This morning we take a tram to the Rotterdam Tram Museum for a visit followed by a city tour on a vintage tram which will finally put us off at the riverside where, after a lunch break, we board a boat from the Spido company for a 75 minute tour which includes viewing the preserved trans-Atlantic liner, SS Rotterdam. The rest of the day is free to explore with your city tram and Metro pass. A recommended option for steam and maritime enthusiasts is the Maritime Museum with its extensive collection including marine steam, and even a diesel shunting engine.  An option this evening is to take a train or waterbus to Dordrecht to witness the Parade of steamboats. Dinner is not included tonight to allow flexibility for the option of the parade.

The highlight of the holiday: We take a train from Rotterdam to Dordrecht for the Bi-annual steam  festival “Dordt in Stoom”. This is one of Europe’s largest steam events which features Steam on Rail, Road and Water. We will have tickets which are valid for steam train rides, a model exhibition, steam boat trips and a vintage bus connection between the harbour and the main station.  It is possible to do a round trip which involves all of these. The town has a party atmosphere with a large number of traction engines etc. in the streets, as well as food stalls and live music. On the quay, several steam ships are open to visit, while steam tugs are operating short cruises. In the early evening, we take dinner in a local restaurant then we return to Dordrecht Station and take the train back to Rotterdam.

Today we take a train East to the City of Apeldoorn and  the Veluwe steam railway which operates a large collection of German mainline steam locos.  We join a steam hauled train for a return trip to Dieren, stopping at Beekbergen on the return to visit the railway’s loco depot. before returning to Rotterdam in time for dinner.

This morning we take the train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam where we first take a boat tour of the city’s famous canal system. We have a public transport rover ticket and the rest of the day is free to explore by tram or on foot, or visit one of the city’s famous art museums until we meet back at Central Station for dinner at a local restaurant, then take the train back to Rotterdam.

Again we take a train, this time heading East to Utrecht Central  where we change to a local train to take us to  the Dutch National Railway Museum. There are several British built locos in the extensive collection. Afterwards there is time to visit the town of Utrecht or, for those interested, visit the acclaimed Speelklok museum of mechanical music (not included). Afterwards, dinner in a local restaurant before returning to Rotterdam.

Another highlight today!  We leave Rotterdam early by train to Hoorn, North of Amsterdam. This is the home of Holland’s premier steam railway, the Stoomtram Hoorn- Medemblik. We start with a museum visit before taking a steam hauled train to Medemblik.

About one hour after we arrive, we can board the MV Friesland, a classic motor passenger ship built in 1958. We cruise over the Ijsselmeer to the historic, picturesque town of Enkhuizen  which there will be time to explore before dinner in a local restaurant and return to Rotterdam by mainline train.

Today we say farewell to Rotterdam and board a Eurostar at 17:28 for through travel to London St Pancras. Arriving back in London at 19:47. If you booked in time to get the Interrail included then you can use it to travel back to your home station free of charge (UK only).