Amsterdam, Brussels & Zythos
April 19-27, 2019 | $2,995
What's included in the tour:
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Accommodations for 9 nights at 3-4 Star hotels*.
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All transportation during the tour: train tickets between cities (1st Class when available), transportation to and from venues (breweries, museums etc.) and tram passes.
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All event (brewery, museum, etc.) entry fees.
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Breakfast daily.
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Group lunches (6).
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Group dinners (4).
*Accommodations based on double occupancy.
Tour cost: $2995.00 USD
Amsterdam is a wonderful city to explore. It is a city rich in history and picturesque views await the traveler around every turn. It's canals and narrow streets make it the perfect city to explore on foot and the tram system makes it easy to hop around the city. Add to this the growing microbrewery scene and Amsterdam is the perfect way to start a European beer trip.
Brussels has a rich history of brewing both within the walls of Trappist Monasteries and in the long established breweries such as Cantillon. We will also visit some of the newer microbreweries, some of which focus on traditional styles of the area while others brew contemporary styles and are highly experimental.
Day 1
We meet in the hotel lobby at 10:00 am. After a brief orientation session we head to the center of the city and visit De Bekeerde Suster brewery. This relatively small brewery focuses on traditional styles and does an excellent job in brewing. Our next stop is the brewery Oedipus, a fairly new brewery on the other side of the harbor which produces some amazing beers. From here we head to our last stop of the day, the Wynand Fockink distillery. This small distillery specializes in creating a wide variety of jenevers. The rest of the afternoon is allotted for exploring the city. We meet again in the lobby at 19:00 and go to dinner at Haeje Claes, a local Dutch restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 2
Today we visit two breweries in Haarlem, a small town to the East of Amsterdam. Haarlem is fun to explore as it is filled with shops, restaurants and wonderful sites. After breakfast, we board the train for a short 20 minute ride to Haarlem. Here we visit the Jopen Brewery, a microbrewery brewery with a growing barrel aging program. After a private tour and tasting we walk a few blocks to the Uiltje Brewery. This is a small, fairly new brewery that is producing some great beers. After a tour and tasting, we head back to the city center of Haarlem where we have time to explore the city before heading back to Amsterdam. The evening is free to explore the city. (B, L)
Day 3
This is a more relaxed day. We have breakfast and leave the hotel by 09:00 and enjoy a canal ride through the city. Lunch is at Cafe Gollem, arguably one of the best bars in Amsterdam. After lunch we head to the Meibock Festival. The night is free to explore Amsterdam and visit some the the many beer bars here but don't stay out too late as we leave for Belgium in the morning. (B, L)
Day 4
We arise early and board the train at 09:00 and head toward Brussels. We drop our luggage at the hotel and we be treated to a private walking tour of Brussels and learn some of the rich history of this famous city. During the tour, we will stop for lunch and a beer or two at Bier Circus. After the tour, we spend the afternoon exploring the city on our own. We meet at the hotel at 19:00 and head to dinner at the famous Chez Leon. (B, D)
Day 5
After a nice breakfast, we board the shuttle at 08:00 and head for our first stop - Westvleteren. We have lunch in the tasting room where we will have the opportunity to drink the famous “Westie” beers and possibly purchase small quantities to take with us. From there we head to De Dolle Brouwers for another tour followed by Sint Bernardus. Time permitting, we visit the hop museum in Poperinge before returning to Brussels. The evening is spent exploring some of the many beer bars in Brussels. (B, L)
Day 6
Today is a day to relax and enjoy the city. After a nice breakfast, we head to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History for a guided tour. After the museum, we travel to Tre Fonteinen for a private tour and tasting in their blending facility, We will have the opportunity to sample some special beers only available on-site. We return to the city and spend the afternoon exploring the city on our own. We meet at the hotel at 19:00 and head to dinner in the St. Catherine area. (B, D)
Day 7
Today is another long day. We rise early and board the train to Bruges where we will visit the first of two breweries - Brasserie de Halve Maan. This is a modern brewery with a nice tasting room. From here we will travel to Brouwerij Bourgogne de Flanders where we will enjoy a tour, tasting and lunch. After lunch, we will stop for a beer at La Trappiste, an unusual “cellar bar” offering a wide variety of world beers including trappist beers. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the city. We will meet at the train station at 18:00 to return to Brussels. The evening is free to enjoy on our own. (B, L)
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Day 8
After a leisurely breakfast, we head for our first stop, Brasserie de la Senne. After lunch we visit Cantillon and the Gueze Museum where we tour the brewery and taste some of the finest spontaneous fermented beers in the world. After our tour, we will walk around the corner to Brasserie de L'Ermitage for another tour and tasting. L'Ermitage brews beers at the other end of the spectrum from Cantillon so we should have a nice contrast in beer styles. Afterwards, we return to the hotel and spend the evening on our own exploring the city. (B, L)
Day 9
It's up by 9:00 and a hearty breakfast. We take a short train ride to Leuven for the Zythos Beer Festival. We return to Brussels around 17:00 and relax at the hotel until dinner at 19:00. (B, D)
Day 10
Today we rise early and say our goodbye's. We head home or to wherever our travels take us. (B)
Mobility Notice
This tour involves substantial walking through breweries, museums and the cities we visit. In addition, climbing of stairs, navigating entryways, etc. is required. Many venues visited on this tour would not be considered ADA compliant. If you have concerns regarding these issues, please contact our staff as this might not be the best tour choice for you.