Holland Items

Celebrate a special Queen’s Day in Amsterdam

April 30 marks a special day for the Dutch – Queen’s Day – a celebration of their monarchy and an official public holiday. People all over Holland celebrate Queen’s Day, although the best festivities can be found in Amsterdam.

Top five places to see the spring flowers

Yesterday was the first official day of spring (even though it may not look like it outside), so we’ve picked five of our top favourite places to see the spring flowers. From the famous gardens at Kew, to tulip fields near Amsterdam, a cherry blossom festival in Copenhagen and an ancient bluebell wood in Wiltshire, here are our top picks.

Get a taste of Holland when you explore by bike

If you're looking for somewhere close to the UK for a short, active break Holland is the ideal choice. Take to two wheels and you'll be able to explore some of the country's fascinating sights in just a few days, including the vibrant Amsterdam.

Visit several places on a Dutch cycling trip

Highlights of a short cycling break in Holland

Booking short breaks doesn't mean you have to be restricted to one destination - by opting for a cycling holiday, you can see several places in one country over the course of a few days. Travel to Holland to explore Amsterdam, as well as a few nearby towns.

Canal boating - an ideal way to explore Holland

Explore Giethoorn on a Holland canal boating break

If you're planning a short and relaxing break to the Netherlands, consider boat hire in Holland as your means of getting around. Take in glorious landscapes and picturesque villages like Giethoorn, as well as larger bustling towns, ancient castles and quaint windmills.

Take in the sights on Holland boat breaks

Visit Holland's renowned castle Muiderslot on a boating holiday

If you're planning a European short break where you can admire beautiful antique buildings, consider visiting Holland - and in particular Muiderslot - on a boating break. Muiderslot is the country's most famous medieval castle and well worth a visit, but there's plenty more to take in on the way to your destination.

Enjoy a festive cruise to nearby destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean

Christmas should be a time to unwind and relax with your loved ones, so if you want to get away with your partner for some time alone on a short break, why not consider heading off on romantic cruises to some of Europe's top destinations?

Feature: Fantastic European glamping sites

Mongolian yurts, African safari tents and tree houses connected to ancient sentinels: glamping is taking the world by storm. Offering a more luxurious alternative to camping, these pre-erected tents and wooden constructions are brilliant fun.

Staying in a historic hotel is brilliant fun

Feature: Historic hotels for a fantastic short break

Over the past few weeks we’ve been looking high and low for some unusual hotels in Europe for a fantastic short break way. As our last feature in the series, we’ve gone one step further and found some unique hotels offering a slice of history.

Feature: Unusual hotels in Europe

Perhaps the best way to spend a short break away is to book yourself in for a few nights at one of Europe’s many unusual hotels. From train carriages to castles, and from pre-historic caves to industrial cranes, Europe is now to many unique hotels.

Feature: The wonderful city of Amsterdam

Cultural, hedonistic, historic and relaxed; Amsterdam is many things in one. But it is almost impossible to deny that this is a fantastic city. With miles of UNESCO listed canals cutting through charming cafe lined walks and past medieval buildings..

Feature: Europe’s most unusual hotels

Due to Europe’s prominence as an upmarket and well trodden tourist destination, holidays to the continent are easy, breezy and relaxed. And while traditional package holiday hotels line the Med, boutique pads have sprung up in cultural enclaves...

Feature: Fantastic activity breaks for solo travellers

With the advent of world travel, more and more people are travelling by themselves. Last week we took you on a tour of some brilliant cultural trips that have solo travellers in mind, but this week we’ve gone one step further.

Feature: Top cultural short breaks close to home

For those looking for a unique break away, why not try a cultural holiday exploring sights, museums and trying new cuisines at your own pace? With a wealth of history around every corner, nothing beats exploring the old world charms of Europe.

head to countryside for a great short break

Feature: Rural retreats in the European countryside

In today’s frenetic modern world of fast cars, looming skyscrapers, and stressful working hours, many of us are becoming more and more detached from the natural world. Although cities are brilliant fun, full of excitement and heady nightlife

Rotterdam and the North Sea Jazz Festival

Sizzling summer fun in Holland's classy cities

Holidaymakers looking for some sizzling summer fun would do well to consider Holland, as the number of events and festivals on offer is huge. Enjoy the funky jazz beats of Rotterdam, relax to the high notes of excellence in The Hague, or visit some of the best secret gardens in Utrecht. Whatever a holidaymaker is searching for, Holland’s classy cities guarantee a great summer break.

Be a culture vulture and cruise to Amsterdam

Think Amsterdam is just a party town? Think again, as a short break to Holland can include plenty of Amsterdam's cultural delights. Don't miss the Reflex Modern Art Gallery, to the TORCH and the Rijksmuseum, the largest museum in the Netherlands.

Haarlem's St. Bavokerk church in Grote Markt square

Cruise to the Dutch capital of Jazz with DFDS

Take a two-night break to Holland this spring and discover the city of Haarlem, famed for its Jazz music, picturesque canals and traditional windmills. What's more, a visit won't break the bank as DFDS Seaways is offering short breaks for under £60 per person.