Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Enchanting Holland…the time to go is now….

Kingdom of Netherlands

 

“The world is a book, & those who do not travel read only one page” – Saint Augustine

 

There simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history & dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. At once natural & refined, folksy & cultured: the combination of mountain rusticity with old-world style captivates.

 

Teutonic half-timbered villages, graffiti-decorated Renaissance squares, medieval walled towns….Wander the darkly Gothic narrow alleyways of Prague, admire the baroque excess of Salzburg or take in the colourful old-Venetian influence on the Slovenian port of Piran. Check out the medieval masterpieces in Poland & Czech Republic & discover the quaint townscapes throughout the region – from Bern in Switzerland to Bardejov in Slovakia.

 

Tradition & innovation intertwine in Holland. Artistic masterpieces, centuries-old windmills, tulip fields & romantic candlelit cafes coexist with visionary architecture, cutting-edge design & phenomenal nightlife. And, in Amsterdam, it is more easily experienced than defined. There is a sense of time stopping, an intimacy of the here-and-now that leaves your troubles behind, at least until tomorrow. Come……experience the psychedelic Dutch kaleidoscope with us……….

 

Europe’s almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its biggest single draw: the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Renaissance art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice, the Napoleonic splendour of Paris, and the multilayered historical & cultural canvas of London. Less obvious, but no less impressive attractions include Moorish palaces in Andalucía, the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Turkey, the majesty of meticulously restored Imperial palaces in Russia's former capital St Petersburg &  the ongoing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

 

Once you have ticked off the great museums, panoramic vistas & energetic nightlife, what is left? A chance to indulge in a culinary adventure to beat all others that is what! Once again Europe's diversity & global reach is its trump card.

 

Nourishing yourself is more fun in a great atmosphere & Central Europe's abundance of outdoor cafes, beer halls & coffee houses offer just that. On mornings when the mists lie heavy & crowds are few, you might imagine yourself in an earlier century.

 

Enjoy a plate of pasta while admiring the Slovenian coast, nosh pierogi (dumplings) on a Polish cobblestone street or dip into fondue lakeside in Switzerland. Beer gardens across the region offer an opportunity to enjoy hearty food, a convivial atmosphere and a good brew alfresco. Once the weather cools, move inside to a boisterous beer hall. Or, for something a little sweeter, try a cake at a coffee house or pastry cafe. The most famous are in Vienna & Budapest, but you will find many options - and other interesting places to eat & drink - all across the region.

 

Europe has some of the best nightlife in the world. Globally famous DJs keep the party going in London, Berlin & Paris, all of which also offer top-class entertainment, especially theatre & live music. Other key locations for high-energy nightlife include Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest & Madrid, while those hankering for something more cosy can add Dublin's pubs or Vienna's cafes to their itinerary.

 

With mountains covering so many Central European states, it is no wonder that the outdoors holds such an attraction in the region. The Alps rise to their highest in Switzerland, with jagged, Toblerone-like peaks such as the Matterhorn, and march on through southern Germany, across Austria & south into Slovenia. You can hike, bike, ski or just ride the gondolas & funiculars to enjoy the Alpine views.

 

There are also sculptural sandstone 'rock towns' in the Czech Republic to climb, waterfall-filled gorges in Slovakia & Slovenia to hike & the bucolic Black Forest in Germany to walk. Central / Eastern Europe reveals a tapestry of quaint & contemporary cultures - always with enough rough edges to keep you intrigued.

 

However, what is impressive about Eastern Europe is how communally minded the locals can be and how this makes for such a friendly experience for the traveller. Falling into conversation with locals on a train or at a cafe is commonplace. You will likely end up sharing food & drinks with them, listening to folk songs, learning a new card game or even being invited home for dinner.

 

Then, there is Holland where tradition & innovation intertwine. Artistic masterpieces, centuries-old windmills, tulip fields and romantic candlelit cafés coexist with visionary architecture, cutting-edge design and phenomenal nightlife.

 

Art & Architecture | Bike & Boat | Dramatic Landscapes | Cafe Culture| Urban Explorations

 

Holland (or Kingdom of the Netherlands) is one of the 15 countries, along with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland & the United Kingdom in Central Europe on the coast of the North Sea.

 

The Netherlands may be a small country, but it is packed with world famous icons. Discover the bulb fields, windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes, canals of Amsterdam, masterpieces of Old Masters, Delft Blue earthenware, innovative water-management & millions of bicycles.

 

In a country that gave birth to Dutch Masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh & Piet Mondrian, the art legacy is huge. World-renowned art museums in Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Haarlem & Leiden drip with iconic masterpieces, alongside a respectable portfolio of contemporary works.

 

The Dutch influence on construction spans more than a millennia, from Romanesque & Gothic medieval magnum opuses to Dutch Renaissance palaces & romantic Golden Age gabled houses. Trailblazing contemporary architecture – green & innovative – is a perfect reflection of a country perfectly in tune with its environment. There are as many as 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

Geography plays a key role in the Netherlands' iconic landscapes. The kaleidoscope of colour is nothing short of psychedelic. Uninterrupted North Sea winds have powered Windmills since the 13^th century, pumping water over the dykes, milling flour & more. Some two-thirds of the surface is devoted to agriculture, including beautiful rainbow fields of crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths & tulips that burst into flower each year between March & May.

 

With fabulously pancake-flat, scenic landscapes beckoning along every last dyke, canal, river & coastal shore, two-wheeling in Holland is one of Dutch life's greatest pleasures (headwinds notwithstanding) & the bike-loving Dutch practically live on their well-worn, beloved fietsen (bicycles). Synonymous with local culture, some 32,000 km of Dutch 'motorways' of cycling paths, including long-distance LF routes, criss-cross the country & Bike-rental outlets are ubiquitous.

 

In a country that values socialising & conversation more than drinking, when the Dutch say cafe they mean a pub & there are thousands - with glorious summertime terraces peppering flower-strewn canals, looking out to sea, hidden down ancient lanes, standing on every town's Grote Markt (market square). Cafes are places for go-slow contemplation & camaraderie, over dusk-time borrel (drinks) with bar snacks or a fabulous meal any time of day. The ultimate cafee kick: revelling in that deliciously snug, Dutch state of gezelligheid (translating to conviviality, cosiness) in a timeless bruin cafe (brown cafe), named for the nicotine stains of centuries past.

 

So expect an incredible atmosphere mixed with more unique & authentic experiences powered by locals than you could ever hope to see in just one visit. Spectacular & surreal. Take the plunge now & yep… a warm welcome awaits you in Holland & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World with us

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Holland. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………

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