Steam and Tulips in the Netherlands and Flanders

Enjoy spring in Flanders and the Netherlands with blossoming tulip bulbs, relaxing canal and coastal cruises plus the best of the Low Countries’ steam railways on both narrow and standard-gauge tracks.

• Enjoy four ‘full throttle’ days of steam with four different heritage railways around the Netherlands, including standard and narrow gauge railways.
• Refresh on two relaxing cruises on classic ships, along the canals and waterways of Amsterdam as well as the Dutch seaside from Medemblik to Enkhuizen.
• The entire tour is conveniently based at the centrally located, elegant Radisson Hotel at the spectacular Antwerp Central Station. This is one of the grandest classical railway stations in the world, an opulent and richly decorated domed terminal dating from 1905.
• See the best of the Dutch tulip fields, both from the railway lines you travel over, as well as at the lovely locations that you will visit.
• Explore the fabulous and historic Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Leiden, as well as quaint villages out in the countryside.

Tuesday 20 April 

London to Antwerp by high speed rail

You travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras via Brussels to Antwerpen Centraal, arriving there in the afternoon. You arrive the exciting and vibrant city centre of Antwerp, where you will have time at leisure to explore before dining with your fellow travellers in the hotel restuarant. (D)

Wednesday 21 April

Steam at the Hoorn to Medemblik Stoomtram, coastal cruise to Enkhuizen

Today you visit the Netherlands’ most iconic steam railway, with the famed steam tramway ‘Stoomtram’ from Hoorn to Medemblik. Running through the charming Dutch countryside to the seaside at Medemblik, the ornate steam locomotives from the turn of the 19th and 20th century haul elegantly restored wooden coaches and enable a true journey back in time. The steam train from Hoorn to Medemblik is just the first leg of the journey, afterwards you board the impressive vintage vessel MV Friesland for the delightful coastal cruise to Enkhuizen. Experience the very best of Dutch heritage transport.

From Enkhuizen you return to Antwerp by train, with the railway lines passing directly through some of the most famous tulip fields in the Netherlands. (B)

Thursday 22 April

A day in Amsterdam with sightseeing cruise, tulips, tramways, culture and history

The Dutch capital is one of the premier destinations in Europe and offers a plethora of different attractions, with something for every taste. You take the loco-hauled direct train from Antwerp to Amsterdam. After arrival, you will join a refreshing sightseeing cruise to experience the city’s legendary canals and scenic waterways, all framed by remarkable red brick architecture. The cruise will give you a good introduction to the layout of the city and its principal attractions. Afterwards you may take advantage of your included public transport rover ticket to visit the highlights of the city, whether it be the beautiful Vondelpark and Rijksmuseum Gardens, the top locations in the city to admire the vibrant tulip bulbs.
The Rijksmuseum also hosts the iconic paintings by Dutch painters Rembrandt and Vermeer. In the evening you return to Antwerp by direct, loco-hauled Intercity train. (B) 

Friday 23 April

Beautiful Leiden and narrow gauge steam at the Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden 

In the morning you take a service train via Rotterdam to Leiden. You first have time to visit the historic town centre of Leiden, which is located right outside the main railway station and is the picture-perfect historic Dutch town with beautiful canals and little bridges. After free time for refreshments in the Old Town, you continue to the local park and the delightful narrow gauge steam railway at Katwijk, which runs in a beautifully landscaped area around a local lake. The railway is also the site of the Dutch national narrow gauge museum and has preserved important examples of the country’s narrow gauge railways. You then enjoy a private charter on the full length of the line, circling around the lake Valkenburgse Meer and pausing for photos and run pasts en route. After a great day out, you return to Antwerp in the early evening. (B)

Saturday 24 April

Full steam ahead at the Stoomtrein Puurs; Dendermonde

For the final day of touring you enjoy full steam through the fields of Flanders at one of Belgium’s premier heritage railways.
The preserved line from Puurs to Dendermonde is near to Antwerp and leads on a 14 km long alignment through the country side. The railway has a remarkable collection of preserved tank engines, one of which will haul your train today on the pleasant round-trip. (B D)

Sunday 25 April

Steam in Zeeland at the Goes; Borsele Railway

Today you visit Zeeland, the westernmost region of the Netherlands, in the south of the country and in convenient proximity to Antwerp. Travel by NS service to Goes, where you’ll board a nostalgic steam train for a scenic journey through the Dutch countryside to the quaint village of Hoedekenskerke. Your historic tank engine will pause for photographs and put on a memorable display of steam and sound. (B )

Monday 26 April

Morning at leisure in Antwerp and afternoon return to London by Eurostar

You have a free morning to enjoy all that Antwerp has to offer, before returning by high speed Eurostar to London St Pancras.