Tulip Serenade

Take a drive through the city of Arnhem, known for the World War II battle operation “Market Garden”. In September 1944, the British 1st Airborne Division and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade were given the task of securing the bridge at Arnhem, captured in the movie “A Bridge too Far”.

You will drive past various spots associated with this event. You will then visit the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek. The Airborne Museum is a historic building. In mid-1944 it was a hotel, but in September that year, it became the headquarters of the British commander-in-chief, Major General Roy Urquhart of the 1st Airborne Division. From here, Urquhart commanded Operation Market Garden – a dramatic battle in which 92 Polish, 1,482 British and more than 1,800 German troops, along with almost 1,000 civilians, lost their lives. You can still feel the tension, the fear and the hardships in the museum.

Take a drive through the city of Arnhem, known for the World War II battle operation “Market Garden”. Drive past various spots associated with this event and then continue to the Open Air Museum, located in a beautiful wooded park on the outskirts of Arnhem. The museum contains more than 80 historic houses, farmhouses and mills and shows the visitors how ordinary Dutch people lived from 1700 – 1970. Particularly interesting are the varied events and performances during the season, such as traditional bread baking or cheese production.

We leave Arnhem for the Hoge Veluwe National Park, north of Arnhem. The park is the largest actively managed nature reserve in the Netherlands and covers 5,400 hectares of forest, heath, moorland and shifting sands. The park contains a great diversity of plants and animals and still provides habitat for rare species. Together with the Kröller-Müller Museum, Sculpture Garden and Sint Hubertus Hunting Lodge, the park forms a unique and internationally renowned combination of nature, art and architecture.

The Kröller-Müller Museum is famous for its large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh, such as the “Potato Eaters” and the “Café Terrace at Night”, which is the second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world (after the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam). It is also home to impressive works by Piet Mondrian, Paul Gauguin and Pablo Picasso. The famous Kröller-Müller Museum sculpture garden is one of the largest in Europe. The magnificent collection of sculptures is displayed in an innovative way and is surrounded by nature.

Please note: The Kröller-Müller Museum is closed on Mondays.

Disembark and drive to one of the engineering marvels of the world: the Delta Works Project. This giant flood-control project was constructed after the occurrence of the North Sea flood of 1953,  which killed 1,835 people and devastated a huge part of the province of Zeeland. It is the world’s biggest storm surge barrier, a unique structure well worth a visit! At the Watersnoodmuseum (flood museum) you can learn more about the extraordinary history of the disastrous event in 1953 as well as about the floods that still happen around the world nowadays. 

Before heading back to your ship, you will stop in the lovely town of Veere, once a prosperous trading port in the Middle Ages due to the wool trade with Scotland. Today, Veere is a favorite spot for visitors as it is one of the most picturesque towns in the area.

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 walk, you will be taken past the stately warehouses and impressive monuments of Middelburg, such as the town hall, the abbey and many more.

Discover Ghent, one of the most attractive cities in Belgium with a rich heritage of medieval buildings. Stroll through the picturesque center, pass by the Unesco World Heritage Ghent Belfry, where 54 bells ring out. Continue with a visit of St. Bavo Cathedral, where you can admire one of the most important works of art of the Middle Ages - the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck.

Afterwards, visit the impressive Gravenstein Fortress, built in the 12th century by the Count of Flanders after his return from the Crusades. It is the only preserved medieval moated castle with an almost completely intact defense system in Flanders. Enjoy free time to explore the city on your own before returning to the ship.

After a coach ride, you will reach Bruges. 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. The historic marketplace – the center of old Bruges – is cradled by the river Reie and was recognized as cultural world heritage site by UNESCO.
As you walk along the maze of winding, cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you will be transported to medieval times. Besides various other sights, the market, the ‘Burg’ (the site of the former Bruges castle and the Basilica of the Holy Blood are especially worth seeing.

After a comfortable coach ride you will reach Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Your tour starts in the verdant Laken area, which boasts landmarks such as the Heysel stadium, Notre Dame of Laken, the famous Atomium and the royal residence.

The tour continues through the eastern part of the city, including the Cinquantenaire park with its impressive U-shaped buildings, and the city center with the royal palace, the city park and the palace of justice. To conclude the tour, walk through Europe’s oldest shopping mall before you head back to the ship.

Discover Antwerp and with it, one of Europe’s largest ports. Walk through the attractive old center of the city and visit the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady), the largest Gothic church in Belgium. This church contains valuable treasures, such as works by Rubens, wall paintings dating back to the 15th century and many more. However, the church is more than just a museum, it is still an active place of worship. After your visit to the cathedral, enjoy some free time to explore this wonderful city with its lively shopping scene.

Holland is famous for its traditional windmills, of which more than 1,000 still exist today. The largest collection of windmills can be found near Kinderdijk. This is a group of 19 well-preserved windmills, built around 1740. During your stop at Kinderdijk, visit one of the old mills and learn more about the work of the mills in the past and the changes due to modern technology.

During this excursion you will see one of Europe’s largest garden displays, the Keukenhof Gardens, which is located close of Amsterdam. This park, with its art, royal flair and creative diversity attracts over a million visitors each year. Seven million tulips, narcissi and hyacinths form a colorful carpet of blooms.

Round, oval, triangular and rectangular borders line the park’s driveways, making a cheerful ensemble of colors, shapes and scents. Alternating exhibitions, known as parades, bloom in several pavilions. Numerous sculptures also lurk between the flowerbeds, as harmony between art and nature is a major feature of this park.

Founded as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age as a result of its innovative developments in trade. Today, the city has one of the largest historic centers in Europe, with about 7,500 registered historic buildings. The street pattern is largely unchanged since the 19th century. The center consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. On the city tour through the Dutch metropolis, you will see the Royal Palace, numerous canals and the Museum Quarter. As there is no better way to see the city than cruising on the water, the tour will end by a canal cruise boat trip.

Take a drive through the Dutch Polder landscape to the old fishing village of Volendam, built on the shore of the former Zuiderzee. The Volendam houses are built very close together, forming the typical neighborhoods of Volendam. Take a stroll through the old village and see people still dressed in traditional costumes.

Board your coach and drive out of Volendam and into the countryside to visit a local cheese farm. Here, you will learn how Dutch cheese is made and sample the local product. On your way back to your ship, you will enjoy a short walk through the quaint village of Edam, famous for its cheese. Given its narrow streets, continue through the village on foot and see the Carillon tower, once part of a church that was destroyed in the 19th century. Walk to the cheese weighing house and the Dam with its 18th century town hall.