June 14 - 22, 2025
The unique aspect of this tour is the opportunity to explore two incredible countries in a single trip, witnessing the diversity of landscapes, architecture, and culture as you hop between the Netherlands and Belgium.
You'll be guided by our knowledgeable instructor, Vlad, along with wonderful local guides. Are you ready to embark on a journey that combines art, history, delicious cuisine, and unforgettable camaraderie? Look no further! Vlad's Painting and Cultural Tour in the Netherlands and Belgium promises to be the highlight of your summer.
We invite you to check out the itinerary for this trip to explore the exciting activities and destinations we have planned.
We hope you will join us on a journey where art, culture, and luxury converge, and let us take care of all the details so you can focus on creating and experiencing the beauty of the world.
After Amsterdam, Leiden is considered as the second most important city in the Netherlands with regards to waterways and canals. Boasting an impressive 57 bridges within its inner city itself, this city is truly extraordinary, and a visit here is a must. Some Dutch even affectionately refer to Leiden as the 'little Amsterdam'.
Leiden is most famous for having one of the best-preserved historic centers in the Netherlands. The Dutch city also happens to be the birthplace of iconic painter Rembrandt and is where the 'star' on the Heineken logo originally came from but that's not all...
The University of Leiden is famous for its numerous groundbreaking discoveries and thirteen Nobel Prize winners.
What is Leiden and Mayflower story? Today, Leiden remains as welcoming and charming as it was when the Pilgrims moved there. Steeped in history, the city boasts many historic sites, monument, alms-houses - and of course windmills!
Bruges, with its picturesque streets, stunning architecture, and delectable cuisine, stands as our primary destination in Belgium and it's not without good reason. Swans swim its canals; medieval buildings shadow its cobblestones; willow trees weep over its lake; rich chocolates peer from behind its windows; pints of Belgian blondes sit on its cafe tables; and carillon chimes fill its air with music: This is Bruges. This enchanting city is a living testament to both beauty and history. Wandering through its cobblestone streets feels like stepping into a fairy tale.
Bruges is known for its connection to art, with the city serving as an inspirational backdrop for renowned painters, including Jan van Eyck. The city's artistry extends beyond the canvas to its delicious cuisine, with Belgian chocolates, waffles, and beers being famous delights. So, as we venture through Bruges, we'll not only be surrounded by its breathtaking aesthetics but also be immersed in a living story of a city that has gracefully preserved its rich heritage. It's a destination where beauty and history entwine, offering an experience that is nothing short of enchanting.
I. WATERCOLOR PAINTING WORKSHOP
The workshop will concentrate on reinterpreting the scenery into loose impressionist perception style. Composition, hierarchy of elements, painting techniques, approaches to highlight only important elements will be the focus of this workshop.
Students will:
II. URBAN SKETCHING WORKSHOP
In this engaging workshop, Vlad will not only demonstrate but also guide YOU in honing your skills to craft captivating color sketches using waterproof ink pens and watercolors. Our emphasis will be on achieving immediacy in presentation, mastering composition, and, most importantly, channeling focused creativity to produce vibrant and impactful images that captivate the viewer's attention.
Topics will Include:
If you are interested, begin by filling out the registration form, and we will promptly get back to you with all the details.
All prices are per person and include accommodations, the workshop with Vladislav Yeliseyev, and all activities listed in the description above. We warmly welcome non-painting partners and friends, as well as independent painters who wish to explore with us but prefer to paint on their own.
COST for 8 nights based on double occupancy starts at $3950
A Discount of $500 will be applied for these participants.
Deposit to reserve your spot: $700/person
We accept cashiers and personal checks, Venmo and Zelle transfers, PayPal and credit cards (4% processing fee will be charged).
Please fill up the form by clicking on the link below and we will contact you shortly.
A word from our past participants
George and Carolyn V., Texas
"MARINA, just a note to let you know what an incredible experience we had on the 2024 Netherlands/Belgium Watercolor Workshop last summer with Vlad and yourself. As always you had arranged for great places to stay in Leiden and in Bruges. You had selected terrific restaurants to enjoy our group meals and you had great recommendations for us to choose from regarding other meals that we provided.
As always Vlad had selected excellent, scenic plein air locations for our daily watercolor demos and paintings. His instruction and assistance was always spot-on!
Since this was our second European trip with you, we would highly recommend any of your workshops and the related travel experience as the best we have attended! Also, the special arrangements you made for us to attend the orchestra/piano concert by the Budapest Symphony in Bruges was an amazing extra treat we will always remember!
Thank you for your attention to every detail."
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Cathy G., California
"Dear Vlad and Marina, I want to tell you again how much Larry and I loved our trip to the Netherlands and Belgium with you last summer. It was the high point of the year. I can speak for Larry that, as a non painter, he was made welcome and included in all the activities he wanted to participate in.
Marina, your arrangements before and during the trip made it all flow so smoothly. Your selection of hotels, dining and extra activities meant that the rest of us could simply enjoy the trip and the painting to the maximum. The concert in Bruges was a special treat, as was the opportunity to meet with the Maestro afterwards.
Vlad, painting with you and the group for seven or eight days was a great experience. The venues were first rate. I had never been to Leiden or Ghent before and I thought they were terrific. And of course, nothing beats Bruges! It seems like everyone's painting improved. I found that the "chalk talks" we had before and after painting to be especially instructive. Also, the trip afforded many opportunities for individual assistance.
As you know, we liked the trip so much we have signed up for another painting adventure with you in Tuscany! "
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Mariann H., Hungary
"Something New and Something Old - What could be a better combination than learning something new (actually, a lot!) from Vlad in some beautiful old places!
We began in Leiden, Holland—where else but the birthplace of Rembrandt? Leiden is a charming medieval town with windmills, rich history, and scenic canals.
Painting its lovely old buildings, ships, and boats along the canal under Vlad’s guidance, after watching his magical demo, was both relaxing and challenging.
Our next location was Bruges, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe—home to canals, chocolate, and lace, often called the “Venice of the North.” Needless to say, Vlad found the most wonderful spots for every day to paint, whether it was a small bridge over a canal or a majestic medieval square. We learned to paint with emphasis on light, carefully examine the direction of the sun to paint proper shadows, and compose our paintings effectively—ensuring background elements didn’t overpower the focal point.
Each day, we had the privilege of watching Vlad’s on-site demos—works of art we could only dream of replicating. But he always took our individual styles and personalities into account, guiding us to strengthen and refine our own artistic voices.
After long and busy days, we enjoyed evenings at charming local restaurants with wide variety of delicious food.
At the end of the tour we had a nice farewell get together, where most of our work got a very helpful evaluation and critique from Vlad. We ended the tour with a short stay in Ghent, for a quick sketching or painting opportunity.
This whole tour remains a wonderful memory for me, and a full load of useful advices from Vlad. Thank you for the spotless organization and leadership from Marina and Vlad! Hardly can wait to join the next painting trip with you - Greek Cruise!"