The Netherlands from station to station Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft

Day 1 Train to Rotterdam

Upon arrival, stay for one night right in the city centre at a hotel with an understated aesthetic. With Japanese and Scandinavian influences, minimalism sets the tone, from the size of the rooms to the furnishings and the colours of the interiors, all in natural, subtle shades. A grand staircase leads to the three floors above where there are ten or so rooms. The cafe on the ground floor is the perfect place to fuel up before heading out to explore the city.
In your itinerary - Rotterdam with a local. As the gateway to Europe and the region’s biggest port, Rotterdam is a strategic hub. It’s hardly surprising, then, that only a tiny part of the city survived the ravages of the Second World War. Extensive reconstruction has given the city what some consider a futuristic feel. Others just think it's slightly strange. To make sense of it all, there's nothing better than strolling around to explore it with a local.

Day 2 Rotterdam - Utrecht

Already planned - The Boijmans Van Beuningen Art Depot (you already have your tickets in hand).  Boijmans Van Beuningen is a concept in itself. At the outset, a somewhat bold idea: to make all the works kept in the museum’s storerooms accessible to the public. More than 151,000 pieces are on display here, in a setting that alone is worth the detour. Designed by the local agency MVRDV, the unusual six-storey building arranged around a central atrium is covered with 1,664 reflective glass panels, giving it a unique look as the seasons change.
Must see -  the Kinderdijk Windmills. Surrounded by the Lek River to the north and the Noord to the west, Kinderdijk is the very definition of a ”polder” - a place where people have wrestled with the elements. While the inhabitants built drainage systems as early as the 13th century, the structure at the heart of today’s visit - the drainage mills - was not erected until 1740. Even today, there are no fewer than 19 windmills here. This makes it the largest and best-preserved group in the country. To enhance your experience, you also have the option to take this tour by bicycle with a guide.
A short train ride to Utrecht (40 minutes) follows, where you’ll settle in for two nights on a typically Dutch square that immediately immerses you in the entertainment so characteristic of the city centre.

Day 3 Utrecht

First thing in the morning the hotel is silent. You slept well and the room was very comfortable. In the distance, the cathedral's famous  Dom Tower chimes every quarter of an hour, as if beckoning you to visit soon.
In your itinerary - Private canal cruise. The true stars of Utrecht are its canals, Oudegracht ("the old canal") and Nieuwegracht ("the new canal"). To really get a feel for them, nothing beats a trip out on the water. With a skipper to handle the boat, you’re free to relax and take in the view.
Optional extra - Guided tour of Utrecht.

Day 4 Utrecht - Leiden

Another train journey, this time to Leiden (50 minutes). Stay for two nights overlooking the canal. You cannot tell the hotel's age from the outside. It’s not polite to ask but its over 400 years old. The interiors with their gilding, chandeliers and ceiling mouldings, wood panelling, parquet floors and velvet curtains reflect this historical aspect. As for the paintings on the walls, they bring to mind the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century. The whole place exudes a baroque atmosphere. You might even start to feel like royalty, especially given the attentive service.
Optional extras - Guided tour of Leiden; private boat tour.

Day 5 Leiden

There’s no time to dawdle in Leiden, the city has a host of attractions. From the Gothic Hooglandse Kerk to the Burcht (one of the oldest fortresses in the Netherlands), and the Stadhuis (Town Hall), there is no shortage of historical landmarks. Exhilarating Leiden is the birthplace of both the great painter Rembrandt and the country’s first university. And with 28 kilometres (17 miles) of canals, it is surpassed only by the capital.
Things to see and do - Spend the afternoon in the city’s botanical garden, breathing in the scent of wild roses, marvelling at tropical orchids, and getting lost in the fern garden; head to Katwijk beach at sunset and watch the sun disappear over the North Sea.

Spend the day in The Hague, which is just 10 minutes by train from Delft. This is an elegant and diverse city where European and government institutions stand alongside museums of classical and contemporary art. The city also has plenty of beaches, forests and beautiful urban parks too. It's all very promising!
Already booked - Your tickets for the Mauritshuis. This magnificent 17th century palace is home to the finest Dutch paintings from the Golden Age, the era of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Would you like to see Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt and The Goldfinch by Fabritius? They are all hanging here. And, as an optional extra, you can explore the museum with private guide, so you don’t miss a thing.
Things to see and do - Admire the Binnenhof, the former residence of the Counts of Holland (13th and 14th centuries), reflected in the Hofvijver; stroll along the canals (again); hop on an orange tram before heading back to Delft, by train again.

Day 8 Delft - Return train

Highlights - Vermeer’s Delft, independently. Johannes Vermeer, one of the greatest Dutch painters of the 17th century, was born, lived and died in Delft. It may come as a surprise, then, that none of his works are on display in the city. With only 37 paintings to his name, his work is quite rare. Fortunately, you can admire full size reproductions of his works such as Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Milkmaid, View of Delft and The Astronomer at the Vermeer Centre. Be sure to follow the Vermeer Cube Walk too, a route that takes you to the important places from the artist’s life.
After exploring Delft, head to the station and take the train back via Rotterdam.