For booking information:
330 Rayford Rd #704 / Spring TX 77386
713.240.6753 / 888.869.7907
or E-mail: jan@europeanbarging.com

6 Day Dutch Canals
Amsterdam - Lemmer - Enkhuizen - Hoorn - Amsterdam
AIJ

 

Cruise across one of the largest lakes in the Netherlands, through picturesque and authentic towns and villages. Among historic monuments and unmissable traditions, discover iconic Dutch landmarks such as its canals, the Cheese Museum, 17th-century mills, old fishing ports, and the village of Giethoorn. The Keukenhof flower garden, a true haven of peace, is considered the most beautiful flower garden in the world.

DAY 1: AMSTERDAM

Boarding at 6 p.m. Crew introductions and welcome cocktail. Dinner on board.

Free evening. Overnight stopover.

DAY 2: AMSTERDAM - LEMMER

In the morning, optional excursions:

AUTHENTIC: Amsterdam. This tour will give you an insight into the many historical riches and curiosities of the Dutch capital. A fascinating and dynamic city where old and new coexist harmoniously, Amsterdam is a city rich in history, art, and culture, where every street corner holds a surprise. During a boat ride on the picturesque canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can admire the unique architecture, with its many narrow gabled houses, 17th-century mansions, and all the magnificent bridges spanning the canals, offering an extraordinary urban landscape.

EXPERIENCE: Amsterdam by Bike. Depart on foot from the boat to our bike rental station. Cycling is an institution in Amsterdam. A multitude of cycle paths crisscross the Dutch capital, forming a sprawling network among the largest in Europe. You'll be accompanied by a guide for a tour of approximately 2.5 hours. You'll discover the canals as well as unusual and secret places known to Amsterdammers for an immersive experience in the capital.

Afternoon cruise to Lemmer. You will cross the two inland lakes, Markermeer and IJsselmeer. Arrival in Lemmer at the end of the day. Overnight stopover.

DAY 3: LEMMER - ENKHUISEN

In the morning, optional AUTHENTIC excursion / EXPERIENCE: Giethoorn and boat trip on the canals . Giethoorn, a typical Dutch village, is the perfect example of how much the Dutch love to live with and on the water. Giethoorn was founded by peat workers. The exploitation of peat pushed the inhabitants to settle on these small islets. Here, there are no cars or buses, we travel exclusively by boat. We offer a one-hour boat trip on the canals to discover this picturesque village. Giethoorn will enchant you with its magnificent setting by the water and its flower-filled banks. Enjoy free time to stroll through this maze of canals, cross the bridges and discover the beauty of this village.

Cruise on one of Holland's largest inland lakes, the IJsselmeer, to Enkhuizen. Enjoy a free afternoon in Enkhuizen. You can visit the Zuiderzee Museum, which explores daily life in the former fishing ports of the Zuiderzee (admission not included). Overnight stopover.

DAY 4: ENKHUISEN - HOORN

Morning cruise on the Markermeer towards Hoorn. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Zuiderzee, the "southern sea" of the Netherlands, became two large lakes: the Ijsselmeer and the Markermeer. A 32-kilometer-long dike was built in the 1930s to protect coastal towns from flooding, but also to create one of the largest polders in the world.

In the afternoon, optional excursions:

AUTHENTIC: Alkmaar and the Cheese Museum . Departure by coach with your guides to the city of Alkmaar. Alkmaar is a historic city with more than 400 monuments. The city is especially known for its cheese. The entire preparation of dairy products is explained in the Cheese Museum located in the Public Weight building, which you will visit with your guide. You will discover beautifully decorated cheese presses and other instruments and tools that evoke the production of cheese and butter during past centuries. Through this visit, you will understand the importance of dairy products in the Dutch economy.

EXPERIENCE: Polder Bike Tour . Bike tour of Hoorn and its surroundings. Located on the banks of the Ijsselmeer, Hoorn was one of the headquarters of the East India Company, the first trading company founded in 1602. The area around Hoorn is full of cycling and hiking trails that cross the magnificent polders. Polders are water-based developments that symbolize the adaptability and ingenuity of the Dutch. In the Beemster Polder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can still admire 17th-century farmhouses that belonged to Hoorn merchants, as well as mills. Overnight stopover.

DAY 5: HOORN - AMSTERDAM

Morning cruise to Amsterdam. Continue your cruise on the Markermeer. The Dutch coast offers a superb spectacle worthy of a postcard setting. You'll glimpse Volendam and the Marken peninsula with its unusual houses before reaching the port of Amsterdam.

In the afternoon, optional AUTHENTIC / EXPERIENCE excursion: Keukenhof Flower Park (2) (only upon pre-booking before departure). The most famous flower park in the world, it is the symbol of the cultural importance of flowers and their industry in the Netherlands. You will visit this paradise at your own pace. Formerly the estate of the castle of the same name, the Keukenhof spring park in its current format was created in 1949 by flower bulb growers. Its flowerbeds brighten the park with vivid colors and offer visitors superb floral creations to admire along the way. You will be charmed by the colors and scents of tulips, narcissi, daffodils and other bulb flowers.

Dinner and gala evening on board.

DAY 6: AMSTERDAM

Buffet breakfast on board. Disembarkation at 9 a.m. End of our services.

 

**Please note that this is a bi-lingual ship with information provided in both English and French, and an international cruise host on board.**

Prices Include: Full board cruise from dinner of the first day to breakfast of the last day in a double cabin with showers and toilets, welcome drink, entertainment, the Captain's evening, the assistance of our hostess on board, and port taxes. DRINKS PACKAGE INCLUDED - Soft Drinks, as well as tea and coffee specialties, Beer, sparkling white wine, as well as open wines and daily recommendations from the wine menu (by the glass), Cocktails and long drinks throughout the day and evening.

Prices Do Not Include: Drinks, not listed above, insurance and optional excursions.

For reasons of navigation and passenger safety, the Captain of the ship reserve the right to modify the itinerary of the cruise.

 

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