May 13 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
5,699
Netherlands
The Old Masters: Art Treasures of Holland by River
Program No. 19504RJ
Discover the cultural heights of Holland’s Low Lands as you join experts to learn about artistic masterworks, renowned museums, historic architecture and an iconic earthenware factory.
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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
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DATES
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PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 13 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
7,699May 27 - Jun 6, 2025
Starting at
7,699Jun 10 - Jun 20, 2025
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7,699Sep 16 - Sep 26, 2025
Starting at
7,699Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2025
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11 days
10 nights
23 meals
9B 5L 9D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Rijksmuseum, Canal Cruise, Free Time
Amsterdam
10
Amsterdam, City Walk, Free Time
Amsterdam
11
Disembarkation, Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Voyage through the provinces of North and South Holland on a private barge and discover the landscapes that inspired Old Masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Flinck, Hals and Bol. In museums, professional art experts introduce the great artists of the Low Lands, while field trips explore churches, medieval towns and Holland’s oldest earthenware factory.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
These programs get you on your feet and include activities such as walking at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops through a city and standing in a museum for a few hours; uneven terrain, stairs and cobblestones are common. Embark/disembark barge via ramp. Cabins located on lower deck. Barge does not move at night and only motors during the day.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Together with an art historian, stroll the Rijksmuseum learning about the Dutch masters and other legendary works of art.
- Admire the extensive Vincent van Gogh collection at the Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Enjoy lectures by art historians before marveling at the works of Vermeer, Rembrandt and others.
General Notes
While you are walking or taken by bus to the various sites outlined in the program’s itinerary, the barge makes its way to the next port, and meets you there at the end of the day. (No barging during the night.)
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Kees Grandia
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Kees Grandia
View biography
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Jane E Choy-Thurlow
View biography
Jane Choy-Thurlow earned a B.S. from Salem State University and an M.Ed. from Trinity College Dublin, and studied history and art history at Leiden University, the Haagse Hogeschool, and the Volks University. She is a docent at the Mauritshuis, and enjoys sharing the treasures of this museum. Jane is chair of the Mainland Europe National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies, and has worked for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Center of Educational Research and Innovation in Paris.
Jan Vijftigschild
View biography
Jan Vijftigschild is a certified leader with an M.A. from the Academy for Teachers in Art. Before working in marketing and public relations, Jan taught art at the university level. Combining his experience, he became an informer in the field of natural stone for 10 years. Eventually, he returned to school and received his English Language Certificate Academic Level. Having returned to teaching, he lectures about art and water issues in the Netherlands on ships with visitors coming to the Netherlands.
Tosca van Diest
View biography
Tosca van Diest decided at the age of 32, after years of studying languages, to apply to an art academy. She graduated in 1996 with a focus on ceramics and graphic arts. Since then, she has been working in her studio in conjunction with other occupations. In 2001, she started leading groups at the Kröller-Müller Museum where she gets to share her passion for art and introduce art to those who might not be familiar with it. Tosca speaks fluent Dutch and English.
Suggested Reading List
(19 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Old Masters: Art Treasures of Holland by River
Program Number: 19504
Tulipomania
The story of the world's most coveted flower and the extraordinary passion it aroused, this vivid history traces the tulip from its origins on the Turkish steppes to its status as an absurdly desired object in Europe and its key role in the financial follies of 17th-century Holland.
Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City
Russell Shorto opens this delightful ode to an adopted city with his daily journey, by bike of course, through his neighborhood to drop off his toddler son. He spins a tale of a diverse city wrestled from the sea, its coffee shops, canals and its personalities and politics, with panache.
My Favorite Plant, Writers and Gardeners on the Plants They Love
An anthology of essays on plants and gardening from contemporary authors as well as luminaries of the past. This handsome, little book features selections by (among many others) D.H. Lawrence and William Carlos Williams.
Eyewitness Guide Amsterdam
A wonderful guide to Amsterdam, filled with detailed drawings, photographs and thumbnail sketches.
Rembrandt, Master of the Portrait
With over 200 illustrations, this pocket-size encyclopedia traces the life and career of artist Rembrandt von Rijn. It offers insight into his influence on the art of the portrait - an illuminating companion for any visit to Amsterdam and its museums.
Niccolo Rising
From the reigning queen of historical fiction comes this fast-paced, thoroughly-researched novel of ambition and worldly goods in 15th-century Bruges. This is the first volume in her House of Niccolo series.
Resistance
Shreve adeptly explores the themes of love and loss in her WWII story of a married Belgian woman who falls in love with the British pilot she is sheltering as part of the underground resistance movement.
Culture Smart! Belgium
A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
Tulip Fever
In this surprise bestseller, set in 1630s Amsterdam, a man contracts the talented painter Jan Van Loos to paint a portrait of him and his beautiful wife, Sophia. A vivid drama unfolds as a mutual attraction develops between Van Loos and Sophia.
Rubens
Belkin chronicles the 17th century artist Peter Paul Rubens from his early family life to his influential interactions with the Italian Renaissance masters and finally to Antwerp, where he rose to fame as a renowned painter and diplomat to the royal courts of Europe.
Bruegel
A volume in the excellent "World of Art" series, Gibson's book dispels the myth of Bruegel the simpleton artist and replaces it with a portrait of a man who understood the needs of his patrons. With many black-and-white and color reproductions of the paintings.
The Black Tulip
A gripping classic about love and adventure and tulips. In 17th-century Holland, Cornelius von Baerle is falsely accused and jailed. He fights for his freedom with the aid of his jailer's beautiful daughter.
Girl in Hyacinth Blue
This finely-crafted novel tells the story of the girl in an imagined, undiscovered portrait by Vermeer. Created in the 17th century, the painting passes through a number of people's hands, providing a series of tales that reflect the history and character of Holland and Europe through the years.
The Coffee Trader, A Novel
An entertaining, suspenseful work of historical fiction set in Amsterdam. It's 1659 and in the new, capricious world of stocks and investment, a desperate Portuguese-Jewish trader partners with a Dutchman. Their idea: import the first shipment of coffee to the country. What follows is a wild tale of ruthlessness, greed and fortune.
The Undutchables
A laugh-out-loud, irreverent guide to Dutch character and habits, including how to drink coffee and why you shouldn't even think about haggling over prices.
Flemish Art and Architecture 1585-1700
A lavishly illustrated overview of the art of the southern Netherlands from 1585-1700.
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Chevalier's richly drawn novel imagines the story behind Vermeer's mysterious portrait of a turbaned girl with a pearl earring.
Master of Shadows, The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens
Ranging from his home in Antwerp to London, Madrid, Paris and Rome, Lamster uncovers the gripping tale behind one of the world’s most famous painters and his double life as a secret agent, diplomat and political operative in 17th century Europe.
Painting and the Market in Early Modern Antwerp
An insightful, illustrated study of the transformation of Flemish society.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Amsterdam
Program Concludes
Amsterdam
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
23
| 9B |
5L |
9D |
Activity Level
Voyage through the provinces of North and South Holland on a private barge and discover the landscapes that inspired Old Masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Flinck, Hals and Bol. In museums, professional art experts introduce the great artists of the Low Lands, while field trips explore churches, medieval towns and Holland’s oldest earthenware factory.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Together with an art historian, stroll the Rijksmuseum learning about the Dutch masters and other legendary works of art.
- Admire the extensive Vincent van Gogh collection at the Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Enjoy lectures by art historians before marveling at the works of Vermeer, Rembrandt and others.
General Notes
While you are walking or taken by bus to the various sites outlined in the program’s itinerary, the barge makes its way to the next port, and meets you there at the end of the day. (No barging during the night.)
Featured Expert
Kees Grandia
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Jane E Choy-Thurlow
Jane Choy-Thurlow earned a B.S. from Salem State University and an M.Ed. from Trinity College Dublin, and studied history and art history at Leiden University, the Haagse Hogeschool, and the Volks University. She is a docent at the Mauritshuis, and enjoys sharing the treasures of this museum. Jane is chair of the Mainland Europe National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies, and has worked for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Center of Educational Research and Innovation in Paris.
Jan Vijftigschild
Jan Vijftigschild is a certified leader with an M.A. from the Academy for Teachers in Art. Before working in marketing and public relations, Jan taught art at the university level. Combining his experience, he became an informer in the field of natural stone for 10 years. Eventually, he returned to school and received his English Language Certificate Academic Level. Having returned to teaching, he lectures about art and water issues in the Netherlands on ships with visitors coming to the Netherlands.
Tosca van Diest
Tosca van Diest decided at the age of 32, after years of studying languages, to apply to an art academy. She graduated in 1996 with a focus on ceramics and graphic arts. Since then, she has been working in her studio in conjunction with other occupations. In 2001, she started leading groups at the Kröller-Müller Museum where she gets to share her passion for art and introduce art to those who might not be familiar with it. Tosca speaks fluent Dutch and English.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
These programs get you on your feet and include activities such as walking at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops through a city and standing in a museum for a few hours; uneven terrain, stairs and cobblestones are common. Embark/disembark barge via ramp. Cabins located on lower deck. Barge does not move at night and only motors during the day.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(19 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
23 meals | 9B | 5L | 9D |
12 expert-led lectures
14 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Amsterdam
Meals:
L,D
Stay:
Leonardo Boutique Museumhotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking over 1/2 mile, standing for approximately 1 hour.
Morning:
After arrival, we will join the Group Leader and board the motorcoach for a field trip to the picturesque village of de Zaanse Schans, just north of Amsterdam. We will visit a windmill that has been refitted to grind coloring materials for paint making.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy an authentic taste of the Netherlands at a village restaurant located in an 18th-century grain barn. The restaurant specializes in Dutch-style pancakes, savory or sweet treats, which can measure almost a foot in diameter, and are often eaten as a main course.
Afternoon:
We’ll proceed to Amsterdam by motorcoach and check in to our hotel. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with an experienced and knowledgeable Group Leader who will provide local history and culture, and we will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. We will have meals in the dining room aboard the barge and at local restaurants. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to settle into your room and relax or explore independently.
Dinner:
For our welcome dinner at a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy an authentic rijsttafel (rice table), a bountiful assortment of tasty dishes served with rice. The rijsttafel came out of the colonial era in the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia), based on the traditional Nasi Padang feast.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
3
Rijksmuseum, Canal Cruise, Free Time
Location:
Amsterdam
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Leonardo Boutique Museumhotel
Activity Note
Motorcoach time: 1 hour (6 miles); walking or standing for approx 2 hours
Breakfast:
In hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we we depart by motorcoach with our local art historian who will introduce you to the history of the Rijksmuseum. Once inside, our expert will lecture about the most impressive works of the Old Masters living in the museum as you view Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and others in person. After the museum, we will board a canal boat for a unique architectural discovery of the city of Amsterdam with a local expert.
Lunch:
On your own in Amsterdam.
Afternoon:
You will have Free Time this afternoon to continue your exploration of Amsterdam. You may return back to the hotel at your leisure. Your Group Leader will provide assistance on the best way to spend the afternoon.
Dinner:
At a local fish restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Tomorrow morning we will check out of the hotel.
Day
4
Kröller-Müller Museum, Transfer to Barge in Amsterdam
Location:
Amsterdam
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 125 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Embarking the barge; please note that the barge does not move at night and only motors during the day.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After hotel check-out, we’ll bring our luggage to the lobby and staff will load the motorcoach. We will then embark on a field trip to the remarkable Kröller-Müller Museum to join a museum docent. This magnificent art museum is home to the world’s second-largest collection of van Gogh paintings as well as works by other artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Situated in a national park with woodlands, heath, and plains, the museum is a testament to one of Europe’s most significant art patrons, Helene Kröller-Müller (1869-1939), who collected more than 11,000 art objects that formed the core of the institution bearing her name. The museum has continued to grow and today has one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy the food of your choice in the museum cafeteria. The Kröller-Müller Museum cafeteria offers sandwiches, salads, soups, and hot and cold beverages.
Afternoon:
We will return to Amsterdam and board the barge that will be our home for the next seven nights. We will have some time to settle in to your cabin before meeting the captain and crew during a barge safety orientation.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
At leisure. Your evenings are free to spend time with new Road Scholar friends, relax, or go exploring on your own.
Day
5
Barge to Haarlem, Frans Hals Museum, Dutch History & Economy
Location:
Haarlem
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Barging approximately 4.5 hours. Walking and standing for approximately 1.5 hours in museum.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
While barging to Haarlem, we will see locks, bridges, and lots of traffic on rivers and canals. The Dutch are passionate about the water, and all kinds of crafts will pass us from sailboats to yachts. Heavy cargoes such as stone and steel are still transported by barge. When arriving in Haarlem, look to your left for a large building with a glass dome. It’s a prison! The panoptic design was originally conceived by English philosopher Jeremy Bentham in 1785, allowing one prison guard to observe any of the inmates without them knowing.
Lunch:
Aboard the barge.
Afternoon:
Haarlem dates back to before the medieval era and was granted city status in 1245. One of its cultural jewels is the Frans Hals Museum, located in an impressive building that was once an Oude Mannenhuis (old men’s house). Frans Hals (1581-1666) was the most famous painter of the 17th-century “Golden Age” when Haarlem was a prosperous and powerful center of culture and the arts. He specialized in portraits – of individuals and groups – depicting people from all walks of life. To introduce this great Dutch artist, an expert will give a lecture before leading us on a walk through the museum. After the presentation, we will have free time to continue exploring this fine museum on your own. On our way back to the barge, we will stop at the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, who is said to have discovered printing with movable type before Johannes Gutenberg. After boarding the barge, we will hear a lecture on the history and economy of the Netherlands by a local educator.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Aalsmeer Flower Auction, Cruquius, Leiden, Free Time
Location:
Leiden
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 45 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles throughout the day. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
We will start the day very early with a field trip to the Aalsmeer flower auction, the largest in the country. Flowers are trucked in early in the morning and auctioned off. Buyers bid on each lot by watching a large clock; the person who bids first not only gets the flowers but also pays the highest price. This goes on all morning, nonstop. As soon as the flowers are sold, they are loaded on trucks to make their way to destinations all over Europe. Flowers destined for the U.S. are taken to the nearby airport and are likely for sale in your flower shop the next day. Our next visit is the Cruquius Museum, where a museum docent will present the history of this former steam-powered pumping station, operational from 1850-1933. We will learn about the technology used to drain the area around Amsterdam that was threatened with flooding in the past.
Lunch:
Lunch at Cruquius.
Afternoon:
Back aboard the motorcoach, we will transfer to Leiden, Rembrandt’s birthplace. Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Leiden. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Vermeer, Barge to Drievliet, Mauritshuis, Delft Porcelain
Location:
Delft
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Boarding/deboarding the barge; approximately 3 hours riding time.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
We’ll begin the day with a lecture by an art historian about the 17th-century artist Johannes Vermeer. We’ll then barge to Drievliet, where we will get off the vessel and take a motorcoach to The Hague, the seat of Dutch government and the International Court of Justice. Here we will explore the Mauritshuis. Accompanied by a docent, we’ll marvel at works by Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Steen, Paulus Potter, Frans Hals, Hans Holbein the Younger, and more.
Lunch:
Enjoy lunch in The Hague on your own. You will find many restaurants close to the museum.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll board a motorcoach to Delft where we visit the Porceleyne Fles, the oldest surviving porcelain factory in the Netherlands, producing Delftware since 1653. After an expert lecture, we will explore the factory before walking back to our floating home for dinner.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
We’ll head out with the Group Leader for a walking field trip in the city center to admire the magnificent Renaissance architecture of the Delft City Hall.
Day
8
Barge to Rotterdam, Pilgrim's Church, Dordrecht Museum
Location:
Gouda
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 20 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles throughout the day.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
We will barge this morning to Rotterdam, where we’ll disembark for a field trip to the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church. It was here in 1620 that the Pilgrims said their last prayers before sailing for England, where they boarded the Mayflower to the New World. During a presentation by a church docent, we’ll learn little known facts about these events that led to our celebration of Thanksgiving before walking back to the barge. To set the stage for our afternoon field trip, an art historian will present a lecture on board to familiarize us with the various schools of Dutch painting from early Renaissance to Baroque, including the Old Masters.
Lunch:
Aboard the barge.
Afternoon:
Boarding the motorcoach after lunch, we’ll embark on our field trip to Dordrecht, where in the museum, a knowledgeable docent will discuss the museum’s masterpieces by Dutch and other European artists. After the field trip, we will transfer via motorcoach to the barge that will be docked in Gouda for the night.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
After dinner, we’ll join the Group Leader for a walking field trip to the 15th-century Market Square and view the Old City Hall, one of the oldest Gothic municipal buildings in the Netherlands.
Day
9
Sint Janskerk, Museum Gouda, Cheese Shop, Amsterdam
Location:
Amsterdam
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Barging approximately 4.5 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
Our field trip this morning is to Sint Janskerk (St. John’s Church), a treasure of the late Gothic, where a local expert will provide background on the famous Goudse Glazen – Gouda stained glass – with 71 panels depicting Biblical and historical scenes, some dating back to the 16th century. Our exploration continues at the Catharina Gasthuis that once sheltered the sick and homeless, also serving as chapel and library. It is now the home of Museum Gouda. Among its exceptional holdings are altar pieces from the Golden Age painted by Dirck Barendsz, Antonie Blocklandt, Pieter Pourdus, and Jan Steen. Having sated our quest for knowledge, we'll visit a cheese shop to sample the renowned local cheese that takes its name from the city.
Lunch:
Aboard the barge.
Afternoon:
Relax as we barge towards Amsterdam. Weather permitting, enjoy ever-changing vistas from the deck.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Amsterdam, City Walk, Free Time
Location:
Amsterdam
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Lena Maria
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles; standing for up to 2 hours on uneven terrain, stairs. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge.
Morning:
We’ll leave the barge with our Group Leader on a field trip to the center of Amsterdam to view Rembrandt Square, the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) and finally the Begijnhof (Béguinage). This tranquil courtyard dates back to the 14th century, when it was built for the Béguines, pious women who chose to live like nuns but without taking formal vows. From there, embark on your own independent exploration.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like in Amsterdam.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Amsterdam. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions. If you haven’t already been there, venture to the Anne Frank House or the Rijksmuseum. If you want to relax, seek out one of the local cafés to sip a Heineken or cup of coffee while watching the locals.
Dinner:
Aboard the barge. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and departure in the morning.
Day
11
Disembarkation, Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Barge disembarkation by 9:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers. Transfer from the barge by private taxis to the airport is about 20 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time.
Breakfast:
Aboard the barge, which we will disembark by 9:00 a.m. This concludes our program.
Morning:
Morning transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for departures. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
MEALS
23 Meals
9 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
9 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Sep 30, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
- May 13, 2025 - May 23, 2025
- May 27, 2025 - Jun 06, 2025
- Jun 10, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
- Sep 16, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
- Sep 30, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 17 Reviews
Sort By:
The Netherlands was a great surprise and seeing the country from the small canals was very special! The Lena Maria barge was beautiful, comfortable and clean and the staff were excellent Special mention of the chef, who created fabulous breakfasts, dinners and snacks! Our 2 tour guides for the week were knowledgeable and accommodating throughout, with expert lectures and art historians included as well. A great group of fellow travelers who we got to know due to the intimacy of the barge and small group experience. We highly recommend this trip! Chris and Cheryl
— Review left October 18, 2024
This program provides a unique way to travel through The Netherlands—a floating hotel by barge—and visit several cities along the way. The focus on visiting a variety of museums to learn about Dutch Masters artists and view their paintings offers a rich learning experience. Visits to various cities offers an opportunity to savor their charm and learn about the Dutch way of life. Taking this trip is a wonderful experience, not to be missed!
— Review left October 17, 2024
Excellent experience- lots of learning, very good leaders, small group so an opportunity to get to know the others. I loved being on a barge. I highly recommend this programme
— Review left October 5, 2024
I had such a great experience on "The Old Masters: Art Treasures of Holland. Our leaders Therese and Hans were just great and the captain and crew of the Lena Maria barge were the best! I cannot recommend the trip enough! We had a fun and friendly group who, like me, had a blast!
— Review left October 29, 2023
This was easily one of my very favorites among the 9 tours that I have taken with Road Scholar. Life aboard the Lena Maria was delightful: the several-member crew was responsive, skilled at their various jobs and very friendly yet professional. The group itself was small enough to come to know, and gelled quickly within the first 24 hours into vibrant, caring and social friends. Food aboard the Lena Maria was excellent; the cabins were well-appointed and strategically designed. The Road Scholar guides were expert, and a kick to be with, folks you'd love to have as personal friends. They were quite helpful with suggestions for meals on our own or things to see in our free time. The consultants brought lovely context to the art that we saw on a daily basis in various terrific venues. An unlooked-for pleasure was the barge travel itself, sliding peacefully through the Dutch countryside with an ever-changing vista that varied from urban to verdant rural within an hour. Going through multiple locks and having bridges open up for our passage was fascinating. A GREAT tour, that I highly recommend!
— Review left August 3, 2023
The Dutch Art canal boat trip just in the Netherlands was a great way to see the country and experience the fabulous art at all the major art museums.
— Review left July 4, 2023
Travelling on The Netherlands' canals in a small barge is impossible to appreciate fully until you have experienced it. It is a wonderful way to see this country.
— Review left June 29, 2023
I spoke the language and had been in Nederland before but never on a barge-waterway. Saw my birth country in a new way in a soothing manner.
— Review left June 2, 2023
We chose this trip for the opportunity to view world class art day after day. We were not disappointed. The trip exceeded our expectations. My husband is an engineer and he appreciated the engineering behind the locks and bridges along the barge route and the engineering history depicted at the Cruquius Museum. Traveling with a small group was an advantage as was the professionalism of our leader Lilian and the crew of the Lena Marie.
— Review left November 6, 2022
Wonderful trip. Great lectures and nice blend of activities with barging time. Our leaders and lecturers were excellent. If you are very lucky you will have our cook, Anita (not spelled right). Holland is a beautiful and fascinating country: I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left October 27, 2022
A beautiful country and interesting trip. My wife and I were forced to leave the trip because she contracted COVID on the plane trip over. We had to make all our own arrangements and even though we contacted the Road Scholar COVID desk received no practical help from them. We have been waiting 3.5 months for a response from the insurance company on our $1,600 of expenses we paid for isolating in a hotel and are very frustrated with the insurance process and the connection between Road Scholar and the insurance company about having our missed days credited back by Road Scholar. If travel companies want all of their loyal fans to keep travelling, they need to hold up their part of the bargain and resolve these issues, payments and credits much more quickly and fairly.
— Review left October 5, 2022
My husband and I were impressed by all the trip had to offer. The barge, Lena Marie, was clean, comfortable and the staff friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed everything. The Netherlands is a beautiful country and the people so happy and welcoming. Our group leader was a joy and attended to all the details and unexpected challenges. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip.
— Review left June 30, 2022
Shocking that neither customer relations not Covid response team has contacted me about this program. I tested postive on the 4th day aboard the barge and have yet to be contacted by anyone except the strang person who called me on the 13th of June (the day I tested positive) to advise me to head home to the US the next day. How irresponsible! my husband and I quarantined in a hotel in the Hague and then went home 5 days later on the recommendation of my Primary Physician here in Virgina. No one offered medical help, logistics help, or even responded to my husband, Fred Bishopp, when he sent emails a few times. How unprofessional!
— Review left June 22, 2022
This is a wonderful trip, even if you are not keenly interested in the Dutch Golden Age and the primary Dutch artists of that era. The barge, The Lena Maria, is well appointed and quite comfortable. The barge crew of four went out of their way to make our trip extremely enjoyable, entertaining, and educational. The food aboard was excellent and of generous portions - freshly procured and prepared each day of the cruise. Our group leader, not a tour guide Frank, was fun and extremely knowledgeable of our surroundings wherever we went. The expert lecturers, both onboard and ashore, were excellent and provided us a solid base of information for what we were going to see ashore. The docents who led our museum tours were also excellent and extremely knowledgeable of the contents of their respective museums and the artists they were highlighting. The countryside through which we traveled was absolutely beautiful, even though, due to the timing of our trip, we missed seeing the fields of tulips that the area is widely known for. The Dutch society is technologically well advanced, very progressive, very friendly, and very helpful. Most everyone in the Netherlands speaks multiple languages, especially English, so getting around proved to be very easy. It is no stretch at all to rate this program FIVE STARS. I highly recommend it to everyone.
If you want to see much more of Amsterdam than this program affords, please do come in early and/or stay in Amsterdam after the progrm has ended. We did both and consider it well worth it. Since you have made the decision to journey this far please take the extra time to explore magnificinet Amsterdam, its people, its sights, and its food.
— Review left June 12, 2022
This was truly one of the best Road Scholar trips I have participated in. After two years of no travel, I was so ready for a barge art trip---one of my dream trips. People, culture, art and food came together to make many lasting memories!
— Review left May 20, 2022
The Old Masters Tour was wonderful. The experience exceeded my expectations in a number of ways. First of all, the weather was wonderful. And thanks to a fabulous crew, the barge experience, from the clean accommodations to the wonderful meals was fantastic. The Captain Elke and his first mate Dirk made us feel very comfortable and welcome as we navigated the Dutch locks. I greatly appreciate the effort to provide a spectacular itinerary complete with experienced lecturers and of course the fabulous tour director(s) Frank and Liliana who cheerfully responded to all of our requests and emersed us into Dutch history and shared their personal experiences-all of which makes this tour so very special. This is only my 2nd RS tour but I'm hooked and look forward to my next adventure.
— Review left May 19, 2022
Wonderful overview of both the Netherlands and of its art. This is much more than an art appreciation program. I learned about history, cuisine and about this country. Great tour. Thank you.
— Review left October 13, 2019
