Leave modern Amsterdam behind and enjoy a countryside road-trip to a pair of authentic North Holland villages. Classically “Dutch” in every regard, Broek in Waterland is an utterly charming hamlet long-celebrated for its classic wooden houses and dairy farms. A center of considerable wealth in the 17th and 18th centuries, Broek had more than its fair share of impressive homes – and visitors, famously including Napoleon himself in 1811. After enjoying a leisurely guided walk through this fairy-tale community, you’ll reboard the coach for the day’s next destination: UNESCO World Heritage listed Beemster Polder, the Netherlands’s oldest tract of reclaimed land. This well-preserved historic area was created by an amazing feat of 17th-century engineering – the extraction of under-lake land by use of windmills, dikes and canals. You’ll learn how the Dutch succeeded at creating whole new towns and pasturelands from below sea level during a fascinating visit to an original 17th century windmill. On the drive back to Amsterdam, you’ll certainly view the passing scenery with a fresh understanding.