Holland and Belgium in Springtime by River Cruise

TRAVELER FAVORITE

8 DAYS FROM $4,995

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Ghent with National Geographic Experts.

• Visit the World Heritage–listed Kinderdijk windmills and the remarkable Delta Works.

• Attend a chocolate-making workshop in Ghent and a flower show in Antwerp.

TRIP TYPE: River Cruise

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Light or Moderate

DAY 1 | AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Arrive in Amsterdam and board the ship this afternoon. Meet our National Geographic Experts at a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Enjoy a Dutch dance performance, or join our National Geographic Photography Expert for a tutorial. AmaMora or AmaCerto for the entire voyage Meals: 1L, 1D

DAY 2 | AMSTERDAM

Explore enchanting Amsterdam on a variety of excursions today. Delve into the city’s history and architecture on a canal cruise and discover how these 17th-century waterways—now a UNESCO World Heritage site—redefined urban planning. Alternatively, encounter the work of famous Dutch artists at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. During an afternoon of cruising, attend talks by our experts and enjoy afternoon tea. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

Bicycles and blooms cling to a bridge over one of Amsterdam's canals.

DAY 3 | KINDERDIJK/ROTTERDAM

Discover the 19 windmills of UNESCO World Heritage–designated Kinderdijk, built in the 18th century to drain the marshy lowlands. Visit the site by electric boat and on foot, or set off on a guided bike ride. Hear a talk by our expert as we sail to Rotterdam, where you’ll choose from a range of activities. Focus on the city’s futuristic architecture on a walking tour, and stop in at Market Hall to sample local cheeses. Visit the historic Delfshaven district, one of the few neighborhoods spared from bombing during World War II. Learn about the famous blue-and-white pottery of Delft on a visit to a factory and museum, or take a bike tour. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

Antwerp’s Grote Market was once a thriving center of European trade.

DAY 4 | ANTWERP, BELGIUM

Enter Belgium and dock in vibrant Antwerp, where art, fashion, and diamonds meet stunning medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take a walking tour of the old city; admire the architecture of the Cogels Osylei on a bike tour; or visit the Rubenshuis museum, the home of 17th-century artist Peter Paul Rubens. In the afternoon, taste Belgian specialties, including waffles, chocolate, and beer; or see the annual Floralia flower show at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, home to more than a million tulips. This evening, savor a classical music performance on board. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

A canal carves through the heart of medieval Brugge

DAY 5 | GHENT/BRUGGE

Step ashore in Ghent, a medieval manufacturing center that was once one of Europe’s wealthiest cities. Choose a walking tour of this canal-lined World Heritage site followed by a chocolate workshop at a renowned chocolaterie. Or take a half-day tour of Ghent and then travel to Brugge for the afternoon and explore its narrow cobbled lanes, canals, and grand squares lined with magnificent medieval architecture. Alternatively, spend the entire day in Brugge with a free afternoon to discover the town on your own. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 6 | MIDDELBURG, NETHERLANDS

Wake up in Zeeland, a scenic delta where four rivers converge. Set off on a walking tour of medieval Middelburg, or ride a bike through the countryside to the village of Veere, pausing for a tasting at a cheese farm. Alternatively, travel to Ouwerkerk to learn about the flood of 1953 and see the impressive engineering of the Delta Works that have helped prevent floods ever since. As we sail north, attend a talk by our expert and a sunset photo shoot with our National Geographic Photography Expert. Tonight, enjoy a special meal crafted by the chefs of an international gastronomic society. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 7 | HOORN/AMSTERDAM

Hoorn was once a base of the Dutch East India Company. Tour the city and the Westfries Museum, or visit a tulip farm to learn about the cultivation and trade of this beloved flower. Alternatively, explore Hoorn by bike, and then pedal into the countryside to see windmills and timeless villages. This afternoon, experience breathtaking Keukenhof Gardens, where more than seven million blooms show off their bright hues. You may instead return to Amsterdam for a tour or time at leisure. Join our captain for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D

DAY 8 | AMSTERDAM

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Meals: 1B

A biker pauses at one of Holland’s traditional windmills.

YOUR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERT

A National Geographic Expert, a Photography Expert, and local guides will accompany this trip.

Gianluca Colla, Photographer:

Italian-born photographer Gianluca Colla has covered subjects from the secrets of the world’s centenarians to a lost Da Vinci painting, to mummies in Sicilian crypts. His work has appeared in National Geographic magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Find the departure(s) Gianluca will join on our website.

INFORMATION

This trip is operated in collaboration with AmaWaterways. Dates: This expedition is offered in April.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and vary by cabin category. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Airfare is not included in the price. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. This itinerary is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time without notice.

Visit website for complete details and dates.

Cover: Traditional Dutch windmills preside over a scenic canal in Holland, Belgium.

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