Netherlands
The Old Masters: Art Treasures of Holland by River
Program No. 19504RJ
Discover the cultural heights of Holland’s Low Lands as you join experts to learn about artistic masterworks, renowned museums, historic architecture and an iconic earthenware factory.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
11 days
Program Begins
Amsterdam
Program Concludes
Amsterdam
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
23 (
9B, 5L, 9D
)
Activity Level
Voyage through the provinces of North and South Holland on a private barge and discover the landscapes that inspired Old Masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Flinck, Hals and Bol. In museums, professional art experts introduce the great artists of the Low Lands, while field trips explore churches, medieval towns and Holland’s oldest earthenware factory.
Best of all, you'll...
- Together with an art historian, stroll the Rijksmuseum learning about the Dutch masters and other legendary works of art.
- Admire the extensive Vincent van Gogh collection at the Kröller-Müller Museum.
- Enjoy lectures by art historians before marveling at the works of Vermeer, Rembrandt and others.
General Notes
While you are walking or taken by bus to the various sites outlined in the program’s itinerary, the barge makes its way to the next port, and meets you there at the end of the day. (No barging during the night.)
Featured Expert
All Experts
Hoo Man Chan
Hoo Man Chan graduated from Utrecht University in 1972 with an emphasis on Western cultural history from the Enlightenment. He works as a teacher and leader in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, as well as the Mesdag Collection and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. He gives lectures and courses in art history. Hoo Man is an art teacher at the Free Academy, which has a thriving Italian language course center of its own, ITALAAL.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Kees Grandia
Kees Grandia was born and raised in the city of Rotterdam. He received a teaching certificate in Dutch and English at the teachers training college in Delft and studied history at the University of Leiden and the University of Texas in Austin. In 1999, he returned to education at the Albeda College as a teacher of Dutch to immigrants. Kees currently works as an educational manager with Albeda College in Rotterdam. He enjoys a game of tennis, loves opera, and is interested in American politics.
Jan Vijftigschild
Jan Vijftigschild is a certified leader with an M.A. from the Academy for Teachers in Art. Before working in marketing and public relations, Jan taught art at the university level. Combining his experience, he became an informer in the field of natural stone for 10 years. Eventually, he returned to school and received his English Language Certificate Academic Level. Having returned to teaching, he lectures about art and water issues in the Netherlands on ships with visitors coming to the Netherlands.
Hoo Man Chan
Hoo Man Chan graduated from Utrecht University in 1972 with an emphasis on Western cultural history from the Enlightenment. He works as a teacher and leader in the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam, as well as the Mesdag Collection and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. He gives lectures and courses in art history. Hoo Man is an art teacher at the Free Academy, which has a thriving Italian language course center of its own, ITALAAL.
Karline Vandenbroeke
Karline Vandenbroeke was born and raised in Belgium and moved to the Netherlands in 1992. She attended university in Ghent, earning a degree in translation (English and Spanish). After working in international customer service, she decided to change paths in 2015 and became a group leader. Apart from leading for Road Scholar, she works as a trained city expert and takes groups on day trips such as city walks, museum visits, and other attractions in The Netherlands. She likes traveling, museums, novels, hiking, and biking.
Therese Hoppenbrouwer
Therese Hoppenbrouwer is a native of The Netherlands which she describes as “a quiet rural area in the middle of a ring of centuries-old historic cities like Amsterdam, Leiden, Dordrecht, Delft, and Utrecht.” After working in business consulting in finance and IT, Therese began a career as a group leader. She loves sharing information about her beautiful country. She is very knowledgeable about Dutch culture and history as well as the rich natural resources, having earned her degree in physics at Utrecht University.
Corrie Stein
Corrie Stein is an experienced biker and group leader. Since 2018, she has led over 20 trips per season for Boat Bike Tours through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Germany. Corrie and her partner split their time between two homes, a seaside residence and a working windmill in the Netherlands' Green Heart. She earned a master’s in law from Erasmus University and a bachelor’s in history from Universiteit Utrecht. Her lifelong love for travel began as a child on family trips in a Trabant.
Karin Bierens
Karin Bierins is a trained nurse specializing in care for people with disabilities. In 1989, she left her job and embarked on a life-changing journey as a volunteer in an orphanage in Ecuador, where she ultimately stayed for six years. During her time there, she also led trips through Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for a Dutch travel organization. She works in healthcare during the winter months and spends her summers leading bike trips across the Netherlands with Boat Bike Tours.
Alette Fleischer
Alette Fleischer, Ph.D. holds an M.A. in art history and a Ph.D. in Dutch history, specializing in art and cultural history from the 16th to the 21st century, with a focus on 17th-century Dutch gardens. She is an independent scholar with over 20 academic publications and has spoke at institutions such as Cornell University and University College London. Based in Amsterdam, Alette leads group tours, bespoke walks, and museum visits across the Netherlands, and lectures on Dutch art, history, and the Royal Family.
Eric Armitage
Eric Armitage is an expert in history, art, and architecture with a focus on Rembrandt and traditional artistic techniques. Raised in Seattle, he earned a B.A. in design, photography, and art history from the University of Washington. After a decade in San Francisco’s design industry. Eric relocated to Amsterdam in 1999; he worked for 22 years at the Rembrandt House Museum, specializing in historic paint making, painting, and etching techniques. Since 2021, he has run Rembrandt Paint Maker, offering hands-on workshops and private/group tours.
Teresa Alcaza
Teresa Alcaraz holds a bachelor’s in art history from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a master’s in museology from the Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam. She has worked in leading art museums in Mexico, including the Carrillo Gil Art Museum and the Contemporary Art Cultural Center, focusing on educational programs and the presentation of artworks. Since 1999, she has been a freelance guide at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo; she has also led at the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and the Mauritshuis.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
These programs get you on your feet and include activities such as walking at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops through a city and standing in a museum for a few hours; uneven terrain, stairs and cobblestones are common. Embark/disembark barge via ramp. Cabins located on lower deck. Barge does not move at night and only motors during the day.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
View Full List
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
- Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
- Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
- Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
- Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.