Discover ancient Amsterdam with Kate Mosse

Itinerary

1. Day

   1

   Eurostar St Pancras to Amsterdam

   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   

   After arriving in Amsterdam, transfer to the Eden Hotel in the city centre to check-in for your four-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. There are a host of restaurants you can choose from close to the hotel.

2. Day

   2

   City tour Amsterdam and Q&A with Kate Mosse

   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   

   This morning a guided walking tour will show you some of the many historical sights of the Netherlands' atmospheric capital. The characteristic, beautiful merchant houses that line the labyrinth of canals give the city a very distinct and intimate atmosphere that belies it capital city status. But a wealth of world class museums, galleries, churches and restaurants ensure that there is no shortage of attractions.

   The afternoon is free to take in a museum or two - the Rijksmuseum hosts an art collection to rival any in the world, the Van Gogh Museum has a superlative selection, whilst smaller museums such Anne Frank's House, Rembrandt's House and the Church in the Attic are also must-sees. But strolling the canalside streets is a great part of the city's appeal.

   This evening, the hotel brasserie will host a dinner with a talk and Q&A with Kate Mosse about her latest novel, The City of Tears, which is set in old Amsterdam.

   Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
3. Day

   3

   City of Tears tour of Amsterdam with Kate Mosse

   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   

   This morning Kate will accompany our group (with whisper headsets so everyone can hear) on a walking tour of some of the sights of Amsterdam that feature in the City of Tears. The book is set between 1572 and 1584, so the city is small (the city walls run along what is now Spuistraat to the west and Kloveniersburgwal to the east) and our walk takes in Herengracht, the quaint Begijnhof alms houses and exterior of the English church, Dam Square, Koninklijk Paleis, the Nieuwe Kerk, the Oude Kerk., Zeedijk and Harbour, and Nieuwmarkt, where the novel's family reside and on to Spui and Singel canals.

   This afternoon we venture out of the city to nearby Haarlem. A relaxed pace and lovely historic centre makes Haarlem a delightful town to explore. A former centre of cloth-making, in the 17th century Haarlem became the place to be for a flourishing school of painters, much of whose work is displayed in the excellent Frans Hals Museum. Housed in a former almshouse, where Hals himself lived the last years of his life, the museum's collection consists of works by Hals and a sample of Dutch paintings from the 15th century to the present day and is well worth a visit.

   Meals - Breakfast
4. Day

   4

   Full day tour Delft and Leiden

   Leiden, Netherlands

   

   Our tour today takes us to two beautiful and archetypally Dutch cities that were the birthplaces of two of the world's most renowned artists - Vermeer, who was born in Delft and Rembrandt, in Leiden.

   It isn't hard to see why Delft is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the Netherlands - firstly there's Vermeer, then the town's famous blue and white ceramics and last but certainly not least the gorgeous centre - a jumble of old tiled houses, tree-lined canals, and lovely little bridges, though it's the feeling of the place that holds most of the appeal. Wandering the narrow streets is a must, and the Prinsenhof, one of a few fascinating old buildings, has a collection of Golden Age paintings. Home to one of Europe's most prestigious universities, Leiden is a vibrant and appealing city. Its beautiful and historic old town, crisscrossed by ancient canals and full of lovely antique buildings, is best explored on foot. The Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal houses some 17th century Dutch paintings.

   Meals - Breakfast
5. Day

   5

   Depart Amsterdam

   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   

   Enjoy a morning at your leisure before transferring to the station for your return Eurostar journey to St Pancras early this afternoon.

   Meals - Breakfast