Although the holiday season is still months away, it’s a great time to plan a spring walking tour — and few places showcase spring better than the Netherlands, where fields and gardens explode with color. Butterfield & Robinson’s Holland Walking tour departs April 16, 2018, for six days and five nights of guided walks through tulip country and historic towns.
The adventure begins at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, where an expert guide leads a leisurely stroll among the iconic bulb fields and curated displays. Afterward, guests enjoy cocktails in a palace ballroom before setting out on foot through the charming city of Leiden. The itinerary continues with a visit to The Hague, where participants sample jenever, the traditional Dutch gin, and explore the city’s elegant streets and cultural highlights.
The route moves on to the Groene Hart region and the town of Gouda, including a visit to St. Jans Church to admire its impressive stained-glass windows. A boat excursion on the river Lek brings travelers to Kinderdijk to view Europe’s largest remaining cluster of traditional windmills, a classic Dutch landscape that provides exceptional photo opportunities and insight into the country’s water-management heritage.
On another afternoon, walkers follow the Canal of South-Beveland across the island of Zuid-Beveland, taking in coastal vistas and rural scenery. The next day’s program includes a stop in Yerseke for a private tour of a shellfish auction and a meal featuring freshly harvested oysters, showcasing the Netherlands’ maritime food traditions.
Accommodations on the tour are carefully selected to complement the route and local character. Lodgings include Suite Hotel Pincoffs in Rotterdam, the historic Hotel Des Indes in The Hague, and Manoir Inter Scaldes in Kruiningen. Prices start at $4,995 per person based on double occupancy and cover a comprehensive package of services and inclusions.
The tour price includes all hotel accommodations and daily breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners with wine; knowledgeable Butterfield & Robinson guides; a support van; two lightweight telescoping walking sticks for each guest; a waist pack with water bottle and holder; detailed maps and suggested routes for independent exploration; all special events, private tours, guest experts and entrance fees; baggage transportation; gratuities for baggage handlers, porters and hotel staff; and all ground transportation from the initial rendezvous through the end of the trip.
This Holland Walking itinerary blends botanical highlights, cultural experiences and regional gastronomy into a compact spring escape. It’s ideal for walkers who want guided routes and expert commentary but also enjoy relaxed moments to linger in gardens, sample local specialties and absorb the low-country landscape at a comfortable pace.