The itinerary of the trip through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany:

Day 1:

Arrive to Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom.

A city of charming canals, elegant gabled houses, splendid museums and abundant bicycles, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is a delight to explore. Its patchwork of waterways forms about 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. The legacy of the Dutch Golden Age lives on in gilded manses and in the lush paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters that adorn the Rijksmuseum, The Netherlands’ grand repository of art and cultural history. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best pursued on foot; visitors line the tranquil canals and linger over Dutch pancakes, or take a stroopwafel to go.

Day 2:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

In Amsterdam, the bicycle is as much a cultural treasure as any museum. The city’s flat terrain makes it ideal for getting around on two wheels. Bikes first pedaled onto the city’s streets during the late 19th century.

Included Shore Excursion:

Discover Amsterdam in the most leisurely manner, via one of its famous glass-topped canal boats. This famous Dutch city is home to 165 canals that wind their way through the cityscape, spanning a total of 31 miles; 1,281 different bridges cross over the canals. With a local guide, you will see some of Amsterdam’s oldest buildings, from narrow-fronted gabled houses to gilded mansions adorned with riches during the height of Holland’s Golden Age. 

Day 3:

Hoorn, The Netherlands

Founded in 1300, Hoorn was named for its horn-shaped harbor along the Ijsselmeer, the artificial lake created by the construction of massive dams. Long before the dams, sailors had easy access to the North Sea from here, and this bolstered the success of the Dutch East India Company. A major trader with Asia and the most powerful company in the world, it made Hoorn one of its six home bases. The Dutch navigator Willem Corneliszoon Schouten was born in Hoorn; he is best known as the man who rounded the southern tip of South America in 1616 and named it “Cape Horn” for his birthplace. Brimming with history, the city’s cobblestone streets and age-old cheese warehouses are a delight to explore.

Included Shore Excursion:

Known for its seafaring and maritime heritage, Hoorn is the birthplace of Dutch mariner Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, the first to round South America’s Cape Horn; and Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the founder of Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies. At the height of the city’s prominence, the streets of Hoorn were alive with the bustle of trade and the excitement of exploration. After admiring old merchant houses, cheese warehouses and the charming harbor, you will enjoy a spirited musical performance. 

Day 4: Dordrecht, The Netherlands

Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland. Throughout the city, there are hundreds of historic monuments and landmarks, including the Grote Kerk and the 13th-century Augustinian monastery known as Het Hof. The picturesque waterways and decorative bridges of Dordrecht exude a bygone era and are best explored on foot. With a relaxed atmosphere and a plethora of quaint cafés and shops, Dordrecht oozes old-world charm.

Included Shore Excursion:

Granted city rights in 1220, Dordrecht played an important role in trade, politics and religion for many centuries. Your leisurely walk will take you past many warehouses and mansions, as well as several notable buildings. See the Groothoofdspoort, the former city gate located at the confluence of three rivers, as well as “Het Hof”—a medieval monastery that showcases the history and culture of The Netherlands. Admire the Gothic Grote Kerk, with its unfinished tower, and the classical facades of the Augustijnenkerk church and Stadhuis (City Hall). 

Rotterdam stretches across a maze of natural and artificial waterways. With its location at the mouth of the New Meuse River and easy link to the Rhine and Central Europe, it is Europe’s largest port, earning it the nickname “Gateway to Europe.” Much of it was destroyed during World War II, yet it stands today as one of the continent’s great cities of art, architecture and innovation, boasting a lively culture and many museums. 

Day 5: Kinderdijk, The Netherlands

Kinderdijk is a village community in the Alblasserwaard province. This corner of South Holland, part of the scenic Waal and Merwede regions, has long been shaped by Rhine Delta waters. Kinderdijk is most known for its 19 remarkably preserved 18th-century windmills. The charming hamlet is located amid low-lying polders, tracts of land reclaimed from the sea by the power of the windmills and enclosed by embankments, or dikes. This legendary place calls to mind the 1865 novel Hans Brinker, in which a heroic boy plugs his finger into a ruptured dike.

Included Shore Excursion:

You will walk with your guide into the serene polder lands of South Holland. As you cross the dike to the windmills, you will notice that they in fact are at a lower elevation than your ship, as much of this part of The Netherlands is below sea level. Built in the mid-18th century, these 19 windmills, the largest concentration in The Netherlands, stand like sentinels on a hushed landscape. 

Nestled between the Linge and Merwede Rivers, Gorinchem is the largest fortified city in The Netherlands. The well-preserved city walls and the striking Dalem Gate, relics of a storied past, have stood guard over this charming locale since the 13th century. Fort Vuren offers panoramic views of the Merwede River and the picturesque Lingewijk neighborhood, with its tranquil canals and verdant gardens, invites leisurely exploration. Nearby Slot Loevestein, one of the biggest medieval castles in the Netherlands, stands amid a traditional Dutch river landscape.

Day 6:

Wesel, Germany

Situated where the Lippe River flows into the Rhine, Wesel has long been an important trading center. The city reached its peak in the 15th century, when it was an influential member of the Hanseatic League, Northern Europe’s dominant confederation of mercantile guilds. Throughout its history, it has been overseen by Spain, The Netherlands, France and Prussia. Peter Minuit, the founder of New Amsterdam—today’s New York City—was born here. Today, the city recalls its glorious past in the Willibrord Cathedral, beautifully restored after Allied bombing, and the renovated structures of the stately Wesel Citadel.

Included Shore Excursion:

Glimpse life during a time when Rome ruled the Western world during a visit to the Archaeological Park of Xanten. Founded around 110 BC, Colonia Ulpia Traiana was the third-largest Roman town north of the Alps before being abandoned after the empire’s collapse and falling into ruin.

Day 7: Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Perched on the south bank of the Waal River, vibrant Nijmegen is home to one of The Netherlands’ largest universities. Residents and students alike linger at sidewalk cafés and unique eateries and the city’s many shops offer items that reflect Nijmegen’s artistic sensibility. Nijmegen’s lower city is home to the charming Velorama, a bicycle museum, while the larger Valkhof Museum chronicles the city’s Roman and medieval past. Famously, Nijmegen was the site of a decisive three-day battle between Allied and German forces during World War II’s Operation Market Garden.

Included Shore Excursion:

Stroll the cobblestone streets and see several historic landmarks of the oldest city in the Netherlands, Nijmegen.

Day 8: Maastricht, The Netherlands

Straddling the Meuse River, Maastricht is one of The Netherlands’ oldest and most picturesque cities, boasting 1,677 Rijksmonumenten, or National Heritage Buildings. The narrow cobblestone streets and stunning churches of the car-free inner city evoke the rich medieval era, when the city held important places in the Carolingian and Holy Roman Empires. In the early 1990s, Maastricht took its place on the 20th-century world stage when the Maastricht Treaty was signed and the single European currency, the euro, was created here. 

Included Shore Excursion:

Uncover multiple layers of history in the charming southern capital of the province of Limburg. On a guided walk you will see the Market Square with the 17th-century Town Hall, the Roman St. Servatius Basilica, vestiges of the medieval town wall and the iconic Dinghuis, a tower that once housed the local courthouse. During your free time, enjoy the sun and a local beer in one of the sidewalk cafés along Het Vrijthof, and take a peek in the former Dominican church, converted into one of Europe’s most unusual bookstores.

Day 9: Antwerp, Belgium

A cosmopolitan city, Antwerp is one of the world’s major seaports. Its unique atmosphere comes from the contrasts between old and new, commerce and art. The Old Town and the expansive Grote Markt are filled with narrow, winding streets and medieval guild houses. The Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, Belgium’s largest church, contains works by 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens; he lived in the city and is entombed in the Church of St. James. Antwerp is also renowned for diamonds and chocolate. Many diamond cutters can be found here alongside countless confectioners.

Included Shore Excursion:

See Antwerp’s dazzling historic quarter up close as you explore by foot. Join your guide for a short walk to the Cathedral of Our Lady, a vision of Gothic beauty, the largest church in Belgium and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the historic Old Town along crooked streets to Grote Market, where the incredible Renaissance Town Hall stands. With both Flemish and Italian influences, it too is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, you will see the medieval Het Steen castle, built after the Viking incursions as the city’s first stone fortress. 

Day 10: Antwerp, Belgium

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.

* Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.

COST OF THE TRIP:

Cat. F- Standard- $3874 (per person, double-occupancy)

Cat. D - French balcony - $4374 (per person, double-occupancy)

Cat B- Full balcony $4874 (per person, double-occupancy)

Air from RDU (and other major airports)  is guaranteed through Viking for $799 per person (you can also have the ability to upgrade for a higher price). 

What’s included:

• Three delicious meals a day aboard the Viking Ship (with free beer, wine, and soda at meals)
• Access to complimentary coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, muffins and cookies 24/7
• A free excursion in each port
• A full-time cruise director on the ship (who plans daily activities)
• Free wifi

Not Included:

• Items of a personal nature: laundry, room service and other items not specifically mentioned. 
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (available and highly recommended).
• Airfare (Dove will be able to book flights once we get closer to departure. Passengers are also welcome to make their own flight arrangements.)
• Tips for our local guides: 
  • Motorcoach Driver: €  2 Euro per person per day
  • Local guides: € 2 Euro per person per tour
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How to Reserve a Spot:

• A $25 deposit per person will hold your cabin. 
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Just let me know if you have any questions! 

Sincerely, 

Heather Blackwell

Travel Host

252-422-2336 (cell)

heather@dovestravel.net 

blackwell.hbb@gmail.com