Lodging
Lodging
THE NETHERLANDS: flowers and hidden gems
APRIL 17 - 24, 2024
Accommodations based on double occupancy.
A single supplement is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations, subject to availability.
Itinerary
Itinerary
THE NETHERLANDS: flowers and hidden gems
APRIL 17 - 24, 2024
Please note this is an all NEW itinerary with new and exciting locations from our previous trips.
April 17 - Depart USA
Leave the USA on your flights to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
April 18 - Amsterdam Schiphol-Haarlem Tour
Arrive Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Transportation from the airport will be provided. Rooms won't be ready until about 2pm.
Depart for a casual walking tour to photograph the magnificent “Grote Markt,” often considered the most beautiful square in the Netherlands. We will have access to the top of "Bavo Church" to photograph stunning views of Haarlem. Welcome dinner to taste a typical Dutch meal. (D)
April 19 - Alkmaar Cheese Market - Zaansche Schans
Depart early morning for Alkmaar where cheese is still made in the time-honored way. The market is world famous for photographing the actual transportation weighing and trading, which takes place in a colorful setting. We will have access within the fence of the trading sessions, and will able to take portraits with the “cheese men," which is a very unique photo opportunity for our group.
After lunch, we will photograph “Zaansche Schans,” a reconstructed village of wooden houses and windmills, transporting us 300 years into the past. There are only 975 windmills left in all of The Netherlands, but in this place of unspoiled beauty you can photograph many of them. We will take a one hour boat tour to photograph the windmills in late afternoon light. (B)
April 20 - Keukenhof Gardens - Flower Parade Haarlem
Depart early to photograph the Keukenhof Gardens. Enjoy the morning in one of the most impressive public gardens in the world. Open only nine weeks out of the year, the Keukenhof is a visual feast for the eyes. There are more than seven million bulbs planted on over 70-acres.
We will take a boat tour to photograph the nearby flower fields.. This evening photograph the world-famous flower parade right by our hotel. The 42 km long parade of floats decorated with beautiful hyacinths and other colourful spring bulb flowers is a sight to behold. All villages and towns in the bulb growing district in the west of the Netherlands together with the floral city of Haarlem take part in many activities surrounding the parade.The parade floats will enter Haarlem at around 21:00. (B)
April 21 - Kinderdijk-Rotterdam
Depart at 8:30 am for “Kinderdijk.” The 19 windmills at Kinderdijk are a symbol of the way the Netherlands manages its water. For a long period of time, they kept the land dry as it was plagued by subsidence and flooding - the Alblasserwaard, once a rough, wet area of peat, was eventually colonized and reclaimed by men.
Late afternoon, depart for Rotterdam to do a walking tour of the city. Photograph the impressive cube houses designed by architect Piet Blom. The impressive skyline can be seen from afar, enhancing the city’s imposing appearance characterized by such landmarks as the Euromast observation tower and the swan-like curve of the Erasmus Bridge. Rotterdam is internationally renowned as a city of architecture, featuring many examples of innovative construction.
April 22 - Keukenhof Gardens - Flower Fields-Delft
Depart early to photograph the Keukenhof Gardens. For the adventurous photographers, we will rent orange bikes for a few hours and bike through the stunning flower fields. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After lunch, we will visit and photograph the lovely town of Delft (B)
April 23 - Amsterdam boat tour & night shoot
Depart to Amsterdam by train for a walking tour and boat cruise through the famous canals. We'll see the beautiful homes that line the water, the fabled Skinny Bridge, and the famous Anne Frank House. We then enjoy a panoramic city tour to see the great landmarks of Amsterdam. We will do a night shoot of the canals and the lit bridges reflecting in the water before we head back. (B)
April 24 - Depart back to the USA
Early departure from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
Itinerary is subject to change.
See some images from our last photography workshop here.
Quest Leaders
Quest Leaders
THE NETHERLANDS: Tulips and king’s day
April 17-24, 2024
Mirjam Evers
Mirjam Evers is a New York City based travel photographer who specializes in travel images, portraiture, landscape photography and adventure images. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Evers has photographed in more than 90 countries, including many of the most exotic places in the world. Evers' photographs are indicative of her unique capacity to personally connect with diverse cultures and communities. Her eye for location lighting is highly stylized and works to illustrate and heighten the unique characteristics of each international locale. She is able to transcend cultural and language barriers with an intangible spirit that is conveyed in every image. Evers is one of the founders of Photo Quest.
Selected Publications: AFAR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Departures, Golf Magazine, AARP, Outdoor Photographer, Outside Magazine, PDN, American Photo, Popular Photography, Digital Photo, MSN Travel and Town & Country Magazine.
Facts
Facts
THE NETHERLANDS: Tulips and king’s day
April 17-24, 2024
ABOUT ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ "second city," was bombed flat during WWII and spent the following decades rebuilding. You won’t find the classic Dutch medieval center here as it was swept away along with the other rubble and detritus of war. In its place is an architectural aesthetic that’s unique in Europe, a progressive perpetual-motion approach to construction that’s clearly a result of the city’s postwar, postmodern ‘anything goes’ philosophy. But tradition is strong elsewhere, for Rotterdam is Europe’s busiest port (and second in the world) – a lineage as a shipping nexus that dates back to 1572, when Spaniards being pursued by the rebel Sea Beggars were given shelter in the harbor. Rotterdam became a major port during the conflict, and it remains so to this day.
In the early 1980s, the city of Rotterdam asked the architect Piet Blom to design housing for a space located on top of a pedestrian bridge. He decided to go with a design familiar to him, the cube. His houses are perched on one corner on top of a hexagon-shaped pole structure with windows that angle skywards and others that angle down towards the street. The concept behind the cube houses is that each cube represents an abstract tree, turning the whole village (51 cubes) into a forest.
ABOUT THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands is a flatter than flat country most commonly associated with tulips, windmills, clogs and cheese. While such clichéd images of the Netherlands still hold true, Holland offers much more than the stereotypical national quirks. It's a small, vibrant nation that can be traversed in a few hours - but it begs a longer stay than that Amsterdam is the notorious capital, known for everything from its liberal approach to drugs and prostitution, to its network of canals, world-famous museums and historic architecture.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than one hundred kilometers of grachten (canals), about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals (Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht), dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, contributing to Amsterdam's fame as the "Venice of the North"
ABOUT the keukenhof
The Netherlands proudly boasts a thriving flower bulb industry, gifting the world with an astonishing 10 billion flower bulbs annually. As the global leader in bulb production, Holland reigns as number one for tulips and secures a prominent spot at number two for lilies. A testament to the meticulous artistry behind these blooming wonders, it takes a remarkable seven years to nurture a new type of tulip bulb, followed by an additional three years to introduce it to the market. Witness the mesmerizing spectacle of the Keukenhof show, where every year, seven million bulbs are lovingly planted by hand, crafting an enchanting display of nature's finest creations. Throughout the year, a dedicated team of 30 full-time gardeners works tirelessly to maintain the gardens' allure. During the magical eight-week exhibition, their ranks multiply to a staggering 750, ensuring the show dazzles visitors with its unparalleled beauty.
And yet, this ephemeral paradise has a secret. As the eight-week extravaganza concludes, the bulbs that once adorned the gardens are tenderly dug up and, yes, surprisingly, destroyed—millions of them, each year. A fascinating symphony of preparations precedes the show, including the lease of elegant swans, arriving weeks in advance and returning soon after, elegantly gracing the ponds with their majestic presence.
The Keukenhof windmill, a historical marvel built in 1892 to regulate water levels in the low-lying land, exudes its own timeless charm. In 1957, the windmill found a new home at Keukenhof, becoming an integral part of the iconic landscape, bearing witness to the cyclical rhythm of nature's wonders.
Language
Dutch is the national language of the Netherlands. Most of the Dutch people speak English, as well as other languages like German and French.
CLIMATE
Although Dutch people complain a lot about the weather in their country, it is actually not that bad. There are no real extremes, like excessive heat or cold, hurricanes or alike. That said, summers are relatively cool with average daytime temperatures around 20 °C. The best months to travel around the Netherlands are April to August, when days are long and apart from occasional showers, rainfall is lowest.
MONEY
The Netherlands, like many other European countries, uses the Euro (€). Throughout the country, there are lots of ATMs using the CIRRUS and PLUS networks. Most shops, restaurants and hotels accept major credit cards with a small processing fee added.
Food
Sample the national dish, Boerenkool met worst ("Borecole with sausage"), which consists of green cabbage, potatoes, bacon and smoked sausage. Dutch cheese, beer and dairy products are considered of the highest standard and will provide much joy to the connoisseur.
Make sure you don't forget to try the special pancake restaurants, a real Dutch specialty. The delicious pancakes are large enough to be considered a whole dinner and you can choose from a great variety of toppings for your pancake.
On the go, kroketten (filled croquets) bitterballen and frieten met pindasaus (French fries with peanut butter dip) are the most popular fast foods.
PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visitors from many countries do not need a visa if they are planning to stay in the Netherlands for less than 3 months. A valid passport is enough.
Safety
In general, the Netherlands is a very safe country, and with the usual precautions you won't experience any problems.
Traffic wise, the Netherlands is one of the safest countries in the world. The country is known for its network of bicycle lanes, which greatly improves the safety for cyclists. Be careful crossing the streets making sure to look for cyclists that can be traveling fairly fast.
Electricity
The voltage in Holland is 220 volts. Travelers are advised to bring an adapter for two-prong, round-prong plugs with side grounding contacts.
Quest Gear
Quest Gear
THE NETHERLANDS: Tulips and hidden gems
April 17-24, 2024
Recommended gear
Computer / Digital Accessories
Laptop with charger
Portable hard drives
Card reader
All cables for drives, computer, card readers, storage devices, etc.
Power converters/adapters for all international quests
Other
Lightweight tripod (carbon fiber)
Cable release (for night shots)
Small headlamp (flashlight)
Backpack (if you ride a bike on this trip)
Your camera's manual
Camera Gear
Digital SLR
Battery charger
Extra batteries
Memory cards (bring plenty)
Flash with plenty of batteries
Lenses
24-70 mm or 24-120mm lens for landscapes and cityscapes; also for portraits
70-200mm lens
Polarizing filter
Lint-free cloth to clean lenses and blower ball for dust
Pricing
Pricing
THE NETHERLANDS: Tulips and hidden gems
April 17-24, 2024
Cost per person
$6400 based on double occupancy. Single supplement is an additional $1450.
PQA will try to match you with a roommate if you do not opt for a single supplement. However, if a roommate is not available, you will be charged the additional single supplement fee.
Limited to 6 participants.
Not included
International airfare to/from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Beverages during meals and alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses
Gratuities for your guides and drivers
Included
Quest workshop fee
Airport transfer if you arrive on April 18 and depart on April 24
6 nights in a five-star hotel (based on double occupancy)
Bike rentals
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Boat tour at the Keukenjof gardens
All park entrance fees
English speaking guides/drivers
All breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.
It is mandatory to have "Cancel for Any Reason" travel insurance on all of our trips.