centre, library and Baroque gardens at Rubens House, before enjoying a visit to the Botanic Gardens. We then embark on our cruise along the waterways of northern Europe heading to the second largest city in the Netherlands – Rotterdam. We enjoy a visit to one of the most famous gardens in the world – Keukenhof, a magnificent display of different tulip, daffodil and hyacinth varieties. We arrive in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam where we enjoy visits to the Kasteel de Haar, one of the most-visited castles in Holland, and Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn home to a fascinating art collection and beautiful garden.
On this cruise, we'll enjoy four nights on board our ship. Our comfortable vessel transports us across rivers and sea, ensuring that our journey is just as special as the destinations it brings us to. Think welcoming cocktails, lunches and dinners with complimentary wine and beer, and, of course, the always convivial company of like-minded travellers.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: London, Antwerp, Brussels
Accommodation: Overnight cruise
We depart by Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Brussels where we change trains and continue to Antwerp. On arrival in Antwerp, we first visit the Rubens House and its newly revamped reception centre, library and Baroque garden, filled with over 17,000 plants. Later this afternoon we will visit the 200-year-old Botanic Garden, which boasts a substantial number of exceptional trees and shrubs. We later board our ship and enjoy a welcome cocktail reception before dinner.
Day 2 : Antwerp-Rotterdam
Location: Rotterdam, Antwerp
Accommodation: Overnight cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Overnight cruise
After breakfast we have a leisurely day on board ship, as we cruise from Antwerp to Rotterdam, crossing the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde, two sheltered inlets off the North Sea. Lunch is served on board.
On arrival in Rotterdam there will be an opportunity to go ashore and explore at leisure or choose to join the optional walking tour of the city. Rotterdam combines innovative architecture and a stormy history. First founded as a small fishing village some 800 years ago, the city has grown to significantly important in industry due to its strategic location along some of Europe’s largest rivers. During World War II the city centre was almost completely destroyed by German bombing but has arisen from its ashes to become a cultural hub. Some of the standout architectural wonders include the De Rotterdam Tower designed by Rem Kollhaas, the redeveloped Centraal Station and the iconic Eramus Bridge.
Day 3 : Rotterdam-Utrecht-Keukenhof-Amsterdam
Location: Utrecht, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Keukenhof
Accommodation: Overnight cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we cruise from Rotterdam to Utrecht. After lunch on board, we will depart by coach for a visit to one of the most famous gardens in the world - Keukenhof. Over seven million bulbs are planted annually and around one million visitors pass through it from mid-March to mid-May - it is truly breathtaking.
We re-join the ship in Amsterdam and following dinner this evening you are free to explore, alternatively, there will be an optional canal cruise to give you the opportunity to view this spectacular city in its nighttime splendour. Journeying through the canals at night is an exhilarating experience and this tour will allow you to see the best of the city). We overnight here in Amsterdam.
Day 4 : Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn-Utrecht-Amsterdam
Location: Utrecht, Castle-Museum Sypesteyn, Amsterdam
Accommodation: Overnight cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a short drive out of the city we find Kasteel Museum Sypesteyn, which was built in the early 20th-century in the 17th century style by Jonkheer Catharinus Henricus Cornelis Ascanius of Sypesteyn as a tribute to his family as the last descendant of the Van Sypesteyn line. The castle is surrounded by stunning gardens with hedges, moats and decorative wrought-iron gates. Paths and bridges allow for a leisurely stroll through the orchards, the park and the castle garden, featuring both indigenous and exotic planting.
This afternoon we visit De Haar Castle in Utrecht. which has equally splendid grounds including a Roman garden, ponds and canals, romantic vistas and impressive avenues. As was the fashion when the garden was reconstructed around 1895, the garden closest to the castle was in the French style while the surrounding parkland was in a Romantic English landscape style, with fanciful ponds and picturesque little bridges.
We once again overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 5 : Amsterdam-Brussels-London
Location: Amsterdam, London, Brussels
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast on board, we disembark the ship and spend the morning in Amsterdam, beginning with a visit to the Museum Van Loon, a magnificent canal-side private residence from the Dutch ‘Golden Age’, with a large collection of paintings, fine porcelain and silver. The formal gardens perfectly complement the Classical style of the house.
In the afternoon, we catch the train from Amsterdam Centraal railway station to Brussels, where we board the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, where we expect to arrive late evening.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals as per the itinerary
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Train travel
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All visits as outlined in the itinerary
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Apr 14, 2025 - Apr 18, 2025Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.