Tulips & Windmills

Resort:	Tulips & Windmills
Operator:	Viking River Cruises
Destination:	Belgium
Price From:	Contact for latest offers

Overview

Enjoy Hollands springtime floral splendor and visit some of Belgiums medieval cities on a 10day cruise.

Admire the genius of the Dutch Masters at Amsterdams Rijksmuseum. Explore Hoorns seafaring heritage, Arnhems World War II history and Antwerps Renaissance splendor. Step into the Middle Ages in Bruges. Sample Belgian beers and chocolates. See colorful ribbons of farmland as Dutch tulips come into bloom. Roam Keukenhof Gardens, the worlds largest floral park. The best time to see the Low Countries is spring, and the best way to see them is on our 10-day cruise.

All This Is Included

10-day cruise with river-view stateroom
Return travel from the UK
8 guided tours with audio headset
All meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 9 dinners, featuring regional specialties and including Welcome Cocktail Reception & Dinner
Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with onboard dinner and lunch

Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Culture Curriculum: Learn how wooden shoes are made; find out how windmills work; attend lectures on Belgiums political landscape and Hollands 17th-century tulip craze; enjoy a folkloric performance;
sample Dutch cheese and jenever
All port charges
Free Wi-Fi, connection speed may vary

Itinerary Details

Day 1

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the van Gogh Museum next door. (D)

Day 2

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

After breakfast, embark on a canal tour by glass-topped boat to see architecture from the citys Golden Age. Return aboard for lunch, then take free time to visit the van Gogh Museum, the renovated Rijksmuseum with its marvelous collection of Dutch Master paintings, or just explore the citys charming neighborhoods. As always, your Viking Concierge can help you plan your afternoon. Dine aboard your ship; we depart this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 3

Hoorn, The Netherlands

Early this morning, sail across the IJsselmeer (once known as the Zuiderzee) to the ancient shipping village of Hoorn. After breakfast, enjoy a guided walk through Hoorns cobbled streets; see age-old cheese warehouses on the towns main square, which dates back to Hollands Golden Age. Lunch is served aboard; you have a free afternoon to explore Hoorn, visit a local bakery and shop for souvenirs. Or, take an optional excursion showcasing the small towns and bucolic landscapes of the northern Holland area. Depart during dinner and cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 4

Arnhem, The Netherlands

After early arrival in Arnhem, visit the 17th-century Paleis Het Loo, the Dutch royal familys summer residence for the past 300 years. Take a guided tour through its sumptuously furnished rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens. After an onboard lunch, enjoy free time, or join the optional battlefield tour that also visits the Airborne Museum. Dine aboard as we set sail for Kinderdijk this evening. (B, L, D)

^{Closed Mondays; battlefield visit or museum tour will be substituted.}

Day 5

Kinderdijk, The Netherlands & Antwerp, Belgium

Arrive this morning in Kinderdijk and disembark for a tour of this ingenious 18th-century community. Learn why the windmills were built and see how they work to help control flooding, then tour a working windmill to see its pumping mechanism and living quarters at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an onboard lunch as we sail toward Antwerp. After dining aboard, relax on your ship or spend some time exploring the cafs and brew pubs of this extraordinary Flemish capital. (B, L, D)

Day 6

Antwerp, Belgium

This morning, enjoy a half-day tour of Antwerp featuring the Cathedral of Our Lady with its three monumental altarpieces painted by Peter Paul Rubens; the Grote Markt (Grand Square) surrounded by the Golden Age Town Hall and guild halls; and Het Steen (Steen Castle), Antwerps oldest building. You have afternoon free time before dining aboard your ship tonight as we sail for Ghent. (B, L, D)

Day 7

Ghent & Bruges, Belgium

From Ghent, travel to Bruges, one of the oldest towns in Flanders. Your city walk visits the Church of Our Lady, with its famous Madonna and Child, sculpted by Michelangelo. Also see the Beguinage, a hidden courtyard inhabited by nuns, and the towns scenic network of canals. Stay in Bruges for lunch on your own, or return to Ghent for lunch aboard and an afternoon exploring this exceptionally charming, canal-filled capital of East Flanders. Enjoy a beautifully lit evening departure from Ghent as we cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 8

Delta Works & Rotterdam, The Netherlands

After breakfast travel to the region of Walcheren, formerly an island of the southwest Netherlands. Stop in Veere and enjoy a walking tour of this engaging, time-honored town. From here, travel to the Delta Works, the ingenious system of enormous doors that can be lowered during spring tides to protect the area from floods while allowing the tides to ebb and flow. Rejoin your ship, which has sailed on to Bruinisse, for lunch and afternoon sailing. Arrive this evening in Rotterdam, the worlds second largest port. After an onboard dinner, you have free time to explore the city. It has been significantly rebuilt after much World War II destruction, and some of its architecture is quite innovative. (B, L, D)

Day 9

Keukenhof Gardens & Amsterdam, The Netherlands

After breakfast, visit the picturesque Keukenhof Gardens, the worlds largest floral park. Admire the stunning beauty at both indoor and outdoor exhibits of millions of vibrant blooms including tulips, hyacinths, croci and daffodils. Return aboard for lunch.

The rest of the day is yours to discover Amsterdams hidden treasures. You may choose to explore Museum Square, take a bike ride or shop for colorful clogs and tulip bulbs. Enjoy dinner aboard your ship, followed by free time to enjoy Amsterdams nightlife. Your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 10