Explore the beauty of the inland waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium on this 10-day roundtrip Amsterdam cruise aboard Viking River Cruises. Admire the grandeur of the Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Explore the seafaring tradition of Hoorn, the World War II history of Arnhem, and the Renaissance splendor of Antwerp. As Dutch tulips blossom, see vibrant ribbons of farmland. Belgian beers and chocolates are available for tasting. In Bruges, step into the Middle Ages. Explore the world's largest floral park, Keukenhof Gardens. Spring is the best season to visit the Dutch countries.
Highlights
Discover eighteenth-century windmills in the village of Kinderdijk.
Explore magnificent Rotterdam and learn about its seafaring history.
Feel the dynamic energy of Antwerp’s old squares
Visit the flower adorned squares and cobbled alleyways in Ghent
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.
After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the van Gogh Museum next door.
After breakfast, embark on a canal tour by glass-topped boat to see architecture from the city’s Golden Age. Return on board for lunch, then take free time to visit the Van Gogh Museum or the renovated Rijksmuseum with its marvelous collection of Dutch Master paintings, or just explore the city’s charming neighborhoods. Alternatively, visit a Delftware factory this afternoon to see how the famed porcelain is made. As always, your Viking Guest Services representative can help you plan your stay. Dine on board or on shore; your ship remains docked in Amsterdam overnight.
Early this morning, sail across the IJsselmeer (once known as the Zuiderzee) to the ancient shipping village of Hoorn. After breakfast, enjoy a guided walk through Hoorn’s cobblestone streets; see age-old cheese warehouses on the town’s main square, which dates back to Holland’s Golden Age. Lunch is served on board; you have a free afternoon to explore Hoorn, visit a local bakery and shop for souvenirs. Or, take an optional excursion into the countryside to a tulip farm and see how windmills have changed over the years. Depart during dinner and cruise through the night.
Arrive early today in Arnhem, a relaxed city bursting with inviting green parks and gardens. Still more famous than its much-admired green spaces is Arnhem’s wartime history. Join on an included excursion to delve into the city’s role in Operation Market Garden, an ill-fated Allied World War II operation. Witness a battle reenactment during your visit to the Airborne Museum, and pay your respects at the Airborne Cemetery. Also available today is an optional excursion to an open air museum where 80 historic structures, from a drawbridge to a working paper mill, are preserved. Here you can enjoy a tram ride through 200 years of traditional Dutch country life, and perhaps even try a hands-on experience of a traditional trade. Dine on board or on shore; your ship remains docked in Arnhem overnight.
Arrive this afternoon in Kinderdijk and disembark for a tour of this ingenious 18th-century community. Learn why the windmills were built and see how they work to help control flooding, then tour a working windmill to see its pumping mechanism and living quarters at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also take an optional excursion to explore The Netherlands’ renowned cheeses and windmills, or cycle past Kinderdijk’s 19 historic windmills. In late afternoon, set sail toward Antwerp.
This morning, enjoy a half-day tour of Antwerp featuring the Cathedral of Our Lady with its three monumental altarpieces painted by Peter Paul Rubens; the Grote Markt (Grand Square) surrounded by the Golden Age Town Hall and guild halls; and Het Steen (Steen Castle), Antwerp’s oldest building. You can take an optional excursion to satisfy your taste buds with some of Antwerp’s traditional specialties, or explore the major sights of Brussels. You have free time to explore at your leisure this afternoon before dining on board your ship tonight as you sail for Ghent.
From Ghent, travel to Bruges, one of the oldest towns in Flanders. Your city walk takes you through its cultural and artistic center, home to important Flemish painters such as Eyck and Memling. Also see the Béguinage, a hidden courtyard inhabited by nuns, and the town’s scenic network of canals. Stay in Bruges for lunch on your own, or return to Ghent for lunch on board and an afternoon exploring this exceptionally charming, canal-filled capital of East Flanders. Enjoy a beautifully lit evening departure from Ghent as youcruise through the night.
Day 8: Delta Works, Zeeland, The Netherlands
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast travel to the region of Walcheren, formerly an island of the southwest Netherlands. Stop in Veere and enjoy a walking tour of this engaging, time-honored town. From here, travel to the Delta Works, the ingenious system of enormous doors that can be lowered during spring tides to protect the area from floods while allowing the tides to ebb and flow. Or you may choose to visit a local oyster farm, where you can shuck and try oysters. Rejoin your ship for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon of scenic sailing along the Dutch waterways as you cruise toward Amsterdam.
Day 9: Keukenhof Gardens & Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, visit the picturesque Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s largest floral park. Admire the stunning beauty at both indoor and outdoor exhibits of millions of vibrant blooms including tulips, hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils. You may choose the option of spending a full day at the gardens, with lunch on your own, or heading to explore historic Haarlem. Alternatively, return on board for lunch, then use the rest of the day to discover Amsterdam’s hidden treasures. You may choose to explore Museum Square, take a bike ride or shop for colorful clogs and tulip bulbs. Enjoy dinner on board your ship, followed by free time to enjoy Amsterdam’s nightlife. Your ship remains docked overnight.
Day 10: Amsterdam| Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,1992-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Standard Stateroom (F)
150 sq ft, river-view with half-height picture window. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Standard Stateroom (E)
150 sq ft, river-view with half-height picture window. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
French Balcony Stateroom (D)
135 sq ft, river-view with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door & French balcony. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
French Balcony Stateroom (C)
135 sq ft, river-view with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with French balcony. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Veranda Stateroom (B)
205 sq ft, river-view with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door & full-size veranda. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Veranda Stateroom (A)
205 sq ft, river-view with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door & full-size veranda. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Veranda Suite (AA)
275 sq ft, river-view with full-size veranda off separate sitting room & French balcony off sleeping quarters. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Explorer Suite (ES)
445 sq ft, river-view with private wraparound balcony off separate sitting room & French balcony off sleeping quarters. Hotel-style bed with optional twin-bed configuration; luxury linens & pillows. Flat-screen TV with infotainment system, outlets & USB ports. Telephone, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer & individual climate control. Private bathroom with heated floor and premium toiletries.
Notes
*This itinerary runs departures aboard multiple sister-ships. Contact us for more details.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
2 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.