Dutch & Belgian Waterways

The municipality of Edam-Volendam is situated on the coast of the Ijssel Sea, some 20 kilometres (13 miles) north of Amsterdam. The popular fishing village of Volendam with its pretty harbour is today first and foremost known for its traditional costumes; the neighbouring town of Edam, on the other hand, is known for its famous spherical Edam cheese. So under no circumstances should you miss out on a visit to one of the numerous regional cheese factories! Both Volendam and Edam are excellent places for an excursion and, with their picturesque town landscapes and the numerous attractive buildings, are outstandingly suited for leisurely walks and all manner of sightseeing.

Visit Bruges and experience a fascinating journey back in time to the Middle Ages! The historic centre of the city is extraordinarily well preserved and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The best way to explore Bruges is by taking a walk through the winding, cobbled streets or by going on a boat trip through the romantic canals which have earned the city the sobriquet of ‘Venice of the North’ – you’ll be amazed what surprises this place has in store for you! The Church of Our Lady, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the majestic belfry dating from the 14th century, part of the town hall where the city administration still meets, are all worth seeing. The rich cultural provision is rounded off by the 16 museums and galleries which have something to offer every taste, from Old Dutch painting to contemporary art.

One of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Holland, the Keukenhof, is to be found between Amsterdam and The Hague. The extensive gardens are open from March to May, at which time there are more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in full flower, delighting visitors to the park with their magnificent display of colour. The gardens cover an area of 80 acres and there are in total 15 kilometres (10 miles) of paths for you to saunter along and enjoy the impressive and fragrant wide range of flowers or visit one of the numerous exhibitions and flower shows. The site housing the park today was used in the 15th century as hunting grounds and belonged to the extensive estate of Teylingen Castle. Tradition has it that the herbs were collected there by Jacoba of Bavaria for use in the castle kitchen, and the current name Keukenhof (kitchen garden) dates from that time.