Holland and Belgium in Bloom

A river cruise to Holland and Belgium promises a picturesque journey to lands filled with history and traditions that are still alive today. You’ll experience Amsterdam’s eternal spring as you explore the acres of dancing tulips supported by a chorus of colorful flowers in the enchanting Keukenhof Gardens and cruise the intricate maze of the city’s canals. Time rewinds in quaint Dutch towns, where authentic architecture resides and traditional dress is still adorned. And your taste buds are in for a treat as you venture to the homeland of Belgian chocolates and Edam cheese, where you can taste the very original recipes at their finest. Note: This cruise only sales in the month of April.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1:

Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam, you’ll be met at the airport by an Emerald Waterways representative and transferred to your award-winning river cruise ship where a warm welcome awaits from your captain and crew. Tonight you’re invited to join your fellow travellers for a fabulous welcome dinner. Your cruise director will also hold a port talk to tell you all about the exciting activities you have to look forward to. Lastly, enjoy an orientation tour of the red light district.

Day 2:

Amsterdam- Zaanse Schans

You’ll board your coach for a tour to the Zaanse Schans, a highlight of the Netherlands dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries featuring traditional style windmills, farms, and Dutch wooden architectural style. Along the way you’ll get to delight your taste buds while stopping at different traditional cheese farms with a variety of flavours common to the Netherlands. Afterwards, you’ll return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery as we sail to Antwerp.

Day 3:

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a unique example of a Dutch city because it had to be reconstructed following the air raids of WWII, leaving behind a patchwork of different styles.
Today you will have the opportunity to explore this contemporary city, perhaps trying to imagine how the gabled houses of Amsterdam would have once sat here.

Day 4:

Veere

Today, you will arrive in Veere, a delightful historic town where normal houses are adorned with miniature classical palace gardens and elegant architecture adorns the surprisingly quiet streets that you will stroll down during your guided tour. Afterwards, visit the Dutch Delta Works. Witness the sheer enormity of the world’s biggest storm surge barrier and be left awe-inspired by this immense feat of engineering. If you are feeling active, then you can also enjoy a guided bike tour of Veere, stopping to learn about how it encapsulates the opulence of a by-gone era.

Day 5:

Antwerp

This morning you’ll arrive in Antwerp, Belgium’s biggest port, positioned on the River Scheldt with a large harbour linking to the sea. Home to the famous Baroque artist Pieter Paul Reubens, it attracts art-lovers and diamond dealers from all over the world. Enjoy a guided tour of the city centre, with its café-filled cobbled lanes, admiring the Renaissance City Hall and Hat Steen, a medieval fortress that was built during the early Middle Ages and one of the oldest buildings in the country. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore Antwerp at leisure.

Day 6:

Arnhem

Relax in the comfortable surrounds of your Star-Ship this morning as you sail down Dutch waterways, passing wonderful windmills and quaint traditional villages. Arnhem is most famous for its great battle during WWII, best learned about during your EmeraldEXCURSION to the Airborne Museum, where you will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of British parachutists and immerse yourself in what the battle would have felt like. Alternatively, embark on a guided bike tour of Arnhem, famous for its postcard-worthy streets, scenic parks and fine museums.

Day 7:

Amsterdam

After breakfast board your coach for a short journey to Keukenhof Gardens – the most beautiful spring garden in the world and Europe’s largest. Situated in the heart of the tulip farm area of Holland, it has incredible displays of different flowers and plants, with more than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths filling over 79 acres with color and fragrance. Afterwards, you’ll return to the ship for a late lunch. Once you’ve refueled, get ready for an included orientation tour around Amsterdam. You’ll then have free time to explore. To celebrate your final evening on board, you’re invited to a special Captain Farewell dinner for you to enjoy in the company of your fellow guests