Friesland and Groningen for groups: Leeuwarden, the Frisian lakes and Bourtange fortress

Day 1 : Journey to Friesland via the Afsluitdijk

• Early morning departure from the location of your choice.
• Drive to the north of the Netherlands, with regular breaks along the way.
• Crossing of the Afsluitdijk, the 32-kilometre dyke separating the Wadden Sea from the IJsselmeer.
• Arrival in Harlingen in the mid-afternoon and a walk around the old port.
• Check-in at the hotel in Leeuwarden.
• Dinner in the hotel restaurant (on request).

Day 2 : Leeuwarden and Franeker

• Guided walking tour of Leeuwarden: the leaning Oldehove tower, canals and merchants' houses (on request).
• Visit to the Fries Museum or the Princessehof ceramics museum, Escher's birthplace (on request).
• In the afternoon, visit to the Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker, the oldest working planetarium in the world (on request).
• Group dinner in a restaurant in Leeuwarden (on request).

Day 3 : Sneek and the Frisian lakes

• Discovery of Sneek and its water gate, the Waterpoort, emblem of the town.
• Boat trip on the Frisian lakes (on request).
• In the afternoon, a stop in Hindeloopen, a small IJsselmeer port renowned for its painted furniture.
• Return to the hotel.

Day 4 : Groningen

• Drive to Groningen, about an hour away.
• Discovery of the city: the Grote Markt, the Martini Tower and the Prinsenhof gardens.
• Climb of the Martini Tower (on request).
• Visit to the Groninger Museum, a colourful building set on the water (on request).
• Return to the hotel.

Day 5 : Bourtange and return

• Drive to Bourtange, a fully restored 16th-century star-shaped fortress.
• Walk on the ramparts and through the fortified village.
• Guided tour of the fortress (on request).
• Return journey around midday.
• Arrival back in your region in the evening.