Tulips & Windmills: Best of the Netherlands & Belgium with Uniworld

Enjoy complimentary UK airport lounge access before your short flight to Amsterdam. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to the port to board your modern, boutique Uniworld ship – either the S.S. Elisabeth or the S.S. Marlene – which will be your ultra-luxury home on the water for the next nine nights. Expect spacious, lavishly-appointed river view accommodation, elegant common areas, and warm, personalised service courtesy of Uniworld’s best-in-class staff.

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Awake to your first delicious breakfast onboard this morning before heading out on your chosen excursion in the Dutch capital. Either pay a visit to Westergasfabriek – a former gasworks that now serves as a thriving cultural hub and hosts the spectacular Fabrique des Lumières digital art experience – or embark on a canal cruise on a boat once used by refugees, as you learn all about the contribution of immigrants to Amsterdam’s diverse cultural heritage over the centuries. Later on, a Captain’s Reception and welcome dinner will take place onboard. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Just north of Amsterdam lies the historic town of Zaandam, renowned for its colourful mix of traditional and modern architecture, as well as the Zaanse Schans mill village, with its 18th and 19th-century windmills and artisanal craft stores. This is one of the oldest industrial areas in Western Europe, and several of the windmills are still in operation today. You’ll have the option of joining a guided walking tour showcasing Zaandam’s characteristic green houses, or you might take a trip to the Keukenhof Gardens, where millions of tulip bulbs flourish each spring, creating one of the world’s most impressive flower spectacles. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Today presents an opportunity to delve into the Netherlands’ rich maritime heritage as you take a trip back in time at the Zuiderzee Outdoor Museum in Enkhuizen – a recreation of an authentic 19th-century Dutch port village, with over 140 historic buildings that offer a fascinating window into the area’s seafaring past. Alternatively, set off on a scenic journey through the countryside near Hoorn to learn all about the Netherlands’ cheesemaking traditions at a dairy farm. Whereas most Dutch cheese is mass-produced in factories these days, small farms such as these adopt a more sustainable, eco-conscious approach, upholding traditional cheesemaking practices that have been used throughout the Netherlands over the centuries. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Your next port of call is Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, founded by the Romans around 2,000 years ago. Here, you’ll have the option to join a guided walking tour, in which you’ll learn how Nijmegen recovered in the aftermath of devastation during World War II, or you might be interested in visiting the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek, which tells the poignant story of the Netherland’s oppression and struggle for liberation under the Nazis. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Arriving in the Netherlands’ second city, you’ll soon understand why it’s nicknamed ‘Manhattan on the Maas’. Following destruction during World War II, Rotterdam reinvented itself as a hub of futuristic architecture and cutting-edge design, which is evident in the city’s gleaming glass-and-steel skyline. Today, Europe’s largest sea port blends industrial heritage with vibrant, multi-cultural energy and an innovative spirit. It’s also a pioneer in green technology, which you’ll have the option to experience first-hand on a tour that combines electric trams and sustainable water taxis with a visit to a self-sufficient floating farm. Or, you might be tempted to dip into Rotterdam’s thriving culinary scene with a visit to the spectacular, horseshoe-shaped Market Hall, whose arched ceiling is covered in colourful murals of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

In the evening, enjoy a visit to Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, which houses an extensive collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age within a 17th-century palace, including original works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

You’ll dock in Dordrecht today, presenting the chance to explore another of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with more than 1,000 monuments dotted throughout its medieval centre. On a guided walking tour, you’ll make a stop at the House of Van Gijn, the opulent former residence of prominent Dutch banker and art collector Simon van Gijn, who lived there from 1864 until 1922. Afterwards, you’ll be treated to a gin tasting at Rutte Distillery, which has produced some of the Netherlands’ finest gins since 1872. There’s also the option of visiting the UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk windmills, or venturing out on a scenic bike ride through the countryside. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Crossing over into Belgium, you’ll get to explore one of two beautiful cities today; either Bruges, the capital of West Flanders, or Ghent, the capital of East Flanders. Both cities brim with medieval architecture and picturesque canals, with Bruges being considerably smaller and more romantic in atmosphere, while Ghent has more of an eclectic, youthful energy to it. If you opt to explore Bruges, you’ll enjoy both a guided walking tour and a canal cruise through its UNESCO-listed historic centre, while in Ghent, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour and a visit to St. Bravo’s Cathedral, which houses the Ghent Altarpiece (a famous 15th-century painting also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb). 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Your final destination is Antwerp, a city renowned for its diamond trade, artistic heritage, chocolate shops and the Cathedral of our Lady – a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that forms part of the Belfries of Belgium and France UNESCO World Heritage listing. A choice of guided walking tours will introduce you to Antwerp’s rich history, architectural marvels and culinary delights, followed by a Captain’s Reception and farewell dinner onboard the ship as you raise a toast to the conclusion of your Uniworld river cruise this evening. 

Stay: S.S. Elisabeth or S.S. Marlene

Enjoy one last breakfast onboard before disembarking the ship in Antwerp this morning. You’ll then be transferred to Brussels Airport for your flight home. Or, if you’d like to extend your trip post-cruise, there’s the possibility of adding an extra two nights in the Belgian capital, which includes a historical walking tour, a chocolate workshop and a visit to a local brewery. For more details, please discuss with one of our specialists.