Waterways of Holland & Belgium - 2024

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Waterways of Holland & Belgium

A River Cruise from Amsterdam to Antwerp On Board the Amadeus Queen

April 7–15, 2024 April 10–18, 2024* April 14–22, 2024† April 17–25, 2024*†

Overview

Spend springtime in the Netherlands and Belgium! Cruise through the region’s famous canals and into the heart of picturesque cities and towns. Delight in windmills, medieval villages, and urban waterways lined with 16th- and 17th-century gabled homes. Enjoy a choice of included activities, such as museum visits, a beer tasting, and more. Amsterdam: Venture through Amsterdam’s picturesque canals on a special canal cruiser. Enjoy a glimpse of daily life in the city from the vantage point of Amsterdam’s famous waterways. Keukenhof Gardens: Stroll through colorful fields of tulips, hyacinths, and other spring flowers at Keukenhof Gardens.

The Hague, Delft, or Gouda: Choose among excursions to explore The Hague, the Dutch capital; Delft, home of the world-famous porcelain factory; or Gouda, the medieval city famous for its delicious cheese. Kampen: Discover the Hanseatic history of Kampen and the Netherlands. Zeeland Coast: Learn about the continuous battle between the Netherlands and the sea at the Delta Works. Visit a storm surge barrier to see how technology protects the people along the coast from North Sea floods.

Bruges: Admire the canals and architectural treasures of Bruges during a walking tour. Then, choose one of three excursions that allows you to explore Flemish art, Belgian chocolate, or Belgian beer.

*Note: The April 10 and April 17 departures are aboard the Amadeus Riva. †Note: The April 14 and April 17 departures will run in the reverse direction.

Top: Amsterdam | Above: Kampen

Highlights Include

Itinerary

Day 1 | In Transit Depart for Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Day 2 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to your Amadeus ship.

Educational Focus: Contemporary Netherlands.

Learn about life in the Netherlands today with a local expert. Excursion: Canals of Amsterdam. Board a canal cruiser for a tour of Amsterdam, known the world over for more than 60 miles of tree-lined canals and waterways that make this romantic city truly unforgettable. Seventeenth-century engineers and town planners built the three main canals that form this World Heritage site. Admire some of the city’s 1,500 bridges, dozens of islands, charming Dutch homes, and the bustling city harbor. Day 3 | Amsterdam | Excursion: Keukenhof Gardens. Journey to Keukenhof Gardens, an 80-acre paradise of brightly colored tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other gorgeous blooms. After a guided tour, enjoy time to explore on your own. More than nine miles of footpaths crisscross the grounds, allowing you to immerse yourself in this enchanting setting. Get to know your traveling companions at a welcome reception and dinner tonight. The ship departs Amsterdam. Day 4 | Kampen | Arrive this morning in Kampen, a historic port town that was part of the influential medieval trading alliance known as the Hanseatic League,

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. The two excursions in Kampen feature a walking tour to see St. Nicholas church, the oldest in Kampen; the Gothic House; the Old Town Hall; and the town’s gates, part of the wall that once encircled Kampen. •Kampen and the Hanseatic League. This walking tour through historic Kampen includes a visit to a kogge ship, a typical sailing vessel favored by Hanseatic traders. • Kampen and Dutch Beer. Explore historic Kampen and visit a local brewery to learn about Dutch beer and enjoy a tasting. •Giethoorn. Travel to Giethoorn, a village where residents go about their daily lives using boats and canals instead of cars and roads. This picturesque village in the heart of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park features 18th-century, thatchedroof farmhouses. Glide through the canals aboard a punt, a traditional wooden boat used to glide through the canals.

Educational Focus: The Hanseatic League.

A local speaker leads you through the history of the powerful medieval mercantile league

Smithsonian Journeys Experts for this program will be announced soon. For further information, visit SmithsonianJourneys.org.

Left: The Hague | Below: Garden landscape, Keukenhof Gardens Lower: Giethoorn

Port of Call North Sea NETHERLANDS

Featured Site Ship Motorcoach

Amsterdam Keukenhof Gardens The Hague/Delft Gouda

Zeeland

Coast Veere Giethoorn Kampen

Bruges Antwerp

Brussels BELGIUM

that linked 194 cities, including Kampen, in 16 countries, near the North and Baltic seas. Tonight, the ship departs Kampen.

Day 5 | The Hague | Delft | Gouda |

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. •The Hague and the Mauritshuis. See the United Nations’ Peace Palace and the Binnenhof, home of the Dutch parliament. Visit the Mauritshuis Museum to admire paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters, including Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring.

Extend your stay

Amsterdam | Two Nights

Become better acquainted with Amsterdam, the dynamic Dutch capital. During your stay at the city-center Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, discover many attractions, including worldclass museums and restaurants, local markets and parks, and much more. A guided walking tour during your stay, plus daily breakfasts are included.

$950 per person, double occupancy | $1,440 single occupancy

Antwerp | Two Nights

Discover Antwerp, a vibrant port city. This extension features a tour of Ghent, where well-preserved medieval buildings fill the Old Town. Stay at the Hilton Antwerp Old Town and round out your time in Antwerp by strolling through the Diamond district, the revitalized docklands, and the trendy Zuid neighborhood. Included are a guided tour and daily breakfasts.

$995 per person, double occupancy | $1,395 single occupancy

•Delft. Take a walking tour of Delft and visit the Royal Delft porcelain factory, founded in 1653. See the production process firsthand, watch a master artisan at work, and view Royal Delft’s porcelain collection. •Gouda. Get to know Gouda, the Dutch city known for its famous cheese. Visit Sint Jan Church to see its famous stained-glass windows. Learn about the local cheese during a tasting. Return to the ship for an afternoon of sailing. Day 6 | Veere | Zeeland Coast | The ship arrives in Veere this morning.

Excursion: The Zeeland Coast and the Dutch

Battle Against the Sea. Travel to the artificial island of Neeltje Jans and its Delta Expo. Learn about the Delta Works, a series of 65 massive dams and storm surge barriers, conceived after the devastating 1953 North Sea flood. Explore Veere, a charming seaside town, on your own. The ship docks here overnight. Day 7 | Middelburg | Bruges, Belgium |

Antwerp |

Personalize Your Journey | Choose one of the following excursions. All excursions feature a guided walking tour of Bruges. See the medieval guildhalls along the Market Square, the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the Belfry Tower. •Cultural Bruges. Visit the Groeninge Museum, known for its Flemish Primitive paintings and Flemish expressionist masterpieces. •Bruges and Beer. Belgium embraces beer as its national drink. Visit a family-owned brewery and learn about the history of Belgian brewing, followed by a glass of freshly brewed beer.

Accommodations

Amadeus Queen

Cruise the Waterways of Holland and Belgium aboard the Amadeus Queen, and you will feel like royalty. Enjoy the attentive service of the gracious crew, admire the scenic countryside from a comfortable lounge chair on the sundeck, or take a dip in the indoor pool. Start each morning with a sumptuous breakfast, and savor specially prepared European specialties at lunch and dinner, which include beer, wine, or soft drinks. At the end of each day, return to your comfortable, well-appointed cabin. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Amadeus Queen cabin

•Bruges and Belgian Chocolate. Belgium is world famous for its chocolates. Visit a chocolatier to learn about the art and history of making creamy Belgian chocolate and taste a sample. Enjoy time for lunch on your own. Rejoin the ship in Antwerp, where it overnights. Day 8 | Antwerp |

Educational Focus: Contemporary Belgium.

A local expert discussses life in Belgium today. Excursion: Antwerp. Discover Antwerp’s heritage during a walking tour. See the 16th- century city hall, festooned with colorful flags; the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady; and the Great Market Square, lined by a row of narrow guildhalls. Enjoy some free time in Antwerp. Relax at a café on the bustling Groenplaats or stroll through the Plantentuin, the city’s lovely Botanical Garden. Tonight, raise a toast to your exciting journey and new friends at a farewell reception and dinner. Day 9 | Depart Antwerp for the U.S. | Transfer to the Brussels airport for your return flights to your gateway city.

Note: Itinerary may change due to local conditions. Walking is required on many excursions, and surfaces may be uneven or unpaved. Smithsonian Journeys will share the ship with other leading cultural and educational institutions, which will add to your experience.

Flights and transfers included for FlexAir participants. Complimentary transfers are available for FlexAir travelers and those able to meet at a scheduled departure time.

Amadeus Queen

Deck Plan

134-Guest River Cruise Ship Ship’s registry: Germany

Tour Prices

Category-Deck Tour Price Special Offer Price*

E-Haydn (Midship) $4,240

$3,990

D-Haydn (Midship) $4,340

C-Strauss (Aft)

$4,740

B-Strauss (Midship) $4,840

A-Mozart (Aft)

$5,240

Suite-Mozart (Midship) $5,740

$4,090

$4,490

$4,590

$4,990

$5,490

*Price includes $250 special savings. See website for details!

A similar itinerary is also available in 2023! Please call or visit SmithsonianJourneys.org for full details.

Single supplement waived for solo travelers! This offer is limited and capacity controlled, and it tends to sell out quickly. Suites feature a balcony. Categories A, B, and C feature a drop-down panoramic window. Categories D and E feature a window. VAT and port tax supplement are an additional $395 per person. All prices quoted are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy, and do not include air transportation costs (unless otherwise stated).