Depart Canada for Holland

(Meals on plane)

BROUWERSHAVEN ~ PUTTEN
We have to move today from our Resort Port Greve near the seaside to Resort Heihaas in Central Holland on the Veluwe It is situated in the forest and near Holland's biggest National Park De Hoge Veluwe. On our way up north we will be able to visit KINDERDIJK and see the long row of windmills together. They were used to pump water out of the polder (polder = land below sea level). Travelling on the river dike that keeps the land save of the LEK RIVER we see the typical river houses and farms at the food of the river dijk. In WIJK BIJ DUURSTEDE the wind mill is built over the road. North of Wijk bij Duurstede you will see a few of the TEN CASTLES. When we have time enough left we will visit the ancient city AMERSFOORT . This city is famous because of its City Wall Houses. From here it is only a short drive to Putten, Resort Heihaas.

LELYSTAD
Most of the day we will be way below sea level in the polder of FLEVOLAND . After WW II the polders are made by building polder dikes in the Zuiderzee (South Sea) and pumping the sea water out. So today we will walk on the bottom of the sea. It is easy to proof, because you will be able to find many sea shells. The city of Lelystad is named after Holland 's greatest water engineer Dr. Lely, who planned the polder projects in the Zuiderzee. We will visit THE BATAVIAWERF where an authentic 17th century VOC cargo/warship is rebuilt only using 17th century ship building methods. The next ship is now being build an you will be able to see how. At walking distance you will find BATAVIASTAD a look a like 17th century town with wooden houses which are used as outlet stores. Again on walking distance from Bataviastad we will visit NIEUWLAND ERF GOED. This museum tells the story about the polders, how they were built, how they are kept dry and how it is to live there. If there is still time left we will visit AVIODROME. This museum is a full size remake of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the early 1920's and shows you a lot of airplanes.

ENKHUIZEN ~ NAARDEN
The Netherlands were planning on building a third polder in the IJsselmeer ( IJssel lake - former Zuiderzee). The chosen name for it was Markerwaard. The polder dike is already built, the MARKERWAARDDIJK. Out of fear of destroying Holland 's natural environment the polder was never made. We will travel the polder dike for several kilometres with water right and left of us. At the East side of the dike is Lelystad and at the West side we will reach the very ancient fisherman's town ENKHUIZEN. This town still has that 17th century atmosphere. In your imagination you see the fisher ships and VOC ships leaving and entering the small harbour. We will visit the ZUIDERZEE MUSEUM , a nice folk museum in which you can experience, hear and see all about how fisher people living around the former  Zuiderzee lived their lives. On our way back we will go past THE OOSTVAARDERSPLASSEN, a wet spot in the polder with many shallow lakes. It is the ideal environment for all kinds of waterfowl and migratory birds. From here it is only a short drive to VESTINGSTAD NAARDEN, an ancient fortified city. The original fortress, moats and garrison artillery is still there.

APELDOORN
For a change we travel Eastbound today to the city of APELDOORN This is one of Holland 's royal cities. We will visit the ROYAL PALACE HET LOO. This palace was for over three centuries the Royal House of Orange. These three centuries come to life within the lavishly furnished rooms and lushly sculptured garden. Once the beloved country seat of the Dutch Royal Family, the Palace now serves as a museum . Only a small distance to drive from  Het Loo to THE APENHEUL. In Apenheul (Monkey city) you do not just watch monkeys, you will find yourself in their midst!! Most of the 26 different species swing around in the trees above you, they may jump on your shoulder or play tricks on the person next to you. It is great fun!!

ARNHEM (A BRIDGE TOO FAR?)
We give you the opportunity to choose today. In Arnhem we will visit HET OPENLUCHTMUSEUM. It is the Dutch most famous folk museum. You can see and enjoy all the old farms, houses, mills and customs of Holland from the early 1700's until the late 1950's. See the paper mill at work. Get a tour and explanation on how a grain windmill works and walk on all its levels. See how the wings of the mill set sail and experience the mighty wind power! After this visit you may choose between visiting next door BURGER'S ZOO or drive for a few minutes to the AIRBORNE MUSEUM. The zoo is famous because of the bush, the ocean, the desert, the mangrove and adventure land. It will leave you under the impression that you are really there. The other option is the Airborne Museum . Here the story is told about WW II Operation Market Garden. These tragic and heroic events were celebrated in the movie a bridge too far.

HANZESTEDEN ~ HOLTEN
Today we will visit the CANADIAN WAR GRAVES of the brave soldiers who gave their lives for a free Holland and the rest of Europe . Canadians........THANKS!! From here we travel over the HOLTERBERG ( mountain of Holten , elevation 75.2 metres) and we will tell you about the rare grouse specie that lives on these fields. This is also the only spot in Holland were you still can find ruffs. We will visit the HOLTERBERG NATURE DIORAMA. This nice little museum tells us about nature, flora and fauna found on the Holterberg. To learn even more about this natural environment and NATIONAL PARK SALLANDSE HEUVELRUG, we will visit the FORESTRY COMMISION VISITOR CENTRE in Hellendoorn. We will leave the Sallandse Heuvelrug for the beautiful, very small town of BEERZE . See here the very typical farmhouses and imagine how hard live and farming was on this poor, sandy soil. We will now travel on to the so called HANZESTEDEN ( HANSEATIC TOWNS) ~ ZWOLLE - DEVENTER - ZUTPHEN - DOESBURG. All these cities have the river the IJssel floating through them. This river was the main stream to the former Zuiderzee, you learned about a few days ago. This way it was their connection to the rest of the world. You can imagine the splendour of all these ancient cities. Enjoy!!!

STAPHORST~GIETHOORN~KAMPEN
See today the small farmer's village of STAPHORST, where all the farms are painted blue and green and where the people still wear wooden shoes and traditional Dutch costumes. They still live by strict Calvinist principles. We take a boat trip in Venice of the North, GIETHOORN. The canals we cruise on a remade in the past to transport peat. Passing the towns of BLOKZIJL and ZWARTSLUIS, we travel to SCHOKLAND once an island in the  Zuiderzee, now imbedded in the polderland; so an island on land.

ELEVEN CITIES FRIESLAND

We travel back a little bit and have to use the highway on the 19 - mile Barrier Dam again.  THE AFSLUITDIJK was finished in 1932 and shut out the North Sea and so transformed the saltwater South Sea (Zuiderzee) into the freshwater IJssel Lake ( IJsselmeer ). The dam is part of an incredible system of 1,200 miles of dikes, dams and dunes built over the last 900 years to protect the parts of Holland that lies below sea level. At the end of the dam we enter the Province of Friesland . People speak their own language here, even for Dutch people very difficult to understand. It is the province of the long distance ice skating event on natural ice formed in all the different canals, the more than 200 kilometres long ELFSTEDENTOCHT  (Eleven Cities Tour). Evert van Benthem won the last two events. He now lives near Innisfail , Alberta and organizes a Long Distance Ice Marathon on Sylvan Lake in Alberta . Enjoy our scenic tour through the Frisian Lake District and the magnificent ancient Frisian towns, former sea harbour towns and cities.

JULIANADORP ~ BEACH ~ DUNES
Enjoy this Sunday as a day of rest and to review all the things you have seen and experienced. Stay at the beach today, visit the town Julianadorp or maybe even rent a bike and go for a tour through the dunes of Noord Holland. You can also ask your tour guide to go somewhere special.

HOORN ~ EDAM ~ VOLENDAM ~ MARKEN
This beautiful scenic tour takes us along the shores of the West side of the IJsselmeer and to the ancient Dutch ports and lifestyle of the old Zuiderzee once again. See the old town HOORN , tour to EDAM , famous for its wonderful cheese. From VOLENDAM we drive to the former Zuiderzee peninsula MARKEN. On our way back we will travel through one of the oldest polders (reclaimed land), THE SCHERMER. Near the town of Schermerhorn we will find a nice line up of wind mills that were used to keep the Schermer dry. We will visit one of them, the MUSEUMMOLEN.

AALSMEER
A very, very early rise today!! We have to be in Aalsmeer today at 6:30 AM!! Aalsmeer is the centre of Holland 's flower business. AALSMEER FLOWER AUCTION is the largest of its kind in the world. Flowers come from the whole world, are sold and shipped all over the world again. It is very impressive to see how the millions of flowers and plants come in, how deals are made at the auction clock and how all the sold items find their way through the building to the truck of the buyer. After this tiresome morning we maybe have time to visit the naval dockyards in DEN HELDER.

ALKMAAR ~ EGMOND AAN ZEE
We do a scenic, breath taking seashore tour today. We visit beautiful seaside resorts like for instance EGMOND AAN ZEE. The view of the North Sea from the high dunes is magnificent!! The ancient city ALKMAAR is famous for its cheese market. Stroll on the beach today and in the city of ancient Alkmaar .

AMSTERDAM
You need two days to see AMSTERDAM . Start of with a guided tour with your tour operator/guide. Enjoy the CANAL CRUISE with the so called CANAL BUS. We will be going on and of the ship and visit the highlights of Amsterdam . The ANNE FRANK MUSEUM will be one of these highlights as well as MADAME TUSSAUD'S WAX MUSEUM. There is almost too much to see so we won't mention everything here. We will show you!!

AMSTERDAM
This day in Amsterdam you are by yourself. Decide for yourself the things you want to today in Amsterdam . Maybe go to the “Rijksmuseum“ and see the “Nightwatch” of Rembrandt van Rhijn. Or go visit one of the diamond centres, go shopping in the most famous shopping centre of Amsterdam : “The Kalverstraat“. Maybe you want to visit the red light district or Amsterdam zoo “Artis“. But be sure to be on time on the “Rembrandtplein“ you absolutely don't want to mis our spectacular FAREWELL DINNER AT THE INDONESIAN RESTAURANT “INDRAPURA“. Indonesia was discovered in the 1700's by VOC sea captains that sailed for the far east from Holland with vessels like “ the Batavia “. You now know everything about it. A long and still exciting bond between these two countries was made. We like to treat you today and let you enjoy this very special and spicy food bringing you back once again to the rich history of the Netherlands !!

Day 17:

JULIANADORP ~ SCHIPHOL
We have to leave Beach Resort Ooghduyne today and bid farewell to Holland . Your homebound flight arrives the same day in Canada .

AMSTERDAM ~ BROUWERSHAVEN

Arrive in Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport . Welcome to the Netherlands !! We travel by couch to the province Zeeland to our first Resort Port Greve. Your private bungalow for the first week is ready for you. Enjoy your WELCOME DINNER where you can meet your fellow passengers and your tour operator and guide.

DEN HAAG

Early rise today to give you the maximum of your day. You will visit Den Haag today. This city is the centre of the Dutch parliament and Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands lives there. We will take you on a tour through the city and show you HET BINNENHOF, just call it the house of parliament. Take your time to enjoy this city and visit the beautiful MALL. You will be visiting MADURODAM. This famous miniature town features more than 150 of Holland is most famous buildings reduced to 1/25th their actual size. Seen Madurodam means seen Holland . We can go home now...