Tulip Serenade - Belgium Waterways & Netherlands River Cruise

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we will be met by our local guide who will assist us on the transfer to Amsterdam port. A canal cruise will be provided en-route with highlights that include the city’s man canals, beautiful bridges and the impressive Central Station.

 After some time at leisure, we will be transferred to Amsterdam port to commence boarding.  We will settle into our cabin and explore the range of facilities the MS Brilliant has to offer as we set sail.  Sit back with a welcome cocktail in one of the lounge areas, followed by a tasty welcome dinner.

Voted “greenest city in Europe“, Arnhem rebuilt itself after the famed 1944 battle immortalized in the film “A Bridge Too Far“ and is now a thriving artists‘ town with fine museums and beautiful parks. This morning there will be an optional city tour in which you may partake if you wish (payable locally).

This afternoon join us on our included excursion to visit the Kröller-Müller-Museum which houses the second-largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.

This evening is free to relax on board, enjoying a delicious dinner as our vessel cruises onwards to Middelburg.

Before lunchtime our cruise ship will dock at Middelburg, a lovely city featuring historic merchant houses and storefronts lining its canals.  This afternoon there will be an option to join a guided walking tour or visit the Delta Works Project (optional excursions are payable locally) or alternatively to explore independently.

During the night our vessel will dock in Ghent, the ultimate medieval city, where there will be free time to explore at our leisure or avail of booking an optional walking tour (payable locally)

In the afternoon, join us on board our coach for our included excursion to Bruges, the capital of the province of West Flanders. Due to the canal system the city is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’ and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Our walking tour will take us along the maze of winding, cobbled alleys and romantic canals transporting us to medieval times. Highlights of this fascinating city include the market, the Burg (site of the former Bruges castle) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

This morning our ship docks in Antwerp, the second-largest city in Belgium. Explore this lovely city on your own or take an optional excursion (payable locally) to view the iconic Atomium, which was created for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, and to visit the Cinquantenaire Park with its triumphal arch, built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence.

An alternative optional tour this afternoon (payable locally), will explore Antwerp in a comfortable coach. Famous for its diamond trade, the city also boasts many cultural highlights such as the Cathedral of Our Lady with paintings by the famous Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens.

In the evening, enjoy dinner, while our vessel returns to the Netherlands.

Early morning, our ship will arrive in Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands. After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to visit to Kinderdijk (payable locally), which houses the most unique windmill complex in the world. Built to drain water from the soil, these windmills are now protected by UNESCO and are one of the Netherlands’ most popular tourist destinations.

Following our lunch join us on our included excursion exploring the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Here we will see one of Europe’s largest garden displays in a park full of royal flair and creative diversity attracting over a million visitors each year. Seven million tulips, narcissi and hyacinths form a colourful carpet of blooms. Alternating exhibitions, know as parades, bloom in several pavilions. Numerous sculptures also lurk between the flowerbeds, as harmony between art and nature is a major feature of the park.

During dinner, the ship departs for the final leg of the cruise back to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam welcomes us back today with its enchanting blend of old-world charm and contemporary allure. Enjoy a day at leisure of perhaps avail of one of an optional cruise (payable locally) through the lovely, verdant canals of Amsterdam while learning more about the city’s history and significance in the morning or alternatively, you can explore Amsterdam independently visiting the Flower Market, the  Rijksmuseum or Anne Franks’ house – or shop!

The festive Captain’s Gala Dinner will provide a fitting finish to this tour.

This morning we say goodbye to our ship after a week of delights. Following breakfast, we will disembark and transfer to the city for some free time before continuing our tour to Volendam and Marken. We will have a short stop at Simonhoeve, a traditional cheese farm where we’ll have the chance to sample an array of famous Dutch cheeses. Upon arrival in Volendam, we’ll have free time to explore this bustling harbour town, known for its colourful fishing boats and quaint wooden houses. 

Afterwards, we’ll board a ferry for a short cruise to Marken, a seaside village renowned for its distinctive wooden houses on stilts, built to protect against flooding. We’ll have some free time to explore Marken at our own pace. Take the opportunity to visit a traditional wooden shoe workshop and watch as Dutch clogs are crafted, or head to the iconic Paard van Marken lighthouse for picturesque views of the surrounding area before our onwards journey to Amsterdam airport for our late afternoon flight back to Dublin.