Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime. AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Holland. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding. Flights into Amsterdam must arrive by 2 pm. Guests must be on board ship by 5 pm. Your day in Amsterdam is free to explore at your leisure. During tulip season, you may take a Guided Optional Excursion to Keukenhof gardens—with more than seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, as well as other bulbs, planted each year. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NIJMEGEN AMSTERDAM-CANAL.jpg |
NIJMEGEN. EXCURSION TO ARNHEM Wildlife, WWII Valor, and Famous Mills ACTIVE Join a bike ride in The Ooijpolder Nature Reserve and admire its scenery and all the different animal and bird species that live here, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour of Nijmegen— the oldest town in the Netherlands. Learn how this city was first built more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans and see the archaeological Roman-era ruins in the city that was also damaged in WWII, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the Airborne Museum of Hartenstein commemorating the 1944 WWII Battle of Arnhem. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAASTRICH NIJMEGEN.jpg |
MAASTRICHT Dutch History, School Spirit and an Architectural Feast Enjoy an early morning sailing to Maastricht. ACTIVE Maastricht's charm awaits, get physical via nordic walking with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Join a Guided Experience in a unique natural reserve and discover the typical heath landscape of Benelux. Discover the Hoge Kempen National Park, a former mining area that is now a national park, during a private visit conducted by a ranger, followed by a stop by the Research Center Ecotron to experience in first person the effects on climate changes on the planet, OR: CLASSIC Discover this vibrant university town with its lovely cathedrals, old houses, historical buildings, and impressively cobblestoned town center. Later enjoy live entertainment on board. OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO NAMUR MAASTRICHT.jpg |
NAMUR, BELGIUM Ancient Architecture and Charming Cafés DISCOVERY While sailing satisfy your curiosity about botany and nature during a lecture hosted by a local expert. ACTIVE Explore Namur's countryside by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Join a visit at Jardins D’Annevoie, one of the most beautiful water gardens in Europe and admire the rich park inspired to the French, Italian and English garden styles. Take the time to relax and connect with the unique environment around you, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the picturesque old-town, fortress citadel, and medieval architecture. Take free time to stroll along Namur’s cobblestone lanes and visit its charming cafés and bookshops. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO LIÈGE NAMUR.jpg |
LIÈGE Historic Wonders and Wonderful Waffles DISCOVERY Admire thousands of plants from all over the world at the Botanical Garden and Greenhouses in Liège. Also enjoy a walking tour of the historical center of Liège, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the “Fiery City” of Liège with its beautiful ancient quarters, peculiar alleys, and romantic streets. Don’t miss sampling authentically sweet Liège Waffles. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO ANTWERP LIEGE.jpg |
Explore Antwerp, Belgium's second city. Known for its diamond cutting industry, fashion and the many great artists that lived in its vicinity, Antwerp is a city focused on art and culture. ANTWERP A Rubenesque Cathedral in Artful Antwerp Join your Adventure Host for today’s special activities. ACTIVE Explore Antwerp by bike with your Adventure Host, OR: CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of this sophisticated city to visit the central Grote Markt, lined with 16th-century guildhall houses. You’ll also see the beautiful city hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady with its stunning altarpiece paintings by Rubens, OR: DISCOVERY Spend some time surrounded by nature’s magnificence on this inspiring guided excursion to the Arboretum Kalmthout botanical gardens. DISCOVERY While sailing, discover more about botany and nature joining a lecture hosted by a local expert. Later, enjoy dinner and live entertainment. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS ANTWERP-GROTE-MARKT.jpg |
BRUSSELS Ancient Landmarks and New Haunts ACTIVE See Brussel's Aquaculture farm on bike with your Adventure Host, OR: DISCOVERY Join a do-it-yourself chocolate workshop for a fun and interactive experience, OR: CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of Brussels, see the Town Hall with its landmark buildings and discover the many local bars, cafés and shops of the Lower Town Streets. The afternoon is free to explore Brussels at your pace. OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN BRUSSELS BRUSSELS-TOWN-HALL.jpg |
