Escorted Tours
Christmas in Delft by Rail
Spend Christmas in the atmospheric canal-side town of Delft, following in the footsteps of Vermeer and Rembrandt through the historic streets of Delft and Leiden. Explore outstanding collections of Dutch art at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and the Mauritshuis in The Hague, alongside visits to the characterful towns of Haarlem, Utrecht and Gouda.
Delft makes a wonderfully festive base, with its handsome Markt Square illuminated by twinkling lights, a towering Christmas tree and the inviting aromas of hot chocolate and mulled wine. With time to enjoy the town on Christmas Day and special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners at the hotel, this tour combines celebrated art, historic cities and seasonal atmosphere.
what’s included
At A Glance
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Day 1: Eurostar to Rotterdam and Arrival in Delft
Travel by Eurostar direct from St Pancras to Rotterdam. On arrival, transfer by coach to Delft (approx. 20 mins) and the Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel. Welcome drink, then dinner this evening at the hotel.
Day 2: Delft, Leiden and Dutch Golden Age Heritage
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 the birthplace of Rembrandt, 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.
Day 3: Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum
The largest city and capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam started life as a small fishing village and became one of the world’s most important ports during the Dutch Golden Age. Wander the narrow atmospheric lanes and canals lined with 17th-century merchants’ houses and view some of the many cultural and historic sights.
Fully reopened in 2013 after extensive renovation, the Rijksmuseum is one of the world’s greatest art galleries with a large collection of Dutch works, particularly Rembrandts, several excellent Vermeers and a huge cache of sculptures and applied arts.
Day 4: Utrecht and Gouda
Canal-lined Utrecht is a delightful town with a wealth of sights including the picturesque almshouses, 15th-century St Catherine’s Convent, Oudegracht canal and – for lovers of modern architecture – the Rietveld Schroder House (limited opening, please check for details).
A typical Dutch country town, Gouda is charming, its old buildings surrounded by quiet canals, known for its cheese. Although it is a fairly small town, Gouda’s Markt square is the largest in the Netherlands, an echo of its days at the centre of the medieval cloth trade, and you’ll also find some of the world’s best stained glass in St Janskerk.
Day 5: Haarlem and Christmas Eve Dinner
A relaxed pace of life and lovely historic centre make Haarlem a delightful town to explore. A former centre of clothmaking, 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. Return to the hotel mid-afternoon to have some time to get ready for a special Christmas Eve dinner.
Day 6: Christmas Day at Leisure in Delft
Full day free to explore the lovely streets and canals of Delft with festive Christmas Day dinner at the hotel.
Day 7: The Hague and the Mauritshuis
The Hague is the home of the Dutch government and Parliament and is a pleasant, spacious seaside town. With its multitude of parks, squares and gardens interspersed with elegant boulevards lined with mansions, it is a stately place with an air of being well kept and well moneyed.
The Hague has plenty of excellent museums, and entrance is included to the Mauritshuis collection, which has reopened with a new exhibition space and reception area. The museum retains its intimate atmosphere and has an outstanding collection of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Dyck and Rubens.
Day 7: Delft at Leisure and Return by Eurostar
This morning we will have some free time to spend in Delft before transferring by coach to Rotterdam station for the return Eurostar to St Pancras.
Availability
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HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel, Delft
The family-owned three-star Delft Centre Hotel is located – as its name suggests – in the heart of Delft just behind the New Church, so within a few minutes’ walk of the main square and all the main sights. Facilities here include bar, restaurant, waterfront terrace, wi-fi and comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities.
Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel Website
OUR VIEW ON THE HOTEL
The Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel has been welcoming Travel Editions’ guests for over a decade now and continue to look after us very well.
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing.
If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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