Departure on foot from the ship in the company of our hostess to reach the riverboat dockside where we'll start our guided tour with commentary. We will pass the Port of Amsterdam, made famous by the beloved Jacques Brel song. We'll glide further into this "Venice of the North” along the renowned Amsterdam canals, providing an ideal vantage point on the city's wonderful architecture. Our tour will take us through the four large canals surrounding the center - the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel canals. The Singel river was transformed into a canal in the 14th century to become part of the city's defensive belt, while the other three were conceived at the beginning of the Golden Age as a means to expand the city. Construction started in 1560 and lasted for more than a hundred years. The historical center is now surrounded by those four canals, parallel to one another. Shaped in half-moons, they follow the sun rays making sure that each and every house gets direct sunlight at some point during the day. When looking at a city map, Amsterdam resembles a half-bicycle wheel. After our tour, we'll either return on board along with our hostess or enjoy some free time in the city.
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Enjoy a great bike ride through the De Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to diverse forests, shifting sands, red deer, wild boars, and mouflons. Set out on a pleasurable tour of this magnificent natural reserve.
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We'll visit the Rijksmuseum, Holland's ultimate national museum retracing the country's history from the Middle-Ages to the present day. The collection contains more than 2,000 paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, among which you'll get to admire Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" as well as Johannes Vermeer's "The Milkmaid".
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We'll leave on foot with our host/hostess for a canal tour. We'll travel along the famous Port of Amsterdam and continue along the legendary canals. Even today, they continue to define the city's landscape, and in 2010 Amsterdam's canal ring was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides providing a stunning backdrop to the city's historical center, cruising the canals is one of the most memorable ways to discover the city. So come aboard with us and take a relaxing trip through the Dutch capital. After our tour, return to the ship with our host/hostess or spend some free time on your own in the city.
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Departure by coach in the company of your guides towards Haarlem.
Known as the "City of Tulips”, Haarlem has for centuries been the main production and export center for tulip bulbs. This charming town has been an inspiration for generations of painters throughout the centuries. We'll discover the Amsterdamse Poort (Amsterdam Gate) built in 1400 and the only vestige from the city's fortifications, the Grote Markt (Main Square), the Corrie Ten Boom House, used as a hiding place during World War II and the impressive Gothic Cathedral of St Bavo dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. In Haarlem, you'll get the chance to see a great number of "beguinages”, with the oldest dating back to 1395. Before heading back to Amsterdam, you will have some free time.
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Take a bike tour of Hoorn and its surroundings. Located on the banks of the Ijsselmeer, Hoorn was one of the important Dutch East India Company towns in 17th-century Holland. Hundreds of merchant ships left Hoorn to sail across the world and return loaded with merchandise, especially spices such as peppercorn, nutmeg, clove and mace. Our guide will explain the city's celebrated past in detail. The outskirts of Hoorn itself are dotted with biking and hiking paths that cross the superb polders, following the river dykes and passing by old villages and the ancient Westfriese Omringdijk—an almost 800-year-old dyke. The Beemster polder, the first in the Netherlands and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a masterpiece of creative planning and a superb example of the conflict the inhabitants have waged with water in this area. You'll get to see old windmills.
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You'll leave on foot to head to the bike rental office. This guided bike tour will last about 2.5 hours, and you'll be able to explore and learn about all the must-see and out-of-the-way sites in Amsterdam. Enjoy some free time at the Flower Market or at the Albert Cuypmarkt.
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Imagine a town straight out of a fairytale with no pollution nor cars to be found: this is Giethoorn.
We’ll leave from Lemmer by coach to reach Giethoorn, a charming lakeside town.
Located inside the Weeribben-Wieden National Park–part of the Overijssel province, lovely canals intertwine among a lush flora and 17th-to-18th century thatched farmhouses built on peat islets connected to each other by more than 170 wooden bridges. This idyllic setting is best discovered on foot or by boat.
Our trip will take us on a one-hour boat ride along the canals for an original discovery of this typical village. You'll be enchanted by the beautiful scenery of this town by the water and the welcoming spirit that suffuses the air. Before heading back to Lemmer, you will have some free time to wander about the humpback bridges or small footbridges spanning the canals.
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Our visit of the Belgian capital will begin with a panoramic tour to see the famous monuments such as the Royal Palace of Laeken and the Atomium, a building originally constructed for the 1958 Brussels World Fair. We'll then head for the city center to admire the Royal Palace of Brussels - the King's workplace, as well as numerous Art Nouveau style buildings and the European Institutions. The visit will continue on foot to discover the Grand Place and its impressive Gothic town hall dating from the 14th century, as well as the iconic landmark Manneken Pis. We'll stop in a chocolate factory to learn what makes Belgian chocolates so delectable. Of course, we'll enjoy a tasting of these indulgent treats. Afterwards, we'll return to the ship.
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We'll leave by coach with our guide for Volendam, a charming village that has preserved its character for over six centuries thanks to the tough vitality of its fishermen. We'll then visit a cheese factory in the area to discover how the famous Gouda cheese is made. We'll enjoy tasting the different flavors and ages available of one of the most popular cheeses in the world. We'll then head for Zaanse Schans, an open air museum with wooden windmills, barns, and houses. Take a walk through the stunning buildings and the unique peat landscape or watch traditional clog making techniques. Don't miss the small but impressive clog museum that features one of the largest and most attractive collections of wooden shoes in the Netherlands: painted, carved, ice clogs with iron trimmings, horse clogs, and decorative clogs. Take advantage of some free time on this excursion to indulge in authentic Dutch traditions. We'll return to our ship in Amsterdam by coach.
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We’ll leave by coach for a guided tour of the city. Amsterdam is one of the most unique and extraordinary cities in the world. From its romantic canals to its world-renowned museums and historical significance, it’s a city that never ceases to surprise. Our first stop will be the De Gooyer Windmill, the tallest wooden mill in the Netherlands at 26.6 meters high. It is the last of a large group of corn mills built between the 17th and the end of the 19th centuries on the bastions of the walls of Amsterdam. The location of the mills was at that time very favourable as the outskirts of town provided ample wind. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Diamond District to observe how the talented cutters facet the raw diamonds into the jewels we buy. Our guide will explain in detail how a diamond is valued. After our tour, you’ll be able to spend some time browsing the shop. Our coach will then take us to the Bloemenmarkt, the famous floating flower market. One of the most fragrant places in Amsterdam in any seasons thanks to its thousands of flowers and multitude of varieties, this unique market will make your head spin! At the end of our visit, we’ll return to the ship by coach.
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Departure by coach in the company of your hostess towards Keukenhof. Upon arrival, your hostess will give you an entry ticket that will allow you to stroll freely inside this beautiful flower garden extending on 32 hectares (79 acres). You'll be delighted by its wonders, from the enchanting colors and fragrances of the many tulips, narcissus, daffodils and other ornamental bulbs to the orchid pavilion and the Japanese country garden. Do not miss the breathtaking view over the tulip fields from the 1892 windmill located at the back of the garden!
In the 15th century, the garden as we know it today was nothing but hunting grounds where aromatic herbs were grown for the kitchens of the castle belonging to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut, hence its current name, "Keukenhof” - "kitchen garden” in English.
Return on board in Amsterdam by coach.
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We’ll leave by coach for a guided tour of the city. Amsterdam is one of the most unique and extraordinary cities in the world. From its romantic canals to its world-renowned museums and historical significance, it’s a city that never ceases to surprise. Our first stop will be the Riecker Windmill, a windmill located on the riverbanks of the Amstel River, south of the city. This mill was built in 1636 in the village of Sloten and was used as a polder mill for the polder of the same name (Riekerpolder). The pumping of the polder water was taken over by an electric pumping station in 1932 and, when the polder was dug, the mill was then dismantled to create, among other things, Lake Het Nieuw Meer. The mill was rebuilt in 1961 on the riverbanks of the Amstel, around 8 km (approx. 5 miles) away, between the roads leading to Kalfjeslaan and Borcht. This part of the Amstel banks, very popular with tourists and walkers, is a prime location for an old Dutch windmill. A statue of Rembrandt was erected close to this mill to remind us that the painter made many drawings on the banks of this river. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Diamond District to observe how the talented cutters facet the raw diamonds into the jewels we buy. Our guide will explain in detail how a diamond is valued. After our tour, you’ll be able to spend some time browsing the shop. We'll hop back on our coach and continue on towards the Bloemenmarkt, the famous floating flower market. One of the most fragrant places in Amsterdam in any seasons thanks to its thousands of flowers and multitude of varieties, this unique market will make your head spin! At the end of our visit, we’ll return to the ship by coach.
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Departure by coach from Volendam or Enkhuizen for the town of Alkmaar.
We'll reach the city center on foot in the company of our guide. Alkmaar is a historical town with over 400 monuments. The Waag (weigh house building), dating from the 14th century, the Town Hall dating from the 16th century, the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (St Lawrence church) and a multitude of enclosed courtyards, noteworthy facades and canals all partake in the particular atmosphere of this city. However, Alkmaar is particularly known for its cheese. From the 1st Friday in April to the 1st Friday in September, the traditional cheese market is held every Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The traders sell their cheeses using a barter system. The cheese carriers' guild, which has existed for 400 years, transports the cheeses on wooden barrows, after weighing the batches at the weigh house. Inside this building, a guided visit to the Cheese Museum will teach you all about the various steps to making dairy products. You'll discover the beautifully ornate cheese presses and various other implements and tools used to make cheese and butter over the centuries. The first floor houses documentation illustrating how cheese is made today on the farms and dairy factories, as well as this industry's major influence on the Dutch economy.
After some free time, return to the ship for lunch.
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We'll leave by coach with our guides for the city of Delft.
We'll discover this charming city made famous by its blue and white ceramics, Delftware, as well as its connections to the Dutch Royal Family and the renowned painter Johannes Vermeer. We'll stroll through the enchanting city center—where you'll be able to experience a bit of authentic Dutch living: calm canals shaded by trees, petite bridges, and historical buildings. We'll also visit a delft pottery factory in the city (or nearby) where you'll discover the secrets of making this famous imitation porcelain. We'll then head to the Oude Kerk, Nieuwe Kerk, and the Prinsenhof - where William of Orange was assassinated in 1584. Afterwards, we'll travel by coach to Rotterdam. We'll then return on board.
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We’ll leave on foot for the Goudse Waag, a museum located in a 1668 building designed by architect Pieter Post. The ground floor was formerly used to weigh cheese. Today, it has been transformed into the Cheese and Crafts Museum—where you can learn about the building’s history, the products once traded here, and how Gouda cheese is made. After our tour, we’ll return to the ship on foot.
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We'll leave by coach for The Hague, the seat of the Dutch parliament and one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The Hague is also known as the "Royal City by the Sea,” since the Royal Family enjoys the location for many of their vacations. The Hague counts no less than 155 courtyards, making it the courtyard capital of Holland. Your guide will show you some of the most splendid, including the Hof van Wouw, Hofje van Nieuwkoop and the Hofje Rusthof. We'll also stroll through the Binnenhof, where the House of Representatives meets, the prime minister works and the ministers hold their weekly consultations. It has been the seat of the Dutch government for over 400 years. Our guide will also show us royal monuments, including the Lange Voorhout Palace which houses the Escher Museum. Lastly, we'll pass by the iconic Hotel des Indes, the International Court of Justice, and the Kloosterkerk.
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