Explore the colourful and quirky Netherlands from the water on a 14-night cruise to neighbouring Belgium. Glide past windmills, discover historic WWII sites and delight in the individual flair of Dutch cities and towns. Wander the lively streets of Amsterdam, visit The Hague, enchanting Ghent and Antwerp.
Visit the Delta Works, one of the world’s most impressive modern engineering achievements. Learn about this vast network of dams, storm surge barriers and sluices, built over more than 30 years to protect the Netherlands from flooding after the devastating North Sea Flood of 1953. It remains one of the largest flood-protection systems ever constructed and is recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Visit Keukenhof Gardens, encompassing more than 70 acres of renowned gardens and parklands. Relish the chance to admire the spectacular display of bulb flowers in bloom, including colourful tulips.
Visit the Sir John Monash Centre at Villers-Bretonneux on the Somme. Through immersive multimedia displays and personal accounts, learn how Australian soldiers served on the Western Front and gain deeper insight into the battles and stories that shaped Australia’s wartime history.
Experience the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most picturesque landscapes in the Netherlands. Wander among the 18th-century mills and canals that once drained the surrounding polders, and learn how this ingenious system helped the Dutch live safely below sea level.
Arrive in Amsterdam and transfer to your river ship. Enjoy time to explore this vibrant city at leisure before meeting your Cruise Director and fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception this evening.
Cruise Amsterdam’s canals aboard a glass-top boat with a local guide, gliding through the city’s maze of waterways before enjoying free time to explore at your own pace.
Enhance Your Journey – Muiderslot Castle
Visit one of the Netherlands’ best-known medieval castles. Dating to the 13th century, Muiderslot is famed for its round corner towers, surrounding moat and picturesque gardens.
In Arnhem, visit the Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’ to learn about the Battle of Arnhem, where Allied forces attempted to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in September 1944 during Operation Market Garden.
Join a guided tour of Nijmegen, the Netherlands’ oldest city, set near the German border. Discover its historic streets, landmarks and architecture, then enjoy free time to explore at your own pace or relax in one of the city’s welcoming cafes or bars.
Set out on a guided tour of Maastricht, a historic city closely linked with the formation of the modern European Union. Wander cobbled streets, see sections of the old city walls and visit the Basilica of Our Lady, one of the city’s oldest churches, while discovering how this Roman settlement evolved into today’s lively university town.
Enhance Your Journey – Regional Wine Tasting
Explore one of the Netherlands’ oldest underground cellars, traditionally used for wine storage. During a guided visit, learn about the region’s wine heritage before sampling three local wines.
Today visit the site of the Battle of Waterloo, where in June 1815 Wellington halted Napoleon’s advance toward Brussels. Walk the battlefield and learn how the Imperial Guard’s final assault was repelled, then explore the immersive museum that brings the events of the day to life. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to explore Antwerp at your own pace.
In Antwerp, set out on a guided walking tour. Discover the lively Grote Markt, see the historic Het Steen fortress and visit the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure, or perhaps join a culinary experience highlighting the city’s famous flavours.
Enhance Your Journey – Chocolate Nation Tour
Sample Belgium’s renowned chocolate on a culinary tour and discover why it is considered among the world’s finest.
Arrive in Ghent and travel into the surrounding Flanders region to visit significant Western Front sites for a special Insider Experience.
Insider Experience – Western Front Battlefields
This morning, explore the Western Front with historian Hugh Dolan. Visit the V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, the 1st Division Memorial and the Gibraltar Blockhouse, and see the remains of a wartime bunker. Continue to the Memorial Museum Passchendaele, dedicated to the 1917 battle, before paying your respects at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war graves site in the world, and walking the Polygon Wood battlefield. This evening, you may wish to attend the moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing.
Embark on a guided tour of Ghent, including a scenic canal cruise through the city’s historic waterways. The afternoon is at leisure, or you may wish to join an optional excursion.
Enhance Your Journey – Bruges
Travel to Bruges, the enchanting capital of West Flanders. Wander cobbled streets, admire winding canals and take in beautifully preserved medieval architecture, including the Markt and the impressive 83-metre-high Belfry.
Enjoy a moving Insider Experience today.
Insider Experience – Somme Battlefields
Explore the Somme battlefields, beginning with visits to the 1st and 2nd Australian Division Memorials. Continue to Villers-Bretonneux to see the Victoria School, where the words 'Do Not Forget Australia' remain a lasting symbol of gratitude from the local community, before visiting the Australian National Memorial.
You will also visit the Sir John Monash Centre, named for General Sir John Monash, commander of the Australian Corps in 1918. Through immersive multimedia displays and personal accounts, the centre shares the story of Australian soldiers who served on the Western Front.
From Veere, set out for your Insider Experience.
Insider Experience – Delta Works
Visit the Delta Works, one of the world’s most remarkable modern engineering projects. Discover how this vast system of dams, storm surge barriers and sluices was built over more than 30 years to protect the Netherlands from flooding. Comprising 13 sections, the Delta Works form the largest flood protection system in the world and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
This morning, join a guided walking tour of Willemstad. Later, cruise to Kinderdijk and visit the World Heritage-listed village, famed for its remarkable concentration of 18th-century windmills.
Discover Rotterdam on a guided walk, taking in its striking modern skyline and the famous cube houses, with a stop at a local market to sample the city’s beloved stroopwafels.
Enhance Your Journey – The Hague
Join a guided tour of The Hague, visiting the Binnenhof and Buitenhof buildings (Inner and Outer Court) and the Peace Palace.
Enjoy a day of exploration before gathering this evening for a Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
Insider Experience – Keukenhof Gardens
Visit Keukenhof Gardens, a vibrant floral showcase spanning more than 70 acres of landscaped parklands. Admire sweeping displays of spring bulbs, including colourful tulips (March–April departures).
Insider Experience - National Maritime Museum
Explore Amsterdam’s striking National Maritime Museum, where immersive galleries and historic vessels bring the Netherlands’ legendary seafaring past to life. (July departure).
After breakfast, disembark your ship and transfer to the airport, where your journey comes to an end.
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