Floriade Spectacular & Delights of Amsterdam

August - October 2022

5 days from £695pp

Join us for this once-in-a-decade experience as we travel to the Netherlands and visit the Floriade Expo, held in the Dutch town of Almere. This rail holiday will also take us to the traditional towns of Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken, and see us enjoy a day exploring of the capital city of Amsterdam.

Visit the world’s greatest flower spectacular at Floriade Experience
Visits to the pretty towns of Zaanse Schans, Volendam & Marken
Enjoy a relaxing cruise in Amsterdam

Description
Itinerary
What's Included
Travel Options
Dates & Prices

Join us for this once-in-a-decade experience as we travel the Netherlands and visit the world-famous, floral spectacle that is the Floriade Expo. The event will be held in the town of Almere and will have the important theme of ‘growing green cities’. Guests will be treated to the sights and smells of a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, as they experience the exhibition. On this tour you will also visit the traditional Dutch towns of Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken, and enjoy a day delving into the delights of the capital city of Amsterdam.

Day 1: London -Amsterdam
We journey aboard the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam. On arrival, our coach will transfer us to our hotel where we spend the next four nights. Relax over dinner this evening.

Note:

June, September & October departures: Corendon City Hotel Amsterdam

August departure: nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel
Day 2: Floriade
After breakfast, we are taken by coach to the Floriade World Horticultural Expo in the town of Almere where you will have plenty of time to enjoy this horticultural delight.

Floriade Expo 2022 will be an extraordinary experience. For six months the attention to the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ will be focused on the cities of the future. Visitors will have a unique and meaningful experience: while visiting the expo they will be invited to ‘explore, touch and change’.

This expo will also be the start of a new city district close to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Almost everything that will be built for the exhibition will become part of the legacy of Almere and the structures will remain and become part of the community. The expo site will be developed as a Green City Arboretum, serving as a model for green structure development in cities. This arboretum will consist of a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, creepers, hydrophytes and flower bulbs, all of which contribute to a green, healthy and sustainable city. Around 3000 species have been selected that contribute to the green city in terms of biodiversity, air purification, food production and city climate management.
Day 3: Zaanse Schans, Volendam & Marken
After breakfast, our coach will take us on a scenic drive to Zaanse Schans where you’ll see it’s iconic green wooden houses and windmills. From here we continue to a cheese farm in Volendam where we’ll enjoy a tasting and demonstration on how the cheese is made by staff wearing traditional Dutch costumes. We then drive to Marken, a village in the province of North Holland, where there’s free time to explore. Marken was separated from the mainland in the 13th century by a storm and was only connected to the mainland in 1957 by building an embankment and has been a peninsula since then. Marken is well known for its wooden houses, authentic character and the local residents cherish their traditions. Later, we return to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Dinner is served in the hotels’ restaurant this evening.
Day 4: Amsterdam & Canal Cruise
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, our coach will take us into the centre of Amsterdam which boasts 120 canals, 1280 bridges and a host of museums. We include a memorable cruise through the canal network, which will offer a different perspective of the city. The canals have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and our relaxing cruise will reveal why - you’ll pass all of the city’s highlights including the famous 17th century canal houses as well as the modern urban area’s too. During your free time after the cruise, why not admire the 17th-century merchant houses or the floating flower market, which is ablaze with colour in every season. There are many traditional and contemporary art galleries too and of course, Amsterdam is a haven for shoppers. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner at the Grand Café Restaurant in Amsterdam – the perfect ending to this memorable holiday.
Day 5: Amsterdam – London
After breakfast, we take the Eurostar from Amsterdam back to London.

Please note: The running order of the itinerary may vary depending on availability. The final running order will be confirmed in your final Travel Documents.

Travel by Eurostar

Step aboard Eurostar at London St Pancras for a fast and comfortable journey to mainland Europe. You can even upgrade your reserved seat to Standard Premier – speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. On arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels, you will then join connecting services for your onward journey.

For those travelling from further afield, you can also book overnight accommodation in London, before and after your holiday. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.

Your Accommodation

Corendon City Hotel Amsterdam

★★★★

The four-star Corendon City Hotel Amsterdam is in the city district Nieuw-West (New West). You can reach the centre of Amsterdam by public transport in 10 minutes and the hotel is just over two miles from Museum Square and the Van Gogh Museum too. The hotel has free Wi-Fi and has a restaurant, bar, terrace and lift. There is also a swimming pool, Spa area with sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and a gym (all available at small extra cost).

Room Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom
Flat screen TV
Air conditioning
tea & coffee making facilities
safe
Minibar

nhow Amsterdam RAI

★★★★

For 28th Aug departure only

Created by architect Reinier de Graaf, the four-star nhow Amsterdam RAI is a striking, contemporary building and is ideally located in Amsterdam’s business district and close to the Beatrix, Martin Luther King and Amstel parks. Amsterdam RAI station is a two-minute walk from the hotel and from here, the metro line provides excellent links to the city centre and Amsterdam’s main attractions.
Admire stunning views of Amsterdam from a terrace on the 17th floor, visit the first-floor bar and relax with a drink from its comprehensive wine and cocktail menu. For breakfast, there’s an American and Continental-style buffet served in the 17th floor restaurant where you can choose from breakfast classics or local specialties.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

Fitness centre
Bar on first floor with a comprehensive wine and cocktail menu
Viewing terrace on 17th floor
Free WIFI

Room Facilities & Amenities

All bedrooms are modern, colourful and light and each room reflects one of the six cardinal directions of the building in its decor: North, North West, East, South, South West and South East. Each room has floor to ceiling windows and features flat-screen TV, private bathroom, and air conditioning.