A Stay in Holland: An Art History Journey from Vermeer to Van Gogh

Depart on an overnight flight to Amsterdam, where you'll be met for the transfer to the quintessential Dutch town of Haarlem, your home during your stay in the Netherlands. Upon arrival at the hotel, you'll receive a welcome package containing general information about the area, as well as a map of the town. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available this afternoon and throughout the program for suggestions regarding sightseeing, restaurants, and independent activities. Meet your Smithsonian Journeys tour staff and fellow travelers at this evening’s welcome reception and enjoy a festive dinner. (R,D)

A full buffet breakfast will be served each morning during your stay. Set out on a guided tour of the Frans Hals Museum, located within a poorhouse where the artist lived at the end of his life. The collection showcases works by the greats of the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, Brueghel the Younger, and the “house master,” Frans Hals himself. Enjoy a free afternoon to stroll the cobblestoned streets of Haarlem on your own. Consider a visit to the Teyler’s Museum, first opened in 1778 and home to an eclectic collection of inventions.

Late this afternoon, gather with fellow travelers and your Smithsonian Journeys Expert for an informal discussion in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner. Then sit down to a traditional Indonesian rijsttafel or “rice table.” Dutch cultural heritage is inextricably linked with its former colony of Indonesia, once the headquarters of the powerful Dutch East India Company. Tonight’s dinner highlights Indonesian cuisine, now very popular in the Netherlands, with a feast of sweet, savory, and spicy small plates. (B,D)

A short drive brings you into the heart of Amsterdam to the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Built in 1885, the Gothic and Renaissance building and its surrounding gardens were designed by Pierre Cuypers to tell the story of Dutch art and history. On a guided tour, visit the Gallery of Honor, home to iconic paintings by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt van Rijn’s civic guard portrait, The Night Watch; The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer; and Portrait of a Couple by Franz Hals. Then stroll through the extensive 17th-century galleries, viewing art and artifacts from the height of the Dutch Golden Age.

After an independent lunch there’s time to explore on your own. Meet up for a canal cruise past the city's gabled houses and picturesque bridges. Then head to the fascinating Rembrandt House Museum for a visit. Located in the artist’s former home and studio, the museum captures the atmosphere of the artist’s daily life in the 17th century and showcases his paintings and drawings as well as a wonderful collection of etchings. Return to Haarlem and the hotel for a relaxing evening. (B)

Start the day with an excursion to Zuylen Castle, perched on the banks of the river Vecht in a village outside Utrecht. Originally built in the 13th century, the castle was rebuilt in the 16th century and inhabited until 1952. On a guided tour, learn about its history and its colorful cast of inhabitants. Stroll the lovely gardens and sit down to lunch in the coach house café.

Continue to Gouda, city of cheese. See the historic market square and visit Sint Jan Church, the longest church of the Netherlands. Its stained-glass windows, particularly those from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, display scenes from the Bible and Dutch history. Conclude your visit with a sampling of local cheeses, discovering how different varieties have evolved through the ages. Return to Haarlem for a leisurely evening. (B,L)

Travel to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government. On a panoramic tour of the city, see the Peace Palace and the Binnenhof, where the Dutch parliament meets. At the Mauritshuis*, follow a guide through one of the largest collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world. Highlights include Vermeer’s masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp as well paintings by Jan Steen, Anthony van Dyck, and Peter Paul Rubens. Also on display are the works of Judith Leyster, one of the few female artists working in the 17th century and the first woman to be given the title “master painter” by the painters guild.

After lunch together, continue to nearby Delft, the hometown of Johannes Vermeer and of the distinctive blue-and-white pottery that carries its name. On a visit to the Royal Delft Museum, explore the craftsmanship and traditions developed over 400 years of creating exquisite porcelain, and witness artisans at work. Then venture to the Vermeer Centrum Delft to gain insight into 17th-century Delft and the life and work of Vermeer—including some of the methods and materials he used. Enjoy a free evening in Haarlem. (B,L)

*Please Note: The Mauritshuis will be closed for renovations briefly in late summer and early fall 2026. This will affect the September 8-16, 2026, departure only. In place of this visit, travelers will tour the Museum Bredius, located directly across from the Mauritshuis. This intimate museum showcases the private collection of leading art scholar and collector Dr Abraham Bredius (1855-1946) and is set within his beautiful 18th-century home. The collection features more than 200 paintings and drawings, including works by Rembrandt and Jan Steen.

Depart Haarlem this morning for a full-day excursion that will depend on the season.

On spring departures, journey to the gardens of Keukenhof, where about 7 million blossoms, including hundreds of tulip species, cover 80 dazzling acres. On a walk with an expert, hear how the gardens were created and get a closer look at rare tulips, irises, hyacinths and lilies. Continue to Amsterdam, where you'll have free time for lunch before visiting the Van Gogh Museum. View iconic paintings that illustrate the artist’s rapid evolution over his remarkably short painting career, including The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, and numerous self-portraits. Examine his letters and drawings, and see several works by his close friend, Paul Gauguin. Before returning to Haarlem, stop for coffee and the Dutch delicacy of poffertjes (small pancakes) covered with powdered sugar and butter.

On fall departures, spend the day in Amsterdam, beginning with a morning visit to the Van Gogh Museum. Take advantage of free time for lunch, then meet for a short walking tour to several of the city's points of interest.

Before returning to Haarlem, stop for coffee and a Dutch sweet known as poffertjes (small pancakes) covered with powdered sugar and butter. Tonight is at your leisure. (B)

After breakfast, drive through the green heart of Holland to the country’s largest national park, the Hoge Veluwe, where heath and woodlands meet wild sand dunes. Inside the park, tour the Kröller-Müller Museum, home to the second largest van Gogh collection in the world, with almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings. The Van Gogh Gallery displays selections of about 40 works by Vincent van Gogh, as well as works by Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian. Stroll through the sculpture garden, one of the largest in Europe, with artwork displayed in stunning natural settings. Savor a lunch of Dutch specialties before heading back to Haarlem and the hotel.

This evening, gather for a special farewell reception at the hotel followed by dinner at a popular nearby restaurant. (B,L,R,D)

After breakfast, transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in time for your flight home. (B)

The progression and inclusions of this program are subject to change based on operational considerations.