Netherlands: Cuisine and Culture

Airport Transfer

On-ground Briefing & Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do in case of an emergency. 

Amsterdam Walking Tour - Amsterdam is a city practically built on top of water, with a total of 165 canals! Amsterdam is considered one of the best bike cities in the world. There are more bikes than people, almost 100,000 more.

Welcome Dinner - The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a wide variety of menu options to cater all diets. 

Van Gogh Museum - Houses the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh – more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 of his letters.

Jordaan Food Tour - Meet the people of Jordaan to understand why it’s one of our favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam. It’s come a long way from the working-class neighborhood that it once was, but Jordaan’s humble beginnings have helped shape the area into the creative hub it is today. This is your introduction to Dutch food and Amsterdam history in the famous 17th century Jordaan district. Taste the best quality Dutch delicacies in the shops, cafes, and restaurants where the people of Amsterdam go themselves at 7 food stops.

Rijksmuseum - Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam.

Wine and Cheese Canal Cruise - This 90 minutes canal cruise comes with exquisite local cheeses from both Amsterdam and towns beyond the city limits. Sample the smooth and creamy flavor of ‘Old Amsterdam’ cheese, based on a fiercely-guarded family secret, as well as the specially selected cheeses ripened by ‘Reypenaer’, and other young and ripened cheese. Take your pick out of three white wines, two red and two roses to enjoy along with the cheese.

Free Time & Cultural Immersion

Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Edam - See the famed Dutch windmills, the most known fishing village, and visit the eel smokehouse and a characteristic Wooden Shoe Factory.

Chocolate Walkabout - The route  introduces you to interesting chocolate and cacao businesses in the area. Along the way you will pass beautiful windmills and historic spots where you will be tasting delicious chocolates and related products. En-route we tell you about chocolate and cacao history. 

Free Time & Cultural Immersion

Anne Frank House - Anne Frank is one of Amsterdam’s most well known former residents. The writer’s house at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam is where she lived in hiding with her family for more than two years during World War II. Now converted into a museum, it contains a sobering exhibition about the persecution of the Jews during the war, as well as discrimination in general.

Amsterdam Cheese Museum -  You can relive the history of cheese making and experience the unique flavor of the best cheese of Holland. Learn more about Dutch cheese, see the most expensive cheese slicer of the world, and have fun dressing up like a traditional Dutch cheese farmer. Enjoy the conversation with our committed cheese guides, who are all dedicated to the philosophy behind the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. The Museum is driven by a powerful team of young entrepreneurs, Henk and Edwin, who have a long history in the world of Dutch specialty cheeses.

Albert Cuypmarkt - There's no place like the Albert Cuyp street market to discover Amsterdam’s typical sense of humour and laid back atmosphere. The Albert Cuypmarkt is the largest and most popular outdoor market in the Netherlands, with 260 stands operating six days a week selling everything from clothes to food. Try a wide variety of Dutch typical food from raw herring (which holds a special place in many Dutch people’s hearts and has been a staple dish of the Netherlands since the Middle Ages), to kibbeling (fried fish), to old Gouda cheese and bitterballen (meat-based snack, made by making a very thick stew thickened with roux and beef stock and generously loaded with meat). For the sweet tooths, look out for poffertjes (small fluffy pancakes), waffles, and freshly made stroopwafels (waffles Cookies sandwiched with a layer of spiced caramel)!

Train to Rotterdam (approx. 40 mins)

Rotterdam Walking Tour

Free Time & Cultural Immersion

Dutch Cuisine Workshop - In this 4 hours workshop you will get acquainted with typical classics from our own soil such as Rinse apple syrup, Friese clove cheese, and Zaanse mustard. Taste the flavors that Dutch grandparents grew up with.

Free Afternoon

Train to Den Bosch (approx 1h 20 mins)

Guest Lecture at Koning Willem I College

Free Time in Den Bosch before heading back to Rotterdam - Suggestion: don’t forget to try the Bosschebollen! These are one of the foods that Brabanders are famous for and proud of. Bosschebollen are large profiterole like pastries, filled with whipped cream and covered in chocolate. A bit messy to eat, but no one cares!

Markthal Rotterdam - This is a completely new concept - the first building of its kind - a hybrid between market hall and housing.  The ceiling, for instance, has the biggest artwork in the Netherlands called the “Horn of Plenty”, which you can’t miss. Once you step inside, you’ll notice well over a 100 stalls, cool bars, and lots of foodie joints where you can fill up. It’s one of the best places in the city for lunch! 

Free Afternoon

Day-Trip to Leiden and Lisse

Leiden Walking Tour

Keukenhof Castle Garden

LAM Museum - LAM is in a beautiful modern building in the Keukenhof Castle grounds. Five large rooms filled with modern art all with a food theme. Above all, the LAM is an innovative, personal museum that invites visitors to look at things differently. It’s for people of all ages. Their super personal approach means you always get a tailor-made art experience. LAM does things a bit differently than other museums: it gives the visitor bite-sized info so each person can give space to their own interpretation.

Train to Amsterdam (approx. 40 mins)

Free Day in Amsterdam

Farewell Dinner and Program Closing

Airport Transfer

Depart Amsterdam, The Netherlands for Home