The Hague
Steve Garnett, product manager, Stena Line
“The city is famous for its art galleries and museums. It has pretty terrace cafes and medieval buildings. Attractions for families include Madurodam – a version of Holland in miniature. The Hague is also just five miles away from Delft, which is famous for its blue Royal Delft pottery. A tour round the factories is very popular. And the beaches of Scheveningen are nearby, which is the country’s number one resort. The city is just 15mins drive from the Hook of Holland, and less than 1hr’s drive to Amsterdam.”
Delft
Sarah Lax, product manager, Thomson Breakaway
“Delft is a historic town that was rich and influential in the 15th century, when its porcelain pottery became fashionable. You can visit the Delft pottery museum, which is set in an early 17th-century earthenware factory. The city also has a magnificent mausoleum in the 14th-century New Church, where William of Orange and other members of the house of Orange are buried. There are canals and pavement cafes, and a market on weekday mornings situated in the medieval town square. It is a very relaxing place to browse around and explore on foot.”
Maastricht
Philip Jenkins, general manager, Amsterdam Travel Service
“Maastricht is ideal for a short break as it has good restaurants and 350 bars. It is a laid back, relaxed environment. It’s very easy to get there with Eurostar or as a self-drive. Highlights are the cobbled streets, old city walls and it’s on the river. It’s on the border with Belgium, and has a very cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is very stylish and French in many ways and it’s good for shopping.”