Need a great gift idea ?
Say it with flowers
As a gift or a much needed getaway, a barge cruise is definitely the way to discover Holland. The
Netherlands are famous for tulips, of course, but as a country with a
rich artistic and cultural history, it has a lot more besides.
The
western provinces of this land of water are populated by windmills which
sit above the polders along the very river that gave its name to
Amsterdam. Discover cities such as Haarlem and Delft which are meccas for lovers
of pottery and art. A barging cruise uncovers some of Holland's hidden
gems and is the perfect way to experience the best the country has to
offer.
Keukenhof Gardens.
Explore 80 acres of flowers at the world famous Keukenhof
Gardens. People from all across the globe come to indulge
in and be inspired by the natural beauty of Holland; famous for
its bulb fields and wide variety of flowers.
Cobblestone streets and gabled houses line the canal of Haarlem.
Visit the historic and charming 800-year old city of Haarlem. Once a major trading port, Haarlem is an exciting maze of cobbled streets and gabled houses at the center of a major bulb growing district.
Aalsmeer Flower Auction.
Aalsmeer hosts the largest floral auction in the world, with over 40
million plants and flowers from all over the globe traded here. They set
the world price for flowers and plants. This happens by bringing supply
and demand together by means of the auction clock. Each day, 19 million flowers and two million plants are sold through 13 clocks. The auction begins when each cart of flowers is presented to the buyers, one at a
time. As soon as the carts are displayed, the famous Aalsmeer clock
starts ticking down from 100, and as the time falls, so does the price
of the cart. The first person to make a bid gets the cart and they have
been known to sell within hundredths of a second. Buyers don't have to
purchase the entire cart which is compiled of a number of crates, but
the bidding continues until everything is sold.
Zaanse Schan
Zaanse Schans conservation area was created in the 1960s in order to preserve the buildings and crafts of the country's industrial revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. With a dozen windmills, a collection of traditional houses and workshops and a number of museums, it offers an unparalleled insight into Dutch social and industrial history.
And There's More...
The Netherlands is more than windmills and flowers. Delft, a picturesque community made famous by the Dutch painter
Vermeer, is home to the
Royal Dutch Delftware Porcelain Factory. This country has so many museums. Amsterdam alone has over 50 museums: the Dutch Masters and Golden Age paintings, modern art, press,
film, theatre, photography, shipping, science & technology, bags & purses, as well as the Tropical museum and the Jewish museum. The Netherlands may be a small nation but there's plenty to do and see. Enjoy!
Learn more about the Netherlands on our Destination page for Holland: CLICK HERE
Barging in Holland
Let's Go Barging This Spring
Springtime really is a glorious time of year to embark on a hotel barge cruise. We offer a wide variety of destinations, from the colorful waterways of Holland to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy; from the sunshine of the Canal du Midi to the unspoiled countryside of Gascony... Don't forget England, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy!
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: BargeCharters.com
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