Luxury Art & Design Tours

Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds

Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam

Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai

Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle

Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan

Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo

Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca

Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord

Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto

Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island

Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs

Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur

Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale

Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs

Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa

Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

The Netherlands and Belgium are renowned for their heritage of great art, architecture and design—old and new. This private art tour features private touring of atmospheric towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the most important regional art museums and other cultural institutions. Touring is flexible and can be customized to include additional interests, such as modern and contemporary architecture.

Begin in romantic Bruges, a fairy-tale town of canals and medieval architecture that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through atmospheric backstreets, city gates and squares. Enjoy a boat tour along the canals. See Gothic buildings, ancient monuments, and museums such as the Groeningemuseum of fine art and the Hospital Museum, which has a collection of Hans Memling paintings. Other options include climbing to the top of the Belfry for views over Bruges, visiting a lacemaking studio, touring a local brewery, sampling locally made chocolates, visiting the Basilica of the Holy Blood, biking through lesser-visited neighborhoods, and seeing the historic Beguinage housing, also a UNESCO site.

Next, transfer to Brussels. En route, stop in Ghent to visit St. Bavo's Cathedral and see the spectacular Ghent Altarpiece (The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb) by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. Also see other Ghent highlights such as the beautiful waterfront quays of Graslei and Korenlei, landmark Belfry tower, imposing Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) and medieval Patershol quarter.

Continue to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. During flexible private touring, walk through the Grand-Place, the city's iconic main square, to see the ornate facades of the Town Hall and guild houses. Explore elegant backstreets to see Art Nouveau architecture, and tour the Horta Museum, an Art Nouveau masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the Van Buuren Museum, an Art Deco mansion with beautiful gardens. See the renowned Manneken-Pis fountain. Visit museums such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, or browse antiques districts and open-air markets. See the European Parliament and other institutions related to the European Union. Artisans of Leisure can also arrange special interest activities around Brussels such as attending a performance at the Bozar or one of the royal theaters, a Belgian beer tasting or tour of a local brewery, seeing Palais Stoclet, touring the Belgian Center for Comic-Strip Art, visiting locations related to Tintin and his animated stories, seeing the Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower, or visiting the Atomium and Mini-Europe. If desired, also browse gourmet food markets, and perhaps sample Belgian specialties such as waffles, chocolate pralines and frites with mayonnaise.

Next, transfer to Amsterdam, stopping en route to tour Antwerp, a lively port city famous for fashion, diamonds and Peter Paul Rubens. During flexible touring, see historical highlights such as the medieval Cathedral of Our Lady, guild houses on the Grote Markt (main square), and fin-de-siecle Centraal Train Station. Visit art museums such as the Rubens House, Royal Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (MuHKA). Perhaps tour the Red Star Line Museum, the departure point for millions of Europeans immigrating to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Along the way, browse street markets, and sample local treats such as chocolate and baked goods. Other options in Antwerp include visiting the ModeNatie fashion district to browse high-end boutiques and see the MoMu Fashion Museum, learning about diamond processing, walking through the Jewish Quarter, seeing the striking Museum on the River, and visiting the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves an important 16th-century printing and publishing house. If desired, also stop in Leuven to see its ornate gothic town hall and UNESCO-listed Great Beguinage.

Continue to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and one of the most charming cities in Europe. During private touring with an art expert, tour world-renowned museums such as the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum; and visit the most interesting neighborhoods to see our favorite markets, courtyard gardens, gabled houses, canals, bridges and backstreets. Also tour historic houses that evoke the Dutch Golden Age, such as Museum Van Loon, the home of a co-founder of the Dutch East India Company. Other options include visiting the Dutch Resistance Museum and other Jewish sites, seeing interesting contemporary architecture, touring a small local brewery, shopping for antiques, and dining on culinary treats such as rijsttafel ("rice table"), an Indonesian-influenced meal of many small dishes that's served in specialty restaurants throughout Amsterdam. Artisans of Leisure can also arrange special interest activities such as attending a performance at the Concertgebouw, biking through the city or countryside, seeing the historic Zaanse Schans district, and taking private excursions to see modern architecture in Almere.

One day, visit the bustling Aalsmeer flower auction, where millions of beautiful flowers are sold and shipped around the world. Continue to Haarlem, where several famous Dutch painters once lived, to tour the courtyard gardens, market square and Frans Hals Museum. Also visit the attractive town of Leiden—Rembrandt's birthplace—which is famous for its university, canals, museums and open-air market. Depending on your travel dates, we will also arrange a visit to the beautiful gardens of the Keukenhof (mid-March to mid-May) to stroll among thousands of colorful tulips, hyacinths and other flowers.

Another day, take an excursion to the Gelderland countryside to tour the Kroller-Muller Museum—an acclaimed art institution in the middle of a national park. Return to Amsterdam to enjoy a cruise through the famous canals and see beautiful contemporary and Dutch Golden Age architecture from the water.

Also visit The Hague to see highlights such as the art masterpieces of the Mauritshuis and Gemeentemuseum, the palaces of the Dutch royal family, the Peace Palace (seat of the International Court of Justice), and local markets and shopping districts. Also visit the charming historic center of Delft, where Johannes Vermeer lived, to explore backstreets, antiques shops and the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory (Royal Delft).

This tour can easily be extended to include destinations in the Netherlands, Germany, France and other countries.

Itinerary Overview
Day 1 Arrive Bruges

VIP airport assistance. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights

Day 2 Bruges

Full day private walking tour, including canal cruise

Day 3 Bruges – Ghent – Brussels

Private transfer to hotel for 2 nights, with touring en route

Day 4 Brussels

Full-day private city tour

Day 5

Brussels – Antwerp & Leuven – Amsterdam

Private transfer to hotel for 5 nights, with touring en route

Day 6 Amsterdam

Full-day private tour with art expert

Day 7 Amsterdam, Haarlem & Leiden
Full-day private excursion
Day 8 Amsterdam & Kroller-Muller Museum

Morning private excursion. Afternoon private architecture-focused canal cruise

Day 9 Amsterdam, The Hague & Delft

Full-day private excursion

Day 10 Depart Amsterdam
Private airport transfer

Hotels
Bruges:

Hotel Van Cleef or Hotel Heritage

Brussels: Hotel Amigo
Amsterdam: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

Cost
$21,055 per person (based on double occupancy)

Luxury Art & Design Tours

Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds

Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam

Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai

Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle

Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan

Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo

Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca

Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord

Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto

Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island

Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs

Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur

Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale

Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs

Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa

Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

Testimonials

Our guide in Japan arranged one-on-one conversations with some amazing artisans… lots of credit to Artisans for arranging things so well, understanding our interests and making sure they were communicated to Japan.
~ J.R., Raleigh, NC

The art scene in Mexico City was even better than we could have imagined. Thank you for organizing such a great guide. We never would have been able to experience the city in the same way without him. We really appreciated all of the Artisans of Leisure touches and special connections.
~ L.S., New York, NY

Our recent Vietnam trip was excellent…Thank you for arranging for us to visit the home and studio of the renowned art dealer in Hanoi.
~ A.R., Easton, MD

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In the Press

Recommended by:

Departures
Conde Nast Traveler
The New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Travel + Leisure
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Art & Design On Our Blog

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Westminster Abbey in London, England

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Exclusive Visits to the Ricardo do Espirito Santo Silva Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal

Gaudi & More: The Top Architecture Highlights of Barcelona, Spain

Seeing Tadao Ando Architecture in South Korea

Spectacular Architecture, Gardens & Interiors in Lisbon and Sintra, Portugal

Touring the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris, France

Kelmscott Manor, an Arts & Crafts House in the Cotswolds, England

Just Back: Art, Wine, History & Interiors in Florence, Tuscany & Rome, Italy

A Private Tour of Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) in Porto, Portugal

The Korea Furniture Museum in Seoul, South Korea

Basalt Columns in Iceland: Architecture Inspired by Remarkable Landscapes

Must Visit: Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island

Interiors & Architecture: A Private Tour of Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo, Egypt

Architecture and Design Touring in Vienna

Museum Van Loon, a Historic House-Museum and Garden in Amsterdam

Visiting an Ancient Stepwell in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Jeju Island in South Korea: Contemporary Architecture, Tea Plantations, Volcanic Landscapes & More

The Iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne

Just Back: French Art, History, Interiors & Fine Dining in Paris & Versailles

Behind-the-Scenes Culinary and Crafts Touring in Japan

Must Experience: James Turrell’s Gathered Sky in Beijing

Ceramics in Japan: Robert Yellin’s Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto

Helsinki: Top 10 Architecture & Design Sites

Luis Barragan: Modern Architecture in Mexico City

Exclusive Tours of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia

Blue-and-white Ceramics and Azulejo Tiles in Portugal

A Conversation with Renowned Art Curator David Elliott

A Private “Sound of Music” Tour in Salzburg, Austria

Yosegi: A Traditional Craft in Hakone, Japan

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