Tulip Time with AmaWaterways
7 night river cruise through Belgium & the Netherlands: colorful Amsterdam; medieval Bruges, Middleburg, & Ghent; Rotterdam, the "Gateway to Europe"; whimsical Kinderdijk & more
Overview
Style | Independent PackageThese un-escorted packages have no set schedule or guides, so you have the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own from your centrally-located hotel. More of these packages
Freedom to explore at your own pace; unescorted |
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Departures | March 2025 – May 2026 | ||
Themes | Grand Tours, Bucket List, River Cruises | ||
Activity Level | Easy | ||
What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
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Experience the beauty of spring in the Netherlands and Belgium on this 7-night cruise through Dutch and Belgian waterways, when the Keukenhof Gardens and Floralia come alive. Experience Amsterdam’s colorful canals, the whimsical Kinderdijk windmills, and the fascinating art of Rubens and Michelangelo. Discover the timeless traditions of Delft porcelain, and revel in the medieval architectural treasures of Bruges, Middelburg, and Ghent. Throughout your journey, indulge your tastebuds in Belgian chocolates, warm waffles, and delectable cheeses—all while savoring the fairytale storybook atmosphere of the region.
Package includes
- Flights
- Cruise
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) on scheduled carriers, including taxes & fees
- Airport transfers
- 7 nights aboard 5-star AmaWaterways in an outside stateroom
- 20 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner; sparkling wine and juices at breakfast
- Welcome Cocktail, Welcome Dinner, Captain’s Cocktail and Gala Dinner
- Sandwiches, snacks and refreshments served daily in the Main Lounge
- Sip & Sail Cocktail Hour
- Choice of daily shore excursions with personal headsets
- Entertainment on board
- Port taxes
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation
- 2 nights Amsterdam pre-cruise – please call for details
Why you'll love it
- Spend 7 nights aboard your 5-star AmaWaterways cruise ship.
- Have your choice of excursions in Hoorn, including a tulip farm visit, a city tour, the Zuiderzee Museum, or a bike tour through the Dutch countryside.
- Enjoy scenic cruising through the Delta.
- Have the opportunity to explore medieval Middleburg via bike, or learn about the Delta Works at the Flood Museum.
- Discover the highlights of Ghent and Bruges, including the Castle of the Counts and the Church of Our Lady.
- Join a master chocolatier and learn about the art of Belgian chocolate-making.
- Explore Antwerp, including the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady.
- For foodies, join a culinary tour and indulge in waffles, chocolate, and beer; or, roam through the Floral, an annual spring flower show.
- Taste your way through Rotterdam, the "Gateway to Europe".
- Admire the 18th-century windmills in Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Explore Keukenhof, one of the most impressive public gardens in the world displaying millions of tulips.
Itinerary at a Glance
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA
- Your journey begins this evening as you depart from the USA
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Arrive in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Embark on your river cruise and set sail
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryDay 3 Amsterdam & Hoorn
- Enjoy a scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer
- Admire over one million tulips during a visit to a family-run tulip farm
- Or, embark on a walking tour in Hoorn
- Or, visit the Zuiderzee Museum
- Or, ride bikes through the Dutch countryside
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy a scenic cruise through the IJsselmeer to Hoorn, where you can choose from four excursions. Visit a family-run tulip farm with over one million tulips, each in different growth phases and many species and colors. For those seeking to travel back in time, embark on a walking tour in Hoorn or visit the Zuiderzee Museum, providing insight into the maritime culture and history of the lively Zuiderzee region. And for more active adventurers, enjoy a guided bike tour through the Dutch countryside.
Day 4 Delta & Middleburg
- Admire the scenery as you cruise through the Delta
- Explore medieval Middelburg on a walking tour
- Or, opt for a guided bike tour of the city
- Or, visit the Flood Museum
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter enjoying a scenic cruise through the Delta, have the chance to explore medieval Middelburg, which was the second largest trading city of the Dutch East India Company. Or, if you feel like exploring the city on two wheels, a guided bike ride is the perfect choice. Alternatively, visit the Flood Museum to learn about how the Delta Works, a unique storm surge barrier, came to be. More than half of the Netherlands lies below sea level, and the Delta Works were built to prevent a recurrence of the 1953 flood disaster.
Day 5 Ghent & Bruges, Belgium
- Discover the highlights of Ghent and Bruges
- OR, a full-day tour of Bruges, including the Church of Our Lady
- OR, join a Belgian chocolate workshop
- OR, enjoy a walking tour of Ghent, followed by free time
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, enjoy your pick of several excursions. Set off on a tour of two medieval cities, Ghent and Bruges. Admire Ghent's canal-side architecture and famous sights, including the Castle of the Counts and Ghent Cathedral, and then visit Bruges, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Alternatively, enjoy a full-day excursion to Bruges, including a visit to the Church of Our Lady, home to the beautiful Carrara marble Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo. Those more inclined to learn about Belgian chocolate-making art can join a master chocolatier as he shares his insights. Finally, for those who wish to enjoy more free time, join a walking tour of Ghent, followed by leisure time.
Day 6 Antwerp
- Enjoy a walking tour of Antwerp, including a Cathedral visit
- Or, for more active exploration, explore Antwerpon on a bike tour
- Or, visit the Rubens House
- Or, Antwerp bike tour
- Indulge in a Belgian chocolate, beer, and waffle tasting
- Or, admire the Floralia, an annual spring flower show
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryExplore the trendy city of Antwerp on a walking tour and see Antwerp's Steen Castle, Grote Market, Brabo Fountain, and the UNESCO-designated Cathedral of Our Lady. Or, join a guided bike tour for a more active exploration of the area. Alternatively, visit the Rubens House, the former home of the famous 17th-century Flemish Baroque painter. Later in the afternoon, you have a choice of two excursions. If you are passionate about international cuisine, join a culinary tour and indulge in chocolate, waffles, and beer. Or, flower lovers and gardeners can roam through the Floralia, an annual spring flower show featuring approximately one million bulbs hand-planted by the castle staff each year.
Day 7 Rotterdam & Delft, Netherlands
- Taste your way through Rotterdam on a walking tour
- Or, visit Delfshaven, where the Pilgrim fathers departed in 1620
- Or, enjoy "The Best of Delft" excursion
- Or, ride a bike through Rotterdam and admire the architecture
- Visit Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Or, embark on a Kinderdijk bike tour
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDuring the morning, set off on a walking tour of Rotterdam, nicknamed the "Gateway to Europe," and taste local specialties. Or, visit Delfshaven, where, on August 1, 1620, the Pilgrim fathers departed on their epic journey aboard the Speedwell. Stopping in Southampton, many boarded the Mayflower and concluded their journey at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. Alternatively, go on an excursion to Delft, known as the home of the painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft Blue earthenware, and the Royal House. While here, visit the Royal Delft Porcelain Factory and Museum. For a more active adventure, join a bike ride through Rotterdam and past some of its famous landmarks and architecture. In the afternoon, venture to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, a lovely village renowned for having the country's greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 18th century. Or, explore the village via a bike ride and admire the windmills as you pedal by.
Day 8 Amsterdam
- Stroll through the Keukenhof Gardens
- Cruise through Amsterdam's canals
AmaCerto, AmaLucia, AmaStella, AmaMora, AmaSerena or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryKeukenhof, one of the most impressive public gardens in the world, presents a spectacular display of millions of flowering tulips spread out over 70 acres. Spend time strolling through this legendary garden, open only nine weeks a year and sometimes called the "Garden of Europe." Later in the day, admire Amsterdam's historic harbor, canals, the beautiful homes lining the water, and the fabled Skinny Bridge.
Day 9 Amsterdam /USA
- Today, transfer to the airport, and you board your flight back home
- Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Cruise Ships
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Belgium? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
- What should I know about the Netherlands? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.