17th Century Art and Music in Delft

with Peter Medhurst

Six nights/seven days, 7 – 13 May 2014

From £1499 per person
(based on two sharing a twin room, single supplements will apply)

Itinerary

Day 1
Take a morning coach from Sevenoaks to Ebbsfleet where we will board a Eurostar to Brussels, meeting Peter Medhurst on-board. Peter is well known to NADFAS audiences as an experienced lecturer, musician and tour leader who specializes in music and the visual arts. On our arrival in Brussels we travel by coach to our hotel in Delft (approx. 2 hours). This afternoon there is a walking tour (optional) followed by a group dinner

Day 2

9.00 am lecture: History of the modern Low Countries
This morning we will take a guided walk around Delft, which will include visits to the Nieuwe Church in the Market Square, Vermeer’s birthplace and the Vermeer Centre. This will be followed by time for you to have lunch (not included). In the afternoon we will visit the Paul Tetar van Elven museum and finish the day with a wander around the Oude Church, where Vermeer is buried. Dinner included.

Day 3

9.00 am lecture: The Mauritshuis Museum Today we visit The Hague which will include a visit to the Prince William V Gallery and also the Panorama Mesdag. We will be guided through the Prince William V Gallery by Jane Choy, who is a specialist in 17th century Dutch art. At the Panorama Mesdag we will view the immense panorama of Scheveningen which was painted in the last 1800s by Mesdag. Lunch will be included today at a local restaurant and dinner at leisure in Delft.

Day 4
Today we will take a full day tour to Amsterdam, spending the morning visiting the Stedelijk Museum with the afternoon free for you to explore any of Amsterdam’s wonderful museums and galleries that you wish. Dinner included in Delft.
Day 5 – 9.00am lecture: What to see in the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum This morning will be spent at Rotterdam’s Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, which exhibits art ranging from medieval to modern, with a focus on Dutch Art. This afternoon we will return to Delft for free time to spend as you wish. There are plenty of options including a canal trip or time at the famous Delft porcelain factory. Dinner included this evening.

Day 6

9.00 am lecture: Constantiyn Huygens – a 17th century Renaissance
Travelling along the Vliet Canal by boat from Delft, our first visit of the day is to Hofwijck, the small moated country house of 17th century diplomat, poet and amateur musician Constantiyn Huygens. A real highlight of the tour will be an organ recital by Peter Medhurst on the 17th century chamber organ and the large 19th century organ in Voorburg’s parish church. This will be followed by a private reception at Jane Choy’s 17th century house, a short distance from the church. Dinner included this evening.

Day 7
Leaving Delft, we will travel to Antwerp where we will visit the cathedral. It took 169 years (1352-1521) to raise the 123m steeple of the Cathedral, the highest Gothic building in the Low Countries. The Cathedral is an iconic treasury with an impressive collection of major art works including a series of paintings by Rubens.
After lunch we will continue to Brussels where a visit will be made to the world renowned Musical Instrument Museum housing a wealth of more than 7000 musical instruments. Transfer to station to catch the Eurostar back to Ebbsfleet. Return coach to Sevenoaks.

Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel, Delft
This family-owned three-star hotel is located in the heart of Delft, on a canal just behind the New Church, within a few minutes’ walk of the main square and all the main sights. With stylish and modern public areas, facilities here include a bar, restaurant and very comfortable bedrooms with private bath or shower, TV and telephone. Please visit www.hoteldelftcentre.nl
for more information.

What’s included
    Return coach transfers from Sevenoaks to Ebbsfleet     Return train travel by Eurostar from Ebbsfleet to Brussels     Six nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel     Five dinners and one lunch     Transfers and full coach touring itinerary     All entrance fees and guided tours as per the itinerary above     Tour manager     Expert lecturer Peter Medhurst
What’s not included:
    Holiday insurance (£30pp – if aged 69+ the premium increases to £60pp)     Single room supplement (£250 per person)     Personal items such as meals (other than those mentioned) drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc)     Porterage at the hotel and gratuities

How to book
A deposit of £100 per person (plus insurance premium, if applicable) is required to secure your booking. Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis, so please book as soon as possible to ensure your place. We recommend you book by credit or debit card, call: 020 7251 0045 quoting Knole DFAS Netherlands. (Please note that there is a surcharge of 2% on credit card booking. No fee on debit cards)
Should you wish to pay by cheque, please obtain a booking form from Helen Turner. Complete & return it to:
Helen Turner. 10 Rivers Close, Wateringbury, Maidstone, Kent ME18 5RP
(Tel – 01622 817264 or email – turnhelen@googlemail.com)