The Netherlands in Springtime

Meeting your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras this morning, you board the Eurostar, travelling through France and Belgium to the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

On arrival, your group continues by coach to Delft, where you enjoy a guided tour to the Royal Delft porcelain factory, famous for manufacturing the artistically designed Delft Blue pottery. This iconic blue and white earthenware has been manufactured in this city since the 17th century in the style of traditional Chinese Porcelain.

There is free time to explore this historic city that was once the seat of the royal house of Orange as well as being the birthplace of artist Johannes Vermeer, whose works include the Girl with the Pearl Earring. Overlooked by the piercing towers of the Gothic Old and New churches, Delft's charming centre is criss-crossed by tranquil canals and is a delight to stroll around.

This evening, you transfer to your hotel in central Utrecht for four nights. You get to know your group over dinner in the hotel tonight.

• Dinner

Hotel

Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station

Located in the Hoog Catharijne mall, this 3-Star hotel in central Utrecht is a short walk from the train... More

After breakfast at your hotel, there is a free day to explore the sights of Utrecht at your own pace. An important religious centre since the Middle Ages, Utrecht's iconic symbol is the impressive Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the country. Built in the 14th century, it was originally connected to St Martin's Cathedral but, when the nave collapsed in the 17th century, it became separated and has remained free-standing ever since.

With tree-lined canals and attractive medieval buildings in the centre, Utrecht is often called a 'cosier alternative to Amsterdam', and its main attractions are within walking distance from our modern hotel. Set in a restored 19th-century train station, the Rail Museum traces the history of train travel through interactive and informative displays.

Another option is to head just out of the city to Castle De Haar. Surrounded by a moat with fairytale turrets piercing the sky, this 19th-century medieval-style castle has expansive landscaped gardens.

Dinner tonight is on your own, and there are many attractive restaurants in Utrecht serving up a wide range of cuisines.

• Breakfast

Today is a highlight of your spring break to the Netherlands. Transferring by coach to the incredible Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, you explore one of the world's largest flower gardens at the most spectacular time of year.

Open only from the end of March to the beginning of May, experience the expansive park as it bursts into colour with dazzling spring blooms and intricate flower displays. Elegant arrangements of daffodils, tulips and other spring plants are laid out in incredible detail to resemble famous works of art, create an astonishing and delicate spectacle. There is free time to wander at your own pace, marvelling at these vibrant gardens where approximately seven million bulbs are planted each year.

Returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax. Perhaps soak up the atmosphere at a traditional café with a favoured Dutch snack of bitterballen or enjoy dinner at a restaurant lining one of the city's attractive squares.

• Breakfast

This morning, travel by rail to the Dutch capital, embarking on a sightseeing tour. An expert local guide shows you round Dam Square, one of the most famous landmarks of the city, the Begijnhof, home to a cluster of medieval houses, the upmarket shopping street of Kalverstraat, and the 'skinny bridge' over the River Amstel.

After the tour you are free to explore one of Europe's most visited cities at your own pace. Art lovers may prefer to head to the Rijksmuseum, which contains an impressive collection of famed masterpieces, or the nearby Van Gogh Museum, home to the largest number of the artist's works. Anne Frank's house recalls the incredible and sobering story of the young girl who documented her family hiding from invading Nazis during World War Two, while the intriguing Body Worlds explores human anatomy in dynamic fashion across seven floors.

Returning to Utrecht by rail, you enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel tonight.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, you bid a fond farewell to charming Utrecht and the colourful fields of the Netherlands as you travel by rail to Rotterdam, where you join the Eurostar service back to London St Pancras.

On the journey through Belgium and France, you can look back on the wonderful sights you have seen in the Netherlands during springtime. From your ideally located base in the historic city of Utrecht, you have explored the medieval city of Delft and its iconic porcelain factory and strolled beside the charming canals of Amsterdam on a guided tour. Most of all, you have witnessed the astonishing floral displays at Keukenhof Gardens with colourful tulips in full bloom.

Arriving back in London this evening, you say farewell to your Tour Manager and fellow travellers with whom you have shared this lovely Dutch springtime getaway.

• Breakfast