Discover picturesque Holland and Belgium in the spring on this marvelous river cruise vacation! Drink in the colorful blooming beauty of famous Keukenhof Gardens, vibrant gardens with the world’s largest bulb flower park, take photos of the charming windmills at Kinderdijk, and learn about Holland’s complex flood controls at the fascinating Delta Works. Discover St. Baaf’s Cathedral in medieval Ghent, explore Antwerp, and visit Maastricht, the university town on the borders of Belgium and Germany. End your cruise with a canal cruise in Amsterdam. All of this is waiting for you on this vacation sure to delight all of your senses!
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland (Embarkation). Welcome to Amsterdam! Holland’s capital is sophisticated and modern, with a rich and fascinating history. This delightful 700-year-old city with its elegant and classic architecture, cafés, restaurants, and lively marketplace has a distinct ambience. The works of famous Dutch masters can be seen in world-renowned museums such as the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh. This afternoon, board your river cruise vessel and meet your crew at a welcome reception at 6 pm. Before dinner your ship glides out of Amsterdam harbor heading for Schoonhoven, nicknamed “Zilverstad” and renowned for its silver. (D)
Day #2 Schoonhoven. Excursion to Keukenhof. -Kinderdijk. After breakfast get ready for a real treat: an excursion to the gardens of KEUKENHOF near Lisse, which encompass over 70 acres of parkland with lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses, and a windmill to explore. Millions of flower bulbs are grown here that present a spectacular display of blooms every year. Rejoin your ship in time for lunch and sail to Kinderdijk with its picturesque row of windmills. (B,L,D)
Day #3 Veere. This morning visit the Delta Works near Veere. After the flood of 1953, during which more than 1,800 people drowned in one night, the Delta Plan was born to prevent another disaster of this magnitude. The final defense in the battle against the water is the storm flood barrier, almost six miles long and considered a technical miracle. The project took 30 years to complete. Before rejoining your ship for lunch, enjoy some free time in Veere, once an important wool-trading center. This afternoon visit Middelburg with a Local Expert. It is certain that the city was originally built as a stronghold to protect the population of Zeeland from the water and from enemies. Later, it became a prosperous merchant city that spent great wealth on the construction of important buildings such as the town hall. Before dinner set sail for Ghent,. (B,L,D)
Day #4 Ghent, Belgium. In a unique way, Ghent, the “diamond” of Flanders, has managed to preserve its medieval charm and power while keeping up with the times. A Certified Local Guide will proudly point out that the city center alone is a showcase of medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success, and will take you into ST. BAAF’S CATHEDRAL. From here, an optional excursion to fascinating Bruges, with its criss-crossed canals and charming old patrician houses, is available. (B,L,D)
Day #5 Antwerp. Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city and one of the world’s most important ancient seaports. Included sightseeing shows you its superb architecture, and the Grote Markt with its beautiful city hall and the Church of Our Lady make this city well worth a visit. An optional excursion to nearby Brussels, Belgium’s capital and home of the European Union, is available. (B,L,D)
Day #6 Maastricht, Holland. This morning arrive in Maastricht, the bustling cosmopolitan capital of the province of Limburg. A local expert will show you the sights of this vibrant university town—the lovely cathedrals, old houses and buildings, and an impressively cobblestoned town center. Later, there is free time to explore on your own before departing for a leisurely afternoon of sailing, to Amsterdam. (B,L,D)
Day #7 Amsterdam. After breakfast set out to discover the treasures of this city by CANAL BOAT, cruising through the elegant grachten lined with stately homes dating back to Amsterdam’s “Golden Age.” This afternoon Is free for your personal exploration or you may prefer to choose one of a number of optional excursions. (B,L,D)
Day #8 Amsterdam (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)