Find
out about Holland in the very best way by cruising
along the special waterways that
form an elaborate network stretching throughout the
country: Past almost endless tulip fields, famous cities
like Amsterdam, Gent and Antwerp, small picturesque
places and by visiting the famous World Horticultural
Expo “Floriade – Living Nature”,
staged once every ten years in the Netherlands. During
an all-day excursion the visitors have the opportunity
to enjoy the world's most exquisite and exceptional
flowers, plants, trees, fruits and vegetables. The
Floriade also features a daily cultural programme of
music, dance, literature, theatre and visual art from
all over the world.
If, on the other hand, you might prefer to see the architectural
highlights
of one of the oldest and most impressive cities in the
Netherlands then
you will certainly appreciate the alternative of a guided
bus tour of Maastricht. The morning’s programme
includes the well-known Bonnefantenmuseum’s collections
of ancient and contemporary art and the "Onze Lieve
Vrouwe" basilica, while the afternoon is left free
for you to explore this wonderful city at your own pace. |
Day 1
You embark on the vessel in the late afternoon. Our
tour manager will then welcome you with a cocktail
before
the welcome
dinner on board. The ship remains moored overnight
in Amsterdam.
Day 2
Tree-shaded canals, arched bridges, colourful cafes
and historic buildings all combine to create a magical
atmosphere
that is
unique to the city of Amsterdam. You can enjoy a sightseeing
tour (€ 40) this morning to discover some of the
city’s greatest
attractions. This tour also includes a canal cruise
that shows you the city from the water.
The ship leaves Amsterdam at noon and quickly crosses
over the "Ijsselmeer" to the little fishing
town of Volendam.
Volendam is one of the prettiest villages in North
Holland, and was a major fishing port before the construction
of the
Ijsselmeer dyke in 1932. Its main street is lined with
cafes and shops, and many of their staff can still
be seen wearing
traditional costumes. You can participate in the excursion „Holland
Waterland“ (€ 35). After a short stroll
through the old
Dutch fishing village board your motor coach and drive
out of Volendam into the countryside to visit a local
cheese farm.
Here you will learn how Dutch cheese is made. There
will also be time for you to try some and if you wish,
to
buy some.
On your way back to Volendam, you will have a short
walk through the quaint village of Edam, famous for
its cheese
that was
brought to market here. In the later evening the vessel
resumes its cruise along the "Ijsselmeer" and
on into the river Ijssel.
Day 3
The vessel reaches Arnhem at noon. During the afternoon
you can join the excursion to “Arnhem and the
Open Air Musem” (€ 45). Depart for a drive through the city of Arnhem,
known for the World War II battle operation „Market
Garden”. The battle
for the bridge here gave the town a melancholy fame.
You will drive past various spots associated with this
event. Afterwards
continue on to the Open Air Museum, located in a beautiful
wooded park on the outskirts of Arnhem. It contains
more than 80
historic houses, farmhouses and mills from all over
the country as they were up till the first half of
the 20
century.
Alternatively you can join the excursion “Arnhem & World
War II History” (€ 45). This excursion includes
a city tour, too, and
a visit of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein. In the
evening the cruise continues and the ship takes us
into Belgium.
Day 4
At noon the vessel docks in Middelburg, the capital of
the Dutch province Zeeland. Seriously damaged during
the Second
World War, this old town has since been restored, and
its centre is dominated by the 55-metre high belfry of
the medieval
town hall. In Middelburg there is a deep sense of history.
The abbey was founded in 1120 and had a great deal of
influence
both on the town and the area in general. It now houses
local government offices. In the afternoon you can choose
between
2 excursions. During the walking tour (€ 15) you
enjoy the medieval atmosphere of this town with the smallest
university in
Netherland. You’ll see the huge abbey, the impressive
city hall and wonderful fronts of old trading houses.
Another excursion
(€ 60) takes you to the Deltaworks project located
at Neeltje Jans. This is an amazing example of how the
Dutch have truly
tamed the environment in which they live. Afterwards
make a stop at the lovely town of Veere which was a very
prosperous
trading port in the middle ages due to the wool trade
with Scotland. Today Veere is a favorite spot for visitors
as it is one of
the most picturesque towns in the area. During the dinner
you are leaving Middelburg.
Day 5
The vessel reaches Ghent in the early hours of the morning.
Ghent has been an important port and centre of the textile
industry since the Middle Ages. The old town centre has
retained its medieval charm and contains many historic
buildings.
The city tour (€ 35) includes many of the fine sights
of the city in which the Emperor Charles 5 was born,
such as the St.
Bravo cathedral with its world-famous painting of the
altar of the citizens of Ghent, by Jan van Eyck, and
the "Belfried" with
its bell-tower. In the afternoon the Bruges sightseeing
tour (€ 35) is like a journey back in time to medieval
Flanders. The old
craft of the "bobbin" – a skill that
has become very rare - has been cultivated in the "Beginenhof" in
Bruges since the middle
of the 13 century. You will see the "Pulverturm",
the town hall with its wonderful facade, and a Madonna
by Michelangelo in
the magnificent "Liebfrauenkirche". Later this
afternoon there’s time to explore Ghent on your
own, before the ship casts off
again.
Day 6
In the early hours of the morning the ship docks in Antwerp.
Antwerp is the second-largest city in Belgium and one
of the
biggest ports in Europe. It was a great centre for the
arts in the Renaissance period, and Rubens both lived
and worked
here. Some of his masterpieces can be seen in the massive
Gothic cathedral. The main square of Antwerp, the Grote
Markt,
is surrounded by fine Renaissance buildings including
the 16th-century town hall. The city tour ( € 35)
will enable you to get
to know it in some detail. Over recent years traffic
has been banned from much of the city centre, and trams
have been
diverted into subways, making it a most pleasant city
for strolling and shopping. There’s plenty of time
in the afternoon to
explore this city on your own or to join our Brussels
excursion (€ 35) to the Belgian capital, where you
can photograph the
famous "Mannekin Pis" for yourself. On the
second-last day of your journey, the captain will be
delighted to welcome you to
the Captain’s Gala Dinner. The excellent orchestra,
which has been entertaining you in the Panorama-Bar throughout
the
cruise, will get you swinging and dancing the night away.
Day 7
In the morning the ship reaches Kinderdijk. You can join
a city walk of Kinderdijk (€ 25) where you encounter
Holland’s
largest concentration of working windmills. Before lunch
the cruise continues to Utrecht, where the ship moors
in the early
afternoon. The stop in Utrecht gives you the opportunity
to join the excursion to the Keukenhof (€ 50). Keukenhof’s
flower
displays put literally millions of flowers on show, displayed
with artistic perfection in the most beautiful park.
Nowhere else in
the world are the flowers and colours of the spring as
glorious as at Keukenhof. Here you can find endless inspiration
while
you relax in the beautiful surroundings of the park.
Keukenhof offers you the opportunity to see millions
of bulbs in flower,
fantastic flower shows and the largest sculpture park
in the Netherlands and is the most photographed place
in the world.
Those who have been on this excursion re-embark in Amsterdam,
where the ship stays moored overnight.
Day 8
Disembarkation after breakfast in Amsterdam. End of the
program. |
