What to do and see in Utrecht Province, The Netherlands: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

Private tour: Vecht River Tour and Cruise including multi-course Dinner, High tea or Lunch You will discover through a private guided tour, by car and by classic open-topped boat, the wonderful scenery of the Vecht River, considered as one of the most beautiful rivers of the Netherlands. The knowledgeable guide/skipper takes you through a varied river landscape, through historical villages with old drawbridges, traditional windmills, and the many beautiful 17th-century river estates of the wealthy merchants from Amsterdam. With the Day- or Afternoon tour, you can make a stop to visit one of the museums or windmills, or to do a guided tour with Slot Zuylen. And on the way, you will also enjoy a delicious multi-course Dinner, High tea or Lunch of your choice at a great local restaurant with a terrace along the river. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Amsterdam (or Utrecht) for a seamless tour.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off in Amsterdam or Utrecht, Private tour and sightseeing cruise, Beverages and light refreshments, Multi-course Dinner, High tea or Lunch at a restaurant with a terrace along the river

Exclusions: Any entrance fees if applicable, Gratuities

History Tours Netherlands presents our historical "Anne Frank in Holland" tours. Walk in the footsteps of Anne Frank and learn about the World War 2 stories, events and motives from a Jewish, Dutch and German perspective We will take you to the places Anne Frank lived, played and went to school before going into hiding, places that look almost exactly like it was in her time. Along the way you will learn about the people hiding with Anne in the annex, the helpers, we look at who could have betrayed them, we learn about Dutch resistance fighters and collaborators, of acts of courage and cowardice, and we will look at the events from a German perspective. Ultimately we will ask ourselves the question: Could this happen again in our time?

Inclusions: Experienced guide

Exclusions:

Anne's famous diary ends a few days before she, and the others, were suddenly arrested and put on transport, ultimately to her death. In a one-day tour outside Amsterdam we will take you to Camp Westerbork, the transit camp from where Anne Frank, and more than a 100.000 Jewish people with her were sent to Auschwitz and other camps. Not many would return. By following her footsteps, we will learn about many more people, places and events to tell the story of the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War 2. By visiting the sites and telling the stories of normal people under extreme circumstances we will bring the time of the war closer to home. With the use of authentic photos and videos, and by explaining the events from all perspectives, we will find out about the motives of the people involved, and we will ultimately ask the question: Could this happen again in our time?

Inclusions: Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch

Historic, rural and sidecar fun experience This is a very divers rural and historic tour. And so much more fun then a normal tour just because of the fact we do it with a sidecar. Explore the beautiful and diverse centre of the provinces of Holland and Utrecht, which includes rivers, lakes, forests, polders, medieval castles, golden age mansions, windmills, the royal palace and pancakes while riding a sidecar. I am Marco Hupkes, your guide. My background is: traveller, guide, outdoor-instructor, comedian, teacher of history. Allow me to show you my home country and I'm sure we will have great fun together. See you soon and have a nice day. By the way: if you have tour ideas of your own let me know. I love to do tailormade things. Greetings, Marco.

Inclusions: Sidecar - 1 place in sidecar and 1 place on the back of the bike (4 places if the trip is done by car) - Fuel - Helmets - Multi-lingual Dutch driver/tour guide - Fun

Exclusions: Any kind of food and drinks excluded.

Personalised and off the beaten track tours. Hidden pearls of the Netherlands. All ages and nationalities. History, culture, art, sustainebility, architecture, nature, local stories and more will be integrated in the tour.

Inclusions: Gidsen service.

Exclusions:

Embark on a quest around Utecht by solving clues to find an elusive monster hiding in the city, all with the help of your smartphone. Unlock new stories as you discover on your own the Dom Tower, Mariaplaats, Pandhof Domkerk, and more. + Discover amazing houses, churches, and museums + Find out memorable stories of the city + Solve clues and discover hidden gems Each clue will lead you from one place to another, giving you exact directions, so you won’t need a map, a GPS or a guide. When you solve it and guess the answer, the secret story of that place is unlocked. It will take you from 1 to 2 hours to complete, but there’s no time limit, you can finish it at your own pace. You won’t need a guide, just download the app, go to the starting point and you’re ready to go on a city exploration adventure. As you solve the clues, you'll discover new locations and stories.

Inclusions: Full flexibility: start at any hour, take a break at any time and resume later, This tour is always available. We are open 24/7, every day of the week., This is the safest tour you can book: private, no human contact, you will avoid crowds., Play offline: you DON'T NEED an internet connection to play this city game

Exclusions: A physical tour guide

The university city of Utrecht is only a quick 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam, and well worth the trip. You’ll join one of our local Amsterdam hosts for a personalized experience of this quirky town. See iconic sights like the medieval Domtoren and Castle de Haar or walk along Oudegracht and grab some lunch and an artisanal coffee at Stadskasteel Oudaen. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Inclusions: Private and personalised experience, 8 hours with a host, Transportation cost to and from Utrecht, which takes around 30 minutes by fast train, Walking experience once at destination (other transport can be arranged at an additional cost), Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Tickets to any attractions, Additional transportation costs , Gratuities (optional)

Get picked up at your hotel by a professional guide that will drive you around. First discover Muiderslot, this 13th-century castle is one of the oldest in The Netherlands, a true medieval castle surrounded by water with the only entrance being a lift able bridge. The building was commissioned by Count Floris V in 1280, then restored to its former glory from 1370 and named an official Rijksmuseum since 1878. The Muiderslot castle has also been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After, you will drive to Castle de Haar. Whether you visit the Haar for the park, the wonderful history, the exhibitions, the gardens or the beauty of the castle, you will find yourself in a different world. Learn about different times, different cultures, different figures. De Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands that was once privately owned by the van Zuylen family and where its descendants still reside annually. After the tour the guide will drive you back to your hotel.

Inclusions: Admission tickets to the castles, Private transportation, An air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Your private guide will drive directly to the Muiderslot also known as “Amsterdam castle”. Your professional and certified guide will take you around through this beautiful castle with its unique collection. He will let you learn about its impressive history and strategic importance. After the castle visit your guide will drive along the idyllic countryside beside rivers, passing country mansions, windmills and farmland in direction of Utrecht. In this graceful city your guide shows you the highlights of the city center with a walking tour, where you will get to see the highlights of Utrecht like the massive Domtoren, the unique canals, the Pope House and hidden cloisters. During the tour you will learn a lot about the interesting history of the Netherlands and that of Europe. Depending on the opening hours of The Muiderslot the tour can also start in Utrecht instead. After this journey we will be happy to drop you off at your hotel, vacation address, boat pier or Schiphol Airport.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Food and beverages not included

Ghent, not as big as Antwerp and less touristy than Bruges. This cozy city is fairly close to the Dutch border and therefore excellent for a day trip! The train from the Netherlands to Ghent can be a time-consuming and expensive undertaking. But you don't need to hassle with trains to take a peak across the border with Belgium. Just have your own private guide from a multiple award-winning tour operator take you to the medieval city. Upon arrival in Ghent, set off on a private guided walking tour to get to know the city and learn about its radiant history and secrets. After the tour you have some personal time to explore the city. The city has some of the best things to do in Belgium. The tour ends at St Bavo’s Cathedral so that you can have a look at the world's most frequently stolen painting: 'The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'. This painting was also featured in the movie Monuments Men. Or visit Gravensteen, shop or simply sit down and indulge yourself in the local cuisine.

Inclusions: Comfortable, corona-proof transportation from the Netherlands to Belgium and back, Pick-up and drop-off , Private, local guide for 10 to 11 hours, 75 min private guided walking tour in English, Headsets to hear the guide clearly and to maintain social distancing, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Guide gratuity (up to you!)