Hidden Treasures of the Netherlands
Dutch and Belgian Waterways
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No fly
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VIP on selected river cruises
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All Inclusive
Rediscover the Netherlands you know, and uncover the one you don’t....
Board Rex Rheni in Amsterdam and set off in search of some of the Netherlands lesser-known delights. Enjoy a morning in pretty Hoorn where you can explore on an optional excursion and continue on to the holiday hot-spot of Oudeschild on the scenic island of Texel, where you spend the night and can explore further. From historic Harlingen you might wish to join an excursion to the world’s oldest working planetarium at Franeker while the pumping station at Wouda is the subject of another optional excursion during your time moored in the watersports town of Lemmer.
Continue your all-inclusive river cruise to Urk and enjoy an included scenic drive through the spellbinding tulip fields of the Noordoostpolder – sure to be a highlight of your holiday – while you might wish to explore the Venetian-style town of Giethoorn on an optional tour during an afternoon spent in Kampen. The iconic Dutch capital of Amsterdam provides a fitting finale to your voyage, with an optional city and canal tour available to you.
Including...
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
20 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
Free bar open 12 hours a day†
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Saga Cruise Host
Plus…
- Captain's dinner and drinks reception
- Saga Cruise Assistant on board
- Entertainment and activities on the ship
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- Gratuities on board
- Return coach travel via Eurotunnel or ferry††
Included excursions
- Scenic Noordpolder drive
Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration
†The free bar on board is open from 12pm to midnight, serving non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
††Return flights or Eurostar upgrade available for a supplement.
View Full Itinerary
Day 1 UK to Amsterdam to Hoorn

Travel by coach from Folkestone to Amsterdam via Eurotunnel or ferry - a journey from Calais of approximately five hours - and embark Rex Rheni.
Depart this evening for Hoorn where you arrive late and moor overnight.
Day 2 Hoorn to Oudeschild 🎧

Wake up in Hoorn.
This region of Friesland is largely agricultural and particularly famous for its black-and-white Friesian cattle. Step ashore to take a look around and perhaps pause in a waterside cafe and reflect on this fascinating fact... When the Dutch navigators Willem Schouten and Jakob Le Maire first sailed past Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America back in 1616, Schouten named it after this, his home town of Hoorn.
You might wish to explore further on an optional excursion before you cruise through the afternoon to reach the small fishing port of Oudeschild on the island of Texel. The village of Oudeschild is a popular holiday resort on the south-east coast of the island, with fine sandy beaches nearby.
Day 3 Oudeschild to Harlingen

The largest and most southerly of the Wadden Islands, Texel is part of the province of North Holland and is just 24 kilometres long and nine kilometres wide.
This morning perhaps join an optional island tour – with its fields, pine forests, sand dunes and windmills, Texel is like Holland in miniature and many rare and unusual birds have been spotted here.
After lunch set off on a cruise down the Van Harinxma Canal to arrive in Harlingen before dinner and moor overnight.
Day 4 Harlingen to Enkhuizen

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Harlingen.
Here you can join an optional excursion exploring the province of Friesland and visiting the oldest working planetarium in the world at the university city of Franeker.
Alternatively you can explore historic Harlingen independently on foot. This harbour town, the most northerly on the mainland, prospered thanks to fishing and trade with Scandinavia. You can see the merchants’ houses alongside the canals, where the gable stones indicate the resident’s trade, before house numbers were thought of!
Cruise through the afternoon to arrive in Enkhuizen this evening, for an overnight mooring.
Day 5 Enkhuizen to Lelystad

This morning is at leisure in Enkhuizen where you can head off on an optional excursion to the Zuiderzee Museum.
Your cruise resumes at lunchtime with the journey to Lelystad, where you arrive mid-afternoon and moor overnight.
You’re in for a treat this afternoon as you can look forward to an included scenic drive through the tulip fields of the Noordoostpolder – land reclaimed from the sea which is now considered the foremost bulb region in the Netherlands which attracts visitors from around the globe. Look forward to stops for photo opportunities before you return to your ship.
Day 6 Lelystad to Kampen

Bid farewell to Lelystad after breakfast and cruise on to arrive in Kampen before lunch.
This afternoon an optional excursion visits Giethoorn, a pretty lake town likened to Venice due to its many canals and bridges.
Return to your ship in Kampen and moor overnight.
Day 7 Kampen to Amsterdam

Set sail before breakfast and arrive in the capital mid-morning.
Perhaps join an optional tour of Amsterdam by coach this morning and see the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum. This excursion also includes a canal cruise to see the city centre with its pretty bridges and attractive gabled houses up close.
This afternoon and the final night of your holiday are at leisure in Amsterdam.
Day 8 Amsterdam to UK
Disembark your ship after breakfast for your return journey to the UK.
View Full Itinerary
Day 1 UK to Amsterdam to Hoorn

Travel by coach from Folkestone to Amsterdam via Eurotunnel or ferry - a journey from Calais of approximately five hours - and embark Rex Rheni.
Depart this evening for Hoorn where you arrive late and moor overnight.
Day 2 Hoorn to Oudeschild 🎧

Wake up in Hoorn. This region of Friesland is largely agricultural and particularly famous for its black-and-white Friesian cattle. Step ashore to take a look around and perhaps pause in a waterside cafe and reflect on this fascinating fact...
When the Dutch navigators Willem Schouten and Jakob Le Maire first sailed past Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America back in 1616, Schouten named it after this, his home town of Hoorn.
You might wish to explore further on an optional excursion before you cruise through the afternoon to reach the small fishing port of Oudeschild on the island of Texel. The village is a popular holiday resort on the south-east coast of the island, with fine sandy beaches nearby.
Day 3 Oudeschild to Harlingen

The largest and most southerly of the Wadden Islands, Texel is part of the province of North Holland and is just 24 kilometres long and nine kilometres wide.
This morning perhaps join an optional island tour – with its fields, pine forests, sand dunes and windmills, Texel is like Holland in miniature and many rare and unusual birds have been spotted here.
After lunch set off on a cruise down the Van Harinxma Canal to arrive in Harlingen before dinner and moor overnight.
Day 4 Harlingen to Lemmer

Enjoy the morning at leisure in Harlingen. Here you can join an optional excursion exploring the province of Friesland and visiting the oldest working planetarium in the world at the university city of Franeker.
Alternatively you can explore historic Harlingen independently on foot. This harbour town, the most northerly on the mainland, prospered thanks to fishing and trade with Scandinavia. You can see the merchants’ houses alongside the canals, where the gable stones indicate the resident’s trade, before house numbers were thought of!
Cruise through the afternoon to arrive in Lemmer this evening, for an overnight mooring.
Day 5 Lemmer to Urk

This morning is at leisure in Lemmer where you can head off on an optional excursion to the Wouda Pumping Station. Your cruise resumes at lunchtime with the journey to Urk, where you arrive mid-afternoon and moor overnight.
You’re in for a treat this afternoon as you can look forward to an included scenic drive through the tulip fields of the Noordoostpolder – land reclaimed from the sea which is now considered the foremost bulb region in the Netherlands which attracts visitors from around the globe. Look forward to stops for photo opportunities before you return to your ship.
Day 6 Urk to Kampen

Bid farewell to Urk after breakfast and cruise on to arrive in Kampen before lunch.
This afternoon an optional excursion visits Giethoorn, a pretty lake town likened to Venice due to its many canals and bridges.
Return to your ship in Kampen and moor overnight.
Day 7 Kampen to Amsterdam

Set sail before breakfast and arrive in the capital mid-morning.
Perhaps join an optional tour of Amsterdam by coach this morning and see the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum. This excursion also includes a canal cruise to see the city centre with its pretty bridges and attractive gabled houses up close.
This afternoon and the final night of your holiday are at leisure in Amsterdam.
Day 8 Amsterdam to UK
Disembark your ship after breakfast for your return journey to the UK.
🎧 Interactive maps and headsets available for exploring independently in Hoorn.
Some of the highlights may only be seen on optional excursions at an additional cost, or by exploring independently.
Walking Grades
1 – Walking at your own discretion. For example, on panoramic coach tours when the only walking is at photo stops.
2 – Minimal walking. Up to approximately 1,640 feet (500 metres) on mainly flat terrain.
3 – Moderate walking. Between 1,640-4,920 feet (500-1500 metres) over mixed terrain with the possibility of some steps.
4 – Considerable walking. More than 4,920 feet (1500 metres) over uneven terrain with many steps.
5 – Strenuous walking. Long distances over rough terrain with climbing, steps and trekking.
£1,149 per person
2 passengers
7 nights
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £20 if not requiredDutch and Belgian Waterways
£1,149 per person
2 passengers
7 nights
Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £20 if not required