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There are only around 35 known paintings credited to the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer but his works are among the most recognisable in the world, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft. You will see both on this exclusive six-day tour with the art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon, who is writing a new book about Vermeer.
Andrew will share his vast knowledge of the Dutch Golden Age during an exclusive talk and Q&A session. He will also join you for a private, out-of-hours viewing at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. You will see some of Rembrandt's most famous works at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and enjoy visits to the Panorama Mesdag, Gouda and Rotterdam.
"The private tour of Mauritshuis in the Hague was fantastic, it made an enormous difference to my understanding and enjoyment of the paintings."
- Guest on the 22 June 2022 departure
Andrew Graham-Dixon is a leading art critic, writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Andrew has a long history of public service in the field of the visual arts, having judged the Turner Prize, the BP National Portrait Prize, and the Annual British Animation Awards, among others.
£100 per couple* saving**
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Travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras direct to Rotterdam and on to Delft by coach to check in at your home for the next five nights, the Hampshire Delft Centre Hotel.
This morning, you will embark on an exclusive walking tour of Delft, the city where the 'Master of Light', Johannes Vermeer, lived his entire life. Famous for its blue and white ceramics and its jumble of old tiled houses, Delft is also known for its charming tree-lined canals and little bridges. The Prinsenhof has a collection of Golden Age paintings for you to enjoy before spending the afternoon at your leisure.
In the prestigious university city of Leiden, Rembrandt's birthplace, you'll find a beautiful old town, crisscrossed by ancient canals and full of historic buildings. You will tour Leiden on foot, visiting the Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal, which houses several 17th-century Dutch paintings. Gouda is famous for its cheese, of course, while its market square is the largest in the Netherlands. In the nearby St Janskerk church, you'll also find some of the finest stained glass in the world.
This evening you will be joined by The Telegraph art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon for a welcome reception and dinner with wine at your hotel, after which Andrew will give a fascinating talk with a Q&A.
Following an early breakfast, you'll be transferred to The Hague. There you'll enjoy a 90-minute private visit to the recently reopened Mauritshuis, home to the best Dutch paintings from the 17th century. Rembrandt's career is well represented at the gallery with The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, Saul and David and Self-Portrait on display.
You will enjoy a 45-minute viewing with Andrew Graham-Dixon in the Vermeer Room, where you can admire, among others, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Carel Fabritius's The Goldfinch and more of Rembrandt's works. The remaining 45 minutes of your out-of-hours viewing will be spent on a guided tour of the other rooms with one of the gallery's expert guides. Witness masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck and enjoy free time to explore the fantastic collection.
Your next stop will be the nearby Panorama Mesdag. The incredible 360-degree cylindrical painting, which is more than 14m high and 120m in circumference, will transport you back to the fishing village of Scheveningen in 1881 as captured by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, one of the most important painters of The Hague School. You'll then have time to explore the fascinating seat of Dutch government, royalty and law courts with its elegant boulevards, parks and squares.
Today, you will head to the Dutch capital to wander the atmospheric lanes and canals and visit one of the world's greatest art galleries, the Rijksmuseum. Here you will enjoy works such as The Night Watch and Isaac and Rebecca by Rembrandt and Vermeer's The Milkmaid and Woman Reading a Letter. You will then pay a fascinating visit to the Rembrandt House Museum, based in the house in which the artist lived for 20 years.
2023 departures: Leaving Delft in the morning, you'll visit Rotterdam by coach before boarding Eurostar to return to London.
June 2024 departure: You'll have free time in Delft in the morning, then transfer to Rotterdam for your return Eurostar service to London.
Modern, four-star city centre hotel with lounge bar and waterside terrace
This modern, 92-room hotel is perfectly situated close to the centre of Delft, the birthplace of Vermeer and the former home of William of Orange. Minutes from the old city centre, it's the perfect base from which to explore Delft's cultural heritage, numerous galleries, museums and churches. The hotel's cosy lounge bar has a spacious terrace overlooking the water, as well as a restaurant serving delicious food and hosting live music events.
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