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The windmills of Kinderdijk- Antwerp’s architecture
- Ghent
- Lively Amsterdam
- Medieval Bruges
Undiscovered Gems of Belgium and the Netherlands
Dutch Waterways
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Return UK travel service
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No fly
Uncover the highlights of Holland and the best of Belgium
Join Spirit of the Rhine for a 14-night river cruise which will reveal the highlights of the lowlands – both those you might already know, and plenty more you may not.
Your holiday begins and ends in the vibrant Dutch capital Amsterdam and winds its way through scenic waterways, visiting the smaller towns and cities of Zaandam, Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Medemblik, Lelystad and Willemstad.
See the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk before crossing into Belgium, where you can look forward to included excursions in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. Visit medieval Bruges on an optional excursion then return to Holland to contrast the sights of Rotterdam and Schoonhoven en route back to Amsterdam where you can see the city’s highlights on an included cruise along the historic canals...
Cruise to all four corners of Holland and into Belgium on this diverse cruise which combines historic cities with the rich maritime history of the Netherlands and some off-the-beaten-track places like Medemblik.
Andrew Iwasyszyn, Expert Holiday Creator
Itinerary
Spirit of the Rhine
Depart Amsterdam, 1900.
Arrive Zaandam, 2100.
Travel to Amsterdam and embark Spirit of the Rhine.
Depart Zaandam, 1300.
Arrive Hoorn, 1800.
Set on the banks of the Zaan river, the town of Zaandam features distinctly Dutch architecture. The contemporary downtown area was completely redesigned in the 2000’s by postmodern Dutch architect Sjoerd Soeters.
From here, an optional excursion visits the historic village of Zaanse Schans. The Zaan region was an industrial area and its hundreds of windmills were used in the production of a wide variety of different items. See the traditional houses, warehouses, workshops and reconstructed windmills and you'll get an idea of what it was like to live here in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Depart 1800.
The harbour town of Hoorn, once home to the founders of the Dutch East India Company, boasts many historic buildings as a result of its early seafaring wealth. Notably the State Council building, which houses the Westfries Museum and its collection of ceramic tiles, silver, china and model ships.
Arrive Enkhuizen, 0800. Depart 2000.
Arrive Medemblik, Arrive 2200.
Once known as Herring Town, Enkhuizen was one of the Dutch East India Company's main operational ports in the 17th century and rivalled Amsterdam in status. The Zuiderzee Museum, which exhibits over 140 historic buildings from villages around the former Zuiderzee, can be visited on an optional excursion.
There is also a quirky bottle ship museum – home to the world's largest collection of ships in bottles!
Depart Medemblik, 1600.
Arrive Lelystad, 2000.
Medemblik is located on the IJsselmeer lake, in the province of North Holland. The city is built across numerous little islands, randomly dissected by canals. Its medieval origins can be seen in the huge fortified Radboud Castle, build on the orders of Count Floris V.
Depart 2300.
Lelystad, located beside the Markermeer lake, is built on reclaimed land. Founded in 1967, it was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk dam, making the reclamation possible.
An included excursion this morning visits the car-free village of Giethoorn, known as the ‘Venice of the Netherlands’, where distinctive thatched houses line the network of canals.
Arrive 0800. Depart 1900.
Willemstad is named after William of Orange who fortified the town with star-shaped ramparts in the 16th century. The defences were later used by German soldiers in World War Two who added gun casemates, blockhouses and a bunker. This afternoon an included excursion visits Kinderdijk and its 19 windmills. The windmills, built between 1722 and 1761, form the largest park of windmills still in use in the Netherlands.
You’ll see the different models designed for pumping water from the land and learn more about how a windmill works, why they were used and how they have been replaced by more modern pump stations. Visit the former steam pump station Wisboom, as well as the historic waterboard house, and walk along the flood wall.
Arrive 0900. Depart 2000
An included walking tour this morning explores the historic centre of Belgium’s capital city where the UNESCO-listed central square, Grand Place, is overlooked by Gothic architecture enclosing museums, cafes and guildhalls.
In contrast, the wide cosmopolitan avenues that surround the old town are lined with huge buildings, including the Palais de Justice and the headquarters of the European Parliament.
Arrive Antwerp, 0800. Depart 1300.
Arrive Ghent, 2000.
See some of the city’s many highlights, such as the 16th-century Grote Markt which is home to the famous Brabo fountain and a large Gothic cathedral, on an included excursion this morning. The city was a great centre for the arts in the Renaissance period, with Rubens and Van Dyck both living and working here. Antwerp is also one of the leading centres in the world diamond industry.
Depart 2000.
The quaint timber-framed buildings and stone fortifications of this typically Flemish city sit side by side among a network of canals. An included excursion this morning features a canal cruise through the heart of Ghent. Explore the cobbled streets and attractive squares overlooked by the 91-metre-high bell tower of the medieval Cloth Hall.
This afternoon, an optional excursion visits medieval Bruges, where the Gothic Grand Place sits at the foot of the Belfry Tower.
Alternatively, you can return to Ghent using our complimentary shuttle service to explore independently.
Arrive 1300.
The city of Rotterdam was heavily restored following heavy bombing during World War Two and is now home to an array of modern architecture including the Markthal, a combined indoor food market and apartment block, Erasmus Bridge – the philosopher Desiderius Erasmus was born here in Rotterdam – and the Cube Houses, built at an angle across a pedestrian bridge.
There are also a number of sculptures in the city including works by Picasso, De Koning and Gabo.
Depart Rotterdam, 0900.
Arrive Schoonhoven, 1300.
Schoonhoven has been famous for its silver since the 17th century and is known as Silver City as it’s home to traditional silversmiths, the International Silver School and Dutch Silver Museum.
Historic buildings here include the 15th-century town hall, the old Weigh House and the Veerpoort, an early 17th-century gate that stands by the River Lek. Schoonhoven is also known for its production of clocks and the Van den Gheyn Beiaard in the tower of the medieval town hall is a fine example of Schoonhoven’s clockwork.
Depart Schoonhoven, 0900.
Arrive Utrecht, 1200. Depart 1900.
Arrive Amsterdam, 2300.
Take our complimentary shuttle service into Utrecht, where the medieval heart of the city is overlooked by the 14th-century Domtoren bell tower. Opposite the tower on Domplein square is the Gothic Cathedral of St Martin. Each corner of the city hides a quirky museum, art gallery, little church or a view of the city’s network of canals.
This morning you can join an included cruise along Amsterdam’s iconic canals to the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses. See the famous Skinny Bridge, the Montelbaanstoren tower and the Jewish Quarter before heading to a traditional dairy farm on the outskirts of the city to sample locally produced cheese.
Disembark Spirit of the Rhine and begin your return journey.
Including...
All Inclusive†
Cruise Director
Plus...
- Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- All gratuities on board
- Return travel by Eurostar
Included Excursions
- Tour and canal cruise in Giethoorn
- Kinderdijk Windmills visit
- Walking tour of Brussels
- Tour of Antwerp
- Canal cruise in Ghent
- Amsterdam canal cruise and visit to a cheese farm
Interactive maps and audio headsets for independent exploration available in selected ports.
†The included drinks are available from 9am to midnight and include alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Excludes branded spirits.
