Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Amsterdam with Air Canada.
We arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to our deluxe floating hotel, the AMADEUS Riva. After some time to relax, enjoy a welcome cocktail party reception and our first dinner aboard. The ship is moored near many of Amsterdam’s attractions and you may enjoy a stroll around this friendly city. A Traditional Shanty Choir performance onboard makes a perfect beginning to your journey.
This town was the setting for the WW II book and film “A Bridge Too Far”. Almost destroyed during the war, it is now a large modern city. We will drive past various spots associated with the events as described in the book and film. Then we will visit the Airborne Museum, which was a hotel in 1944 and later became the headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division. In the afternoon we will visit the Kröller-Müller Museum, renowned for its large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The museum also boasts one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe, featuring impressive sculptures displayed in innovative ways in a beautiful natural setting.
We dock in Middelburg— one of the cities in which the Dutch East India Company flourished in the seventeenth century. This lovely city features historic merchant houses and storefronts lining its canals. Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland, is full of monuments. There are about 1,100 large and small monuments which testify to its rich past. The powerful abbey, the impressive town hall and the splendid old warehouses let you relive this past. During the walking tour, you will be taken past the stately warehouses and impressive monuments of Middelburg, such as the town hall, the abbey and many more. Later we stop in the town of Veere - once a prosperous port thanks to wool trade with Scotland. Today, Veere is one of the most picturesque towns in the area. This evening, the ship takes us into Belgium.
Our included city tour of Ghent includes fine sights such as St. Bavo Cathedral with its world-famous painting by Jan van Eyck, and the belfry with its bell tower. In the afternoon we proceed to Bruges. Visiting here is like taking a journey back in time, and we will enjoy a city tour.
On our excursion to the Belgian capital Brussels, we will see Heysel Stadium, Notre Dame of Laken, the famous Atomium and the Royal Residence. Then on to the eastern part of the city to see Cinquantenaire Park with its impressive U-shaped buildings, Royal Palace, Palace of Justice, and we’ll take a walk through Europe’s oldest shopping mall. In the afternoon we visit Antwerp, one of the world’s most important ancient seaports. The city is best known for its diamond trade and as the home of the renowned painter Peter Paul Rubens. Our included city tour will enable us to get to know this beautiful city in some detail.
This morning we discover Holland’s largest concentration of working windmills. Then after lunch we will visit the famous and awesome Keukenhof Gardens, with its tulip and daffodil displays, lakes, sculpture gardens, greenhouses and terraces affording views over the 10 acres of gardens and carpets of tulips. Keukenhof offers you the opportunity to see millions of bulbs in flower, fantastic flower shows and the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. Tonight is the Captain’s Gala Dinner, complete with orchestral music and dancing.
Amsterdam is renowned for its museums, flowers and countless bicycles. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. On our morning city tour through the Dutch metropolis we will see the Royal Palace, numerous canals and the Museum Quarter. Since there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end with a canal cruise. In the afternoon we visit Volendam, one of Holland’s most charming places—it looks like a picture postcard of a traditional Dutch town, with people dressed in traditional costumes. Then we drive into the countryside to visit a local cheese farm and learn how Dutch cheese is made. On our way back to the ship we will enjoy a short walk through the quaint village of Edam.
We transfer to the Amsterdam airport and fly home with Air Canada.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
