Staying at the 4 Star Van Der Valk Hotel in Houten-Utrecht. Conveniently located in the heart of the Netherlands, close to bustling Utrecht, cozy Houten, and the green Utrechtse Heuvelrug. The rooms are equipped with all conveniences, such as desk, internet access, flat-screen, minibar, climate control, safe, direct dial phone and hair dryer. The bathroom is equipped with a whirlpool bath and separate rain shower. Evening meals can be taken in the restaurant or the bar. Surprisingly honest dishes in an atmospheric ambience. Traditionally French cuisine and many specialties from other cuisines. The young and talented team regularly presents seasonal specialties. But their  'standard' menu also offers a generous selection, ranging from classic meat dishes to refined fish dishes and refreshing salads. The environment also caresses the senses, because their spacious restaurant in intimate tones will please every guest. When the weather is nice, you can of course eat on the sun terrace, where - just like in the trendy bar - it is excellent for dining. Enjoy the luxurious and extensive breakfast buffet at Hotel Houten. Every day the restaurant opens its doors to welcome you for the extensive breakfast buffet. Besides a rich choice of drinks such as coffee, tea, milk, buttermilk and various fruit juices, we also serve a wide range of freshly baked bread, various meats and cheeses, tasty English dishes and fresh fruit salads! To make your stay even more enjoyable, try out the brand-new wellness centre, complete with four different saunas and a breathtaking infinity pool.

Day 1 – Depart from Spalding at 7am, with convenience stops as needed we will make our way to the ferry at Dover. A meal and drink will be included on the ferry. There will be a convenience stop between Calais and Houten Arriving at our hotel by 7pm
 
Day 2 – Depart the hotel at 9.30am to Rotterdam. This recently revived city is vastly different (and far cheaper) from its well-known, and forever popular big sister; Amsterdam. And that’s because nearly all of Rotterdam was obliterated during the WWII bombing, meaning this crumbled city had to be almost entirely reborn from scratch. Today Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe and has become a city that’s chockablock with strikingly modern architecture. Rotterdam truly is one of a kind, so you won’t find anywhere else quite like it in the Netherlands. Which is 100% why it deserves a little bit of your time. For the best view of Rotterdam visit the Euromast, the most beautiful view of Rotterdam. From a great height you see the city in a unique perspective. Enjoy the best view of Rotterdam at a height of 100 meters. Not high enough? Take the colorful Euroscoop to the top and see the city from 185 meters high with a light and sound show. In the centre of Rotterdam, next to Station Blaak and the Markthal, you'll find the Cube Houses. The remarkable yellow houses on pylons are designed by architect Piet Blom. He wanted to create a village in the middle of the city, in which he compared every individual house with a tree. The whole complex got the name Blaakse Bos, which can be translated to the Forrest of Blaak. There are 38 cube-shaped houses and 13 bigger cubes for companies. Are you curious how it is to live inside such a special house? Then a visit to the Kijk-Kubus must be on your list. The museum house is fully furnished to give visitors an impression of the interior of the Cube Houses. Markthal Rotterdam: Global flavours inside a striking architectural landmark. Opened in 2014, the Markthal quickly became one of Rotterdam’s most recognizable attractions. It’s iconic horseshoe-shaped structure brings together bold design and an immersive food experience. Beneath the sweeping, colourful arch, visitors can explore a lively hall filled with aromas and flavours from around the world. Taste your way through the Markthal. This isn’t a traditional market but a lively food hall where tasting and exploring are at the heart of the experience. With almost 90 stalls, the choices range from steaming bowls of ramen and fragrant pho to richly spiced curries. For a local touch, grab a portion of crispy fries from Bram Ladage. Prefer something sweet? You’ll find warm churros with chocolate as well as classic Dutch treats like poffertjes and waffles. Alongside the food stands, specialty shops offer cheeses, wines and spices, ideal for gifts or to take home as souvenirs. Art meets architecture. Look up during your visit to see Horn of Plenty, the spectacular ceiling mural spanning 11,000 square metres. The vivid artwork bursts with fruits, flowers and shapes, making the Markthal one of Rotterdam’s most photographed locations. A shimmering icon on the Rotterdam skyline, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen gives visitors access to their full art collection. Wander among 155,000 objects, from Bruegel’s Tower of Babel to bold sculptural work by Atelier Van Lieshout. Designed by MVRDV, the 40-meter-high reflective building itself is a work of art and offers one of the best rooftop views in the city. These are only a few ideas there are lots more.

Day 3 – Depart the hotel at 9.30am to Gouda. Say cheese, say Gouda. It is known all around the world, it is eaten all around the world. Gouda is world famous for its cheese, syrup waffles, clay pipes and pottery. The compact historic town centre with all its sights, authentic shops, narrow medieval streets, canals, and numerous courtyards, is well worth a visit. For centuries Gouda cheese has been traded at the Markt in Gouda on Thursday. And just like in the olden days, farmers and cheese traders agree on a price by clapping hands. Besides the world-famous cheese, you can also enjoy stalls where syrup waffles and ‘poffertjes’ (Dutch mini pancakes) are made and where craftspeople demonstrate ancient skills. The cheese trade was a flourishing business: in 1937, 4.5 million kilos of cheese was traded at the Gouda cheese market. All this cheese was transported into town on 15,245 wagons. Nowadays, real trade mostly takes place elsewhere and is done in different ways. However, since the 1980s the cheese market has been kept alive by a great many volunteers to show how the buying and selling of cheese traditionally took place. After lunch we will make our way to the Royal Delft Museum. During a visit to the Royal Delft Museum you will learn everything about the history of the Porceleyne Fles. View the historical collection, including the royal collection, and become acquainted with the traditional production process of Delft Blue pottery in the factory. Complete your visit with a visit to the Flagship Store and view all our handmade Delft Blue products in the museum shop. 

Day 4 – Depart from the hotel at 9.30am to Keukenhof Gardens. The most beautiful spring garden in the world! For just eight weeks every year, one of the world’s most beautiful public gardens blooms into life. Keukenhof Gardens, located just outside the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, is lovingly known as the Garden of Europe as it springs to life with one of the great symbols of the Netherlands, the tulip. More than 79 acres of beautiful land is dedicated to the beauty and wonderful scents of seven million tulips – in colours and horticultural designs you would never think possible. Although only open between mid-March and mid-May, more than one million people visit Keukenhof Gardens every year, demonstrating the amazing lure of this captivating garden. Even before you pass through the front gates of Keukenhof Gardens, you’re treated to an absolute visual feast. Many of the tulips featured in the gardens are grown in the surrounding fields, taking over huge expanses of land. The spectacle of huge fields completely awash with vibrant reds and stunning pinks is a wonderful welcome on your approach. With experts carefully tending to these vast swathes of beautiful floral-flush fields, getting up close to the tulip patches on the approach is a great way to whet your appetite for the visual feast of Keukenhof Gardens. With the gardens only open for eight weeks a year, incredible care is put into producing as awe-inspiring a spectacle as possible. Inspired by classic French and English garden designs, Keukenhof is split into two distinct areas. Upon walking through the main entrance, you’ll find the French garden-inspired section directly to your right. With geometrically designed paths surrounding the floral exhibitions and extravagant water features; you’re transported to palatial grounds, which would delight even Louis XIV. The distant side of the park is made up of winding paths, similarly, complemented by amazing floral decorations – creating an authentic English garden spectacle.

Day 5 – Depart from the hotel at 9am, with convenience stops as needed we will make our way to the ferry at Calais. A meal and drink will be included on the ferry. There will be a convenience stop between Dover and Spalding arriving back in Spalding about 9pm

The total price for this package is £699 per person. A deposit of £100 per person is required to reserve a place; the remaining balance will be due by Tuesday 26th January 2027. The remaining balance may be paid in instalments if you wish but must be paid in full by the due date.

This price will include bed (two sharing a twin or double room), bed and breakfast, entry to Keukenhof Gardens and entry to the Royal Delft Museum. A meal can be purchased from the hotel restaurant or bar in the evening or meals can be sourced during the day. This is to give people more choice and flexibility to eat at a time that suits them and allow time for those that wish to use the wellness facilities in the evening, to do so. There is a single supplement of £300 per person for a double room with single occupancy. Any special requests must be notified on the booking form when making your booking.


Please note that insurance is not included, we recommend that you take out your own insurance

Read our Terms and Conditions