Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1507526
Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg: Benelux Gems
Venture off the beaten path to explore some of Europe’s hidden gems as you take in the tranquil landscapes of the Lowlands, explore pivotal moments from the Battles of Waterloo and the Bulge, and unearth the legacy of Charlemagne’s former capital, Aachen.
9 nights from $8,495 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg: Benelux Gems
DAY 1 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Arrive in Amsterdam, where you are met and transferred to your boutique hotel set alongside the city’s iconic canals. This evening, gather for a welcome reception and dinner.
This morning, join a local expert as you cruise Amsterdam’s historic canals, revealing the waterways that form the nexus of this historic city. Continue on foot through the city center, pausing at Museum Van Loon, a sumptuous townhouse built in 1672 for a pupil of Rembrandt. This canal house’s impressive interiors, garden and coach house afford a glimpse into the lifestyles of the city’s wealthy and powerful elite. Afterward, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure for your own explorations.
Depart this morning for historic Utrecht, pausing at a local dairy farm for a tour and a tasting of Holland’s world-renowned cheeses. After lunch in Utrecht’s charming old town center, continue to your hotel in Liège, Belgium.
Cross the border to nearby Aachen, Germany’s westernmost city. Once a Roman settlement, Charlemagne chose this city as his capital, and it remained the seat of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries. Dig into this history during a tour with a local expert. After lunch at leisure, embark on an e-bike ride through the countryside outside Maastricht, pausing in the ancient cellars of Chteau Neercanne to savor a wine tasting and view the Maastricht Treaty, the founding document of the European Union. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Delve into the Battle of the Bulge, a pivotal chapter of World War II history on a visit to the Bastogne War Museum, exploring history through scenography, witness testimonial and multimedia installations. Then, join a local guide to tour nearby battle sites aboard an authentic U.S. Army Willys Jeep, rolling through the quiet beauty of Ardennes landscapes that once raged with Germany’s desperate gambit to mount a final offensive and the heroism of the Allied troops who turned back their assault. Continue to Luxembourg, where you check into your castle hotel. This evening, journey through pastoral farmland near Luxembourg to reach a local restaurant for dinner.
Today, explore the capital of one of Europe’s smallest states, Luxembourg. Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the confluence of two rivers, Luxembourg City juxtaposes its cosmopolitan lifestyle alongside fairytale castles, meandering casements and the trappings of its venerable grand duchy roots. Visit one of the largest castles west of the Rhine, magnificent Vianden Castle. With origins dating to the 10th century, the Romanesque castle was one of Europe’s grandest, most luxurious feudal residences of the Middle Ages.
This morning, cross the idyllic countryside back to Belgium, pausing at Waterloo for views over the battlefield where British and Prussian forces defeated Napoleon Bonaparte, marking the end of an era of French domination in Europe. After lunch, continue to Ghent. Filled with cathedrals and museums, Ghent traces its roots to Roman times. It’s now the capital of the province of East Flanders and one of Europe’s largest inland ports. Here, a local expert reveals the town’s pedestrianized city center lined with medieval architecture, pausing to take in the storybook grandeur of Gravensteen Castle.
Drive to Brussels for an introduction to Belgium’s busy capital, where medieval architecture mingles with shimmering high-rises. Throughout its tumultuous history, Brussels has been occupied by the Romans, Vikings, Spanish, French, Austrians and English. Today, Brussels is home to both the European Union and NATO. Explore this culinary enclave known for its fine chocolates, double-fried frites and distinctive beers on a pub crawl with a real beer sommelier, seeking out the city’s rich history and tasting delicious local beers at favorite local haunts along the way, while your host tells fun tales about how they are brewed. Afterward, enjoy time for lunch at leisure before returning to Ghent for the rest of the day.
Drive to Bruges, the West Flanders capital known for its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Indulge in a hands-on workshop devoted to the artistry of fine Belgian chocolates followed by lunch at a traditional restaurant. Cap off your day with time at leisure to explore Bruges before returning to your hotel. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner.
Today, you are transferred to the airport for your departure.
Set in the eastern section of Wallonia, Liege (61 mi/98 km east of Brussels) is a grimy industrial town. That said, the city still has enough of interest to merit a two-night visit. Among its attractions are the market square (with its 17th-century Perron Fountain), the Palace of the Prince-Bishops (beautiful courtyards and columns), Curtius Museum (exhibits from the Gallo-Roman, Renaissance, baroque and Frankish periods, including a display of glassware, masterpieces of Mosan art and lovely Merovingian jewelry) and the Museum of Walloon Life (arts and crafts tell the history of the city from the 16th to the 20th century).
Liege is known for its gunsmiths and crystal, as well as for being the birthplace of Georges Simenon (creator of the Inspector Maigret novels). If you climb up the 373 steps to the citadel on Bueren Hill, you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the city. Try to plan your visit so it includes a Sunday, when there's a market on the left bank of the Meuse River.
Other excursions can be made to Huy, which has pewter factories and shops filled with their products, the 15th-century Li Bassinia fountain and the ruins of the Abbey of Neufmoustier; Spa, which is famous (not surprisingly) for its spas—it was the birthplace of the modern spa; and Tongeren, Belgium's oldest town and site of the country's largest antiques market.
Amsterdam: An Introduction to Amsterdam – 4 hours
Meet your driver at the Port in Amsterdam for a private transfer to the city centre where your guide is waiting to meet you for a walking tour of this beautiful city. Begin at Dam Square, bordered by the Royal Palace and enjoy wonderful views of the canals and gabled houses of the mercantile quarter before visiting the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*. After your tour, transfer in the comfort of your own private vehicle back to your ship.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
Amsterdam: Highlights of Amsterdam - 8 Hours
Spend the day exploring Amsterdam in the hands of your expert guide. You are met at the port and transferred to Dam Square where your morning’s walking tour includes the notable Royal Palace. Admire the views of the canals and the gabled houses of the Canal Ring district, where you will visit the house in which Anne Frank wrote her celebrated diary during the last war*.
After lunch explore the beautifully-restored Rijksmuseum, to admire the stunning collection of masterpieces from the seventeenth-century Golden Age, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without seeing the delightful Van Gogh Museum, home to many of his famous works as well as those of other Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.
*tickets for the Anne Frank House sell out very quickly and are subject to availability. Guides are not allowed to accompany you into the house itself, but will be waiting for you at the end of your visit (approx. 45-90 mins)
Highlights:
Amsterdam: The Three Sisters, Delft & Den Haag - 8 Hours
You are met at Amsterdam port for a full-day excursion outside of the city. Head south into the countryside for a photo opportunity at the impressive Three Sisters Windmills in Stompwijk. As over a third of the Netherlands lies below sea level, windmills were initially designed to pump vast amount of water out, thus protecting land from flooding. Today, these silent giants draw many visitors every year for their charming appearances.
From here, you travel on to Delft, world-renowned for its famous blue and white pottery and one of the most beautiful towns in the Netherlands. Take in the town’s architectural gems and charming ambience, which are best appreciated by walking along its small canals with their graceful humpbacked bridges.
Following this, enjoy a privately-guided tour at the Royal Delft Experience, where a painter shares the passion behind the production of this stunning 17th-century earthenware during a special demonstration.
After lunch at leisure, you continue to the Hague, the home of the Dutch Royal Family and the administrative capital of the Netherlands; walk the Inner court past the Government buildings and take the opportunity for a photo stop at the International Court of Justice. You may like to visit the Mauritshuis Museum, which holds one of the world's finest collections of paintings, including Rembrandt, Steen, Hals, Rubens and Van Dyck, or you may choose to visit the Panorama Mesdag, which hosts the Panorama, one of the largest canvas paintings in the world (subject to opening times).
On your return journey, stop at Scheveningen beach for some spectacular views before continuing back. (8 hours, driver and guide)
Highlights:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.