Included in tour package:<ul><li>Amsterdam and its diamond merchants</li><li>Giethoorn</li><li>Alkmaar</li><li>Keukenhof Gardens or Volendam and Zaanse Schans</li></ul>

Departure by coach from Volendam or Enkhuizen for the town of Alkmaar. 
We&#39;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&#39; 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&#39;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&#39;s major influence on the Dutch economy. 
After some free time, return to the ship for lunch.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>Wear sturdy shoes: the streets are cobbled.</li>
	<li>On Friday, the visit is to the cheese market instead of the museum.</li>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Guided tour of Alkmaar

We&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;ll be able to spend some time browsing the shop. We&#39;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&rsquo;ll return to the ship by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>Panoramic tour with stops to take pictures and free time.</li>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Amsterdam and diamond producer

Imagine a town straight out of a fairytale with no pollution nor cars to be found: this is Giethoorn.

We&rsquo;ll leave from Lemmer by coach to reach Giethoorn, a charming lakeside town.

Located inside the Weeribben-Wieden National Park&ndash;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&#39;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. 
 
PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>Good walking shoes are recommended.</li>
	<li>The town can only be visited on foot or by boat.</li>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Guided tour of Giethoorn

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&#39;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, &quot;Keukenhof&rdquo; - &quot;kitchen garden&rdquo; in English. Return on board in Amsterdam by coach.PLEASE NOTE<ul><li>Only on pre-booking.</li><li>Good walking shoes are recommended.</li><li>Free visit in the park; open from March 24th to May 15th 2022.&nbsp;The opening dates are subject to change by Keukenhof Flower Park.&nbsp; </li><li>The order of the visits can change.</li><li>Times are approximate.</li><li>Wheelchairs are available through online booking on the Keukenhof website (passengers will have to use their own credit card).</li></ul>

Excursion to the Keukenhof Gardens

We&#39;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&#39;ll then visit a cheese factory in the area to discover how the famous Gouda cheese is made. We&#39;ll enjoy tasting the different flavors and ages available of one of the most popular cheeses in the world. We&#39;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&#39;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&#39;ll return to our ship in Amsterdam by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>Good walking shoes are recommended: guided visit on foot at Volendam and Zaanse Schans.</li>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Excursion to Volendam and Zaanse-Schans

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CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

Included in tour package: Amsterdam and its diamond merchants Giethoorn Alkmaar Keukenhof Gardens or Volendam and Zaanse Schans

CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

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