• Opportunities for intimate cooking classes with our world-class chefs, learning about how to prepare local delicacies — before savoring them!
• Celebrate the delectable tradition of Belgian chocolate-making during an onboard chocolate workshop
• Learn about local customs when you're invited for an aperitif, or traditional pre-dinner drink, in a local home
• Raise a toast with daily demonstrations teaching you how to make cocktails—then enjoy them with fellow travelers
• Sample local products at Rotterdam's Market Hall
• Try a beer tasting in Ghent at Gruut Brewery
• On board cheese tasting demo in Rotterdam
• Cooking workshop in De Kookfabriek, Amsterdam

In addition, you’ll have other opportunities to experience the art and culture of the Netherlands, ancient and modern: 

Enkhuizen: Get an insider’s look at local Dutch customs when you're invited for a refreshing aperitif in a local home. Served before a meal to stimulate appetite, this dry, still beverage is only part of the experience. It is also an opportunity to engage in conversation with your local hosts. The casual atmosphere allows travelers to learn more about Dutch customs while also sharing their own traditions and experiences from back home — a true cultural exchange.

Please note: Cooking lessons are limited to 30 participants per session, and signup is required. Lessons take place in the ship’s Captain’s Club, and that’s where participants will be served the prepared meal afterward. Once you've attended a session, preference will be given to those who have not yet attended a lesson. These dishes are subject to change, based on seasonality and other factors.

Make the most of your free time by taking advantage of complimentary bicycles aboard ship. Simply reserve a bike with your Concierge for up to four hours. We also provide a lock and helmet, so all you need is firm-soled shoes, lightweight layers like moisture-wicking fabrics, a windbreaker, and tight cycling-type pants of breathable fabric (or padded cycling pants if you're an enthusiast!). If you're traveling in spring or fall, you may also want to bring gloves and a hat.

Please check route maps and other information on our Biking page.

Daily onboard lectures by your Cruise Director reveal the history, culture, and local life of this splendid region. Enjoy lectures on the following topics:

• Modern Holland
• Dutch Canals & Waterways
• Dutch Royals
• Transatlantic Connections

In addition, you’ll have other opportunities to experience the art and culture of the Netherlands:

Antwerp: Wander among the impressive architecture and lively squares of the city of diamonds and chocolate. A centerpiece is the stunning Cathedral of Our Lady, survivor of fires, plundering, and rioting throughout history. Of the multiple planned towers, only one was completed; today, it is the tallest church spire in the city. Numerous and notable works of art are here, including a beautiful collection of stained-glass windows, a bronze tomb from the Middle Ages, and several altarpieces and works by native painter Peter Paul Rubens.

Arnhem: Delve into the rich past of Arnhem, site of a key Allied paratrooper landing during the famed Operation Market Garden of World War II. Choose from two museum tours here. Visit the Freedom Museum, an interactive experience that re-creates life from the prewar days through the postwar rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe. Or explore the Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of Van Gogh's work and a vast sculpture garden.

Enkhuizen: Get an insider’s look at local life when you’re invited for a refreshing aperitif in a local home. Served before a meal to stimulate appetite, this dry, still beverage is only part of the experience. It is also opportunity to engage in conversation with your hosts. The casual atmosphere allows travelers to learn more about Dutch customs while also sharing their own traditions and experiences back home — a true cultural exchange.

Keukenhof Gardens: Prepare to be amazed by the grandest of Dutch gardens as you spend the day at Keukenhof Gardens — one of the world’s largest flower gardens. More than seven million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more fill these magnificent grounds with color and fragrance.

Bruges: Explore one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, both on foot and during a canal cruise. 

Discover some of the most significant cultural and historic treasures in the world throughout your cruise.

• Kinderdijk — When you envision the picturesque lands of Holland, windmills inevitably come to mind. Of the numerous windmills in this region, few are as cherished or well-known as the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk. Set against the quintessential Dutch landscape, they form the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands (and make for incredible photos!) During your time here, you’ll step inside one of these remarkable structures and witness its inner workings
• Bruges — Explore the lively city of Bruges, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Teeming with visionary architecture, charming atmosphere, and modern-day creativity, it is one of Belgium’s most charismatic cities. During your time here, you’ll explore during a walking tour and a canal cruise, strolling fairy-tale cobbled streets past churches, guild houses, and inviting squares and perusing bustling street markets
• Amsterdam — Rich heritage and modern flair seamlessly converge in enchanting Amsterdam. Explore this historic, canal-laced port, which has been undergoing a renaissance for the past quarter-century, as you embark on a lovely canal cruise along the city’s 17th-century canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll also have the opportunity to join an optional tour of the Jewish Cultural Quarter
• Antwerp — Wander among the impressive architecture and lively squares of the city of diamonds and chocolate. A centerpiece is the stunning Cathedral of Our Lady, survivor of fires, plundering, and rioting throughout history. Of the multiple planned towers, only one was completed; today, it is the tallest church spire in the city. Numerous and notable works of art are here, including a beautiful collection of stained-glass windows, a bronze tomb from the Middle Ages, and several altarpieces and works by native painter Peter Paul Rubens
• Arnhem — Delve into the rich past of Arnhem, site of a key Allied paratrooper landing during the famed Operation Market Garden of World War II. Choose from two museum tours here. Visit the Freedom Museum, an interactive experience that re-creates life from the prewar days through the postwar rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe. Or explore the Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of Van Gogh's work and a vast sculpture garden
• Delta Works — As one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Dutch Delta Works is an engineering marvel. Its dams, dykes, levees and locks have created more than 800 square miles of new land in the Netherlands.

You’ll want to have your camera ready at all times to capture the highlights of the Netherlands. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

• Don’t be afraid of the dark! Exploring cities and landmarks at night offers different lighting and unique new perspectives — just make sure you have a tripod or your camera comes equipped with a night feature!
• Change your perspective. Try shooting from a different angle, for example. Climb a stairwell and shoot a landscape from up high or, alternately, get low and shoot a scene from the ground. Wherever you are, embrace this artistic challenge by getting out of your comfort zone!
• Take a selfie! You’ll be glad to have a few portraits of yourself at the distinctive landmarks you’ll find on this journey, especially the gorgeous gardens and towering windmills.
• Look beyond the landmarks — sometimes everyday scenes are just as inspiring, and provide a lesson in embracing the unexpected and seizing the moment in front of you

The world’s religious sites often add a powerful spiritual and deeply personal meaning to any journey. Here are some soul-stirring places you’ll visit during your trip:

• Visit the impressive Antwerp Cathedral, which houses four paintings by master Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and offers services every Sunday 
• Consider an optional cultural tour through Amsterdam’s historic former Jewish district

Cruise into a breathtaking canvas of winding waterways and open fields blanketed with flowers. This relaxing river cruise reveals the tranquil beauty of Holland and Belgium.

• Discover the trade secrets of tulip harvesting as you visit with some local bulb growers (keep in mind that flowers may not be in bloom, depending on departure date)
• Explore the seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths that fill Keukenhof Gardens, one of the world’s largest flower gardens
• Enjoy a presentation on the beautiful waterways of Holland

Your solo-friendly river cruise has been enhanced with special features catering to independent travelers, including:

• Complimentary biking options — take a spin alongside your Concierge, who will lead small-group bike rides, or explore independently with our complimentary locks, helmets, and biking maps
• A lively social media night and musical performances most nights
• Solo-friendly social activities, including a Solo Connection mixer
• Onboard entertainment, lectures, and cooking demonstrations

The Worldwide Concierge service will be available throughout your entire river cruise to help you customize your journey. Here are just a few services your Concierge can provide:

• Do you have a special birthday, anniversary, family reunion or other important event you want to celebrate on board? Let your Concierge know and he or she can make all the special arrangements, whether it’s a private reception in your suite, a gathering in the lounge, and more
• Restaurant reservations. Just notify your Concierge of your interests, and he or she will be happy to make recommendations, and will call ahead to reserve your table
• Special excursions. Would you like a limo to take you for a special night in the city? Perhaps you’d like to look up long-lost relatives. Your Concierge is here to help!
• Extend your stay! Your Concierge can help modify your hotel reservations and flights if you decide to stay on
• Tickets to local concerts, exhibits, theater, sporting events, and more

Take advantage of this free, start-to-finish service by making your requests prior to your journey or during your journey. We are one of the only companies to offer this level of service! Call 1-888-982-6824 or email Concierge@vantagetravel.com to speak to a Concierge today, or simply log into My Portfolio up to two weeks prior to departure.