Taking BOE 21 days in Sept/Oct. According to the itinerary on Day 2 we will be going to Amsterdam for several activities. After the guided tour of Rijksmuseum we will have free time. We would like to use our free time that day to take a tour of the Heineken Museum. Would any of you BOE alumni recall what time you were done with the Rijksmuseum tour and your free time started. Also any recommendations for going to the Amsterdam Ice Bar and a stroll through the Red Light District? I have been reading the scrapbooks and have seen a few recommendations for both places but would like more thoughts and information from BOE alumni.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, Ca
252 posts
It’s been a couple years now, but if I recall it was not a long break in 2016.
On the RS tour we walked through the Red Light district as part of our walking tour. I think we ended soon after and could stay in Amsterdam or take the train back to Haarlem with our guide.
We took our kids to the Heineken tour once—fun but it was took at least 1-2 hours.
Posted by
745 posts
I did not take the BOE 21 day tour, but just did the Belgium and Holland tour. The most accurate answer you will get is if you email the office to find out how long the Rijksmuseum tour will be, and what time it is scheduled for. They were able to answer that for me, as I was trying to independently book something for the free afternoon after. For us, the guided tour was about 2 hours; probably a little less. And then we were free to explore the museum for as long as we wanted independently.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
58 posts
Took this tour in Sept/Oct of 2022. Andy Steves was our guide. After the museum we were taken on a boat ride through the canals of Amsterdam. After that we were free to wander the city by ourselves. We were done at the museum about 1:00 or so. The boat ride was about an hour. Your tour may vary but I would think you would have most of the afternoon to do whatever you wish. We did not tour the Heineken. We did the Anne Frank house on our own which I highly recommend. Book far in advance. We walked the Red Light district by ourselves and found a cool bar to have a Guiness. Did not try the Ice Bar however. The tour actually starts in Haarlem and you take a train to Amsterdam which is easy and only about 30 minutes. Easy to take the train back to Haarlem when you are done in the city. By the way, be in good shape for this tour. You walk a lot especially in Rome starting at the Vatican. Great tour I highly recommend. I would do it again if my wife would agree. Enjoy !
Posted by
Prosser, Washington
65 posts
We did this tour last August/September and we finished at the museum around 4:15 and were free at that time to return to Haarlem or check out more of Amsterdam before returning
Posted by
11 posts
We did the BOE Tour starting April 28th...the Museum tour finished around 4PM & the Heineken Brewery is about a 15 Min walk away so i think its easily done.We loved the Brewery tour by the way but we did it Pre tour Kings eve. Make sutre you get the roof top add on.
Posted by
OP
Galt, CA
33 posts
Thank you all for your informative and helpful replies. Last tour at the Heineken Museum for the day we will be in Amsterdam is 16:30. Think we will just wait and see how the day goes and if we have time/energy see if tickets are still available at the time. For some reason I was reading the itinerary as a shorter day with tour guide. Your replies helped me see that it will be a longer day with tour guide.
Posted by
12 posts
I missed out on the Heineken Museum. Rick, however, did say on his talk show that it is very touristy, along with Madam Trussands, and others. My guide for the BOE 21 did say that local Dutch don't prefer Heineken, but they prefer the smaller local breweries.
On my free time after Rejks, I did the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House.
Posted by
31 posts
From my experience on other RS tours, you finish your "group activity" or tour between 1:00 an 1:30 each day. Then you are free to go get lunch, go back to the hotel, or tour another site. Then you will either meet up with the group for dinner later or be on your own for dinner. RS sends out a detailed travel itinerary closer to the start of your tour. However, RS guides are flexible with you going on your own itinerary if you want. So if you want to leave the museum early, just let them know. Then head out to do your own tour.