Holland City Tours

27/02/2026

🛳️𝗗𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺?

Turn your port stop into a real Dutch experience.

Skip the crowded coach tours and explore the Netherlands in a comfortable minibus with a local expert guide.

See highlights such as:

• The UNESCO windmills of Kinderdijk
• The historic canals and charm of Delft
• The craftsmanship of Royal Delft
• The modern architecture of Rotterdam

✔ Small-group or private
✔ Easy pickup at the cruise port
✔ Back at your ship before departure

Cruise days fill up quickly.

Reserve your shore excursion today for yourself or your clients.

👉 Visit hollandcitytours.com/shore-excursions-from-rotterdam/

15/02/2026

🎧 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲

We now offer 16 self-guided audio tours across 13 destinations, with more to come.

From Amsterdam’s canals to Maastricht’s Roman roots and from Delft's history to the windmills of Zaanse Schans.

Each tour is written and recorded by a local guide and designed to give you real context, not just facts.

Understand more. Travel smarter.

Which city will you discover first?

👉 Find our audio tours here: https://hollandcitytours.com/audio-tours

31/01/2026

💨𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗷𝗸

They were mostly built in the 18th century as part of a large-scale water management system, designed to keep the surrounding land dry. This landscape shows how the Netherlands learned to live with water, making Kinderdijk one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Netherlands.

Because of its location and historical significance, and because of its prettiness, Kinderdijk fits naturally into many South Holland itineraries and shore excursions. It combines well with neighboring historic towns like Delft, Dordrecht or Gouda, allowing visitors to experience both Dutch heritage and daily life in one well-paced day.

👉 Want to learn more and see it for yourself?
Request a custom tour at www.hollandcitytours.com

💡 Tip: Get an all-inclusive ticket at Kinderdijk that also grants you access to a functioning windmill

29/01/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

For many international visitors, the Netherlands can be confusing at first glance. Our parliament, senate, ministries, high court, and royal working palace are all located in The Hague, yet guidebooks and maps consistently identify Amsterdam as the capital. And the guidebooks are not wrong, but this...

28/01/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀

For visitors, especially those arriving from abroad, it may look unfamiliar at first. In practice, it is logical, well organized, and easy to use once you understand the basics. Let's break it down:

02/01/2026

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱!

Now that another year is over, it is time to look back and share a few statistics with you:

🗣️ 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻
We connected with guests from around the world in 6 languages, with English and German leading the way.

🏙️ 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱
Delft remained our top seller, and together with The Hague and Rotterdam, these three cities made up over half of all tours.

👥 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀
Some joined us solo, many came with a partner, and others brought a whole crew of friends.

💙 Thank you to every guide, partner, and guest who made 2025 a success. Ready to discover even more in 2026!

19/12/2025

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻!🎉

On December 19, 1266, Count Floris V granted Leiden its city rights.
That makes the city 759 years old today. Feels like yesterday.

The Burcht of Leiden (picture 2) was built around the year 1000 on an artificial hill, right where the Old and New Rhine meet.
Not for views or romance, but to control waterways and spot trouble early. Floods, rival lords, you name it.

This small stronghold became the nucleus of Leiden. Houses, workshops, and markets slowly clustered around it.
What started as a defensive mound eventually grew into a trading town, and centuries later, into one of the intellectual hearts of Europe.

Today, the Burcht no longer protects the city.
It simply watches over it.

Want to visit Leiden with a guide to see and hear things that would otherwise go unnoticed?

👉 Book a private tour at www.hollandcitytours.com

💡Tip: While you’re in Leiden, visit the oldest botanical garden of the Netherlands.

12/12/2025

🕝 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝟭𝟲𝟱𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺.

The city has just survived the Eighty Years’ War and is rapidly reinventing itself. Rotterdam is smaller than Amsterdam, but maybe more pragmatic. This is a working city, built by fishermen, merchants and sailors.

Along the Old Harbor (Oude Haven), ships are loaded and unloaded day and night. Wine, grain and timber arrive from all over Europe. Taverns, warehouses and shipyards line the water. This is where Rotterdam earns its living.

Boosted by the presence of a Dutch East India Company office, Rotterdam digs new harbors and steadily grows into a maritime powerhouse. From here, sailors prepare for voyages that may last years. Some will never return. Others come back richer, tougher, and ready to rebuild the city again and again.

Centuries later, most of Rotterdam lies in ruins after World War II. But part of the Oude Haven survives. Today, it is one of the few places where you can still feel the city’s pre-war soul.

You can still walk along the water, between historic ships and old warehouses, right in the heart of modern Rotterdam.

Want to experience it yourself and hear the stories behind it?

👉 Book a private tour at www.hollandcitytours.com

💡Tip: Combine a walking tour of Rotterdam with a private boat tour in a water taxi

23/11/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝟳𝟴𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆!

On November 23rd in 1245 Count Willem II granted Haarlem its city rights, giving it the power to govern itself, hold markets and build its own defenses.

The new charter (image 2) strengthened Haarlem’s position as a trading hub on the river Spaarne and made it a regional powerhouse long before Amsterdam rose to prominence.

Haarlem has shaped Dutch history and culture for centuries. Today it is a city that perfectly blends historic charm with a lively atmosphere.

👉 Thinking of visiting Haarlem? Let us show you the stories behind its monuments and hidden corners and book a private tour.

💡 Tip: Combine your walking tour with a visit to the Frans Hals Museum, dedicated to Haarlem’s most famous painter.

07/11/2025

🏛️ 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.

With its Roman walls, medieval buildings, and southern Dutch character, Maastricht feels worlds apart from the typical canal towns of the north. Here, Dutch, French, Belgian, and German influences blend together — in the food, the language, and the relaxed way of life.

Along the river Jeker still stands the Leeuwenmolen, one of the few remaining watermills that show how the river once powered local industry. Marked with the year 1694, the mill was used to grind grain and process leather for local craftsmen. Today, it’s one of Maastricht’s many picturesque spots.

👉 Want to explore Maastricht’s unique charm for yourself?
Book your private tour at www.hollandcitytours.com

💡 Tip: While in Maastricht, don’t miss the underground fortresses. They reveal a side of the Netherlands you won’t find anywhere else.

31/10/2025

🖼️ 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟲𝟯𝟮, 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗳𝘁.

In the midst of the Dutch Golden Age, young Johannes grew up in a middle-class family of immigrants in Delft. When he died only 43 years later, he left behind little more than fifty paintings, of which just thirty-five are known today.

Much of his life remains a mystery now, just like his art. What did Vermeer believe? Is there meaning behind those quiet, sunlit scenes of everyday life? And who 𝙞𝙨 that girl?

After being almost completely forgotten for centuries, Vermeer was rediscovered in the late 19th century, and he quickly became a worldwide icon.

Today you can still visit Delft, the city that shaped him, and step inside the real “View of Delft.” Or head to The Hague to see his most famous works in museum Mauritshuis.

👉 Want to experience Vermeer's work and life for yourself?
Book a private walking tour of Delft or The Hague.

💡 Tip: Combine your Delft tour with a visit to the Vermeer Centrum Delft to see reproductions of all his works in one place, in chronological order.

27/10/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝟳𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗹𝗱!

According to the original ‘tol-privilege’ issued on 27 October 1275, this day marks the official birth of the city. Congratulations!

From a small fishing settlement on the river Amstel to a global hub of art, trade and innovation. Amsterdam’s story is one of transformation. Over seven centuries it has been shaped by commerce, creativity and the courage.

For travelers with a curiosity for story-rich destinations, there is no city quite like Amsterdam. Explore its historic canals, iconic architecture, hidden boutiques and world-class museums that make it so special.

👉 If you’d love to dive into Amsterdam’s past with a local guide, check out our dedicated Amsterdam page with private and small-group tours and activities: www.hollandcitytours.com/amsterdam

💡 Tip: Want to see the city without the crowds? Visit early in the morning