10. Small Group Tour to UNESCO Kinderdijk & The Hague
Meet your guide and driver at a central meeting point in Amsterdam. A comfortable, air-conditioned luxurious minivan will take you to today’s destination in about 75 minutes. Sit back, relax and enjoy the distinctive views of the Dutch flat landscape.
A visit to Kinderdijk gives you the extraordinary opportunity to visit a UNESCO World Heritage site in Holland. In 1997, the windmill complex of Kinderdijk was added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list because of its unique character. UNESCO considers the polder area with its dikes, mills, and pumping stations to be proof of human inventiveness in reclaiming and protecting the land. This is worldwide recognition of the fact this vulnerable area must be preserved for the future.
On arrival in Kinderdijk, your personal guide will take you to the visitor center, situated in an old pumping station. Watch the film about the Kinderdijk area before walking through the area. If possible, you will visit a working windmill from the inside (depending on how busy it is).
After a 90 minute visit, it's back aboard the minivan and onto The Hague. In addition to being the seat of the Dutch government, this city is also the home of the Dutch royal family and the third-largest city in the country. The Hague is where most foreign embassies in the Netherlands are located, as well as 150 international organizations, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. It is also the home of the Peace Palace, a number of royal palaces, the Mauritshuis, and the Binnenhof (the Dutch parliament).
At arrival in The Hague, you will do a city tour in a minivan to see all these highlights and a stop will be made for lunch before enjoying a visit to one of the 3 cultural highlights of The Hague:
- The Mauritshuis; home to some of the best Dutch paintings from the Golden Age. Discover masterpieces such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl earring and paintings of the famous Rembrandt van Rijn. Enjoy an audio tour.
- Escher in Het Paleis; This former royal winter palace now homes over 120 prints of the famous M.C. Escher. The way he played with perspective, space, and reality means he remains fascinating even today. His playful prints delight the eye and have been a rich source of inspiration for mathematicians, filmmakers, and architects throughout the world for many years.
- Madurodam; what makes the small country of the Netherlands so great? Discover this and more at Madurodam, a small city full of beautiful miniatures, playful activities, and the best attractions.
You will return to Amsterdam in the late afternoon.
A professional, experienced, and friendly driver/guide will accompany you throughout the tour.