| Zaanse Schans & Huizen - Travel from Zaandam to Zaanse Schans, where the soft thrum of turning mills welcomes you into a pocket‑sized Netherlands. Timber houses, quaint canals, little bridges, and workaday windmills set the scene. Follow the sweet scent of Dutch pancakes and fresh timber, pause to watch sails catch the breeze, and wander between workshops where time seems to have politely slowed its pace. It’s an easy morning of gentle exploring and as many photo‑worthy angles as your camera can hold. Cast off over the broad, ink‑blue stretch of the Markermeer. The shoreline glides past like scenes from a moving picture, each view unfolding into the next: reed beds, church spires, the odd heron supervising proceedings. High tea is served on board – cups that clink, cakes that disappear a little too quickly, and enchanting riverside scenery. We arrive in Huizen with time to stretch our legs before dinner. Stroll the harbour where neat little boats bob on the water and fishermen’s cottages stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder. It’s the sort of place where you catch yourself walking more slowly, just to make the moment last longer. With the arrival of the first course at dinner, the ship slips into the broad expanse of the old Zuiderzee. As you sail towards Enkhuizen, the horizon transforms – its blues giving way to copper tones in the fading light. |
| Keukenhof & Enkhuizen - This morning, we take the drive through the Dutch countryside to Keukenhof – the Netherlands’ legendary flower garden, sprawling across nearly 80 acres. 7 million blooms – tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and more – unfurl in ribbons, swirls, and painterly mosaics. Wander through themed gardens, past lakes and pavilions, where the artistry of planting reaches its crescendo. It’s a spectacle that leaves even seasoned gardeners wide-eyed. As the morning’s kaleidoscope lingers in your mind, you’re free to chart your own course. Return to the ship for lunch, then set out for the Zuiderzee open air museum – a time capsule of Dutch life, with over 140 historic buildings, from humble homes to a bustling shipyard. Meander through cobbled lanes and step inside stories from centuries past. Or linger longer in Keukenhof, letting curiosity lead you through hidden corners and quiet glades and enjoy lunch at leisure. By mid-afternoon, we’re back in Enkhuizen. The town invites you to explore its winding streets, harbourside charm, and local secrets. Later, gather for a dinner crafted by our chef, each dish a nod to the region’s flavours and traditions. It’s a meal that celebrates the day’s adventures – colourful, inventive, and served with a generous helping of Dutch hospitality. |
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 - Begin your day with the gentle rhythm of the ship gliding across the Markermeer, leaving Enkhuizen behind as the water stretches out in every direction. The morning is yours to savour– whether you’re curled up with a book, sharing stories over coffee, or simply watching the Dutch landscape drift by. It’s a peaceful passage, with time to reflect and enjoy the easy camaraderie of life on board. After an early lunch, we take the short drive to Amsterdam’s storied heart. A guided walking tour takes you through cobbled lanes, past centuries-old houses, and beside tranquil canals – a network of 165 canals, built in elegant rings during the 17th century. Your guide brings the city’s tales to life – artists, merchants, and dreamers all leaving their mark. The city’s past is ever-present: you might glimpse the former homes of Rembrandt, the Dutch Golden Age master, or Anne Frank, whose diaries echo with hope and resilience. Afterwards, you’re free to wander at your own pace: perhaps browsing a quirky shop, pausing for a slice of apple tart, or simply soaking up the city’s vibrant energy. As evening settles, gather for farewell drinks – a chance to raise a glass with new friends and reminisce about shared adventures. Dinner follows in the ship’s restaurant, where the flavours of the region are served with a side of good company. And as the city lights shimmer on the water, the night is wrapped in familiar melodies, courtesy of a guitar performance that brings a gentle, joyful close to your journey. |
