Belgian Delights & Holland in Bloom

Welcome to the heart of Belgium. Brussels is well-known for its world-class chocolate and other culinary delights, artistic heritage and architectural splendour. Today, you’ll be welcomed to the delightful Belgian capital by your Tour Director at your hotel, your home for your next three days. This evening, enjoy meeting your fellow guests for a convivial welcome drink.

Enjoy your time in the delightful Belgian capital, where history seamlessly blends with modernity. Your tour director will be more than happy to help you plan your Brussels explorations during your stay.

Included Excursion
Walking tour of Brussels
This morning, embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Brussels on a guided city tour, exploring its iconic landmarks and vibrant culture. Marvel at the stunning architecture of the Grand Place, a World Heritage Site and the capital’s central square, and take in the quirky charm of Manneken Pis, one of Belgium’s best-known symbols. Admire the grandeur of the Royal Palace and immerse yourself in the spiritual atmosphere of St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. Stroll through the city’s quaint streets, discovering hidden gems and learning fascinating insights from your knowledgeable guide.

DiscoverMORE
Tastes of Belgium (extra expense)
Embark on a mouthwatering journey through the heart of Belgium’s capital, where every bite tells a delicious story. Our Tastes of Belgium walking tour invites you to explore the city’s rich culinary heritage, from Belgium’s world-famous chocolates and golden waffles to artisan craft beers.
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 1.5 hours 

The day is yours to explore vibrant Brussels at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the creative spirit of Belgian comics that developed a style of its own. If you’re an enthusiast for new, delicious flavours, why not try some of the local delicacies, such as the world-famous Belgian fries, and pair these with a delicious craft beer – the capital is renowned for its brewing heritage. Or simply relax and wander through the Parc du Cinquantenaire, a collection of French-style gardens combined with a historical site that is home to museums, monuments and structures.

DiscoverMORE
Belgium’s Comic Heritage (extra expense)
Step into the fascinating world of Belgian comics with an exclusive tour of the Comic Art Museum in Brussels, where you’ll explore the rich history of iconic characters like Tintin and the Smurfs. Afterwards, you’ll join a master caricature workshop hosted by the renowned Belgian caricature artist, Jan Op de Beeck. Learn the tricks of the trade of exaggerated portraiture, refine your sketching skills, and create your own caricature under expert guidance—an unforgettable experience for comic enthusiasts and aspiring artists alike.
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 4 hours

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world’s most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it’s no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you’ll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city’s oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city’s gem cutters. It’s certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It’s pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam’s charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam’s being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe’s great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city’s triple-X reputation. They’re part of Amsterdam’s official coat of arms—three St. Andrew’s crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat’s motto (“Valiant, determined, compassionate”) was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

Beyond Amsterdam’s storied canals, a gentler rhythm unfolds as you venture into the Dutch countryside.

Included Excursion
Tour to Zaanse Schans windmills
Travel to the charming village of Zaanse Schans, just north of Amsterdam. It’s famous for its picturesque windmills on the edge of the water, traditional green wooden houses and artisan workshops making traditional handicrafts. This is a quintessentially Dutch town where the smell of freshly baked goods and the sight of spinning windmills offer a truly memorable experience

EmeraldACTIVE
Guided e-bike tour to Waterland
Enjoy an active cycling tour of the pretty Waterland area, famed for its green landscapes, winding canals and charming villages. Accompanied by a local guide, it’s a relaxed ride on flat ground that will immerse you in Dutch daily life.

EmeraldPLUS
Clog painting on board
Relax on board your Emerald Star-Ship this afternoon, as a local clog painter will come on board for a demonstration. You’ll also have the opportunity to try your hand at this unique craft.

Rotterdam is a city that’s a long way removed from most people’s stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

Dutch settlers came here in the 1630s, about the same time they sailed through the Verazzano Narrows to Manhattan, bringing with them original red-tile roofs, first used on the trade ships as ballast and later incorporated into the architecture of Willemstad. Much of the original colonial structures remain, but this historic city is constantly reinventing itself and the government monument foundation is always busy restoring buildings in one urban neighborhood or another. The salty air causes what is called “wall cancer” which causes the ancient abodes to continually crumble over time. The city is cut in two by Santa Anna Bay. On one side is Punda (the point)—crammed with shops, restaurants, monuments, and markets and a new museum retracing its colorful history. And on the other side is Otrobanda (literally meaning the “other side”), with lots of narrow, winding streets and alleyways (called “steekjes” in Dutch), full of private homes notable for their picturesque gables and Dutch-influenced designs. In recent years the ongoing regeneration of Otrobanda has been apparent, marked by a surge in development of new hotels, restaurants, and shops; the rebirth, concentrated near the waterfront, was spearheaded by the creation of the elaborate Kura Hulanda complex.There are three ways to cross the bay: by car over the Juliana Bridge; by foot over the Queen Emma pontoon bridge (locally called “The Swinging Old Lady”); or by free ferry, which runs when the pontoon bridge is swung open for passing ships. All the major hotels outside town offer free shuttle service to town once or twice daily. Shuttles coming from the Otrobanda side leave you at Riffort. From here it’s a short walk north to the foot of the pontoon bridge. Shuttles coming from the Punda side leave you near the main entrance to Ft. Amsterdam.