Viking Rivers Cruises – Holland & Belgium (The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium) 10 Days

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.
* Ground transfers are included with Viking Air purchase.

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; in the 1960s, the first bike-share program was invented here, founded by members of the anti-establishment Provo movement—short for “provocateur”—whose aim was to reduce air pollution created by cars. The program did not last, but the bicycle did, and cycle lanes were soon added to the street. Today, the city is home to hundreds of thousands of bikes.

Shore Excursions – Amsterdam Canal Cruise
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes    
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 manses adorned with riches during the height of Holland’s Golden Age. Take in some of the city’s interesting sights as you pass a variety of vessels, including charming houseboats moored canal side. Enjoy views from the Golden Bend to Overhoeks, the city’s newest quarter, and from the Music Building to the replica of the 18th-century ship Amsterdam moored outside the Maritime Museum. You will also pass the wooden double drawbridge known locally as the “Skinny Bridge” before returning to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Keukenhof Gardens
Duration: 5 hours   
Walk the flower-lined footpaths of one of the most renowned flower gardens in the world. Every spring, a vibrant, multihued carpet blankets the 70 acres at Keukenhof Gardens. Some 7 million flowers are said to bloom here: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, bluebells, crocuses and countless others form graceful ribbons along pathways and brooks and fill greenhouses and fields to bursting. Stroll among 100 varieties of tulips on these 15th-century hunting grounds. Breathe in glorious scents as you loop through Gerbrand’s circular garden and mingle among sculptures and statuary. Admire Keukenhof Castle, where a countess once sorted herbs in her “kitchen garden.” You can also step back in time in the historical garden, where old tulip varieties and 17th-century daffodils grace a castle’s garden.

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.

Shore Excursions – Hoorn Walking Tour & Local Performance
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes      
Experience the charming city of Hoorn during a walking tour and enjoy a performance by local entertainers. 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. You will see some of the town’s many historic buildings, like its colorful Westfries Museum and the magnificent Waag, the blue-stone public weighhouse dating to 1609. After admiring old merchant houses, cheese warehouses and the charming harbor, you will enjoy a spirited musical performance. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to meet the performers before returning to your ship.

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. The inner-city harbors are centuries old and lined with grand warehouses that have now been transformed into elegant homes. With a relaxed atmosphere and a plethora of quaint cafés and shops, Dordrecht oozes old-world charm.

Shore Excursions – Historic Dordrecht
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes     
Discover the famous landmarks that dot the historic neighborhoods of Dordrecht, the oldest city in Holland. Granted city rights in 1220, Dordrecht played an important role in trade, politics and religion for many centuries. Meet your knowledgeable guide and set off on foot for the city’s older sections. 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). Afterward, you may choose to spend more time in the city exploring at your leisure or walk back to your awaiting ship.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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. With a pleasant river orientation, Rotterdam’s spacious new inner city is a pleasure to explore; its shop-lined Lijnbaan district was Europe’s first pedestrian shopping precinct.

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.

Shore Excursions – Kinderdijk Windmills
Duration: 2 hours   
See the picturesque Dutch countryside and the original technological marvels of historic Kinderdijk. 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. You will learn why they were built and see firsthand how they work, even stepping into a working windmill to observe its mechanics and living quarters. Families who live in these mills are required to keep them in working order. This excursion provides a revealing look at these marvelous buildings that helped shape the legendary Dutch landscape.

Gorinchem, The Netherlands
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.

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. During its heyday, Wesel even rivaled Cologne as a major commercial presence. 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.

Shore Excursions – Xanten During the Time of Rome & Today
Duration: 4 hours      
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. Centuries later, the site has been recreated as one of the world’s largest open-air museums. Take a guided tour of the full-size reconstructions of Roman-era buildings, meticulously detailed to give you an impression of how the town looked during its heyday. See the harbor temple, the city walls with their guard towers and the amphitheater, the only surviving original building. Later, enjoy free time to explore more of the park. Visit the themed pavilions, where you can view artifacts and exhibitions on Roman life. Afterward, explore Xanten’s medieval town center before returning to your ship.

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.

Shore Excursions – Nijmegen by Foot
Duration: 2 hours     
Stroll the cobblestone streets and see several historic landmarks of the oldest city in the Netherlands, Nijmegen. Depart from your ship with your knowledgeable guide and begin your leisurely walk to the city center. Stop to view St. Stephen’s Church, its looming presence somewhat obscured by the more modern buildings that surround it. Originally built in the late Gothic style during the 13th century, the church—like many of Nijmegen’s buildings—was badly damaged during World War II and subsequently underwent several renovations. Continue to the nearby Grote Markt (Big Market), where you will learn about the history of De Waagh, a richly decorated former weigh house for goods, and see the statue of Dutch medieval legend Mariken van Nieumeghen. Cap your tour outside the 16th-century Oude Stadhuis (Old Town Hall); gaze at the ornate carvings that adorn its facade and the octagonal turret with an onion dome perched atop its roof.

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. Nearby, the American Military Cemetery in Margraten is the final resting place for more than 8,000 young men who fell during the march toward Germany after the D-Day Landings.

Shore Excursions – Streets & Squares of Maastricht
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes     
Uncover multiple layers of history in the charming southern capital of the province of Limburg. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands, with roots dating to Roman times. Its close proximity to the ancient bishopric of Liège as well as the great cities in the German Rhineland exposed Maastricht to different cultural traditions. To this day, it has maintained a decidedly international character. 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.

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.

Shore Excursions – Antwerp Walking Tour
Duration: 2 hours      
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. One of its spires stands 404 feet high. Continue to the historic Old Town along crooked streets to Grote Markt, 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. At tour’s end, you may spend time pondering the famous Brabo fountain statue, commemorating the legend of how Antwerp got its name.

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.