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Every spring, the Dutch countryside is transformed into a technicolor carpet as millions of tulips bloom in a blazing patchwork of color. You’ll have ample stops to enjoy the flower-filled culture and enhanced culinary features — as well as lessons on how to make delectable Dutch and international specialties — as you glide along the tranquil waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium aboard a Deluxe Vantage river cruise ship.
You’ll also visit and go inside the working farm of a bulb grower, and witness the inner workings of the famous Dutch windmills of Kinderdijk and the mammoth Delta Works. Enjoy a boat tour of the canals that lend medieval Bruges and charming Amsterdam their unique characters, and explore the gems of Antwerp and Rotterdam on a walking tour. You’ll even have free time to explore more of Amsterdam on your own.
While on board your elegant river cruise ship, you’ll be able to sit in on illuminating lectures about tulips, the Dutch royal family, and the nation’s windmills and waterways. Participate in a chocolate-making demonstration for a sweet taste of a culinary favorite, and channel your inner Vermeer during a painting lesson. Onboard evening entertainment lends a lively cultural soundtrack to your journey.
In all, 28 included features and Cultural Connections, with admission to many historical museums, add up to the most inclusive river cruise of its kind.
Board your flight to Amsterdam
Board an overnight flight to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Or begin your trip early with a pre-trip extension in Brussels, Belgium’s sophisticated capital.
Arrive in Amsterdam
If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to your ship. This afternoon, attend a Welcome Briefing. After a Welcome Drink with the captain, you’ll enjoy dinner on board. Join us in the lounge tonight and relax to the sounds of a piano trio as your ship cruises peacefully towards Enkhuizen. Cultural Connection:
Included meals:
Visit a local tulip farm; enjoy an aperitif with a Dutch family
This morning, learn about life in modern Holland during an insightful onboard lecture. Then, discover the trade secrets of tulip harvesting as you visit with some local bulb growers.* In the 17th century, “Tulipmania” took hold of Holland as bulbs were traded at exorbitant prices. The bulb market crash in 1637 ended all that, but the popularity of the Dutch tulip endures, as you’ll see during this enriching tour.
*If tulips are not in season, we will visit a greenhouse to see the blooms grow up close.
Back on board your ship, you'll be invited to meet with locals and sample a typical Dutch aperitif. This is a rare opportunity to meaningfully connect with locals and exchange stories of traditions and customs.
Your choice of illuminating museums in Arnhem
Disembark in Arnhem — the site of an Allied Forces paratrooper landing and ensuing battle, part of the famed Operation Market Garden of World War II. Choose from two museum visits here. Visit Groesbeek and the Freedom Museum 1944-1945, an interactive experience that re-creates conditions from the prewar days through the rebuilding of the Netherlands and Europe. Or explore the Kröeller-Müller Museum (closed on Mondays and holidays), which boasts an impressive collection of Van Gogh's work as well as a vast sculpture garden. Return to the ship for lunch, then choose how you’ll spend your afternoon. Join your Concierge for a guided bike ride to lovely Zypendaal Park, or embark on a guided walking tour of Arnhem to take in the sights and World War II history, forever immortalized to celluloid in the film A Bridge Too Far. During your walk, enjoy a stop for a scrumptious cookie tasting. Later, you'll get a true feel for the local culture as you practice pronunciation during a Dutch language lesson. Included Feature:
Explore the architecture and culinary treats of Antwerp
Discover Antwerp, Belgium’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s “undiscovered” gems, boasting beautiful Gothic and Baroque architecture and lively cafés. On a morning walking tour, admire the exterior of the impressive Antwerp Cathedral, which houses four incredible paintings by master Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and offers services every Sunday. Please note: The cathedral is closed for tours on Sunday mornings. For an inside visit, return this afternoon during your leisure time and show your Vantage name badge.
Lunch is on board, followed by an afternoon at leisure to explore on your own. Back on board this evening, you're in for a real treat — a delicious Belgian chocolate-making demonstration by a local confectioner.
Your choice of tours: Explore enchanting Bruges or Ghent by foot and canal cruise
Today, choose between two unforgettable experiences in two of Belgium’s most endearing cities. Set off for Bruges on a full-day excursion to one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A walking tour takes you to Begijnhof area and the historic center, where you’ll see highlights such as the Church of Our Lady and Grote Markt. Next, embark on a scenic canal cruise, gliding beneath graceful bridges for different views of the city while deepening your knowledge of Bruges thanks to expert commentary. Enjoy leisure time as well as provided lunch money in the local currency to use at any of the local cafés. Calling all beer lovers! Our next option whisks you to lively Ghent for a guided walking tour and free time to explore before embarking on a canal ride to the popular Gruut Brewery, where herbs are used instead of hops. Note the difference during a tasting and tour. During a fascinating onboard lecture, learn about transatlantic connections forged by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Back on the ship tonight, unwind in the lounge with more onboard entertainment. We also welcome you to attend the Captain's Gala Dinner onboard tonight. Vantage Exclusives:
Visit the Delta Works, followed by a tour of historic Veere
Gain fascinating insight into the innovative minds of the Dutch as you visit Delta Works. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, this engineering marvel was designed to protect low-lying Holland from flooding. Journey next to the historic village of Veere, where you take a short walk and pause for photos along the colorful waterfront before returning to the ship for lunch. After dinner, attend an informative lecture onboard about the windmills and waterways of Holland. Included Feature:
Discover the UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk windmills and explore Rotterdam
This morning, marvel at Holland’s iconic Kinderdijk windmills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All 19 are in full working order still today. A short canal cruise provides a dramatic perspective of these graceful beauties and you’ll step inside one of them to see how it works! Alternatively, head off on a bike tour of Kinderdijk, including a delicious cheese tasting at a popular local farm shop. We’ll return to the ship for lunch. After, harness the inspiration of the serene Dutch landscapes and tap into your inner Rembrandt during a painting lesson as the ship sails to Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port. Despite its size, it is a surprisingly intimate city, as you will discover during a walking tour. One of the city’s most dynamic structures is the bustling Market Hall, and we’ll stop here to savor a sampling of local specialties. Back on board, enjoy a Henri Willig cheese demonstration and tasting. If you prefer, you can take one of our bikes out to explore Rotterdam’s vibrant city center. You’ll find this to be one of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe. Join us for a pub crawl this evening to sample some of Holland’s famous pale lagers, perhaps Heineken or Grolsch. Dance the evening away during tonight’s “Netherlands Night Fever” music show! Included Features:
Marvel at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens
You'll be amazed by the grandest of Dutch gardens today as you travel to Keukenhof Gardens — the world’s largest flower fields and the heart of Dutch flower production. Once the kitchen garden of a medieval castle, this stunning showcase features more than seven million tulips and a variety of other flowers in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. You’ll have leisure time to explore the gardens on your own and receive a stipend for lunch. Back on the ship this evening, share a Farewell Drink with your fellow passengers before dinner. Included Feature:
Amsterdam: Culture Capital
This morning, discover historic homes and Amsterdam’s timeless, fairy-tale beauty as you embark on a scenic canal cruise along the city’s 17th-century Canal Ring, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. After, work up an appetite with an exclusive cooking workshop at De Kookfabriek. Here, you’ll learn how to whip up your own lunch. Or, you can choose to skip the cooking workshop and enjoy even more time to explore Amsterdam’s highlights on your own. Before dinner tonight, enjoy a lecture on the Dutch Royals in the lounge.
Disembark and transfer to the airport or begin your optional extension
Enjoy a final breakfast on the ship before disembarking and transferring to the Amsterdam airport for your return flight home. Or, jet off to Paris for a 3-night extension.
Important Notice:The above day-by-day itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert. In addition, should there be an extreme change in water levels, Vantage will do everything possible to provide either the included excursion or an alternate excursion at Vantage’s discretion.
Please Note: Port Times & Itineraries are subject to change. Fluctuating water levels may affect itinerary.
