Bicycle through the Waterland, a classic Dutch landscape that is ideal for bicycling as it is flat and spectacularly scenic. A ferry will take you to the Waterland, where you will begin pedaling at a leisurely pace well suited to the area's laid-back ambiance. You can expect to see farmers going about their daily lives, brightly painted wooden houses and an impossibly green countryside crisscrossed with canals and dotted with seemingly endless rivers and lakes. Almost half of the Waterland is water, held in check by a series of dikes, and the landscape couldn't be more beautiful. Expect to pass cows grazing in fields, iconic windmills pumping water out of the lowlands and a number of seaside villages, one of which you will stop in for a drink. The Waterland is also a paradise for water birds, and you will likely see countless swans and geese and perhaps even a godwit, the national bird of the Netherlands.

Enjoy an insider's look at life in Edam by visiting a local family and touring a cheese-making facility to see how Edam's famed cheese is produced. An enlightening walking tour will introduce you to the city. Here, you will see from the outside, St. Nicholas Church and the Edam Museum; which occupies an 18th-century sea captain's house. For a deeper understanding of life in Edam, you will stop by a centuries-old residence and enjoy coffee and cake with the owners. They will elaborate on the long history of their home, how Edam has changed just in their lifetimes and what the future may hold. Still, it is impossible to escape the draw of cheese in Edam. More than a quarter of the cheese produced in the Netherlands is the city's namesake cheese, a soft variety made with less milk fat than most other cheeses. While touring a cheese-making facility in town, you will watch the process and then taste samples.

Holland is known for its white and blue pottery as well as the iconic windmills that dot the countryside.

Begin with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside to Delft. On arrival, visit the Delft Porceleyne Fles, the manufacturer of the world-famous Delft Blue ceramics. While touring the factory you'll have a chance to observe the production process and have some time to browse the gift shop.

Join your guide for a short walk of Delft’s city center, followed by nearly 2-hours of free time for lunch on your own and independent exploration or shopping.

Then, your tour continues to The Hague for an orientation drive through the city. See the Dutch government buildings, the spectacular Peace Palace, where the International Court of Justice is situated, and numerous other interesting buildings and sights.

OVERVIEW

Gain a historical perspective of Edam - a city renowned for its eponymous cheese - before traveling into the countryside to a dairy farm that makes it. During an enlightening walk downtown, you can expect to see Edam's landmark St. Nicholas Church, which was rebuilt following lightning fires in 1602 and 1699. Although those blazes significantly reduced the church's tower, the building remains a dominant architectural treasure. Still, cheese is always top of mind when visiting Edam and has been since the 17th century when Edam cheese first became popular, especially among sailors that appreciated its long shelf life. While visiting a nearby dairy farm, you will watch the cheese-making process and sample the famed product, which has a mild nutty flavor that becomes tangier as the cheese ages. Incredibly, more than a quarter of the cheese produced in the Netherlands is Edam, a soft cheese made with less milk fat than most other cheeses.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See some of Edam’s most historical landmarks while walking through downtown.
• Stop at a dairy farm that produces Edam’s soft namesake cheese.
• Sample Edam cheese, whose mild nutty flavor changes as it ages.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow an architectural historian through three striking 21st-century icons that have altered the face of Amsterdam and discover how their design challenges were overcome. The Eye museum pays homage to the film industry and its geometric shape reflects the power of visual images. Like film, the building creates an interplay of reality and illusion. The Eye is particularly impressive in the way it has transformed a riverside area that was once an isolated wasteland. Similarly, The Eastern Docklands & Java Island showcase urban planning and architectural innovation, transforming industrial sites into vibrant, modern spaces blending with history. The Silodam is another architectural triumph as this waterside apartment complex is reminiscent of a fully laden container ship. Your architectural historian guide will explain the design details such as how the different colors denote different "neighborhoods" within the village-like building.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours independently exploring Haarlem with no schedule to follow other than your own, which allows you the freedom to visit the attractions that sound most intriguing. You will be dropped off in the heart of Haarlem with easy access to most everything imaginable. If historical landmarks are of interest, head straight for Market Square, home to the 13th-century town hall and the Dutch Renaissance-style De Vleeshal - the only place fresh meat could be purchased for centuries as indicated by the sculpted ox heads on the front of the building. Nearby stands St. Bavo's Church, an icon with one of the world's largest and most famous organs. This rare musical instrument is gilded, decorated with statues and covers the entire west wall of the church. If you wish to dine while sightseeing, try a restaurant that specializes in Dutch dishes such as stamppot, a traditional comfort food made with sausage, kale and mashed potatoes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Haarlem on your own and focus on the attractions that sound most interesting.
• Enjoy the freedom of wandering about at your own pace with no schedule to follow.
• Be dropped off in the city center near the best shopping and dining.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This charming half day tour begins with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside to the village of Zaandam. Arriving at the village, your guide will lead you through the faithfully re-created town of Zaanse Schans. This carefully designed open air museum was built to replicate the Zaan community of around 1700 and today is a very popular attraction. As you stroll through the cobbled streets watching craftsmen practicing the trades of yesterday, you'll get a glimpse of what Dutch life was once like.

A short scenic drive takes you to the tranquil 17th century town of Edam, best known for its distinctive Edam cheese. Enjoy a short walking tour past picturesque canals, traditional drawbridges and charming homes with overflowing flower gardens. Then, you'll have some free time; perhaps you'll want to use the time to further explore this delightful town on your own, or purchase a special souvenir as a memento of your visit.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Amsterdam that provides a wonderful introduction to the city, which you will also view from a water perspective while cruising the canals. Enlightening commentary will add even more to your understanding of the capital of the Netherlands as it will describe the landmarks along the way in fascinating detail. You can expect to pass by the first Heineken brewery, the Jewish Museum, the ornate 19th-century Tropenmuseum and the Concertgeboux, whose acoustically perfect main concert hall was ironically designed by an architect said to have no musical talent. There are officially 165 canals in Amsterdam and cruising them is essential to gaining a full picture of the city. From the comfort of a glass-topped boat, you will view landmarks such as the original 17th-century town hall, and the National Maritime Museum.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Amsterdam’s most recognizable landmarks on a panoramic drive through the capital.
• Cruise the iconic canals of Amsterdam in a glass-topped boat.
• Hear enlightening commentary about the history of Amsterdam.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Amsterdam, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot.

Selfie sticks are available and complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture the best pictures.

As you walk and ride through Amsterdam, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:

Selfie Spots:
• Zaanse Schans windmills.
• Dam Square, which the Royal Palace overlooks.
• 17th-century Canal Ring.
• Bloemenmarkt floating flower market.
• Heineken® brewery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Amsterdam.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Enjoy a beer tasting after an immersive experience in the original Heineken brewery. The Heineken Experience is exclusively for individuals aged 18 years and older.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Glide through the Venice of the North in a fitting manner, via glass-roofed canal boat. It's an incomparable way to experience this cosmopolitan city that stretches over some 70 islands and boasts 60 miles of canals and 1,000 bridges. An obscure port mostly visited by fisherman back in the 13th century, Amsterdam steadily grew in trade importance - blossoming into one of the world's most important ports as the Dutch Golden Age gained steam. On this relaxed waterway tour, you'll traverse some of the four concentric canal rings that define the old city center while learning much of the history behind this watery network from your guide. Along the way, expect to pass countless variations on the signature gabled canal house design the city is so famous for. Just as colorful are the procession of houseboats and tiny skiffs tied up in organized randomness along the stone canal banks. The designated route brings you by such major monuments as the National Maritime Museum, magnificent Town Hall (once considered Europe's largest administrative building).

This tour combines the Dutch countryside with its windmills and the city of Amsterdam.

Leave Amsterdam behind and enjoy a drive through the beautiful countryside to the Dutch village of Broek in Waterland. This utterly charming village is well known for its classic wooden houses and farms. After a leisurely stroll through this fairy-like community, you'll re-join your coach and proceed to Beemster Polder, the oldest area of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. In 1999, this well-preserved and historic area was registered on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. The highlight of your time here will surely be the visit to an original 17th century windmill where you will learn how the Dutch have managed to successfully live below sea level.

A scenic drive through the lush lowlands will bring you back to Amsterdam and the center of the city. Enjoy nearly 1.5-hours of free time to do some shopping and have a quick lunch on your own. Afterwards, you'll meet up with your coach again for the return drive to the port.

Begin with a transfer to the Jewish Historical Museum which was founded more than 70 years ago, but only found its definite home in the Ashkenazi Synagogue Complex in 1987. The museum gives a perfect impression of Jewish life in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

Enjoy a guided walk through the historic Jewish area of Amsterdam and see the Hollandsche Schouwburg theater which is now a monument in memory of the 104,000 Jews who did not return to Amsterdam after World War II. During the war, only Jewish artists were allowed to perform in the Schouwburg.

From the Schouwburg, continue to the Portuguese Synagogue, which was built in 1675 by Elias Bouman for the three congregations of Portuguese Jews who had fled to the Low Lands from persecution in their homeland.