Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
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Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Experience the Netherlands on a fantastic tour featuring the incomparable bulbs in bloom at Keukenhof Gardens, the historic steam train from Hoorn to Medemblik, a relaxing cruise across the beautiful IJsselmeer plus a stay in Alkmaar to coincide with their Cheese Market! Not forgetting a day in Amsterdam including a canal trip and the opportunity to sneak in some extra steam at Goes-Borsele.
View Dates & Book7 days from £1645
DEPARTS
Wednesday 9 April 2025
Wednesday 30 April 2025
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Discover the most beautiful spring garden in the world at the famous Keukenhof Gardens
Enjoy a nostalgic journey on the Hoorn to Medemblik Steam Train
Cruise on an old-fashioned steamer across the Ijsselmeer
Experience Alkmaars traditional cheese market day
Take a relaxing cruise amidst Amsterdams canals
Enjoy free time to explore Amsterdam
Visit picturesque Delft
Ride behind steam at Goes-Borsele
Stay in two traditional and historic hotels
Also included in your Tour Fare:
6 nights bed & breakfast plus 4 evening meals
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
DAY 1
Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards through the Netherlands to Alkmaar and our base for four nights, the Grand Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.
DDAY 2
After breakfast this morning, we travel eastwards to the town of Hoorn where we join the historic Museum Steam Train that meanders along a unique railway line, across the West Frisian meadows, and past characteristic station buildings to Medemblik. Here an old-fashioned steamer awaits to sail gently across the IJsselmeer to the village of Enkhuizen and, after a day of nostalgia amidst the timeless scenery of North Holland, we re-join the rail system at Enkhuizen and travel back to Alkmaar.
B, DDAY 3
It is Friday in Alkmaar and this can mean only one thing - it's Cheese Market Day! Spend the morning watching the spectacle of cheese trading in the town's Waagplein beside the weighing house. In the afternoon, we enjoy time at leisure to explore or relax at the hotel before we reconvene in the early evening and enjoy a meal together in the hotel restaurant.
B, DDAY 4
Today, we travel by rail to Amsterdam where we enjoy a cruise along the city's most beautiful canal belt, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore; perhaps visit Anne Frank House or learn about beer at the Heineken Experience before returning to Alkmaar in time for our evening meal.
B, DDAY 5
Today, we journey by coach to the fabulous Keukenhof, "the most beautiful spring garden in the world", open just a few weeks each year, where awesome swathes of tulips, crocuses and daffodils burst out of the rolling countryside. Discover huge rivers of colour beneath great avenues of trees with the greatest collection of bulbs including over 1,000 varieties of tulip. In the afternoon we transfer to Bergen op Zoom via medieval Delft, home of the famous blue and white Delft pottery, and we can stroll around the beautiful town centre that is rich in history and awash with delicious craft beers and picturesque canals. Following our visit, we continue to our base for next two nights, the historic Hotel De Draak, the oldest hotel in the Netherlands. Tonight, we dine at leisure in the city centre on the Grote Markt Square with many great restaurants to suit every palate and budget.
BDAY 6
Today we make our way by train into the rural province of Zeeland for our visit to the Goes-Borsele Steam Railway. The historic steam and diesel trains ply the route from Goes itself along 13km of track through a beautiful rural route through orchards, fields, and small villages to the charming village of Hoedenskerke. Later we return to Bergen op Zoom for our final evening, dining at leisure in one of the many wonderful restaurants.
BDay 7
We bid farewell to Bergen op Zoom and the Netherlands, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.
*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
HOTELS
Grand Hotel, Alkmaar
This stately hotel is ideally located right in the heart of Alkmaar. Set in the former Post Office, the Grand Hotel is the perfect starting point to explore the city with its famous cheese market, various museums, theatres, and cosy shopping streets. The modern bedrooms offer a private bathroom with a shower, a flat-screen TV, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Hotel De Draak, Bergen op Zoom
The grand Hotel De Draak is the oldest hotel in the Netherlands offering beautiful architectural styles with modern day comforts. Every bedroom is unique in its design and decoration providing a private bathroom, hairdryer, ironing facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.
FARES
From London St Pancras International: | |
Standard Class rail travel to/from the Netherlands, including Standard Eurostar | £1,645 |
Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return | £200 |
First Class rail travel to/from the Netherlands, including Standard Premier Eurostar | £1,915 |
Join at Alkmaar & Leave at Bergen op Zoom | £1,395 |
Single Traveller Supplement | £455 |
6 nights bed & breakfast plus 4 evening meals
Eurostar and rail travel to and from the Netherlands in the class of your choice
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address |
---|---|
Tour Base | Tour Base (Join & Leave at Hotel) |
London St Pancras Int | London St Pancras Int (LNE) |
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