LEISURE GROUPS
Benelux Travel Experts presents in-depth encounters with the highlights of the Netherlands and its surrounding countries (Belgium, France and Germany). All our tours and excursions are tailor made and suited for your preferences. Because of our quality service you are able to enjoy the best of your travelling fully catered, safe and carefree.
We provide ground handling services and we can design and plan unique and exclusive programs to suit the leisure market.
Our exclusive custom made tour programmes which we arrange according to your budget are satisfaction guaranteed.
Please have a look at our package tours or you can contact us to arrange a customized tour together.
What we can offer you?
- Tailor made packages
- Hotel reservations
- Sightseeing, guideservice and transfer
- Classic roundtrips
- City breaks
- Excursions and event programs
- Cultural programs and ticket service
- Tours (privately guided as wel as bus tours)
Our Tours
All our tours and excursions are suited for your wishes. We offer customised travel packages adapted to your preferences. Because of our quality service you’re able to enjoy the best of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany, safe and carefree. During your stay you’re able to completely focus on the wonderful places you visit.
Below you find a highlight of the tours and excursions we offer. Consult our dedicated team of travel experts for the range options we provide.
- Amsterdam city tour
- Amsterdam canal tour
- Grand Holland tour (Rotterdam, Delft, Den Haag, Scheveningen)
- Windmills, Marken and Volendam
- Keukenhof tour (open from march)
- Brussels city tour
- Bruges city tour
- Paris city tour
- Cologne & Dusseldorf city tour
AMSTERDAM CITY TOUR
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands and combines a beautiful historical atmosphere with the mentality and comfort of a modern city. Founded in the 13th century as a fishing village, nowadays Amsterdam is a centre of culture, commerce and tourism. With over 1500 bridges and its picturesque 17th century UNESCO world heritage historical city, Amsterdam is sometimes referred to as ‘the Venice of the north’. Apart from the astonishing cultural highlights, Amsterdam has trading and commerce running through its veins. The Amsterdam stock exchange is considered the oldest in the world and was founded in 1602 by the Dutch East-India Company (VOC).
Millions of tourists visit Amsterdam each year to admire the canals, Dutch masters like Rembrandt and van Gogh and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this unique metropolis. Amsterdam has the highest museum density in the world and is home to many cultural highlights such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, Hermitage Amsterdam and Amsterdam Museum (including the nearby picturesque ‘Beghijnhof’). A visit to one of the major Diamond Centres is also an option. Here you can witness the craftsmen transforming a rough mineral into a sparkling jewel.
We begin our tour at the hotel, from where we get to know this extraordinary city better. You have the chance to see the most famous sights such as the Royal Palace, originally built as a city hall in 1655 and later turned into a royal palace by the French king Louis, the brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. Near the Royal Palace you can visit the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and learn more about the oldest stock exchange in the world. From here in a short walking distance the oldest building of Amsterdam is situated near a beautiful canal: the ‘Oude Kerk’ or Old Church built in 1306. From the Old Church we continue to the Anne Frank House, where Anne Frank and her family hid from the persecution of Jews during World War II. This 17th century building turned into a museum is visited by over a million people each year. You can see the hidden room where Anne Frank and her family lived for two years during the dark times of the war.
We now move on towards the Vondelpark, which is visited by over 10 million people annually. Near the Vondelpark the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Amsterdam Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Concert Hall (which is considered one of the finest in the world) are all located within the same area called the Museum Quarter. Here you can admire famous paintings such as the Night Watch by Rembrandt, and the Sunflowers by Van Gogh which is just one of over 200 paintings on display by the Dutch post-impressionist painter. Of course any trip to this city built on water is incomplete without a beautiful boat tour through the canals, which were dug out between 1612 and 1663 and is nowadays listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Royal Palace
- Amsterdam Stock Exchange
- Old Church
- Boat tour
- Diamond Centre
- Van Gogh Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Amsterdam Museum & Beghijnhof
- Hermitage Amterdam
- Royal Concert Hall
- Anne Frank House
AMSTERDAM CANAL TOUR
Amsterdam was built on water and there is no better way to experience the city than by boat. With more than 100 kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and over 1,500 bridges, Amsterdam offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy the city by boat. The three main canals Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht were dug out during the 17th century (also called the Dutch Golden Age) and are placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
We take you on a magical cruise through the canals, from here you have a stunning view of the monumental buildings along the water and have the chance to fully experience the glory of the Golden Age. Whether you are in Amsterdam for the first time or a regular visitor, a canal cruise is probably the most memorable way to discover the treasures of ‘the Venice of the North’.
Benelux Travel Experts offers different type of cruises from super deluxe to small party boats. There are cruises available including a lunch or evening cruise complimented with a dinner. Contact our travel experts for the best options for your group.GRAND HOLLAND TOUR
Today we visit the beautiful province of South-Holland, with its cities The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft and Scheveningen. We start of in Rotterdam where we explore the harbour (by boat) and enjoy a magnificent view of the city from the 185 metre high Euromast. Rotterdam is home to one of the biggest ports in the world and a boat trip through the harbour is an excellent way to discover the area. The city and port of Rotterdam were greatly damaged during World War II and have been reinvented during the last decades. For this reason, Rotterdam breathes freshness and design and keeps on surprising its visitors with modern architecture and an ever growing skyline. We visit the cube houses and the architectonical masterpiece the Erasmus Bridge, named after the 17th century humanist Desiderius Erasmus.
After the modernity and vividness of Rotterdam we continue our tour to Delft. Delft is probably most famous for ‘Delft blue’, the city produces the finest ceramics for more than 400 years. In Delft we visit the Royal Delft, an earthenware factory established in 1653 and still in use. The famous painter Johannes Vermeer lived and worked in Delft almost his entire life, here we have the chance to get to know the painter of ‘The girl with the pearl earing’ better. Delft has a long standing connection with the royal house of Orange, the ‘Nieuwe Kerk’ or New Church is the last resting place for members of the royal family.
We now move on to Den Haag, the seat of the national government. The Supreme Court and the residence and working palace of Queen Beatrix are situated in this city. Den Haag is home to most of the embassies and more than 150 international organisations like the International Court of Justice and the International Crime Court, both part of the United Nations. Our tour will take you along the most important buildings like the national parliament, the International Court of Justice and Palace ‘Noordeinde’ the working palace of the Queen of the Netherlands.
We continue our tour at Scheveningen and visit Madurodam. In this miniature city most important buildings in the Netherlands are perfectly reproduced, such as castles, palaces and large industrial projects. Madurodam offers a unique opportunity to get to know the whole of the Netherlands better. After Madurodam we head over to the coast and enjoy the beautiful beach of Scheveningen. At the famous Kurhaus, built in 1885, we take a moment to relax and enjoy some treasures of the sea before we return to Amsterdam.
*It’s possible to experience the Grand Holland Tour as a one day round trip from Amsterdam. In consultation with our travel experts the content of the trip is adjustable to your specific interests.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Rotterdam
- Euromast
- Harbour tour
- Architecture
- Delft
- Delft blue
- Johannes Vermeer
- The Hague
- National Parliament
- International Court of Justice
- Palace of Queen Beatrix
- Scheveningen
- Madurodam
- Sea side dinner
WINDMILLS, MARKEN AND VOLENDAM
Close to Amsterdam we have the opportunity to discover the typical Dutch countryside in its past glory. At Zaanse Schans 12 windmills are located at the waterfront surrounded by old wooden buildings. This area represents a spectacular and authentic part of the Dutch countryside. On the terrain you have the opportunity to visit some unique windmills, built in the 17th and 18th century. We pay a visit to a shoemaker who still produces the wooden clogs Holland is famous for in a traditional way. With almost a million visitors each year this unique industrial and rural heritage is a must see for anyone.
In a comfortable coach we drive through typical Dutch countryside, with canals, farmland and flower fields towards Volendam. This fishing town is well known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some of its residents. The Volendam women’s costume is one of the Netherlands most recognizable traditional costumes. At Volendam we enjoy a lunch at one of the special wooden houses built on stilts.
From Voldendam we continue our tour to Marken by boat (optional). Folkloric Marken is a fishing village on a peninsula close to Volendam. The former island of Marken is nowadays a perfectly preserved 17th century village with characteristic wooden houses. The tiny houses are packed together to protect each other from the wind and sea. The former island is surrounded by an old dike and is connected with the mainland since 1957.
During the tour we offer a possibility to stop at one of the farms where Dutch cheese is still made in a traditional way.
*It’s possible to experience the Windmills, Volendam and Marken Tour as a one day round trip from Amsterdam. In consultation with our travel experts the content of the trip is adjustable to your specific interests.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Windmills
- Volendam
- Marken
- Wooden clog makers
- Dutch cheese makers
KEUKENHOF (OPEN FROM MARCH )
Today we visit Keukenhof in Lisse, also called ‘the garden of Europe’. The Netherlands is famous for its flower culture and the country is the largest flower exporter in the world. As a celebration of the longstanding tradition of cultivating flowers, Keukenhof offers visitors a unique chance to admire the beautiful colours and fragrances of spring flowers. With more than 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in bloom, Keukenhof is the largest flower garden in the world. This miraculous spring garden offers over 32 hectares of amazingly colourful flowers, 30 flower shows, 7 inspirational gardens and 100 works of art.
Keukenhof formed a hunting area in the 15th century and was part of the castle of Jacoba van Beieren. Herbs for the castle’s kitchen were planted here; hence the name Keukenhof, meaning kitchen courtyard. Nowadays this unique site forms an overwhelming symphony of flowers and offers a wonderful scenery for the most beautiful photographs.
BRUSSELS CITY TOUR
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union (EU), it is home to the NATO headquarters and many EU institutes. Founded in the 10th century as a fortress city, Brussels is nowadays the biggest city in the Benelux and contains many beautiful palaces and squares.
We begin our tour at the Grand Place, the central square of Brussels and part of the UNESCO word heritage list. Here you can admire the Town Hall built during the 15th century and many decorated baroque and gothic guild houses. From here we continue our tour to Manneken Pis, a famous statue of a small boy peeing into a fountain, which is one of the city’s landmarks. We now move on to enjoy the splendour of the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church built in the medieval period and the national church of Belgium since 1225. Near the cathedral we find the Royal Palace (or Palais Royal in French), the working palace of the Belgian king and one of the grand European palaces.
At the Parc du Cinquantenaire we find the Arc de Triomphe. This victory arch was built in 1880 to celebrate 50 years of independence from Holland. In this park you can admire the many buildings constructed specially for the National Exhibition in 1880. Another landmark of Brussels is the Atomium originally constructed for Expo ’58, the 1958 Brussels World Fair. This 102 metre tall building forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. It’s possible to enter the building, walk around inside an atom and enjoy the view of the surroundings. Brussels is well known for its local waffle, its chocolate and French fries. In the evening you will have the opportunity to enjoy Brussels rich gastronomy.
*It’s possible to experience the Brussels city tour as a one day round trip from Amsterdam. In consultation with our travel experts the content of the trip is adjustable to your specific interests.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Grand Place
- Town Hall
- Manneken pis
- Michael and saint Gudula Cathedral
- Royal Palace
- Atomium
- Chocolate and Waffles
BRUGES CITY TOUR
Bruges is a medieval pearl of the Low Countries. During our tour to ‘the little Venice of the North’ you will be impressed by the grace and beauty of the city. As part of Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) the city has been a centre of commerce, culture and politics during the 16th century. Its numerous guild houses, palaces and canals are all part of the UNESCO world heritage list. During the golden ages of Bruges (from the 12th to the 15th century) the city was one of the most important trading centres in the world. Thanks to its port to the sea many products were traded at Bruges and spread around Europe, such as spices, timber and wool.
We start our tour at the Belfry of Bruges, or Belfort. This medieval bell tower is one of the city’s most prominent symbols. Located at the market square at the historical centre the tower is a symbol of the prosperity and wealth of Bruges around 1240. A narrow staircase of 366 steps leads to the top of the 83 metre high tower and offers a magnificent view of the authentic historical centre of Bruges. The Grand Place is surrounded by beautiful buildings form the 12th century onwards, all perfectly renovated. From here we continue our tour at the ‘Burg’ where we find the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a 12th century chapel in honour of a relic of the Holy Blood. The Burg offers a splendid scenery of gothic buildings and streets, the City Hall is probably the most impressive of the buildings in this area.
We now move on to the Béguinage, a Roman Catholic sisterhood founded in the 13th century. Here you will be enchanted by the marvellous houses of the Beguines. Surrounded by a canal with typical Bruges swans this place has a magical ambiance still today. Bruges is crisscrossed by canals and a beautiful way to discover the charms of the city is by boat. After the canal tour you have some free time to stroll through the colourful streets and have the chance to enjoy a typical speciality like Belgian chocolate.
*It’s possible to experience the Bruges city tour as a one day round trip from Amsterdam. In consultation with our travel experts the content of the trip is adjustable to your specific interests.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Belfry of Bruges
- Grand place
- Basilica of the Holy Blood
- City Hall
- Béguinage
- Boat tour
PARIS CITY TOUR
Today we discover the astonishingly beautiful city of Paris. This capital of France and one of the largest agglomerations in Europa is a must see for everyone. Paris was founded at the banks of the river Seine and the oldest archaeological signs date back to 2400 before Christ. The Romans arrived at Paris around 53 before Christ and the city has been an important settlement for more than two millennia. Paris is today one of the leading business and cultural centres of the world. During our tour you will get to know the most famous places of this wonderful city, like the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Notre Dame.
Because most of the monuments we visit in Paris are situated along the Seine we make use of a very special transportation: the river-shuttle. We start out our tour at the Louvre, the world famous museum of arts. Our guide will take you along the ancient Greek Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. After the Louvre the river-shuttle takes us to the Eiffel Tower where we enjoy a lunch on the second floor. A trip to the top of the building offers an incredible view of the city, one you will never forget.
We continue our tour on the Seine towards the Notre Dame. Here you receive a guided tour of the gothic cathedral built between 1163 and 1345. From the Notre Dame we head off to Montmartre. Montmartre is situated on a hill and with its picturesque buildings and streets it offers a charming side of the city. Our guided tour takes you along the most prominent buildings such as the Sacre Coeur, a beautiful church on top of the hill that offers amazing views of Paris. After Montmartre you have the option to do some shopping and sightseeing at the Champs Elysees an almost 2 kilometres long avenue at the heart of Paris. Here you are able to admire the world famous Arc de Triomphe and the Obelisk of Luxor.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Eiffel Tower
- Louvre
- Notre Dame
- Montmartre
- Sacre Coeur
- Champs Elysees
- Arc de Triomphe
- Seine river shuttle
- Fashion outlets
COLOGNE & DUSSELDORF CITY TOUR (2 DAY TRIP)
Today we explore Cologne, a major cultural centre of the Rhineland in Germany and home to many beautiful sights. The city was founded by the Romans in the year 50 and flourished during medieval times as part of an important trading route between east and west in Europe. We start our tour at the magnificent Cologne Cathedral, which was built from 1248 to 1880. This immense building is the third highest sacred building in the world and forms an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Cologne has been home to the Archbishops of Cologne from 88 till present and the Cologne Cathedral is the centre of their power.
After the Cologne Cathedral we continue our tour at the City Hall. The Cologne City Hall is the oldest of its kind in Germany and contains a documented history spanning some 900 hundred years. We now head on to one of the 12 Romanesque Churches of Cologne, a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. In the afternoon you will discover more of the old town and its historical marketplace. Afterwards you have the opportunity to do some shopping at the Hohe Strasse, one of the most frequented shopping streets in Germany or visit the Chocolate Museum and enjoy 3000 years of chocolate history. There is also an option to visit the Cologne Ford car factory if you are interested in the industrial side of Germany.
During the second day we take a sightseeing boat and discover some beautiful treasures along the river Rhine. You will have the opportunity to relax and make pictures of the admirable scenery. Afterwards we continue our tour at the nearby city of Dusseldorf, founded at the beginning of the first millennium. Here we visit the legendary Old Town with its historic Town Hall and many medieval buildings to be admired. From here we move along the Königsallee (king’s avenue), one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world and home to many luxurious stores and fashion displays. Afterwards we visit the harbour of Dusseldorf with its impressive architecture. In the late afternoon we return to Cologne to enjoy a fine menu at one of Colognes many excellent restaurants.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Cologne
- Cologne Cathedral
- City Hall
- Market Place
- Chocolate Museum
- Rheine boat tour
- Dusseldorf
- Old Town
- Town Hall
- Koningsallee
- Fashion outlets
- Harbour
TOUR PROGRAMMES
Benelux Travel Experts presents indepth encounters with the highlights of the Netherlands and its surrounding countries (Belgium, France and Germany). All our tours and excursions are tailor made and suited for your preferences. Because of our quality service you’re able to enjoy the best of your travelling fully catered, safe and carefree. Whether you go on a business trip, a study or school trip or just want to enjoy the cultural highlights, Benelux Travel Experts present you with profound experiences and inspiring travelling.
Below you will find a selection of the various tour programmes we offer. All programmes can be adjusted to your specific wishes. Consult our dedicated team of travel experts for more information about our customised travel arrangements.