Christmas in Delft Escorted Tour by Rail
Christmas in Delft Escorted Tour by Rail
8 Days Starting and ending in London, United Kingdom
Visiting: Rotterdam, Delft, Leiden, Madurodam, Haarlem, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Gouda, The Hague, London
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 35
Age range:
18-99
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Experience the magic of Christmas in the enchanting city of Delft with this escorted tour by rail. Stay at the charming Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel, perfectly located in the heart of the city, and enjoy festive dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Explore the picturesque streets and canals of Delft, and visit nearby cultural gems such as Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, Haarlem's Frans Hals Museum, and The Hague's Mauritshuis, home to Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring." Discover the historic towns of Leiden, Utrecht, and Gouda, each offering their own unique charm and attractions. With a full coach touring itinerary and a dedicated tour manager, this holiday promises a delightful blend of art, history, and festive cheer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1:
Location: Rotterdam, Delft
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
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 and dinner is included this evening at the hotel.
Day 2: Morning Walking Tour Of Delft, Afternoon Visit To Leiden.
Location: Delft, Leiden, Madurodam
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 birth place 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. En route back to Delft we will stop for a short visit to Madurodam which showcases the whole of the Netherlands in miniature. At Christmas time it is decorated with thousands of lights, decorations and snowy scenes which should hopefully get everyone into the Christmas spirit.
Day 3: Full Day Tour To Haarlem With Return To The Hotel Mid Afternoon, With Christmas Eve Festive Dinner At The Hotel.
Location: Haarlem
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A relaxed pace of life and lovely historic centre makes 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 4: Delft At Christmas.
Location: Delft
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Full day free to explore the lovely streets and canals of Delft with festive Christmas Day dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: Full Day Tour To Amsterdam And The Rijksmuseum.
Location: Amsterdam
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 merchant’s houses and visit some of the many cultural and historic sights – two of which are included. 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 6: Full Day Tour To Utrecht And Gouda.
Location: Utrecht, Gouda
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 7: Full Day Tour To The Hague.
Location: The Hague
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 8:Free Time And Return To The Uk.
Location: Delft, Rotterdam, London
Accommodation Name: Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
What's Included
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Return Eurostar from St Pancras direct to Rotterdam
The tour includes a return Eurostar journey from St Pancras directly to Rotterdam.
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Seven nights’ accommodation on bed and breakfast basis
Accommodation for seven nights at the three-star Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel is included, based on shared occupancy of a twin room.
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Dinner at the hotel on the first night
Dinner is included at the hotel on the first night of the tour.
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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festive dinners at the hotel
Festive dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are included at the hotel.
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Transfers and full coach touring itinerary
Transfers and a full coach touring itinerary conducted by a tour manager are included.
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Tour manager throughout
A tour manager will be present throughout the tour.
What's Not Included
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Single room supplement
A supplement is required for single room occupancy.
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Holiday insurance
Holiday insurance is not included in the tour package.
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Eurostar Plus upgrade
Upgrades to Eurostar Plus, which include upgraded seating and a light meal with a complimentary drink, are not included.
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Meals other than those stated
Meals not specifically mentioned in the inclusions are not included.
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Items of a personal nature
Items such as drinks, laundry, and telephone calls are not included.
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Porterage and gratuities
Porterage and gratuities are not included in the tour package.
Mode of Transport
Travel by Eurostar direct from St Pancras to Rotterdam, followed by a coach transfer to Delft. The tour includes transfers and a full coach touring itinerary conducted by a tour manager.
Accommodation
The family-owned three-star Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel is located in the heart of Delft, just behind the New Church. It offers a bar, restaurant, waterfront terrace, wi-fi, and comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes seven nights' accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis at the three-star Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel, which is located in the heart of Delft. The hotel offers facilities such as a bar, restaurant, waterfront terrace, wi-fi, and comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, and tea/coffee making facilities.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes dinner at the hotel on the first night, as well as festive dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Breakfast is also included as part of the accommodation.
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What is the mode of transportation for the tour?
The tour includes return travel by Eurostar from St Pancras direct to Rotterdam. Transfers and a full coach touring itinerary are conducted by a tour manager.
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Is there a tour manager present throughout the tour?
Yes, a tour manager is present throughout the tour to conduct the full coach touring itinerary and assist with any needs.
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What activities are planned for Christmas Day?
On Christmas Day, you have a full day free to explore the lovely streets and canals of Delft, followed by a festive Christmas Day dinner at the hotel.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour?
Highlights of the tour include visiting the lovely canal side town of Delft, exploring Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum, the charming town of Haarlem, The Hague's Mauritshuis museum, and the towns of Gouda and Leiden.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final joining instructions and documentation will be despatched approximately 10 days before travel.
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Do I need any Visas or Vaccinations for my holidays?
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change. Please check with your local doctor/GP about the current Vaccination requirements of the country you are visiting. For Visa enquiries, please contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Generally, single and double rooms carry the same price, which means that single supplements for certain itineraries can seem high. We would be pleased to arrange for clients travelling alone to share with another client, however this is subject to somebody in the same situation booking on the tour. If you would be interested in this option, please let us know at the time of enquiry/booking.
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Where does the tour manager meet us?
In most cases the tour manager will travel out with the tour group from the UK. However, this is not always the case and the tour manager may meet you at the destination station / airport. The exact details specific to your tour will be given to you in your final documentation, 10 days prior to departure.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Monday - Monday
Dec 22, 2025 - Dec 29, 2025Book with Confidence
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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