Viking River Cruises

Tulips and Windmills

Itinerary Overview

When you combine Holland’s annual floral splendor with the rich cultural traditions of Brussels and Brugge—the two most beautifully preserved medieval cities in all of Belgium—you create a unique nine-night journey with Viking River Cruises. Enjoy the landscape as you cruise scenic Dutch waterways. Venture into Belgium to explore the sights surrounding the port of Antwerp. Experience the magic of Brussels as you stroll through its Grand Place and old city center, and uncover the lovely patrician city of Brugge. On your journey be sure to taste delicious Dutch cheese and Belgian chocolate. Shop for wooden clogs in Holland and browse the shops of Belgium for its world-famous lace. In Brussels, delight in the playful Mannekin Pis fountain and marvel at the awesome engineering feat of Holland’s great Delta Works.

What's Included

• 9-night cruise with river-view, outside cabin onboard deluxe Viking Sky, Viking Pride, Viking Europe or Viking Neptune
• 8 tours with private, English-speaking guides: Amsterdam canal cruise/Rijksmuseum; Hoorn; Arnhem/Paleis Het Loo; Kinderdijk windmills; Brussels; Brugge; Delta Works & Neeltje Jans Expo; Keukenhof Gardens
• All meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners
• Private motorcoach for all coach excursions
• Welcome Cocktail & Farewell Dinner
• Old World Highlights: Port lectures by your knowledgeable Cruise Manager, wooden shoe carving demonstration and Dutch folkloric entertainment
• Individual port guides for on-your-own exploring
• Onboard currency exchange services
• All port charges included

Ship

Detailed Itinerary

Capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is renowned for its magnificent museums, colourful gardens, abundance of bicycles and endless lattice of canals. A scenic canal boat ride is an excellent way to enjoy views of the amazing architecture of Amsterdam's Golden Age. This 800-year-old city is also famous for the Rijksmuseum, which houses works by Rembrandt and other Dutch Masters. Other highlights include the famous Anne Frank's house where she penned her poignant Diary chronicling her days in hiding during World War II.

Founded in 1300, Hoorn was named for its horn-shaped harbor along the Ijsselmeer. With a flourishing maritime history, Hoorn was the 17th century headquarters for the Dutch East India Company and a center of trade and exploration. It is the birthplace of Dutch navigator Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, who rounded the southern tip of mainland South America in 1616 and named it "Cape Horn" after the city of Hoorn.

Volendam - Free time

A charming Zuider Zee village, Volendam is an old fishing port. The city's rich heritage is preserved in its traditional shops and bakeries. Visitors and artists alike are attracted to Volendam for its quaint atmosphere. Some of the locals still dress in traditional costumes similar to those immortalized in paintings by Dutch Master Vermeer.

A lovely town nearly destroyed during World War II, Arnhem is now filled with a collection of beautiful parks and gardens. One of Arnhem's main attractions is the Netherlands Open Air Museum, an 18-acre park established in 1912 to maintain the country's architectural and cultural heritage. The grounds feature a collection of houses, windmills and workshops depicting the region's rich history and culture from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Nijmegen - Evening at leisure

About 150,000 inhabitants currently occupy Holland’s oldest city. Nijmegen was founded 2,000 years ago by the Roman Emperor Trajan as a camp to protect the border of the Roman Empire. Nijmegen boasts its own World War II history that is evident in many of the sights and museums in the town. The town's highlights include a 16th century Town Hall and the lovely St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Founded in 1008 between two branches of the Rhine River, Dordrecht was one of the Netherlands' most prosperous ports. Because of its natural beauty, it inspired many 17th and 18th century artists. The city is centered on Voorstraats Haven, the main canal. The medieval houses, courtyards, gates and quays provide an interesting contrast to the more modern buildings. Dordrecht is also the starting point for excursions to nearby Kinderdijk, with its historic working windmills.

Brussels, metropolitan capital of Belgium, is headquarters for NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. An international economic and political center, Brussels is officially bilingual with two main languages, French and Flemish. The heart of the city is its old town with landmarks that include the gothic Town Hall, King's House and Grand Place, one of the world's most beautiful squares boasting an amazing collection of Baroque facades. The famous 1619 fountain-statue of Mannekin-Pis is located nearby.

Antwerp - Free time

A cosmopolitan city, Antwerp is one of the world's major seaports. Its unique atmosphere is derived from the contrast between commitment to commerce and love of the arts. The old city area is filled with narrow, winding streets and historic buildings. Here stands the Cathedral of Notre Dame, one of Belgium's finest and largest gothic buildings as well as the Grand Palace. Antwerp was also home to 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens' works may be seen in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, in the Cathedral of Our Lady, and in many other Antwerp churches such as the Church of St. James, where the painter is buried.

Brugge, romantic capital of Flanders, is one of Belgium's most charming cities. A port city on the North Sea, Bruges has sometimes been called the "Venice of the North" for its many canals which travel among the city's well-preserved Renaissance architecture. Medieval architecture is evident too in Brugge's many cathedrals and churches including the Chapel of Holy Blood and Chapel of St. Basil. Visitors may wish to climb the 366 steps of the belfry in the Market Square for a stunning birds-eye view of the city. While still in Market Square, be sure not to miss the locally crafted and ornate spinning, weaving and lace-making for which this town has long been famous.

A beautiful Dutch town, Middleburg was a main trading center during Holland's Golden Age. The town was nearly destroyed during a 1940 air raid, but has been rebuilt maintaining its Gothic Town Hall and Lange Jan, a 290-foot bell tower. Nearby, the Delta Works was created in 1953 after a tidal surge broke the dykes and flooded the Zeeland area. Taking nearly thirty years to build, the massive engineering project seals off the ocean from the estuaries.

Rotterdam - Evening at leisure

Lying at the heart of a maze of rivers and artificial waterways, Rotterdam's historic harbor, combined with the dockland area of the Europoort, is considered the world's largest port. It is a major transshipment port for inland Europe, with tens of thousands of Rhine River barges using its facilities. Literally rising from the ashes after its devastation by World War II bombing, Rotterdam's spacious new inner city was laid out with a river orientation. Visitors can take in spectacular views from the top of the 600-foot-tall Euromast or visit the Lijnbaan shopping district, Europe's first pedestrian shopping precinct.

Cost of This Itinerary

The least expensive cabin costs:
$133 per person per night in low season and
$255 pp pn in high season

The most expensive stateroom costs:
$222 per person per night in low season and
$344 pp pn in high season