Private Holland Tours
Private Holland Tours
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About
Private Holland Tours is specialized in affordable private guided tours for active singles, couples, families and small groups. I heartily welcome travelers from all countries of the world. My walking tours in small quaint towns often depart from the usual tourist routes, showing you the medieval highlights. Driving through the countryside I usually take the scenic roads, thus giving you a better sense of Holland's rural environment. Professionalism, care and fun, plus my friendship are the cornerstones of my tours. Ray Vandenburg, owner and guide PrivateHollandTours.com
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
295 reviews
Excellent
263
Very good
20
Average
0
Poor
6
Terrible
6
ADL15
New York9 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
We spent a lovely full day with Ray on the Keukenhof Combo A tour. Ray picked us up at our hotel promptly at 7:30am and off we went! Ray is extremely pleasant and knowledgeable about all things Holland and the world in general. He is a man who has worn many interesting hats which adds to his breadth of knowledge.
His guided tour through the gardens was breathtaking as well as the tour through the countryside. We had a delightful lunch and private tour of a cheese and wooden shoe factory which was a lot of fun. The owner and her team were wonderful.
Ray is always responsive and informative with his email correspondence as our trip was postponed and delayed since 2020! Ray was very generous in his policies during these uncertain times. We would highly recommend Ray for all of your touring needs.
Sincerely,
Andrea and Dominick
His guided tour through the gardens was breathtaking as well as the tour through the countryside. We had a delightful lunch and private tour of a cheese and wooden shoe factory which was a lot of fun. The owner and her team were wonderful.
Ray is always responsive and informative with his email correspondence as our trip was postponed and delayed since 2020! Ray was very generous in his policies during these uncertain times. We would highly recommend Ray for all of your touring needs.
Sincerely,
Andrea and Dominick
Written 26 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Andrea & Dominick, thank you so much for the rave review. I almost blushed what you wrote of me. It was a pleasure to tour you through the Flower Garden and Countryside. Your response to the people of the Cheese farm is heart-warming. I felt we have a lot in common, my hope is that I will see you again in the nearby future. Stay well.
Written 28 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bob
1 contribution
Nov 2021
We had a fantastic day with Ray on the Countryside and Lakes tour. From the small villages and country roads, large lakes, and windmills, to the dikes, bridges, cheese and clog makers, Ray was a wonderful, knowledgable and super friendly host and guide. We highly recommend Ray and the Private Holland Tours, and are planning to see the tulips in the spring!
Written 30 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Bob & Sue, thank you for the lovely review. You were my first guests after a two year Covid lockdown. I really looking forward to take you next spring on a wonderful tulip experience tour at Keukenhof Gardens. All the best! Ray Vandenburg, guide and owner of PRIVATEHOLLANDTOUR.COM.
Written 12 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cindy R
Palos Verdes Estates, CA9 contributions
Oct 2022
What a delight it was to spend a day with Ray Vandenburg as he escorted our small group of four adults through lovely parts of Holland.
We began and ended our day in Amsterdam where Ray picked us up at our ship and dropped us off at our hotel in the museum district. We drove out to the countryside, stopping in small villages where we walked through picture-book charming lanes, seeing small canals, local shops, seaports, homes and gardens that the adjectives pretty and adorable are sorely inadequate. We learned history, culture and customs, and we stopped at an historic inn for the best apple pie of my life. At another stop, a clog maker demonstrated his craft and he described cheesemaking process before we had a tasting. We opted to enjoy a local lunch at the clog and cheesemaker, and if you have not had smoked herring on rich brown bread, it is a must. Local wine and beer completed our order. Our final stop was to see windmills, where Ray spoke about their different purposes.Throughout the day, Ray enriched us with his knowledge of Netherlands geography, reclaimed land, dikes, and the worldwide impact of the dominant seafaring merchant trade dating back to the sixteenth century.
It was a beautiful experience to have so much come alive in this one day of touring. I highly recommend you book with Ray, whether it is one of his well designed tours or you and he create your own. Ray is open to listening and offering suggestions, he is easy to be with, and so pleasant. And he will respond promptly if you email him!
We began and ended our day in Amsterdam where Ray picked us up at our ship and dropped us off at our hotel in the museum district. We drove out to the countryside, stopping in small villages where we walked through picture-book charming lanes, seeing small canals, local shops, seaports, homes and gardens that the adjectives pretty and adorable are sorely inadequate. We learned history, culture and customs, and we stopped at an historic inn for the best apple pie of my life. At another stop, a clog maker demonstrated his craft and he described cheesemaking process before we had a tasting. We opted to enjoy a local lunch at the clog and cheesemaker, and if you have not had smoked herring on rich brown bread, it is a must. Local wine and beer completed our order. Our final stop was to see windmills, where Ray spoke about their different purposes.Throughout the day, Ray enriched us with his knowledge of Netherlands geography, reclaimed land, dikes, and the worldwide impact of the dominant seafaring merchant trade dating back to the sixteenth century.
It was a beautiful experience to have so much come alive in this one day of touring. I highly recommend you book with Ray, whether it is one of his well designed tours or you and he create your own. Ray is open to listening and offering suggestions, he is easy to be with, and so pleasant. And he will respond promptly if you email him!
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cindy, what a wonderful review! I’m so glad you and your company loved the sights I showed you. When you are back in NL I will treat you with herring and bread. At the farm you had fried fish (cod) and chips. Actually both herring and cod are delicious seafood, we Dutch love it.
Kind regards,
Written 31 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Eliza P
Charleston, SC122 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
We did the keukenhof tour with our 2 young children. Ray picked us up at our hotel and drove us all around holland. It was so nice to have someone so knowledgeable to guide us. He was like our nice Dutch uncle showing us all the sights and looking after us. He was so accommodating to the kids too, he found the playgrounds and even a trampoline for them to play on!!! We had a great day, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who doesn’t want to ride the huge bus full of tourists. This was the best!!!
Written 15 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Eliza for the wonderful review. I enjoyed your family, and it was my pleasure to offer your children the things they like most. Hopefully we can meet again in the nearby future. Ray Vandenburg, tour guide and owner of PRIVATEHOLLANDTOURS.COM
Written 16 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Liz
1 contribution
Sept 2022
Ray picked up our group of 6 and whisked us off for a great day seeing some small towns north of the city! He is full of interesting information and also so fun! We had a great lunch at a cheese farm including a full demonstration on making wooden shoes. We drove through the most beautiful countryside stopping to see windmills along the way. We loved being off the beaten path and appreciated Ray taking extra time to get my husband the distilled water he needed at a pharmacy on our way home. We were treated like family and had a wonderful day. We would highly recommend Ray and hope that when we return he'll want to see his group of loud Americans who have butter on their heads:)
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Liz and the Gang, thank you so much for the rave review. If its possible I always try to help my client's additional wishes. I recently heard the 'butter' saying on American TV. You guys are real ambassadors of Dutch expressions. I hope we'll see each other again soon.
Written 15 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
byrdie50
Bath68 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
We had the best day out with Ray! I booked the visit way back last summer and we were so looking forward to it. Ray collected us promptly from our hotel at 7.30am this morning and we were at Keukenhof when it opened at 8. The park was stunning and it was such a joy to be taken around and shown all of it in a logical and efficient manner, but also relaxed and fun. Being there early meant we almost had the place to ourselves and exploring the pavilion with all the hundreds of tulips in perfect bloom without crowds was heaven. My daughter loved the Miffy shop and statues. Ray knew all the best spots for photos and things to show us. After visiting the gardens we saw lots of beautiful flower fields, had a quick and unexpected but wonderful trip to the seaside, and then off to a cheese and clog factory where we had lunch and a tour and tasting - we were treated like royalty because they knew we were with Ray! The day was so enjoyable and easy going, Ray was a great guide and I’m so pleased we decided to choose Private Holland Tours.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Byrdie50, what can I say after having read your review. You describe perfectly who I am and where I stand for in the tour business.
I'm so glad you loved all the sites we've visited and that your daughter got her coveted gift.
Thank you for being my ambassador, you really have described the tour as I've designed it.
Thanks a lot, Ray.
Written 30 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RDB33912
Fort Myers, FL19 contributions
Apr 2022
Took the Private Holland Tours Deluxe VIP Tour today and we really enjoyed it. Ray picked us up at our hotel at 8:30 AM this morning and we drove to Delft. Had a nice walking tour of Delft’s city center and stopped for coffee and a delicious piece of Dutch apple pie at a lovely outdoor cafe. Found Delft to be a delightful city. It was less crowded and had all of the old charm. Then drove to three windmills for a short walk and a photo op. Back to Amsterdam for a delightful private two hour canal cruise with lunch. This was followed by a private docent tour of the Rijksmuseum. All in all, we found this to be a delightful tour that we’d recommend for anyone. Ray was a great driver/guide/conversationalist and his SUV was very comfortable.
Written 21 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katharm
Dallas, TX2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
Planned a spring break trip—starting with a couple of days in Amsterdam, highlight of our time there was definitely the Countryside Tour. Our tour guide Ray’s knowledge of the area + engaging personality made the day both memorable and fun! As a college student I was a little concerned when my Mom wanted to make the reservation—I wasn’t sure how interesting a full day would be, but I was pleasantly surprised. Learned a lot and had a lot of fun—thank you Ray!!
Written 14 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow Kendall, you wrote a blushing review. What can I say? You and your mom are the ideal persons to tour with.
It's feels good that you had a wondertime. Please don't walk too much around in your apartment, the wooden shoes you bought might cause disturbance to your neighbors. 😊See you guys back soon.
Written 15 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nikki W
Macau, China16 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Our family really enjoyed our tour with Ray - he was great at communicating, prompt and timely - showing up as scheduled, and prepared a wonderful day for us, showing us a wonderful cheese store and cafe in Gouda, and the quaint town of Delft. Ray even accommodated our request of including a stop at Kinderdijk when we booked the trip!
We were a bit disappointed we didn't get to see the pottery factory in Delft but that was our fault for not clarifying that it was included when booking the trip. This is nothing against Ray, only including in my review so you can clarify and avoid our mistake!
We were a bit disappointed we didn't get to see the pottery factory in Delft but that was our fault for not clarifying that it was included when booking the trip. This is nothing against Ray, only including in my review so you can clarify and avoid our mistake!
Written 29 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi dear family, thank you all for having a good time during the tour. I loved all of your presence, we laughed and even poked fun at eachother. Nikki and Austin, I wish you have a beautiful and exiting marriage and much LOVE from here to eternity.
I hope to see you you guys back soon, be well!
Ray
Written 1 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cory C
Genoa, IL23 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We hired Ray on an extended layover to take us to the small Friesland villages that my Mother's ancestors had immigrated from and we couldn't have been happier with his service.
From picking us up in the airport to dropping us off at our hotel that evening Ray was informative, entertaining, and an absolute pleasure to spend the day with.
I would, 100%, hire him again and I highly recommend anyone else to the same.
From picking us up in the airport to dropping us off at our hotel that evening Ray was informative, entertaining, and an absolute pleasure to spend the day with.
I would, 100%, hire him again and I highly recommend anyone else to the same.
Written 19 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Cory and parents, it was such a pleasure to take you to Friesland for paying a visit at the towns of your ancestors. I love the pictures of Dokkum with all the charming Xmas lights and of course the famous Dutch windmill. Thanks a lot for the review and I hope to meet you again soon.
Written 21 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello, There are 4 of us (2 couples) traveling on Royal Caribbean’s Independance of the seas. We will arrive in Rotterdam on October 21 at 10am. We would like a private custom tour to see Rotterdam, Amsterdam and any areas you suggest. We like to live among the locals, eat where they eat and see the sights. We don’t care for tours of Museums, etc. Can you be of help please?
Written 30 August 2018
hi laura contact Stefka in holland private tour ...the guides speak perfect english and will be able to help better ...Amsterdam is amazing lots to do other than museums ..unfortunately i didn’t visit Rotterdam ..i’m sure they have better knowledge of the area .
Written 1 September 2018
Hi good morning
Do you have time for a private tour to the countryside today?
Written 18 June 2018
I simply posted a review of Tours by Locals. I do not myself provide tours and therefore cannot provide a private tour. Go to the tours by locals website.
Written 18 June 2018
Hi, we will land in Amsterdam on 14 th may, I understand that the keukenhof gardens are closed after 13 th May. Is there still a chance for us to see the tulips blooming elsewhere on 15-16 May?
Written 12 April 2018
Dear Meghna2,
Thank you for your message.
Unfortunately the Keukenhof Gardens are closed from May 13, 2018. If you like, we can take you to the flower auction on May 15 where you will see millions of flowers.
For more information and for contacting us, please visit our website.
Thank you so much,
Kind regards,
Ray Vandenburg
Written 24 April 2018
When would it be a good time to visit and book with Private Holland tours? We tought maybe in May 2018? thank you
Written 1 April 2018
Dear Lucie C,
I love to take you on a Keukenhof Tour. We have still availability on May 3 and 13, 2018. Please visit our website for more tours and info.
Kind regards,
Ray Vandenburg
PRIVATE HOLLAND TOURS
Written 24 April 2018
Hello. Not sure if I'm not looking properly but I'm unable to find an email ID or direct way to get in touch with you. I'd like to discuss regarding a private tour of tulip fields in mid-April. Would appreciate if you can let me know how to get in touch. Thank you !
Written 27 March 2018
Best land tour in mid to late April
Written 9 October 2017
We were deeply disappointed with his tour. He is way overpriced and if you are older he will walk too fast and expect you to keep up. Worst tour guide EVER.
Written 9 October 2017
Hello!
My family and I are looking for a tour to pass some time before our flight home. Our ship (vision of the seas) disembarks on June 15 morning and our flight home is at 9pm.
Can we book a tour (with pick up at cruise port & drop off at shipol) that takes us to nearby scenic places like Haarlem, Utrecht or Leiden or wherever you think is best? We are 8 in the group.
Thank you!
Written 19 May 2017
Yes. That would be reasonable. Private Holland Tours did a great job for the 6 of us but I don't think they can accommodate 8 people.
Written 19 May 2017
This year we went mid-April, and the flowers were perfect -- at the height of the season. We were told it was a little early this year, and toward the end of April is usually peak. Depending on weather patterns, it's a little bit of a gamble, but I'd say mid to late April is best.
Written 2 May 2017
Dear Gumbo,
The best time for viewing the tulips, daffodils, hyathints and more is mid April - begin May.
Please visit our website and find out if our Keukenhof Tour suits you well.
Thank you,
Ray Vandenburg, owner/guide Private Holland Tours.
Written 26 September 2017
Hi Ray,
After a 12 day cruise of the Baltic, my husband and I are staying in Amsterdam for 2 days before we depart back to the US.
We are interested in a private day tour of Amsterdam for a day to see the Keukenhop Gardens and Tulips, Zaanse Schans Windmills a wooden shoe making and cheese factory on May 23, 2017. Would love to see the countryside too.
Will you pick up and drop off at our hotel, Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel?
Please let me know the cost for this private tour and hoping to hear from you soon.
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Ennie McCurdy
Please let me know
If this is possible
Written 17 April 2017
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