Ring in The New Year in Amsterdam
A Museum Treasures Tour
December 27, 2005 - January 3, 2006
sponsored by the Newark Museum




This 6 day 6 night trip to Amsterdam includes the following: round trip air fare, 6 nights at The Marriott Amsterdam Hotel (based on double occupancy), daily breakfast buffet, welcome dinner, farewell dinner, New Year’s Eve Gala featuring Dinner and Dancing at the Kurhaus Hotel, 3 lunches, luggage handling, English speaking tour guide, private transfers according to itinerary, 2 performances: The Dutch National Ballet and the New Year’s Day concert in the Concertgebouw, admission to all venues as per the itinerary and gratuities for guides and bus drivers.



A festive holiday awaits you in the charming city of Amsterdam. Ring in the New Year with a Gala New Year’s Eve dinner and fireworks! Begin 2006 with a New Year’s Day concert at the Concertgebouw and experience an evening performance by the renowned Dutch National Ballet. During our weeklong visit you’ll discover the city’s great museums, gabled architecture, serene canals and graceful bridges. Museum highlights include a visit to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Hermitage, Anne Frank House, Rembrandt House, and the Jewish Museum, plus an excursion to the Maurits Museum in The Hague.






1.  Tuesday, December 27     
We depart Newark Liberty International Airport on Continental Airlines at 7:20 p.m. and fly non-stop to Amsterdam. Dinner is served on board.



2.  Wednesday, December 28     
When we arrive in the morning our local guide who will provide expert commentary during our six-night stay greets us. Aboard a glass-topped boat we are introduced to the “Venice of the North” on a leisurely canal cruise as we glide past the gabled Golden Age merchants' houses, and the many graceful bridges. After lunch (included) we check-in to the 5 star Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, close to the picturesque city center, and the Museumplein. Enjoy our welcome dinner tonight.



3.  Thursday, December 29     
Our morning tour takes us to the heart of the city to see bustling Dam Square, the grand 17th century Royal Palace, and the gothic Nieuwe Kerk. Nearby we tour two contrasting Dutch Houses. At the Anne Frank House we have a private introductory talk at the young author’s simple hideaway. At the Geelvinck Hinlopen, a grand merchant mansion, we find fine paintings and decorative arts. We conclude the day with a visit to the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum, which exhibits works of art from the rich collection of the Russian Hermitage in St. Petersburg.



4.  Friday, December 30     
On a visit to the Royal City of The Hague, the seat of the government and home of the Royal Family, we see such notable sights as the Houses of Parliament, Queen Beatrix’ House, and Carnegie’s Peace Palace (now the International Inner Court). At the Maurits Museum we view a collection of masterpieces including paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Steen and Frans Hals. Tonight enjoy the Dutch National Ballet’s special interpretation of The Nutcracker. The company has breathed new life into the story's magical elements with several spellbinding twists. The production's technical feats alone have made this Nutcracker and Mouse King a highpoint in the Dutch National Ballet's history.



5.  Saturday, December 31     
What a treat is in store for us as we tour two renowned museums. At the Rijksmuseum we see the main collection of masterpieces from the Golden Age, which are on view at the Philips Wing during the museum’s restoration. At the nearby Van Gogh Museum we see the world’s largest collection of works from Vincent van Gogh. There is a concurrent exhibit of over 100 works, mainly gouaches, watercolors and drawings by the Viennese Expressionist Egon Schiele (1890-1918).  
In the early evening we depart for the seaside resort town of Scheveningen where we celebrate New Year’s Eve with a Gala featuring dinner and dancing at the beautiful Kurhaus Hotel, situated along the promenade. Fireworks at midnight will cap a glorious evening. (www.kurhaus.nl)  



6.  Sunday, January 1     
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We relax with a late breakfast. In the afternoon we have tickets for a concert at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Built in 1888, the concert hall is world-renowned for its spectacular acoustics. The program performed by the Dutch Wind Ensemble is always a surprise!



7.  Monday , January 2     
We visit Rembrandt House, the only existing home and studio of the illustrious artist Rembrandt van Rijn. The interior of the house is restored to the way it was in the seventeenth century. We continue to the Jewish Historical Museum, housed in a group of four historical Ashkenazi synagogues at the heart of the former Jewish quarter. We visit the famous 17th century Portuguese Synagogue that was constructed about 75 years after the first Sephardi Jews arrived in the Netherlands. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner.



8.  Tuesday, January 3     
After breakfast we depart the hotel to the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for our 1:30 p.m. Continental flight and arrive Newark Liberty at 3:50 p.m.





This engaging experience includes:

  • • Round Trip Air Fare on Continental Airlines from Newark
  • • 6 nights at The Marriott Amsterdam Hotel (based on double occupancy)
  • Daily Breakfast Buffet
  • Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner
  • New Year’s Eve Gala featuring Dinner and Dancing at the Kurhaus Hotel
  • 3 lunches
  • Luggage Handling
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Private transfers according to itinerary
  • Performances at The Dutch National Ballet
  • New Year’s Day concert in the Concertgebouw
  • Admission to all venues as per the itinerary
  • Gratuities for guides and bus drivers
PROGRAM PRICES  
Per person (double occupancy) from New York: $2999  
Single Supplement: $525  
Air Taxes: $tbd