Springtime in The Netherlands and Belgium

Fly from the UK, and on arrival in Amsterdam, be transferred to your river ship. Perhaps grab a map to explore this carefree, cosmopolitan city. This evening, meet your Cruise Director and fellow passengers at a Welcome Reception.

Enjoy a relaxing morning cruising along over the IJmeer and Markermeer. After lunch, arrive in Hoorn where you will join a walking tour through the iconic sights. Discover the town’s splendid horn-shaped harbour, which is how it earned its name.

Enjoy a guided exploration of The Hague and see the Dutch Parliament building and the Peace Palace. After your morning activity, there will be free time to head off and explore Rotterdam on your own.

Visit the World Heritage-listed Kinderdijk, known for having the country’s greatest concentration of 18th-century windmills. Your ship will then set sail for Willemstad, where you’ll have free time to explore.

Today, cruise into the Zeeland region.

Enjoy a guided discovery of Ghent, including a canal cruise. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional excursion to soak up the historic wonders of Bruges, including the Markt Plaza and medieval bell tower.

Arrive in Antwerp and enjoy a walking tour. See the market in the Grand Square, the Steen Castle and visit the Cathedral of Our Lady. The afternoon is at your leisure to further explore. You may like to join a culinary walk to sample Belgium’s renowned waffles and chocolate, and taste for yourself why they’re considered the world’s finest.

Enjoy a day of exploring Antwerp at your leisure. Alternatively, you may like to join a full-day optional tour visiting the Battlefields of Fromelles, including the Flanders Field Museum and Pheasant Wood Cemetery.

Set out on a guided tour of Maastricht, the birthplace of the modern European Union. Developed as a Roman settlement around 50BC, it is a city of many personalities having undergone many identity changes throughout its history. Admire the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady, one of the oldest remaining religious buildings in the city, see traces of the Middle Ages in the city walls, stroll along the city’s iconic cobblestone roads, and enjoy the welcoming feel of what is today an energetic university city.

Enjoy a guided tour of the fortified city of Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands. Situated close to the German border in the east of the country, Nijmegen celebrated its 2,000th birthday in 2005. Nijmegen’s fame stretched to new corners when legendary American singer Nina Simone bought a home there in 1988, staying until 1990. Admire the city’s many beautiful historic buildings and landmarks and do your best to visit one of the city’s many bars to soak up a slice of authentic Dutch frivolity.

In Arnhem, visit the Airborne Museum, viewing a depiction of the Battle of Arnhem in which the Allied Forces attempted to form a bridgehead on the northern banks of the Rhine River in September 1944.

Board a glass-top boat and glide through Amsterdam’s maze of waterways with a local guide before enjoying some free time to explore this lively city. This afternoon, perhaps join an optional tour to Muiderslot Castle, one of the most famous castles in the Netherlands. Later, enjoy a special Gala Farwell Dinner.

With the afternoon at leisure, you may wish to join an optional tour to the quaint fishing village of Volendam and nearby Edam, known for its cheese. Tonight, sit down to the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

Say farewell today, disembark your ship and be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the UK.